Thetownend.com

http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/index.php?cms_ref=home&goto=news&qs_article_id=1351

Wasn't last night at Exeter.... apparently the gangly one will be starting his Pompey career (again) against us on Friday.

the guy in the ticket office was saying it might hit 7,000. doubt that very much, i imagine he was high-balling slightly, but i guess we wont know til tommoro!

The "guy" in the ticket office also said we had almost sold out the DR - funny that considering I believe it holds more than 4000 people.  Almighty pinch of salt required me thinks.

The "guy" in the ticket office also said we had almost sold out the DR - funny that considering I believe it holds more than 4000 people.  Almighty pinch of salt required me thinks.

Ha Crouch. I still probably won'r bother with this. I mean Friday fucking night? No thanks.

friday night and an easier trip will bring bigger numbers here i reckon.at least a 1000 i'd of thought

Not an easier trip if you are sailing :)

Being unable to get to the game does anyone know (whether hearing on the local radio etc) if the game will be broadcast live on WS or STFC World?

Hopefully it will be, at least we will get updates I guess on WS no matter what.

meh, im usually glad when pre-season games come around but im really not feeling it this season.

The best bit about pre-season for me is getting to see all the new players and trailist well we've signed one new player so far....

I particularly like going to the small grounds, trying to work out who is who, which trialist may be worth a look, who is rubbish, etc.

Have we even got anyone on trial other than Hills?

I'll still pop along to the Plymouth, Portsmouth and Hungerford games. Bit undecided on Cardiff.

Ok why not

I love you

And Chippenham, Salisbury, Hampton, 'Marine?

Ok, not Hampton. God knows why we're playing there.

J'adore Peter Crouch - Im going to hang around the players entrance and try and touch him then not wash my hand for the rest of my life

It's odd, although I'm not speaking from a position of strength, Crouch looks a bit gangly and gormless to be a pin up doesn't he? If he didn't play football and wasn't banging the Clancey bird would he be as appealing.

I blame the "Heat" readers.

  I like his tallness - he looks like he could look after you

Getting things out of the loft without a step ladder!

I've got a step ladder, my real ladder left home when I was young.

Has your real ladder ever rung to say how it is?

Did your real ladder abuse you?

Other freakishly ball people I find attractive include Steve Mildenhall

MAURICE Malpas knows his defenders face a tall order in keeping Peter Crouch quiet tonight, but the Town boss has warned the giant England striker not to expect an easy ride on his second Portsmouth debut.

Crouch, pictured left, is expected to play 45 minutes at the County Ground following his summer switch from Liverpool, and his presence is sure to put a few extra bums on seats.

Having wrestled with the likes of former Chelsea marksman Mateja Kezman on the pre-season tour to Austria, the Town defenders would appear well equipped to cope, but Malpas, pictured right, insists Crouch is a different prospect altogether.

He said: "I have come across Peter before when I was at Motherwell and we played against Southampton in a friendly match.

"In the first half he was absolutely anonymous, but in the second half he destroyed us.

"He's a big target man, but people forget what a good touch he has.

advertisement"I hope that whatever tactics we do employ against him, our centre halves do it well enough to stop him scoring.

"They will have done their job well if we keep a clean sheet.

"It will be good for my players to compete against Peter, Crouch but it will also be a tough test for him to handle my two central defenders, whoever I pick."

Portsmouth will be without Niko Kranjcar, John Utaka, Kanu and Lassana Diarra for the trip to Wiltshire, while Glen Johnson and Hermann Hreidarsson are both injury doubts.

But with David James, Jermaine Defoe, Sulley Muntari and Sylvain Distan all likely to feature, Malpas says the players and the supporters should be rubbing their hands in anticipation.

"Whoever steps onto the pitch will be desperate to do well, and that's the way it should be," said Malpas.

"It's definitely the game to get the juices flowing if you are a player.

"Portsmouth have some big names in their squad, but we have to forget about that and concentrate on Swindon Town."

Crouch meanwhile is relishing the prospect of pulling on the Pompey blue for the second time in his career following his switch from Anfield to Fratton Park.

He said: "For me personally, it will be great to play for Portsmouth again. They have fantastic fans and you see that throughout.

"When we played in Hong Kong last year there were more Portsmouth fans than Liverpool fans out there. They take a great following.

"They are extremely loud and support their team until the end so I'm looking forward to playing in front of them."

I dont see what the great love for him was all about last night.

Indeed, Sol Campbell although past his peak now is still a class defender and has been for many many years and what hes won and acheived in the game dwarfs Peter Crouch.

When asked by a reporter after the match what he would have been if he hadn't been a professional footballer he quickly replied "probably a virgin..."

Wasn't it Crouch who, when asked in an interview what he would be if he wasn't a footballer, replied "a virgin"?!

Fair play to him I reckon.

BITCH!! that should have been me!!

yes there does seem to be an acre of space in the middle - I would have snuggled in close like I did with Lee P!