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Post by emperorsuperbus on Aug 21, 2018 22:55:49 GMT
Firstly my view of the game.
We played quite well at times in the second half. We were nothing at all for the first twenty minutes of the first half, that was less to do with giving them too much respect more to do with Pompey excellent with their press and getting in a tackle. Would you agree it’s a trade mark of Smelly Jackets teams that they do the ugly stuff very well, and that builds the platform on which to play football as the the cliche goes? Just as we started to ask them a few questions we conceded. 0.1 half time probably a fair reflection.
In the first 15 minutes of the second half we were very good, applied so much pressure to their goal that the scoreline now became an injustice. The equaliser was justice. Lines card was a blow. Ref was quick to give it, Pompey even quicker to make a fuss of the challenge. In my opinion the winner came from little pressure and was indebted to some average goalkeeping and defending. Even after that we failed to take at least one good chance to equalise.
Portsmouth looked a good side but we managed to raise our game and wobble them. Their keepers going to be worth a few points for them this season, he had a very good game.
Secondly my view of direction of travel.
3 defeats in 4. No clean sheets. Yet no crisis?
Instead of crisis there is a sense of optimism. Why?
In just 4 games you can’t know till the season pans out what you were up against. But we suspect with Pompey and Posh starts they are serious top 2 contenders. Even then our performance against them not so bad. It was the Accrington game we messed up, but even then Accrington walked away 2.1 on the balance of the game they didn’t deserve.
We do have a few injuries. Mathews is crocked after that challenge on him on Saturday, Payne went off injured today. We haven’t seen the exciting new left back yet, nor Sinclair.
People around me stood up and applauded Nichols from the field. Yes. This actually happened. We do seem blessed with a lot of competition for game time this season. There does seem a lot of options.
And that brings us to the cloud passing the sun. Options could mean too much chopping and changing and too much playing out of position just to get their name of team sheet. I’ll give you an example. It was 4 4 2 tonight with sercs on the right. He won plaudits for playing on left on Saturday. Against Accrington he played left right and centre in one game. He’s much more effective in the centre, that’s his position. How do you dare criticise Liam for not playing as well as last season, as Dennis did in the Greenun and the Chairman on the radio when he’s not given a run in his most natural position? Ollie and Upson are doing okay, though both giving away possession too easy at times, neither deserve to remain in the side when we have sercs as centre midfield option.
So two debating points. Firstly the job sercs is being asked to do out wide in a 4 4 2 we probably have three players who can do it better than him, so if he’s not to be used in middle Sercombe needs to come out the side and forced to watch Ollie and Upson start in his natural position. Secondly, I didn’t applaud Nichols off, though he did look the part and gave a presence that wasn’t blessed with great service today. I was though impressed with what I saw of the Watford kid when he came on, when should he be given a few starts in Nichols support striker position to show what he can do?
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crater
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 1,444
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Post by crater on Aug 22, 2018 5:27:39 GMT
Need to get Bennett on the ball as often as possible...tricky little player who makes things happen
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simonj
Archie Stevens
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 817
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Post by simonj on Aug 22, 2018 6:08:51 GMT
Don't get the love in with Nichols. Hasn't scored in 42 appearances, doesn't assist. Threatened to look good, has his shots, just can't finish. Still gets a next game. Don't get the love in with Locks. Distribution woeful tonight. A couple of break down moves but his dithering cost us 3 points as captain he should be taking decisive action and not allowing their poached effort. I like AMPG evaluation in parts. For me, Bennett played really well. Prob my m o m. Danny cane into the game more second half with some width and great crosses. But over all I thought we were beaten by ourselves again. Costly defensive mistakes punished and failure to convert our chances. We've played top 2/4 and had very decent spells in both games. This is cause for optimism, but I'm afraid if we continue to play mistake prone players and striker that never scores the table doesn't lie at any stage... Sorry to inform you fella, but Leadbitters crosses and general wing play are absolutely abysmal. second half he put the best cross in ive seen in a long while, and yes we should have scored from it
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 6:16:31 GMT
There is no way we deserved to lose that and sorry, Tom Nichols was superb. Kyle Bennett, both Clarkes, Payne, Alex Anagram, Sercombe (when in his proper position), Locks and Craig too. Danny did ok, I thought. Smith's kicking was woeful, but his throwing better, especially the quick release for Kylie that somehow resulted in just a free kick after he was hacked down by their number 32. As for Linesy, he should have been on in place of Upson from the start.
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harrybuckle
Always look on the bright side
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 5,418
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Post by harrybuckle on Aug 22, 2018 6:45:21 GMT
Just one win at the Mem in the league in our last nine matches -that is a poor record.
Good job we have an impressive away record two wins in our last nine !
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Post by Gregory Stevens on Aug 22, 2018 6:53:31 GMT
No others scored and Nichols was probably our best attacker, esp first half. It’s not a love in, it’s just not being black and white about a player. Cool. We'll carry on playing strikers that don't score and wonder why we're in the grey.. That’s being black and white isn’t it! Where are we going to pull a scoring striker from, out of Clarke’s arse?
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Post by Gregory Stevens on Aug 22, 2018 6:54:58 GMT
Sorry to inform you fella, but Leadbitters crosses and general wing play are absolutely abysmal. second half he put the best cross in ive seen in a long while, and yes we should have scored from it He did that twice.
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simonj
Archie Stevens
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 817
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Post by simonj on Aug 22, 2018 7:41:46 GMT
Firstly my view of the game. We played quite well at times in the second half. We were nothing at all for the first twenty minutes of the first half, that was less to do with giving them too much respect more to do with Pompey excellent with their press and getting in a tackle. Would you agree it’s a trade mark of Smelly Jackets teams that they do the ugly stuff very well, and that builds the platform on which to play football as the the cliche goes? Just as we started to ask them a few questions we conceded. 0.1 half time probably a fair reflection. In the first 15 minutes of the second half we were very good, applied so much pressure to their goal that the scoreline now became an injustice. The equaliser was justice. Lines card was a blow. Ref was quick to give it, Pompey even quicker to make a fuss of the challenge. In my opinion the winner came from little pressure and was indebted to some average goalkeeping and defending. Even after that we failed to take at least one good chance to equalise. Portsmouth looked a good side but we managed to raise our game and wobble them. Their keepers going to be worth a few points for them this season, he had a very good game. Secondly my view of direction of travel. 3 defeats in 4. No clean sheets. Yet no crisis? Instead of crisis there is a sense of optimism. Why? In just 4 games you can’t know till the season pans out what you were up against. But we suspect with Pompey and Posh starts they are serious top 2 contenders. Even then our performance against them not so bad. It was the Accrington game we messed up, but even then Accrington walked away 2.1 on the balance of the game they didn’t deserve. We do have a few injuries. Mathews is crocked after that challenge on him on Saturday, Payne went off injured today. We haven’t seen the exciting new left back yet, nor Sinclair. People around me stood up and applauded Nichols from the field. Yes. This actually happened. We do seem blessed with a lot of competition for game time this season. There does seem a lot of options. And that brings us to the cloud passing the sun. Options could mean too much chopping and changing and too much playing out of position just to get their name of team sheet. I’ll give you an example. It was 4 4 2 tonight with sercs on the right. He won plaudits for playing on left on Saturday. Against Accrington he played left right and centre in one game. He’s much more effective in the centre, that’s his position. How do you dare criticise Liam for not playing as well as last season, as Dennis did in the Greenun and the Chairman on the radio when he’s not given a run in his most natural position? Ollie and Upson are doing okay, though both giving away possession too easy at times, neither deserve to remain in the side when we have sercs as centre midfield option. So two debating points. Firstly the job sercs is being asked to do out wide in a 4 4 2 we probably have three players who can do it better than him, so if he’s not to be used in middle Sercombe needs to come out the side and forced to watch Ollie and Upson start in his natural position. Secondly, I didn’t applaud Nichols off, though he did look the part and gave a presence that wasn’t blessed with great service today. I was though impressed with what I saw of the Watford kid when he came on, when should he be given a few starts in Nichols support striker position to show what he can do?
Somehow we have to get Sercombe more central, get some width and play 2 up top. With our creaky centre backs and very average keeper we also need defensive midfield cover. Everyone is pointing at Nicholls, for me its the keeper and central defence that is our problem. Strong organising CH and good keeper, we can then be more expansive.
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trunky
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 230
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Post by trunky on Aug 22, 2018 7:45:30 GMT
Not convinced by our goalkeeper didn't make any howler's but he doesn't inspire confidence with his handling and kicking.I would have kept Slocombe, apart from that a decent performance,i would like a bit more height at the back as I think when we play team's with tall physical forwards we will really struggle.
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Igitur
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 2,294
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Post by Igitur on Aug 22, 2018 7:59:33 GMT
Judge things after five, or better still 10 games.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 10:10:20 GMT
No others scored and Nichols was probably our best attacker, esp first half. It’s not a love in, it’s just not being black and white about a player. Cool. We'll carry on playing strikers that don't score and wonder why we're in the grey.. Thats what happens when you sell your goalscorers ie taylor,bodin and harrison. Its not rocket science is it?
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Post by DudeLebowski on Aug 22, 2018 10:37:22 GMT
Just one win at the Mem in the league in our last nine matches -that is a poor record.
Good job we have an impressive away record two wins in our last nine !
Or only 3 defeats in 14 at home in 2018. Depends which way you want to spin it I guess.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 10:49:51 GMT
Cool. We'll carry on playing strikers that don't score and wonder why we're in the grey.. That’s being black and white isn’t it! Where are we going to pull a scoring striker from, out of Clarke’s arse? We could try one of the geezers who sits on the bench?
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2018 10:53:08 GMT
Cool. We'll carry on playing strikers that don't score and wonder why we're in the grey.. Thats what happens when you sell your goalscorers ie taylor,bodin and harrison. Its not rocket science is it? It's also not rocket science to try changing things when a course of action consistently fails to produce results. What is that quote about insanity being the same thing over and over and expecting a different result? I bet DC can relate to that.
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Post by Gregory Stevens on Aug 22, 2018 12:22:12 GMT
I didn’t think this needs explaining, but all L1 clubs without mega money sell players to championship and prem teams.
Bodin, Taylor and Harrison were not saying “nah, I want to stay”. They were off. You can’t stop them.
If we equalled wages, we probably still wouldn’t stop them. Higher level. More potential.
So, we would probably need to have offered those 3 in excess of 10-15k weekly to stay.
I share the frustration of losing players but it’s just a fact. I don’t think DC was blaming the board in this comment. More like explaining why we aren’t quite gelling.
He has always moaned about budgets, it’s in his interest to.
Take a look at our accounts and tell me you’d now have a £2m addition to the wage bill keeping Bodin, Taylor and Harrison...?
This is just like politics. “The cuts! Austerity is a choice! Mean nasty tories!”
Both the UK and Bristol Rovers are heavily in debt. You can’t spend stupid money when you’re always accruing more and more debt.
We might be lucky and find a punter who wants to piss his fortune into our club. For the UK, that’s unlikely too.
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jets4
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 110
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Post by jets4 on Aug 22, 2018 15:57:41 GMT
Including the end of last season, by my reckoning, we've won one from 11, and two from 15. Its time for the manager to go, and, soon. I'm fed up of the trust in DC, who in some peoples eyes can do no wrong. As an illustration, his obsession with Nichols is laughable, and in that respect alone, he has lost credibility. I don't want to hear that Nichols had a decent game. He's had far too many chances. Also, its not the first time that Lines has let us down by being sent off. IMO he brings nothing to the table and we should get rid.. Feeling a bit down after gifting a win to a team that did nothing to deserve it, so thanks for this post, I needed a good laugh to cheer me up. BTW, I like stats too, by my reckoning we've been promoted in half the seasons this manager has been in charge, so clearly he needs to be run out of town You need to chill out, we'll be just fine, 1982 are going to do well to avoid relegation, the season will be just fine.
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jets4
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 110
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Post by jets4 on Aug 22, 2018 16:01:09 GMT
Thank you. you've calmed me down !
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Post by DudeLebowski on Aug 22, 2018 16:21:31 GMT
Sorry to inform you fella, but Leadbitters crosses and general wing play are absolutely abysmal. Firstly, I disagree. Secondly, he's the only attacking wide right player that consistently moves to take on their left side and cross. Therein maybe lies problem. We need width. Have stood in line with the edge of the box on the East Terrace, the last 3 seasons. Danny Leads rarely ever knocks it past his man, in any shape or form (when attacking that end anyway) The biggest head scratcher in living memory, given the guy is blessed with lightening pace.
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Post by billyocean on Aug 22, 2018 18:59:41 GMT
I thought Smith's kicking was woeful, Thought exactly the same. One of said kicks went out and they scored from the throwing. Has to do much better.
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Post by emperorsuperbus on Aug 22, 2018 21:36:36 GMT
“get some width and play 2 up top.”
Firstly, I think we did play 2 up top. The number 9, leading the line, number 10, support striker. I liked the formation against Pompey. I pretty much liked the player picks, though perhaps sercs central for either Ollie or Uppy, and rodders on right would have been my call with Mathews injured.
Secondly, just how much smaller is the playing area this season? I remember trolls being appointed and first decision was widen the pitch to help the wingplay. For those who like a stat most goals come from crosses.
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