There seems to be a burning issue around the club we all love since Saturday and for once it isn't about the doomongers who seem to think we're certainties for Championship football next season.
Nope, we have a moral issue about Harry Redknapp that needs addressing. Following the superb result at Fulham on Saturday fans are split on their opinions of Harry. Some believe that it is time we put the past behind us and backed Redknapp 100%, including singing his name in the stands. Others still find such a crime as defecting to your arch rivals unforgivable and refuse to sing the name of someone who commited such a deed.
Those who read this site often know my stance on the situation. I don't trust Harry after what he did to the club I love last year and whilst I'll give him my backing because he manages the team I support, I refuse to sing his name because I know full well he could throw it back in our faces at the end of the season if we get relegated. Should he commit his future to the club for the long term in writing though, he will be forgiven by me.
So am I, and other fans like me being childish for holding such a grudge? Or do we have a case for our continuing refusal to be fully behind the manager?
We can't forget what Harry did for us in the past, it is argued that it's a fact that without Redknapp at the helm back in 2002 we wouldn't be playing Premiership football at all and in our worst nightmares we could even be stuck in League One. However once he left us for Southampton he wouldn't let us forget this "fact", claiming that he "single-handedly" saved the club from limbo and constantly having digs at the club we all love, as well as insulting our more vocal supporters before the derby.
We also can't forget that Mandaric played his part in Harry leaving in the first place. Bringing in Zajec was ultimately, a failure and the last thing Harry wanted was to have someone do a core part of his job for him. I think it would be safe to say that if Mandaric didn't intefere with the management, then Harry wouldn't have left in the first place so would it be unfair to pin all the blame on Harry leaving all on himself?
Maybe Harry couldn't be blamed for that, however going to Southampton was his own choice that's for sure. This was two weeks after he said he'd "never go down the road" and that he wanted a break from football. For Pompey supporters, seeing a former Pompey hero lift the scarf of Southampton FC; the epitamy of most Pompey fans' hate will go down as the most heartbreaking moment of their supporting lives since the penalty shootout of that FA Cup Semi-Final penalty shootout against Liverpool in 1992.
This whole dilemma among fans seems to be a lose-lose situation. Those who sing Redknapp's name will be accused by the ones who don't of being extremely fickle and naive for going back to worshipping the same man they were screaming "Judas" at and the same man they wanted out a month ago after a run of very poor results. Don't forget the job is only half done, we have not avoided relegation yet. However the fans who do choose to sing his name will retort by saying that the other supporters are living in the past and should move on and fully back Redknapp to maximise the potential support we have when the Blues are on the pitch, therefore increasing our chances of Premiership survival.
As Pompey fans we are obviously divided in our support for Harry. If fans want to sing his name then let them, if they refuse then that's fine by me. Harry has said himself that he doesn't mind as long as we get behind the team 100% and I agree with him on that. The team are the most important thing here, not one individual is bigger than the club so let's make sure we are united in our support for the team and not let our differences over the manager cause any heated arguements among ourselves. As supporters we have a right to sing what we want to and our entitled to our own opinions about players, management and the board but the main issue is that the team are backed to the very end no matter what players Harry decides to pick.
We shall see what sort of atmosphere we get when Blackburn pay us a visit Saturday afternoon. I can't wait personally, it's going to be interesting but more importantly it's going to be very loud as in "Opening day 2003" loud! The Pompey Chimes will belt out, but will Harry Redknapp's name do the same?
Phew... that's the end of the rant today! All feedback/abuse welcome. What's your thoughts on the whole thing?
Nope, we have a moral issue about Harry Redknapp that needs addressing. Following the superb result at Fulham on Saturday fans are split on their opinions of Harry. Some believe that it is time we put the past behind us and backed Redknapp 100%, including singing his name in the stands. Others still find such a crime as defecting to your arch rivals unforgivable and refuse to sing the name of someone who commited such a deed.
Those who read this site often know my stance on the situation. I don't trust Harry after what he did to the club I love last year and whilst I'll give him my backing because he manages the team I support, I refuse to sing his name because I know full well he could throw it back in our faces at the end of the season if we get relegated. Should he commit his future to the club for the long term in writing though, he will be forgiven by me.
So am I, and other fans like me being childish for holding such a grudge? Or do we have a case for our continuing refusal to be fully behind the manager?
We can't forget what Harry did for us in the past, it is argued that it's a fact that without Redknapp at the helm back in 2002 we wouldn't be playing Premiership football at all and in our worst nightmares we could even be stuck in League One. However once he left us for Southampton he wouldn't let us forget this "fact", claiming that he "single-handedly" saved the club from limbo and constantly having digs at the club we all love, as well as insulting our more vocal supporters before the derby.
We also can't forget that Mandaric played his part in Harry leaving in the first place. Bringing in Zajec was ultimately, a failure and the last thing Harry wanted was to have someone do a core part of his job for him. I think it would be safe to say that if Mandaric didn't intefere with the management, then Harry wouldn't have left in the first place so would it be unfair to pin all the blame on Harry leaving all on himself?
Maybe Harry couldn't be blamed for that, however going to Southampton was his own choice that's for sure. This was two weeks after he said he'd "never go down the road" and that he wanted a break from football. For Pompey supporters, seeing a former Pompey hero lift the scarf of Southampton FC; the epitamy of most Pompey fans' hate will go down as the most heartbreaking moment of their supporting lives since the penalty shootout of that FA Cup Semi-Final penalty shootout against Liverpool in 1992.
This whole dilemma among fans seems to be a lose-lose situation. Those who sing Redknapp's name will be accused by the ones who don't of being extremely fickle and naive for going back to worshipping the same man they were screaming "Judas" at and the same man they wanted out a month ago after a run of very poor results. Don't forget the job is only half done, we have not avoided relegation yet. However the fans who do choose to sing his name will retort by saying that the other supporters are living in the past and should move on and fully back Redknapp to maximise the potential support we have when the Blues are on the pitch, therefore increasing our chances of Premiership survival.
As Pompey fans we are obviously divided in our support for Harry. If fans want to sing his name then let them, if they refuse then that's fine by me. Harry has said himself that he doesn't mind as long as we get behind the team 100% and I agree with him on that. The team are the most important thing here, not one individual is bigger than the club so let's make sure we are united in our support for the team and not let our differences over the manager cause any heated arguements among ourselves. As supporters we have a right to sing what we want to and our entitled to our own opinions about players, management and the board but the main issue is that the team are backed to the very end no matter what players Harry decides to pick.
We shall see what sort of atmosphere we get when Blackburn pay us a visit Saturday afternoon. I can't wait personally, it's going to be interesting but more importantly it's going to be very loud as in "Opening day 2003" loud! The Pompey Chimes will belt out, but will Harry Redknapp's name do the same?
Phew... that's the end of the rant today! All feedback/abuse welcome. What's your thoughts on the whole thing?