As we near the end of the season what were your expectations for the season?

[Sam_Brown]

And have the club exceeded them or fallen short?

I assumed this was going to be a transitional season and a backwards step from last season which it has. Predicted an upper middle table finish which is pretty much where we will probably finish.

There have been some good runs over the season but we’ve failed to be consistent enough to contend for the top of the table. The most frustrating part of the season for me is seeing how well we have played in a few games but that hasn’t been the case for a lot of games where we have looked lethargic and mentally weak.

I think the second half of the season was stronger than the first and hopefully we continue to improve into next season and see ourselves near the top of the table.

[Pompey55]

I think you pretty much echo my thoughts which were formed when the summer window was a big disappointment in particular the failure to sign a competent striker, although had Hirst been started earlier he might have shown his worth earlier. I was frustrated by the constant player rotation which probably cost us a playoff place.
I’m holding my thoughts on next season to see who is retained and recruited one thing I think for certain Cowley will be gone by Xmas if we are no challenging for promotion

[rumourmonger]

I just think that the missing word this season has been consistency. A couple of times we've gone on a run of games where we looked like we could take on anything that was thrown at us and then immediately slumped into a run where we looked like a team bound for League 2. Notably from the 2-2 draw away at Accrington on 23rd October to the 3-2 win over Exeter in the Papa Johns on 7th January. 14 games , 9 wins ,4 draws and 1 defeat (to Harrogate in the FA Cup) . Immediately followed by a 6 game run of 1 draw and 5 defeats . Followed by another run of 7 games with 6 wins and a draw which led into a 5 match run of 3 draws and 2 defeats.

Add to that the lack of consistency in both formation and personnel and you are left wondering where could we be with a bit more of that magic word CONSISTENCY.

I'm hoping for better next season.

[BlueinPLtwenty]

Transition is the key word here. We have seen a complete restructuring of the squad, with nearly all the bad eggs departed. Most of the incoming players improvements on those going in the opposite direction. Now Cowley`s Pompey has averaged two points a game since the January Transfer Window. Unfortunately to get in the `play-offs` this season you probably need more than 80 points which is beyond us. Two Points a match over the season is 92 points, so I am very hopeful for 2022/2023 season.

[Betelgeuse]

Transition is the key word here. We have seen a complete restructuring of the squad, with nearly all the bad eggs departed. Most of the incoming players improvements on those going in the opposite direction. Now Cowley`s Pompey has averaged two points a game since the January Transfer Window. Unfortunately to get in the `play-offs` this season you probably need more than 80 points which is beyond us. Two Points a match over the season is 92 points, so I am very hopeful for 2022/2023 season.

Except we have to restructure the squad again as we have so many loan players and players out of contract.

[StMonkton]

I thought we might be mid tableish by Christmas with a good window allowing us to have a strong push for play offs.

As has frequently been the case, January was rubbish and our season has petered out.

Let’s hope we are in a good place come December. I’m doubtful though.

[Mr Dee]

Many of the experts on here thought we were relegated in October. So I suppose we've exceeded.

[Pompey1984+1]

It's about what I expected

[Pompey55]

Many of the experts on here thought we were relegated in October. So I suppose we've exceeded.

As I recall that comment was actually only made by one poster and was as he admitted made with a great deal of irony and sarcasm in response to a number of posts criticizing Cowley

[PeteM]

And have the club exceeded them or fallen short?

I assumed this was going to be a transitional season and a backwards step from last season which it has. Predicted an upper middle table finish which is pretty much where we will probably finish.

There have been some good runs over the season but we’ve failed to be consistent enough to contend for the top of the table. The most frustrating part of the season for me is seeing how well we have played in a few games but that hasn’t been the case for a lot of games where we have looked lethargic and mentally weak.

I think the second half of the season was stronger than the first and hopefully we continue to improve into next season and see ourselves near the top of the table.

Pretty much how I see it too, to be honest. Thought we would be top half but not top six, which is about right. Relatively optimistic for next season and expect us to be genuine play-off contenders.

[New Forester]

I’m just happy that the club is alive. And me too. Whatever happens in the future, I’ll have some great memories.

[Northstander]

I remember posting we would finish half way so I'm not surprised. Agree with posts re too many loanees

[NSRailings]

And have the club exceeded them or fallen short?

I assumed this was going to be a transitional season and a backwards step from last season which it has. Predicted an upper middle table finish which is pretty much where we will probably finish.

There have been some good runs over the season but we’ve failed to be consistent enough to contend for the top of the table. The most frustrating part of the season for me is seeing how well we have played in a few games but that hasn’t been the case for a lot of games where we have looked lethargic and mentally weak.

I think the second half of the season was stronger than the first and hopefully we continue to improve into next season and see ourselves near the top of the table.

Pretty much how I see it too, to be honest. Thought we would be top half but not top six, which is about right. Relatively optimistic for next season and expect us to be genuine play-off contenders.

Agree with most of this. Am keeping optimism in check as it depends on the summer. I think the owners will be expecting play-offs as well so pre-Christmas will be key for the Cowleys.

[Daniel]

Thought we would be mid table cowleys had a very short time to line up players to sign in the summer.

Hopefully this summer a few will already be tapped up. Not sure tunicliff and Williams would of been the midfield he had in mind and we had so many trialists in the summer nothing was set

[Weybridge]

I was hoping for playoffs contention again, even in a transitionary phase. I think what hasn't helped is League One being exceptionally strong this season. 6th place is going to see a record points haul for that slot, which is I think is 80 - and that's only been achieved once. Most of the time 71/72 is enough. With three games still to go, 5th-7th place are all sitting on 76 points.

The squad rotation policy has been a double edged sword. I don't believe you should necessarily play the 'best' 11, week in week out unless you are a dominant force in the league. We're not - we've got a squad of solid, if unspectacular pros. I don't think there's a weak link in it, but nor do I think there's an out and out match-winner in it either. There's nobody in this squad which makes opponents drastically switch up their game plan so they can counter the threat.

Overall, I don't have a problem with the Cowleys in charge. I can even see us going up with them at the helm, but I don't think we're going to romp the league, not unless we can find a player to keep an opposition manager up at night.

I don't think you need to spend big money to get out of this league. But we do need to find someone.