The manager debate goes on. Who should get the job a safe pair of experienced hands or an exciting young football hero like Ole Gunnar? Lampitt has today discussed the importance of understanding Pompey , so could it be Prosi, could Kit Symonds get involved. As I've previously noted I think the cause of Pompey apathy at the moment is the realisation that our golden era is over and probably won't return. We have just lived through the second finest period in the clubs history but how many of the cup winning team would be described as fans favourites? Sol? Glenn? Niko? I'm not sure. But it did get me thinking what makes a player a fans favourite? It seems to me to be two broad categories, player attributes and human characteristics. However I think on top of all this a good catchy chant elevates players in fans consciousness almost as much as any skill level, which could explain the current dearth.
Human Characteristics
Local
The easiest way to the fans hearts is to be local. Luke Nightingale was given cracking support not only because of his two goal debut against the baggies but also his Milton roots. Joel Ward has got great potential and here's hoping he fulfils it. There is another blog to be written about Pompeys recent youth team policy and how Alex Oxdy Chamberlain probably could have been ours, but the fact remains there have been precious few examples of Portsmoothians wearing the star and crescent. To a lesser extent nonlocal youth team products benefit from the same bump start of popularity and there are more recent examples, Wilson, Cifti, Ryan Williams - but I think you have to go back to O'Neil to be the last with any longevity.
Loyalty
Player longevity is no guarantee of affection. But it helps especially if combined with consistent performances because this combination would lead to loyalty as longterm consistent performance would lead to interest from other clubs. Alan Knight is the simplest and finest example of this.
Personality
Football is a human, personality based tribal affair. Fans warm to people they like or can emphasise with. Linvoy Primus is the text book example - but also one of the strangest, a combination of annual improving performance and, seemingly his community based work founded in his Christianity. Marwell de Zeuw's stoic refusal to react to Diouf spitting in his face also received plaudits. But then again these personal traits do not have to be virtuous - Johnny Larger's attitude and lifestyle were easier for most to understand.
For all of these personality based traits they have to be combined with ability. For example Yoshi Kawaguchi's sunny disposition was not enough to maintain longterm support as his attempts to applaud the faithful after the 4 - 1 home defeat to Orient proved although it probably did gain him more time.
Player attributes
Aggression
Fans like nothing more than a crunching tackle. It shows commitment and that is what the average fan wants - it's the least the players can give them for their wages and ongoing support. But again Pompey are strangely lacking this at present. Brown, Davies, Hughes, Mendez, Diarra were brilliant examples but i used to enjoy the hatchet men of Vlachos, Thorgeson, Khul. There is also the derivative category of the attacking player willing to run and haphazardly tackle - an attribute that separates fan favourite matt Taylor from the more talented but less energetic Kranjcar.
Pace
Similarly a player with great pace always goes down well. Be it Jimmy 'Sanjay' Carter or Paul Hall or Courtney Pitt who the news always prefixed in their articles with the phrase 'fan's favourite'! Nothing excites the fans more than the simplicity of a surge of pace to beat a man - and that's why the fans are happy to see Ryan Williams' cameo performances.
Goals
The simplest way to the fans hearts is to score goals, as goals wins games. Creany, Whittingham, Toddy - unfortunately this situation is currently vacant in the team.
Having said all that there is a great degree of personal preference in favourites in all honesty creative footballers have always been my idols, there is a degree to which defending can be taught, but you can not teach the vision of Niko or the trickery of Prosi.
Any which way we could do with a unifying figure at the club at the moment to build the excitement levels at the park.
Sol
Wednesday 26 October 2011
Monday 24 October 2011
Jan Aage Fjortoft Doesnt think OGS will come to Fratton
@wswu to JanAageFjortoft: Solskjaer to Pompey to join Riise and Huselklepp? any thoughts?
JanAageFjortoft to @wswu: cant c it happening now Will stay in Molde
He works as a broadcaster in Norway now so may have some insight
JanAageFjortoft to @wswu: cant c it happening now Will stay in Molde
He works as a broadcaster in Norway now so may have some insight
Thursday 20 October 2011
The shame of a Pompey fan
I never thought I'd see the day Pompey won the FA cup. There are 25 players who have got FA cup winners medals. 189,244 people have watched Pompey live win the FA cup and I am proud to have been one of those people. I know it's easy for fans of their local team to deride glory hunters - but I also know that Man Utd fans from Kent will not get a 100th of the enjoyment I got from that day in May when an arbitrarily chosen team wins their umpteenth trophy. As a school boy I was one of two Pompey fans in my year. Even lads who went regularly to Fratton Park would claim a premier league club as their team. To have been loyal made the day feel like a deserved reward. I received messages from many of my friends from all over the world congratulating me personally - of course i hadnt contributed but at the same time it felt like a personal victory. When I was growing up at every birthday blow of candle I would make my private wish - I pray Pompey win the FA cup ( even then I had managed my limitations!) it's the day dreams came true.
But there is part of me that feels that this glorious day was sullied a little by the aftermath, and the administration that followed. A view that is evidently shared by other fans (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou5XWta1_ZY - adult content included, as well as incorrect assumption 'they try to buy success and failed' well we didnt fail but anyway) and pundits (http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/stan-collymore/Stan-Collymore-column-Why-cheating-Portsmouth-should-be-stripped-of-their-place-in-the-FA-Cup-plus-Hull-s-dream-has-turned-into-a-nightmare-article405029.html) a like. Did we do anything that Chelsea, Man City, even Man u have not done before us? The only difference is our money ran out?
Actually i'd argue that the same thing happened to Leeds, Sheffield wed, Charlton, Scum but they sank further for longer and didn't actually win anything. So Pompey were lucky?! Other clubs who go into administration get the sympathy of other fans, but we won something and our descent seems to have been brief (within 6 months we were signing premier quality players in Lawrence and Kitson) I feel like the reaction against Pompey was at least partially jealousy from our day in the sun as a Wigan fan, a baggie, a wolves fan, they work hard year on year but never actually win anything, ask any fan of these clubs would they take 10 yrs in the championship for an FA cup win, i dont know what the answer would be but i would take it - i dont think i would swap our day for anything. Why didn't we sink down leagues like Leeds, Wednesday etc? Mainly because of the quality management of 'Arry (see previous blog - http://whensolwentup.blogspot.com/2011/09/harry-redknapp-case-for-defence.html) - so should we feel guilty? should we have been punished more? Well i guess those decisions arent ours to make.
That day wasn't prefect but I will never be ashamed, I love it that I can honestly chant: When Sol went up to lift the FA Cup, I was there.
This blog was featured on http://dodgykneesanddirtyballs.com/ - check it out
But there is part of me that feels that this glorious day was sullied a little by the aftermath, and the administration that followed. A view that is evidently shared by other fans (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou5XWta1_ZY - adult content included, as well as incorrect assumption 'they try to buy success and failed' well we didnt fail but anyway) and pundits (http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/stan-collymore/Stan-Collymore-column-Why-cheating-Portsmouth-should-be-stripped-of-their-place-in-the-FA-Cup-plus-Hull-s-dream-has-turned-into-a-nightmare-article405029.html) a like. Did we do anything that Chelsea, Man City, even Man u have not done before us? The only difference is our money ran out?
Actually i'd argue that the same thing happened to Leeds, Sheffield wed, Charlton, Scum but they sank further for longer and didn't actually win anything. So Pompey were lucky?! Other clubs who go into administration get the sympathy of other fans, but we won something and our descent seems to have been brief (within 6 months we were signing premier quality players in Lawrence and Kitson) I feel like the reaction against Pompey was at least partially jealousy from our day in the sun as a Wigan fan, a baggie, a wolves fan, they work hard year on year but never actually win anything, ask any fan of these clubs would they take 10 yrs in the championship for an FA cup win, i dont know what the answer would be but i would take it - i dont think i would swap our day for anything. Why didn't we sink down leagues like Leeds, Wednesday etc? Mainly because of the quality management of 'Arry (see previous blog - http://whensolwentup.blogspot.com/2011/09/harry-redknapp-case-for-defence.html) - so should we feel guilty? should we have been punished more? Well i guess those decisions arent ours to make.
That day wasn't prefect but I will never be ashamed, I love it that I can honestly chant: When Sol went up to lift the FA Cup, I was there.
This blog was featured on http://dodgykneesanddirtyballs.com/ - check it out
Saturday 15 October 2011
What Next?
The Demise of Steve Cotterill
So Cotterill has jumped ship. Seemingly not at his request but because the club agreed a deal to let him go. This seems to be a good deal for all parties. The club get some money and remove a manager that was becoming increasingly unpopular with fans and Cotterill gets to start anew with his reputation undamaged and maybe even improved (Sky sports described him as 'one of the countries brightest young managers') after an average spell at Fratton Park. I thought CSI's statement was interesting with a couple slightly snide comments alluding to their dissatisfaction with Cotterill's performance ensuring this would not be viewed as a big club poaching a manager.
So who is correct the Forest board or the Fratton End? I think his tenure will be viewed in time as a success. He came when the club was on it's knees, with a skeleton squad. Over the season he lost the clubs two most expensive players (Utaka and Nugent) was not able to play TBH, Brown or Hughes. Yet the club went on a record breaking run and was in with a credible chance of an unlikely play off place. His signings have been good. I still think Wilson for Kitson and Lawrence plus cash was a great deal, Varney and the Viking look good and Halford and Pearce have the potential to be a Symons/Awford-esque centre back partnership. However the start to this season has been poor and the fans had began to turn. Long-ball one up front tactics are acceptable as long as you are winning but Pompey were not.
There is the real potential that he will be Pulis #2 a good manager but not liked at the Park. I'm probably in the minority but I wish him the best.
But what to do now? Well I've already written at length about how I would implement a radical new General Manager / Director of Football approach - but failing that the new appointment will force the new owners to show their hand and wallet. They've done nothing wrong yet, but you would hardly call them transparent however they will only be able to attract a quality manager with certain budgetary reassurances. Potential managers can be categorised in three groups:
1) Top draw: O'Neil, Benetiz - would send a massive signal as they would only come if money was offered
2) Championship level: Davies, Curbishley - the sort of manager who would only come to a mid-to-top half side
3) Inexperienced: O'driscell, Bradbury, whittingham/Grey - this would be worrying but Lampitt has already commented that this will be a good opportunity for new blood, making a Grey/whittingham appointment unlikely.
I think the most likely is a middle ground appointment a Grant or Strachan who are probably the lower end of category 2, Strachan has lived in the area and Grant has some good will from his FA Cup run and dictatorial 'they can't take our spirit' this would placate but not excite the fans. And right now that's what the club and it's dwindling attendances needs.
We shall wait and see. A spanking by Barnsley would probably put an end to Grays / Whittinghams chances. But on Monday it will be time for Lampitt to earn his money and CSI to start showing theirs.
So Cotterill has jumped ship. Seemingly not at his request but because the club agreed a deal to let him go. This seems to be a good deal for all parties. The club get some money and remove a manager that was becoming increasingly unpopular with fans and Cotterill gets to start anew with his reputation undamaged and maybe even improved (Sky sports described him as 'one of the countries brightest young managers') after an average spell at Fratton Park. I thought CSI's statement was interesting with a couple slightly snide comments alluding to their dissatisfaction with Cotterill's performance ensuring this would not be viewed as a big club poaching a manager.
So who is correct the Forest board or the Fratton End? I think his tenure will be viewed in time as a success. He came when the club was on it's knees, with a skeleton squad. Over the season he lost the clubs two most expensive players (Utaka and Nugent) was not able to play TBH, Brown or Hughes. Yet the club went on a record breaking run and was in with a credible chance of an unlikely play off place. His signings have been good. I still think Wilson for Kitson and Lawrence plus cash was a great deal, Varney and the Viking look good and Halford and Pearce have the potential to be a Symons/Awford-esque centre back partnership. However the start to this season has been poor and the fans had began to turn. Long-ball one up front tactics are acceptable as long as you are winning but Pompey were not.
There is the real potential that he will be Pulis #2 a good manager but not liked at the Park. I'm probably in the minority but I wish him the best.
But what to do now? Well I've already written at length about how I would implement a radical new General Manager / Director of Football approach - but failing that the new appointment will force the new owners to show their hand and wallet. They've done nothing wrong yet, but you would hardly call them transparent however they will only be able to attract a quality manager with certain budgetary reassurances. Potential managers can be categorised in three groups:
1) Top draw: O'Neil, Benetiz - would send a massive signal as they would only come if money was offered
2) Championship level: Davies, Curbishley - the sort of manager who would only come to a mid-to-top half side
3) Inexperienced: O'driscell, Bradbury, whittingham/Grey - this would be worrying but Lampitt has already commented that this will be a good opportunity for new blood, making a Grey/whittingham appointment unlikely.
I think the most likely is a middle ground appointment a Grant or Strachan who are probably the lower end of category 2, Strachan has lived in the area and Grant has some good will from his FA Cup run and dictatorial 'they can't take our spirit' this would placate but not excite the fans. And right now that's what the club and it's dwindling attendances needs.
We shall wait and see. A spanking by Barnsley would probably put an end to Grays / Whittinghams chances. But on Monday it will be time for Lampitt to earn his money and CSI to start showing theirs.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Monday 10 October 2011
Pompey - a new approach?
So after the dismissal of Keith Mullen and McClaren leaving the city ground, Cotterill is the next favourite for the boot. But then what? Dave Jones? Billy Davis? I remember when Cotterill was appointed he was a popular choice - he had done a good job at Notts C, his record at Cheltenham was remarkable and he built the foundations for Burnley's promotion - when it became apparent he was going to be appointed I dont remember there being an outcry of complaints.
But now his demise is being called for increasing numbers of fans. The average Championship manager is in post for less than a year and according to the albeit vested interest of the LMA a sacking will cost the club around 99m http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15159931.stm but the ramifications go further than financial, not least in terms of the squad. The new manager might have a different focus than on attacking wide midfielders and all of a sudden the squad containing Varney, Lawrence, the Viking, Risse and Williams looks increasingly unbalanced. For the gambles Cotterill has made, like Fuctas, the future is even more uncertain. So there is more turnover, more churn and we write off the rest of the season as reconstruction. If the new manager has a poor start to next season we are in the same place yet again.
So whats the answer? More patience with managers? well no, not unblinkered trust. The patience needed to weather the storms of dodgy spells has to be earned. I favour a more radical approach and i think Pompey are in a good position to try it.
Successful football teams have continuity. But continuity only comes with success. Man Utd, and until this season Arsenal have built their success on having the best manager, but these are hard to find and harder still to attract to the South Coast and harder still to retain once their success becomes evident. But there are other models of success in Barca, and probably more relevantly, Swansea.
These clubs build a culture, a footballing philosophy independent of their manager, led by a consistent back room staf and an overseeing general manager (or director of football) Choose a formation, every team from the youngest youth teams to the first team play the formation. The squads are based on Mourinho's rule of a 24 man squad http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6638377.stm 2 players for every position, an extra keeper and a youth squad member gaining experience. Any new signings lead to the departure of another player.
The manager or head coach comes in accepting these parameters. Surely we wouldn't be able to attract an established manager? But do we really need an ex-pro? The examples of head coaches without footballing experience are mounting, scour the world for a young smart individual to be head coach. I recently was in the US and heard an interview of a college football coach, their first meeting during the week is at 630am, they work all day before a 10pm wrap-up meeting. We might not need this but we can certainly set the standard. There is a fantastic book, Moneyball (about to be made into a film starring Brad Pitt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4QPVo0UIzc) about Billy Beane the manager of the Oakland A's baseball team, one of the poorest sides in the US, but by re-examining perceived wisdom of what makes a good baseball player he had incredible results - I want Pompey to be the blueprint.
The results would not be instant, or even quick and not guaranteed. So Pompey would need the fans onboard, but with good communication this can happen. I completely agree with Mike Hall's excellent blog article http://www.fansonline.net/pompey-fans/article.php?id=358 he discusses the fact we have no leader on the pitch, a lack of character for the fans to get behind. I broadly agree (although I hope Halford and Pearce can be that bedrock) but i think the current apathy goes further. If we are honest football wise Pompey are going to struggle to beat the last decade, I think consciously or subconsciously Pompey fans know this, for many fans this doesnt matter but the crowds this year suggest for some it does.
Lets make Pompey a team to be proud of again. The example of how to run a club. Perhaps invite all season ticket holders to a Q&A session where the club could explain the new approach. The general manager / DoF has a weekly hour long phone in session to keep fans up to date and answer their questions. The club, via e-mail asks Season Ticket holders to vote on how the club does certain things, such as pre-game entertainment. Get everyone involved and lets go on another football adventure, like the one started that night vs Stockport, or 'Arry's promotion season, or Mendez's volley.
Well thats what i'd do if i was in charge!
But now his demise is being called for increasing numbers of fans. The average Championship manager is in post for less than a year and according to the albeit vested interest of the LMA a sacking will cost the club around 99m http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15159931.stm but the ramifications go further than financial, not least in terms of the squad. The new manager might have a different focus than on attacking wide midfielders and all of a sudden the squad containing Varney, Lawrence, the Viking, Risse and Williams looks increasingly unbalanced. For the gambles Cotterill has made, like Fuctas, the future is even more uncertain. So there is more turnover, more churn and we write off the rest of the season as reconstruction. If the new manager has a poor start to next season we are in the same place yet again.
So whats the answer? More patience with managers? well no, not unblinkered trust. The patience needed to weather the storms of dodgy spells has to be earned. I favour a more radical approach and i think Pompey are in a good position to try it.
Successful football teams have continuity. But continuity only comes with success. Man Utd, and until this season Arsenal have built their success on having the best manager, but these are hard to find and harder still to attract to the South Coast and harder still to retain once their success becomes evident. But there are other models of success in Barca, and probably more relevantly, Swansea.
These clubs build a culture, a footballing philosophy independent of their manager, led by a consistent back room staf and an overseeing general manager (or director of football) Choose a formation, every team from the youngest youth teams to the first team play the formation. The squads are based on Mourinho's rule of a 24 man squad http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6638377.stm 2 players for every position, an extra keeper and a youth squad member gaining experience. Any new signings lead to the departure of another player.
The manager or head coach comes in accepting these parameters. Surely we wouldn't be able to attract an established manager? But do we really need an ex-pro? The examples of head coaches without footballing experience are mounting, scour the world for a young smart individual to be head coach. I recently was in the US and heard an interview of a college football coach, their first meeting during the week is at 630am, they work all day before a 10pm wrap-up meeting. We might not need this but we can certainly set the standard. There is a fantastic book, Moneyball (about to be made into a film starring Brad Pitt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4QPVo0UIzc) about Billy Beane the manager of the Oakland A's baseball team, one of the poorest sides in the US, but by re-examining perceived wisdom of what makes a good baseball player he had incredible results - I want Pompey to be the blueprint.
The results would not be instant, or even quick and not guaranteed. So Pompey would need the fans onboard, but with good communication this can happen. I completely agree with Mike Hall's excellent blog article http://www.fansonline.net/pompey-fans/article.php?id=358 he discusses the fact we have no leader on the pitch, a lack of character for the fans to get behind. I broadly agree (although I hope Halford and Pearce can be that bedrock) but i think the current apathy goes further. If we are honest football wise Pompey are going to struggle to beat the last decade, I think consciously or subconsciously Pompey fans know this, for many fans this doesnt matter but the crowds this year suggest for some it does.
Lets make Pompey a team to be proud of again. The example of how to run a club. Perhaps invite all season ticket holders to a Q&A session where the club could explain the new approach. The general manager / DoF has a weekly hour long phone in session to keep fans up to date and answer their questions. The club, via e-mail asks Season Ticket holders to vote on how the club does certain things, such as pre-game entertainment. Get everyone involved and lets go on another football adventure, like the one started that night vs Stockport, or 'Arry's promotion season, or Mendez's volley.
Well thats what i'd do if i was in charge!
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