Historically big clubs

[Cyclops]

Pompey have often been cited in this thread.
As they are my home-town team, I've been following their rise and fall for decades and it might be informative to examine why they seem to be gradually hauling themselves up the leagues.
After their nose-dive to League Two and being taken over by the fans, it became apparent that there was never going to be the money for a proper revival, they sold the club to a Disney executive. He's proved to be excellent - spending dosh improving an old stadium and not throwing huge money to acheive promotion. After about seven years of gradual progress they currently top league one. So that's the first plus point - a careful, enthusiastic owner.
Pompey have had a few managers during this time who have been reasonably backed but although being fairly successful and being given time, they now have a young manager who has turned the corner for them who none of you will have heard of. Second plus point.
The buzz words are STRATEGY = SUCCESS.
And behind it all is the fan base. Fratton Park is usually sold out with around 21,000 raucuous supporters willing their team to win.
Are Pompey a historically BIG club?
They've won the old First Division a few times and the FA cup. When I was a lad, they attracted crowds of 40K. But compared to say, Villa, who have won the European Cup, they are probably in the second tier of big clubs with Derby etc.
If you're interested, there's a recent excellent video interview with the owner which encapsulates his philosophy. Tan would do well to see it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_im...l=PortsmouthFC

[Citizen's Nephew]

Pompey have often been cited in this thread.
As they are my home-town team, I've been following their rise and fall for decades and it might be informative to examine why they seem to be gradually hauling themselves up the leagues.
After their nose-dive to League Two and being taken over by the fans, it became apparent that there was never going to be the money for a proper revival, they sold the club to a Disney executive. He's proved to be excellent - spending dosh improving an old stadium and not throwing huge money to acheive promotion. After about seven years of gradual progress they currently top league one. So that's the first plus point - a careful, enthusiastic owner.
Pompey have had a few managers during this time who have been reasonably backed but although being fairly successful and being given time, they now have a young manager who has turned the corner for them who none of you will have heard of. Second plus point.
The buzz words are STRATEGY = SUCCESS.
And behind it all is the fan base. Fratton Park is usually sold out with around 21,000 raucuous supporters willing their team to win.
Are Pompey a historically BIG club?
They've won the old First Division a few times and the FA cup. When I was a lad, they attracted crowds of 40K. But compared to say, Villa, who have won the European Cup, they are probably in the second tier of big clubs with Derby etc.
If you're interested, there's a recent excellent video interview with the owner which encapsulates his philosophy. Tan would do well to see it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_im...l=PortsmouthFC

Thanks for posting that link. Will give it a watch. Tan having some sort of 'vision' and communicating it would be wonderful. I feel like we're one of those businesses/clubs that are just fronts for something else. It's felt like that for a while.

[Cyclops]

So Pompey are deservedly Div One champions!
May I suggest that it would behove Tan and his Cardiff management team to examine why this pegasus has risen from the ashes.
The interview with the owner linked in my last post is illuminating.
There is also a new appraisal which encapsulates why the club has been successful (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68806890).
There were almost 20,000 at Fratton Park yesterday and there are ambitious plans to expand the old lady, Fratton Park, to maybe 35,000.

[jon1959]

So Pompey are deservedly Div One champions!
May I suggest that it would behove Tan and his Cardiff management team to examine why this pegasus has risen from the ashes.
The interview with the owner linked in my last post is illuminating.
There is also a new appraisal which encapsulates why the club has been successful (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68806890).
There were almost 20,000 at Fratton Park yesterday and there are ambitious plans to expand the old lady, Fratton Park, to maybe 35,000.

Please don't suggest that Vincent Tan should examine examples of a 'pegasus' risen from the ashes.

It will only confuse him more if he's looking for another (wrong) mythical beast! The worm is bad enough.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

So Pompey are deservedly Div One champions!
May I suggest that it would behove Tan and his Cardiff management team to examine why this pegasus has risen from the ashes.
The interview with the owner linked in my last post is illuminating.
There is also a new appraisal which encapsulates why the club has been successful (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68806890).
There were almost 20,000 at Fratton Park yesterday and there are ambitious plans to expand the old lady, Fratton Park, to maybe 35,000.

Portsmouth could easily support a bigger stadium

It's not just "portsmouth" where their fans come from , it's a big urban area down there as you know

[Packerman]

Sludge. You know **** all about big clubs. Two years ago you assured everyone that West Ham were not a big club and that they would see a large drop off in fans the following year if they struggled, crowds were circa 55000 that season Turns out they struggled all season and didn’t avoid relegation by much. BUT. They home crowds went up to about 60000. Leathered again.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Sludge. You know **** all about big clubs. Two years ago you assured everyone that West Ham were not a big club and that they would see a large drop off in fans the following year if they struggled, crowds were circa 55000 that season Turns out they struggled all season and didn’t avoid relegation by much. BUT. They home crowds went up to about 60000. Leathered again.

What I said before west ham moved into the new ground is that they were moving into a 60 k seated stadium which they would struggle to fill if they got relegated

[Packerman]

Nope. They were in the prem getting circa 55000 when you asserted thier crowds would fall away if they struggled. They did next season and crowds went up to 60000 still say they are not a big club ??

[Cyclops]

It's not just "portsmouth" where their fans come from , it's a big urban area down there as you know

Actually Portsmouth and Cardiff are very similar with one whole side of the city bordered by sea.
(They both have hills to the north.)
Cardiff has its valleys and Portsmouth has its outlying council estates, many of which housed the 'dockies'.
The big difference in their histories is that Pompey has won significant honours.