If you are anything like me you will spend sometime youtubing Pompey. I will put my favorites up here. I wasnt actually here for the game. But i was listening to this on the radio. Magical
Sol
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Happier times
If you are anything like me you will spend sometime youtubing Pompey. I will put my favorites up here. I wasnt actually here for the game. But i was listening to this on the radio. Magical
Tuesday, 13 September 2011
Harry Redknapp: the case for the defence
A mid table team in mid table
It's not my intent for this blog to be a series of match reports, if for nothing else I don't
get to all the away games, but I thought the hammers defeat was quite revealing. Ill-
discipline cost us. We are a dirty team. Lawrence deserved his red card (and could have
had two) and I dont like how Cotterill attempted to defend the first tackle. But I think our
bigger problem was centre mid, Lawrence is not strong enough to play there, Norris I'm
still undecided about and I don't know if Hayden is a good enough to play the destructive
defensive mid role. Erik great cross, Varney good, Benj energetic, even though they let
in four the centre backs look excellent, Halford especially, they could be the basis of our
team for years a la Kit and Awford / sol and distin.
But all in all we looked like what we are. A mid table championship team.
One 'Arry Redknapp
My feelings towards Harry Redknapp are a little like that of a jilted lover - outwardly I'm
angry towards him but there is part of me that secretly hopes he is gonna come back to us
- deep down I think he still loves us.
I realise I'm in a minority here and i understand why people dislike him. The media love
him but those who have to put up with his media output on a regular basis soon see how
repetitive it is and how he never takes the blame for anything. His claims that Pompey
were in the relegation zone when he took over ( which by the by isn't true ) plus he had of
course been at the club as Director of football so he should take some of the responsibility.
He did a good job getting Pompey up, but the bottom had fallen out of the market and Arry
empowered by Milans money did well to take full advantage. His boasting has continued
at Spurs there are a lot of people, me included, who hoped that Spurs poor run had
continued and after 8 games they had only 2 points as he regularly quotes this as the dire
position Spurs were in before he took over but alas.
Rumours continue to persist that Redknapp is on the take. Tom Bowers excellent
book 'Broken Dreams' devotes a chapter to Arry's dubious record and activities that are no
longer mere rumours but criminal charges. BUT in terms of character references, he does
seem to do more than the average manager for charity in terms of golf days and being
the manager of celebrity football games. In the world of increasingly sterile managers I
certainly enjoy his salt of the earth approach.
Most important to me of course is Portsmouth football club and his transfer record is the
basis of my case for the defence. We spent too much money when he was in charge.
There are some accusations that 'Arry demanded too much cash. But how weak were the
people around him that they couldnt say no!? Its his job to work with the budget given to
him. The cold facts are during his second spell as manager his transfer dealings profited
the club to the tune of over £35,000,000. As a Pompey fan you know the stats, Johnson
(14m profit), diarra (14m profit), Defoe (7.5m profit) muntari (5m profit) but so few real
duffs (Utaka excepted). You look at similar clubs like Leeds Utd who spent 12m on Fowler
selling him for £3m, Johnson for 7m released on a free - we were lucky to have his transfer
nous - if it had been given to a lesser manager who had made poor signings our financial
problems could have been deeper - indeed the majority of clubs who have suffered from
over reach sunk lower than us (Leeds, Sheffield W, Scum, Notts F, Leicester etc)
I think the way he went to scum after clearly stating he wasn't going to sticks in the throat
- but on a personal level you can understand he has no long-term ties to Fratton Park but
he lives down south and there was a job available - also his abject failure there makes it
easier to forgive!
That's not to say chanting 'Arry what's the score' during the semi-final victory wasn't one of
my favourite ever Pompey moments, you might not like how he conducts himself at times
but Pompey were lucky to have him.
It's not my intent for this blog to be a series of match reports, if for nothing else I don't
get to all the away games, but I thought the hammers defeat was quite revealing. Ill-
discipline cost us. We are a dirty team. Lawrence deserved his red card (and could have
had two) and I dont like how Cotterill attempted to defend the first tackle. But I think our
bigger problem was centre mid, Lawrence is not strong enough to play there, Norris I'm
still undecided about and I don't know if Hayden is a good enough to play the destructive
defensive mid role. Erik great cross, Varney good, Benj energetic, even though they let
in four the centre backs look excellent, Halford especially, they could be the basis of our
team for years a la Kit and Awford / sol and distin.
But all in all we looked like what we are. A mid table championship team.
One 'Arry Redknapp
My feelings towards Harry Redknapp are a little like that of a jilted lover - outwardly I'm
angry towards him but there is part of me that secretly hopes he is gonna come back to us
- deep down I think he still loves us.
I realise I'm in a minority here and i understand why people dislike him. The media love
him but those who have to put up with his media output on a regular basis soon see how
repetitive it is and how he never takes the blame for anything. His claims that Pompey
were in the relegation zone when he took over ( which by the by isn't true ) plus he had of
course been at the club as Director of football so he should take some of the responsibility.
He did a good job getting Pompey up, but the bottom had fallen out of the market and Arry
empowered by Milans money did well to take full advantage. His boasting has continued
at Spurs there are a lot of people, me included, who hoped that Spurs poor run had
continued and after 8 games they had only 2 points as he regularly quotes this as the dire
position Spurs were in before he took over but alas.
Rumours continue to persist that Redknapp is on the take. Tom Bowers excellent
book 'Broken Dreams' devotes a chapter to Arry's dubious record and activities that are no
longer mere rumours but criminal charges. BUT in terms of character references, he does
seem to do more than the average manager for charity in terms of golf days and being
the manager of celebrity football games. In the world of increasingly sterile managers I
certainly enjoy his salt of the earth approach.
Most important to me of course is Portsmouth football club and his transfer record is the
basis of my case for the defence. We spent too much money when he was in charge.
There are some accusations that 'Arry demanded too much cash. But how weak were the
people around him that they couldnt say no!? Its his job to work with the budget given to
him. The cold facts are during his second spell as manager his transfer dealings profited
the club to the tune of over £35,000,000. As a Pompey fan you know the stats, Johnson
(14m profit), diarra (14m profit), Defoe (7.5m profit) muntari (5m profit) but so few real
duffs (Utaka excepted). You look at similar clubs like Leeds Utd who spent 12m on Fowler
selling him for £3m, Johnson for 7m released on a free - we were lucky to have his transfer
nous - if it had been given to a lesser manager who had made poor signings our financial
problems could have been deeper - indeed the majority of clubs who have suffered from
over reach sunk lower than us (Leeds, Sheffield W, Scum, Notts F, Leicester etc)
I think the way he went to scum after clearly stating he wasn't going to sticks in the throat
- but on a personal level you can understand he has no long-term ties to Fratton Park but
he lives down south and there was a job available - also his abject failure there makes it
easier to forgive!
That's not to say chanting 'Arry what's the score' during the semi-final victory wasn't one of
my favourite ever Pompey moments, you might not like how he conducts himself at times
but Pompey were lucky to have him.
Friday, 9 September 2011
The tale of two seasons
Every start of the season is the same. The poring over the fantasy football lists as Tony from work who claims to watch every game of football on tv recommends Blackburn's new Venezuelan forward who you consider before picking the identical team to everyone else. You are incredulous at the preseason odds and thats before the friendlies - if you smash Nuneaton the game takes on great importance, when you inevitably lose 1-0 to Exeter its all about fitness.
By September you know actually know if you were right to choose Robin Van Persie over Rooney (hell. No.) and you know where abouts Pompey will finish... that is except for this season.
As the News points out Pompey have only lost once in five games (proof of progress http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/great-matches/proof_that_progress_is_being_made_1_3040141). Unfortunately Pompey have only won once in five games. We are the only team in the division with a neutral goal difference - a fact that is indicative of pompey's start and the current status of Portsmouth FC. We are none the wiser about the status of our football club. the away point at boro looks quite good - they have taken maximum points from three of their other four games - the loss vs table topping Brighton is now seemingly excusable, but by the same token the victory v Reading looks less impressive now they are flirting with the relegation zone and we shouldn't loose to Barnet. Ever.
The indifferent start replicates the view of most of Stevie Cotterill. He seems like a nice chap, if a bit of a dense sh'lad at times. I think most people would applaud last year - at the start of the season we were rock bottom and to continue the geological metaphor were sinking like a stone. But an incredibly shrewd piece of business to swap Marc Wilsons ever expanding ego and hollywood passing for Liam Lawrence and his slightly more justified ego and Dave Kitson who despite the stick of the fans has scored an approaching respectable 1 goal every 2.963 league games (although he had his worst league season last year) which is significantly better than say former fans fav Nuge (goal every 3.94 games), season kick-started a great mid-season before petering out.
But Cotterill only has himself to blame for this seasons seemingly chaotic US jolly. He has signed nine players and spent the more than most other football league clubs. Football fans are fickle beasts and will put up with long-ball and fight as long as the team are winning - in fact I think Pompey fans value fight more than most fans - which is lucky pompey have committed 80 fouls this season, a staggering 25% more than second placed perennial dirty Leeds. But we aren't winning and the manager doesn't seemed to have bought players to match the long ball game. Lawrence, Varney, Chuck aren't classic hoofers and I hope the Hungarian giant is not a sign of things to come.
To continue the extrapolation the jury is still out on the new owners. Pompey fans don't know what to expect from football club chairman. I don't think there is such a thing as a normal owner, to be involved in burning money for ego's sake you have to be a bit odd - but our last 5 have been varying from the mad to the potentially criminal to the perhaps nonexistent. the new owners have spent money - but then they had to. They have not interacted with the fans nearly enough - to the farcical situation two weeks ago of missing a radio interview to play 5-a-side. There has been no talk of a new stadium (unless you count £100,000 to move the big screen) which is the seed of the clubs future sustainability, in terms of stadia Pompey should be battling relegation from the championship not pushing for premier league status as I think most fans imagine is Pompey's rightful footballing place.
I waited until September for my first blog as I wanted to say something insightful and decisive. The reality is we still don't know much will depend if Cotterill is good in the transfer market - is he 'arry or reggie. Is Varney Viafara or Mednes. For what it's worth the jury is out but I still have faith in Cotterill, I see us pushing for the play offs and I'd argue that would be a solid progression after the turmoil of recent years. Im looking forward to finding out. Play up Pompey.
By September you know actually know if you were right to choose Robin Van Persie over Rooney (hell. No.) and you know where abouts Pompey will finish... that is except for this season.
As the News points out Pompey have only lost once in five games (proof of progress http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/great-matches/proof_that_progress_is_being_made_1_3040141). Unfortunately Pompey have only won once in five games. We are the only team in the division with a neutral goal difference - a fact that is indicative of pompey's start and the current status of Portsmouth FC. We are none the wiser about the status of our football club. the away point at boro looks quite good - they have taken maximum points from three of their other four games - the loss vs table topping Brighton is now seemingly excusable, but by the same token the victory v Reading looks less impressive now they are flirting with the relegation zone and we shouldn't loose to Barnet. Ever.
The indifferent start replicates the view of most of Stevie Cotterill. He seems like a nice chap, if a bit of a dense sh'lad at times. I think most people would applaud last year - at the start of the season we were rock bottom and to continue the geological metaphor were sinking like a stone. But an incredibly shrewd piece of business to swap Marc Wilsons ever expanding ego and hollywood passing for Liam Lawrence and his slightly more justified ego and Dave Kitson who despite the stick of the fans has scored an approaching respectable 1 goal every 2.963 league games (although he had his worst league season last year) which is significantly better than say former fans fav Nuge (goal every 3.94 games), season kick-started a great mid-season before petering out.
But Cotterill only has himself to blame for this seasons seemingly chaotic US jolly. He has signed nine players and spent the more than most other football league clubs. Football fans are fickle beasts and will put up with long-ball and fight as long as the team are winning - in fact I think Pompey fans value fight more than most fans - which is lucky pompey have committed 80 fouls this season, a staggering 25% more than second placed perennial dirty Leeds. But we aren't winning and the manager doesn't seemed to have bought players to match the long ball game. Lawrence, Varney, Chuck aren't classic hoofers and I hope the Hungarian giant is not a sign of things to come.
To continue the extrapolation the jury is still out on the new owners. Pompey fans don't know what to expect from football club chairman. I don't think there is such a thing as a normal owner, to be involved in burning money for ego's sake you have to be a bit odd - but our last 5 have been varying from the mad to the potentially criminal to the perhaps nonexistent. the new owners have spent money - but then they had to. They have not interacted with the fans nearly enough - to the farcical situation two weeks ago of missing a radio interview to play 5-a-side. There has been no talk of a new stadium (unless you count £100,000 to move the big screen) which is the seed of the clubs future sustainability, in terms of stadia Pompey should be battling relegation from the championship not pushing for premier league status as I think most fans imagine is Pompey's rightful footballing place.
I waited until September for my first blog as I wanted to say something insightful and decisive. The reality is we still don't know much will depend if Cotterill is good in the transfer market - is he 'arry or reggie. Is Varney Viafara or Mednes. For what it's worth the jury is out but I still have faith in Cotterill, I see us pushing for the play offs and I'd argue that would be a solid progression after the turmoil of recent years. Im looking forward to finding out. Play up Pompey.
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