I do not want this blog to be a series of match reports, but todays game made my blood boil.
The Pompey performance was abject, awful, rubbish, devoid of effort, creativity or skill. Not one player emerged with an ounce of credit. Ward out of his depth, Kitson ineffectual, Norris bypassed and so on. When we were in the Premier league we would often get beaten (away at Villa 3-0 at halftime, away at Arsenal when Chalkias Kostus) but today was against a frankly awful Watford team, this performance is in the same category in my mind as Palace at home when Tiler imploded and the Orient FA Cup defeat.
What made it all the harder to stomach was the expectation. Cotterill and his long-ball tactics have gone, this was a new era with a bright new manager ready to continue the work of Whittingham and Gray into a series of fixtures, as we have previously discussed on this blog, that are kind, including 3 home games (for the 4th best home team in the league) and away fixtures against poor home teams in Watford and Burnley. This was the start of this team fulfilling their potential - building to a season defining derby against Southampton.
The players were rightly booed, (although i wasnt quite ready to join in the chants of your not fit to wear the shirt) and the Pompey fans (who were vocal and numerous) had to entertain themselves with songs of past achievements, this current team do not look like giving us anything to sing about.
I know Liam Lawrence has his critics - his effort levels can be questioned, but his quality is vital for this team - i felt he was missed today. Tactically Appleton has decisions to make. It seems to be that our team has an imbalance of wingers (Erik, Varney and Lawrence - could young Williams be used as a catalyst?) we need to utilise them. Its also damning that to be Kanu seems to be our best attacking threat at present - Benjani looks slow and was offside about a gazzillion times in his second half performance.
How much blame should Appleton take? well its only one week in, we cant blame him but equally if we had won, the papers would have credited his influence with the first away win of the season, therefore this lack of reaction from players, this lack of motivation, the lack of a plan b, has to be at least partially parked at his door. Hypothetically, would this have happened with OGS in charge? there is part of me that thinks not, the players surely would have given him more.
His appointment is easily questioned. He needs to solicit a reaction on Saturday and repay the faith of the board.
Anyway im going to get on with my Saturday night! Lets keep the faith and hope my family members will forgive me my attendance of todays debacle in lieu of them getting quality Christmas presents.
The Pompey performance was abject, awful, rubbish, devoid of effort, creativity or skill. Not one player emerged with an ounce of credit. Ward out of his depth, Kitson ineffectual, Norris bypassed and so on. When we were in the Premier league we would often get beaten (away at Villa 3-0 at halftime, away at Arsenal when Chalkias Kostus) but today was against a frankly awful Watford team, this performance is in the same category in my mind as Palace at home when Tiler imploded and the Orient FA Cup defeat.
What made it all the harder to stomach was the expectation. Cotterill and his long-ball tactics have gone, this was a new era with a bright new manager ready to continue the work of Whittingham and Gray into a series of fixtures, as we have previously discussed on this blog, that are kind, including 3 home games (for the 4th best home team in the league) and away fixtures against poor home teams in Watford and Burnley. This was the start of this team fulfilling their potential - building to a season defining derby against Southampton.
The players were rightly booed, (although i wasnt quite ready to join in the chants of your not fit to wear the shirt) and the Pompey fans (who were vocal and numerous) had to entertain themselves with songs of past achievements, this current team do not look like giving us anything to sing about.
I know Liam Lawrence has his critics - his effort levels can be questioned, but his quality is vital for this team - i felt he was missed today. Tactically Appleton has decisions to make. It seems to be that our team has an imbalance of wingers (Erik, Varney and Lawrence - could young Williams be used as a catalyst?) we need to utilise them. Its also damning that to be Kanu seems to be our best attacking threat at present - Benjani looks slow and was offside about a gazzillion times in his second half performance.
How much blame should Appleton take? well its only one week in, we cant blame him but equally if we had won, the papers would have credited his influence with the first away win of the season, therefore this lack of reaction from players, this lack of motivation, the lack of a plan b, has to be at least partially parked at his door. Hypothetically, would this have happened with OGS in charge? there is part of me that thinks not, the players surely would have given him more.
His appointment is easily questioned. He needs to solicit a reaction on Saturday and repay the faith of the board.
Anyway im going to get on with my Saturday night! Lets keep the faith and hope my family members will forgive me my attendance of todays debacle in lieu of them getting quality Christmas presents.
I think your harsh on watford, a "poor home team" who has now won their last 3 home games in a row and have a premiership quality player in Kightly.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I should apologise to Watford fans a little! I am looking of course from a Pompey view. As for Watfords home form, lies damn lies and stats! Before today they had won 3 of 8, not a great home record, but following today they go 3 on the trot and fair play to them. Kightly is a great loan player, Dickinson looked far more solid than he ever did at the Park and Sordell was dangerous coming forward. As always in football if one team plays badly that has to be at least partially because of the success of the opposing team, we had two shots all game and some of that has to go down to a solid performance from Nosworthy. I wish Watford good luck for the rest of the season.
ReplyDeletePompey were still rubbish though!
I think the most basic problem you had was the Hogg and Buaban bossed the midfield and meant whilst we had a base for our attacking play, when Pompey played it forward it came straight back.
ReplyDeleteNosworthy and Mariappa are a brilliantly solid centre back pairing too.
Wouldn't disagree. The problem with Pompey is we are living off the past. Hogg and Mariappa have half the reputation and experience of Mullins and Norris but had double the game.
ReplyDelete