[BlueArmy]

We are approaching 5 years under the ownership of Tornante and for me I give them a 5.5 out of 10 so far. 

What are your views? 

Sorry in advance for the long post.

They are better than many of our owners before IMO but that's not saying a great deal. They purchased the club at a very good price but with a lot of work needed

Im pleased with some things under Tornante.

The training ground purchase is a big step in the right direction, and they have supported the club financially especially during the worst of covid. The facilities do need improving but the purchase of our own training facility was important. That's their biggest achievement yet.

I'm also thankful they are carrying out much needed health and safety works on the ground, although these works are probably enforced. The redeveloped south stand will be a big improvement on what we currently have, although the supporting pillars are a bit of a negative. Still, the South stand will be much better than what we currently have and will remain that way for many many years I would imagine.

The North stand and Milton end will be better too, again the supporting pillars are a negative but until the North stand is redeveloped we can't do anything about the pillars in the North stand.

In terms of negatives, I'm still dissapointed we are in this league but I have to remind myself that the infrastructure is a priority. I do however hope to be in the championship in the next few years.

I'm also dissapointed with the lack of progression with the academy. We are still a category 3 academy and the academy do not have a permanent training base like the first team do at Roko. It doesn't look like there has been a great deal of investment in the academy although i could be wrong.

When the health and safety works to fratton park are completed, the stadium still will not be big enough or to an acceptable standard for Portsmouth FC. Nowhere near. I'm dissapointed with the slow progress on the stadium.

I have no idea why the club cannot extend the fratton end as an example in the summer once the season is finished as a start to proper redevelopment and an increase to capacity.

Once the health and safety works to the stadium are completed, I hope we do not keep hearing from the club more delaying tactics and / or difficulties regarding network rail and the council etc.

Even at the end of 2023 or start of 2024, capacity will only be 20,000. This is very slow and a small amount of progress and the delays are frustrating.

Over the next 18 months or so I would hope and expect that the club can resolve any issues with all parties re the proper redevelopment plans re North stand. Once the h and s works are completed the club should be in a position to redevelop the North stand and extend the fratton end starting in 2023 or 2024.

To summarise, Tornante imo haven't succeeded or failed yet. I'm very frustrated with the delays re promotion and more importantly the stadium but slow progress is being made.

We all want investment in all areas of the club.

IMO Tornantes ownership will be a success when most importantly fratton parks capacity has been increased to an absolute minimum of 25,000 -28,000, but preferably over 30,000 and I wish they'd hurry up doing this. I'd like to see a redeveloped North stand and an extended fratton end and a stadium worthy of Portsmouth fc. Until this has been achieved, Tornante at Pfc will not have been a success no matter what league we are in. 

[Pompeyg100]

You know there is no way to guarantee promotion right? Are you expecting them to pick the team?

Why do you want to rattle around in a 30k stadium which will put us tens of millions in debt?

I’d give them an 8, marks lost for appointing DC.

[BlueArmy]

You know there is no way to guarantee promotion right? Are you expecting them to pick the team?

Why do you want to rattle around in a 30k stadium which will put us tens of millions in debt?

I’d give them an 8, marks lost for appointing DC.

I appreciate what you're saying. I'm not someone who expects promotion as for me getting the infrastructure is important.

I would like to see us in the championship soon but if we are not there soon I won't cry about it.

I think we need to get the infrastructure right first. We don't need to be in millions of pounds of debt to improve fp significantly.

I do feel that the fans for a long time have been fobbed off with the network rail stuff. 

I think that our owners will be ultimately judged on the progress with the stadium.

[Rocketman]

I'd give them 8 too. We have no debt even after Covid, and they are building the club from the bottom-up just as they said they would. It's very easy for people to say they should have put more money into the club, but people are very good at spending other people's money (it's called socialism!). I'm disappointed they haven't communicated more, but overall what I want to see more than anything is the team giving 100% every game, no exceptions. If that happens, we can't ask for or expect much more at the moment.

[Smirnoffexpress]

I'd give them 8 too. We have no debt even after Covid, and they are building the club from the bottom-up just as they said they would. It's very easy for people to say they should have put more money into the club, but people are very good at spending other people's money (it's called socialism!). I'm disappointed they haven't communicated more, but overall what I want to see more than anything is the team giving 100% every game, no exceptions. If that happens, we can't ask for or expect much more at the moment.

6/10 and that’s being generous.

[Hammie]

for doing what they said they would, exactly that, 8/10
Sunderland, Ipswich have thrown money at it and are no closer to top two than they started.
The problem is not so much our owners as the current set up of the English leagues. Everything is set up to keep the biggest clubs rich and the smaller clubs low down until they fade away.
I think it as posted that if you get promoted the wages go up by x4 to x7
If we remain debt free and sort the ground and the youth set up, we are well placed when the bubble burst and the champ cubs have to pay off their debts.

[Ain’t got a Danny]

5. Comfortably mid table.

[Pedalo_menders]

Initially, the Eisners were very vocal about saying to judge them on their actions/results. That message seems to have gone very quiet recently...

Let's face it, its been shit. My enjoyment for watching pompey has plummeted to new depths and my optimism for the future eroded to a point where I rarely get excited.

We are declining as a club but its dressed up to be progress. Each year things improve 2% but our competitors improve 5%. Its a gentle erosion of our once great status.

Each year we lose ground on our rivals you can take a point off. I think after 5 years they are down to a 5. Next year I'm expecting it to be a 4. Why would their behaviour change to address this? The absolute bare minimum work has been done on the stadium. The academy is a joke. Yes they bought Roko but that took them 4 years.

[BlueArmy]

Appreciate the replies.

Cheer up Pedalo, I think we will be pleasantly surprised with how the stadium improves in the coming years. At least I hope.

[exgaffer]

Initially, the Eisners were very vocal about saying to judge them on their actions/results. That message seems to have gone very quiet recently...

Let's face it, its been shit. My enjoyment for watching pompey has plummeted to new depths and my optimism for the future eroded to a point where I rarely get excited.

We are declining as a club but its dressed up to be progress. Each year things improve 2% but our competitors improve 5%. Its a gentle erosion of our once great status.

Each year we lose ground on our rivals you can take a point off. I think after 5 years they are down to a 5. Next year I'm expecting it to be a 4. Why would their behaviour change to address this? The absolute bare minimum work has been done on the stadium. The academy is a joke. Yes they bought Roko but that took them 4 years.

Bloody hell let’s all reach for the happy pills   .

We don’t have a divine right to success, and if throwing money at it worked teams like Sunderland would be in the Prem by now (and their fans would still be whining).

As for our ‘once great status’, we haven’t been ‘great’ since the 40’s.

We have been very good though, and we will be again.

Try looking on the bright side for once.

[firqdays]

Lots of varying viewpoints on this one guys and gals - Pragmatism !!

Would anyone prefer to be 'one of those clubs' who have thrown money after QUICK SUCCESS? Anyone fancy The POSH in league one next season ? - probably accompanied by Reading! Many of us harp on about progress and what the Eisner's should be doing /buying/investing in etc. However .... and again at the Guildhall they DID say if you want an instant fix then look/go elsewhere.

Michael said he may have to be tied to the mast" for fear of the 'Sirens call' ...... BUT, sorry, (for me) he has done exactly what was said on the tin.
I could not envisage more shareholders money being available to conduct the essential and required groundwork/renovations at F.P and as much as we want to spend his cash on top wage players he is taking the pragmatic path towards LONG TERM success !

Certainly he is a businessman and we repair the roof while the sun shines, and thankfully , we are NOT in debt. I remember the horrible days going back to DEACON and way before the foreign "investors". Anyone want to return to that?

We have a sound history, and still boast a better record than anyone else on the south coast. PUP !

[Cunninglinguist]

Exactly, Firq.

A long upwards curve. We had a short term fix when we went into the PL. most agreed we didn’t have the infrastructure to support it. Nothing has changed the need for that. At last, it’s being done.

9/10 and bonus points for keeping us alive during the pandemic.

[BlueArmy]

Good opinions everyone.

Does anyone know why the club aren't extending the fratton end in the summer? 

I would imagine it would be a simple extension.

Getting tickets for the fratton end is extremely difficult especially close to matchday. Its mostly always soldout.

[scumslayer]

The discontent is largely League 1 fatigue.

But if we went up, would it be any better?

We would get a fucking hiding every week in the Championship and be hanging on for our lives every year.

Would the same dissenting voices just complain then that we had no ambitions to get to the PL?

Sometimes I reckon the Eisners know us better than we know ourselves. I think our fans are like an abused child and they're like foster parents.

[Rick Pumpkin]

I'd give them 7/10.

As much as I'd like to see faster progress being made they've done exactly what they said at the Guildhall and we have to go along with a plod towards promotion, not the charge that many people want. It's funny that when we were in the Prem I recall many people saying on Rivals that money should have been spent on the stadium and training ground, and less on wages. Now exactly that is happening and people still aren't happy.

However, they lose three marks for their over long support of Jackett, their piss-poor communications and the growing distance between club and the supporters - it doesn't feel like a community club anymore. And being a fickle supporter I reserve the right to deduct another point in a year's time if the Cowley appointment hits the dirt!

[Jizbag]

I'd give them 7/10.

As much as I'd like to see faster progress being made they've done exactly what they said at the Guildhall and we have to go along with a plod towards promotion, not the charge that many people want.  It's funny that when we were in the Prem I recall many people saying on Rivals that money should have been spent on the stadium and training ground, and less on wages.  Now exactly that is happening and people still aren't happy.

However, they lose three marks for their over long support of Jackett, their piss-poor communications and the growing distance between club and the supporters - it doesn't feel like a community club anymore.  And being a fickle supporter I reserve the right to deduct another point in a year's time if the Cowley appointment hits the dirt!

I agree with this.

[Pompeyg100]

I'd give them 7/10.

As much as I'd like to see faster progress being made they've done exactly what they said at the Guildhall and we have to go along with a plod towards promotion, not the charge that many people want.  It's funny that when we were in the Prem I recall many people saying on Rivals that money should have been spent on the stadium and training ground, and less on wages.  Now exactly that is happening and people still aren't happy.

However, they lose three marks for their over long support of Jackett, their piss-poor communications and the growing distance between club and the supporters - it doesn't feel like a community club anymore.  And being a fickle supporter I reserve the right to deduct another point in a year's time if the Cowley appointment hits the dirt!

Why wouldn’t that support Jackett?

[Rick Pumpkin]

I'd give them 7/10.

As much as I'd like to see faster progress being made they've done exactly what they said at the Guildhall and we have to go along with a plod towards promotion, not the charge that many people want.  It's funny that when we were in the Prem I recall many people saying on Rivals that money should have been spent on the stadium and training ground, and less on wages.  Now exactly that is happening and people still aren't happy.

However, they lose three marks for their over long support of Jackett, their piss-poor communications and the growing distance between club and the supporters - it doesn't feel like a community club anymore.  And being a fickle supporter I reserve the right to deduct another point in a year's time if the Cowley appointment hits the dirt!

Why wouldn’t that support Jackett?

Read what I said - over long support (i.e. supporting him long after everyone realised he was a busted flush at Pompey).

Now pay attention at the back 

[bluetagagain]

I'd give them 8.5 out of ten for getting Roko, starting with ground improvements,keeping us going through Covid. and in the black.
However, 5/10 for team investment, youth development and manager appointment/sacking ( maybe not them directly but they appoint the CEO's).
So over all a 6/10 for me. Room for improvement especially on the pitch. (BTW I'm not suggesting we pay ridiculous wages or transfer fees).

[DeepBlue]

I'd give them 7/10.

As much as I'd like to see faster progress being made they've done exactly what they said at the Guildhall and we have to go along with a plod towards promotion, not the charge that many people want.  It's funny that when we were in the Prem I recall many people saying on Rivals that money should have been spent on the stadium and training ground, and less on wages.  Now exactly that is happening and people still aren't happy.

However, they lose three marks for their over long support of Jackett, their piss-poor communications and the growing distance between club and the supporters - it doesn't feel like a community club anymore.  And being a fickle supporter I reserve the right to deduct another point in a year's time if the Cowley appointment hits the dirt!

Why wouldn’t that support Jackett?

Read what I said - over long support (i.e. supporting him long after everyone realised he was a busted flush at Pompey).

Now pay attention at the back.

Jackett survived a year longer than he should have and that was more due to Covid than anything else. The short summer break meant there was little time for change of personnel on and off the pitch, and the club had also been leaking vast sums of money for several months which made further avoidable expense unattractive.

[Pompeyg100]

I'd give them 7/10.

As much as I'd like to see faster progress being made they've done exactly what they said at the Guildhall and we have to go along with a plod towards promotion, not the charge that many people want.  It's funny that when we were in the Prem I recall many people saying on Rivals that money should have been spent on the stadium and training ground, and less on wages.  Now exactly that is happening and people still aren't happy.

However, they lose three marks for their over long support of Jackett, their piss-poor communications and the growing distance between club and the supporters - it doesn't feel like a community club anymore.  And being a fickle supporter I reserve the right to deduct another point in a year's time if the Cowley appointment hits the dirt!

Why wouldn’t that support Jackett?

Read what I said - over long support (i.e. supporting him long after everyone realised he was a busted flush at Pompey).

Now pay attention at the back.

Jackett survived a year longer than he should have and that was more due to Covid than anything else. The short summer break meant there was little time for change of personnel on and off the pitch, and the club had also been leaking vast sums of money for several months which made further avoidable expense unattractive.

That’s a bit harsh, weren’t we in automatic and playoff position for the vast majority of the season before he got sacked?

[Lentil_Soup]

Although it has been really tough going recently, overall I would say 6/10 - It is a Marathon not a sprint. I would like to see more transparency about what are the actual long term plans for the stadium/academy (if there are any) are.

[DeepBlue]

I'd give them 6/10 for on the pitch - we've spent the entire time they've been here in the top half of the table and a high percentage of that in the play-offs or automatics.  

I'd give them 9/10 for the infrastructure changes, getting our own training ground within the city boundaries, and the £10m spent on the ground so far plus the plans for more, keeping their promise to remain at Fratton if it was possible.  

I'd give them 4/10 for the academy - they promised a lot more than they have delivered there.

I'd give them 10/10 for subsidising the club during Covid without making a fuss about it, that was a huge unexpected expense. 

I'd give them 10/10 for doing all the above without incurring a penny of debt to the club. 

and finally I'd give them 10/10 for producing those pre-match videos ... they are first class and I never tire of watching them. 

So all in all I would give them about 7/10 but would also say they have been the perfect owners for what we needed at the time, building slowly and sustainably as promised.   And on the day it has been revealed that Sunderland's super-rich kid owner has been lying all along about his percentage holding of the club keeping promises seems more important than usual.  People may complain about the lack of direct communication from the Eisners, and I think it is true that they have withdrawn a bit following some online abuse, but that is 100% better than lying to the fans like all previous owners since Jim Gregory have done. And they have ensured that the fans are kept very well informed via the CEO.

[exgaffer]

I'd give them 6/10 for on the pitch - we've spent the entire time they've been here in the top half of the table and a high percentage of that in the play-offs or automatics.  

I'd give them 9/10 for the infrastructure changes, getting our own training ground within the city boundaries, and the £10m spent on the ground so far plus the plans for more, keeping their promise to remain at Fratton if it was possible.  

I'd give them 4/10 for the academy - they promised a lot more than they have delivered there.

I'd give them 10/10 for subsidising the club during Covid without making a fuss about it, that was a huge unexpected expense. 

I'd give them 10/10 for doing all the above without incurring a penny of debt to the club. 

and finally I'd give them 10/10 for producing those pre-match videos ... they are first class and I never tire of watching them. 

So all in all I would give them about 7/10 but would also say they have been the perfect owners for what we needed at the time, building slowly and sustainably as promised.   And on the day it has been revealed that Sunderland's super-rich kid owner has been lying all along about his percentage holding of the club keeping promises seems more important than usual.  People may complain about the lack of direct communication from the Eisners, and I think it is true that they have withdrawn a bit following some online abuse, but that is 100% better than lying to the fans like all previous owners since Jim Gregory have done. And they have ensured that the fans are kept very well informed via the CEO.

Seems like a fair and balanced summary Deep.

You can never please everyone but I think they’ve done a half decent job.

[Pangus]

What does concern me are their apparent budget restrictions as far as building a team capable of challenging for promotion is concerned. Thats worrying. For me the present squad is nowhere near strong enough to take into next season to mount a challenge. 0/10 for ambition.

Its no good aiming for increased capacity to say 25000 if we haven't got a team capable of attracting that sort of attendance.