The season was virtually over by May with the "Great Escape" almost complete it just needed an epilogue. The final game against Liverpool would bring down the curtain on what was an amazing end to what was a dramatic season.
07/05/06: Matchday #38: Pompey 1 Liverpool 3
The irony of this game was that is was Liverpool who needed to win here to have any chance of taking second place in the league and although we could finish 16th, nobody really cared as the "WE ARE STAYING UP" signs were held up high all around Fratton Park before kick off. Liverpool won 3-1 with Robbie Fowler scoring early in the second half and Peter "Scummer" Crouch adding a late second. Ognjen Koroman would strangely and perhaps unfittingly would get a goal back for Pompey but Djibril Cisse would soon put the result out of doubt despite the cries of "offside" by the Fratton Faithful.
The final whistle blew, Liverpool won but failed to get second place. Pompey fans applauded their team off the pitch once they did their lap of honour and that was it. The season was over, no more competitive domestic football until August although we do have the World Cup to look forward to as well as all of the new faces we will undoubtedly bring in over the course of the summer as well as saying goodbyes to other players too. The exodus has already begun with Sander Westerveld, Ognjen Koroman, Aliou Cisse, Salif Diao, Azar Karadas, Vincent Pericard, Gary Silk, Liam Horsted and Andrea Guatelli all leaving the club. Linvoy Primus will be here next season and it's 99% certain Dejan will be too though I expect we won't see Gregory Vignal, John Viafara, Ivica Mornar, Collins Mbesuma, Frank Songo'o, James Keene and Emanuel Olisadebe (apparently still a player although I'm sure he had been released) ever put on a Pompey shirt again. That's a huge list and there could be even more outs to come.
There's yet another rebuilding job to be done at Pompey but no doubt Harry will be able to pull it off. He deserves a lot of credit for the way the season has ended so let's all relax and anticipate what will happen in what will hopefully be a stable 2006/2007 season.
07/05/06: Matchday #38: Pompey 1 Liverpool 3
The irony of this game was that is was Liverpool who needed to win here to have any chance of taking second place in the league and although we could finish 16th, nobody really cared as the "WE ARE STAYING UP" signs were held up high all around Fratton Park before kick off. Liverpool won 3-1 with Robbie Fowler scoring early in the second half and Peter "Scummer" Crouch adding a late second. Ognjen Koroman would strangely and perhaps unfittingly would get a goal back for Pompey but Djibril Cisse would soon put the result out of doubt despite the cries of "offside" by the Fratton Faithful.
The final whistle blew, Liverpool won but failed to get second place. Pompey fans applauded their team off the pitch once they did their lap of honour and that was it. The season was over, no more competitive domestic football until August although we do have the World Cup to look forward to as well as all of the new faces we will undoubtedly bring in over the course of the summer as well as saying goodbyes to other players too. The exodus has already begun with Sander Westerveld, Ognjen Koroman, Aliou Cisse, Salif Diao, Azar Karadas, Vincent Pericard, Gary Silk, Liam Horsted and Andrea Guatelli all leaving the club. Linvoy Primus will be here next season and it's 99% certain Dejan will be too though I expect we won't see Gregory Vignal, John Viafara, Ivica Mornar, Collins Mbesuma, Frank Songo'o, James Keene and Emanuel Olisadebe (apparently still a player although I'm sure he had been released) ever put on a Pompey shirt again. That's a huge list and there could be even more outs to come.
There's yet another rebuilding job to be done at Pompey but no doubt Harry will be able to pull it off. He deserves a lot of credit for the way the season has ended so let's all relax and anticipate what will happen in what will hopefully be a stable 2006/2007 season.