The overwhelming feeling on the Pompey forums is that they are going to pot and after last night's loss are turning on the owners. Some fans are turning on the players saying that their decline wasn't the fault of the Cowleys, but the players themselves. A few though, reckon they've still got some gas in the tank and point to a second half performance in which they had loads of possession and were very competitive in midfield winning most second balls and forcing us to hoof it away - which is fair comment. With a couple of changes to come for Saturday's game they may well offer more of a threat and it can't be forgotten that in the early part of the season they rocketed up the table so they're hoping to regain that sort of form sooner rather than later. Either way we can't afford to be cocky or complacent.

So what do we need to do?

First there's the defensive question. Santos defended well apart from when he was rinsed by the winger towards the end but he did make a fair few headed clearances and some of his long range passing was quality. My problem with Santos is that he slows the game down to the point that his distribution is ponderous and predictable and we lost the advantage of quick transition that we've seen with the Toal/Aimson/Johnston back three - which allows us to get forward before the opposition have had time to park two rows of defenders in front of us. I'd revert to Aimson for Saturday.

Williams did OK - as did Beck who nearly scored - but I'd start Williams and Bradley as WBs - we can always change them if required, but I think they offer more threat early doors when we need that all-important first goal.

Midifield has to be stronger than the starting mids last night. This is the area where Pompey will be looking to dominate so we need to be far more competitive.

Up front? Dion and JDB to start again but would love to see Dan on at some stage. Sadly, I've lost all confidence in Baka.

My prediction is 2 nil barring a disaster.

 

2 hours ago, Not in Crawley said:

Now if someone could teach the lads how to tie a tie correctly we'd sort to the top.of the league.

Look like sixth formers!

Dick

This keeps coming to mind when I think of our new striker from Southampton 

 

2 hours ago, mickbrown said:

Lee is a proper footballer.

 

Not sure what contract toal is on but tie him down to another 2 years.    Better every game this lad 

Toal could be the find of the century!

2 minutes ago, W.cramp said:

Not sure what contract toal is on but tie him down to another 2 years.    Better every game this lad 

6 months into a 3 year contract.

Hes started well but don't get carried away. Let's see how he shapes when we hit a bad patch

Toal's a tremendous find, no doubt, could go on to be anything, but he's part of a three man unit that's upped it's levels by the game since they came together. Aimson and Johnson have both been outstanding during this recent run 

13 minutes ago, Biggish Dave said:

Hes started well but don't get carried away. Let's see how he shapes when we hit a bad patch

26 minutes ago, Biggish Dave said:

Hes started well but don't get carried away. Let's see how he shapes when we hit a bad patch

Better than started well for me.  In terms of an "unknown" player making an impact, reminds me of how McAteer looked from day one, totally at home and always one of the better players on the pitch.  Ben Haim had a similar impact, as an unheralded signing.  I'd put my house on him making it at championship level.

Lol, just not getting carried away. Not to say I don't think he's not got the ability to be top notch. Will reserve judgement for another 10 or 15 games.

 

Hes been superb though

I think Aimson has to take a lot of credit, whilst pretty unspectacular himself, he just does the job and reads the game well.

However, he seems to have organised the back three/five, not only in defending well, but in giving Johnson and Toal the confidence to get up to the opposition box too, like Evatt wants.

Johnson did it for a period last season but seemed to have regressed?, but since Aimson has come in the middle they all seem to know what they're doing. It wasn't always the case with Santos, he is not an organiser for me, I just hope Aimson isn't bombed out after his first mistake/poor game for the skipper, think he has earned a decent run.

Edited January 14, 20233 yr by JimmyRiddle

1 hour ago, athywhite1958 said:

Dick

😄 touchy.

3 hours ago, stevieb said:

I have noticed this too. 

If only we had a resident cravat wearing dandy dedicated follower of fashion who could teach em... 👀

A simple half Windsor would suffice.

 

I can remember Evatt quoting that Toal was the best defender he had watched when looking for a centre back last summer.

Came with a injury a bit like Dempsey but we are now seeing why Evatt signed them both

10 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Bradley has a habit of following the ball a little bit and drifting out of position so we might actually be doing Williams a disservice in that he’s noticing that and covering accordingly. Which actually brings to mind when they made a couple of breaks from corners and on each occasion it was Charles and Dan who chased all the way back. 

One thing that did concern me yesterday was a few times in second balls were down our left to forwards and Williams was not about. Both him and Bradley are very attacking and at times not sure the balance was right.

There again one goal conceded in 8 games might imply we are OK !

 

10 hours ago, W.cramp said:

Not sure what contract toal is on but tie him down to another 2 years.    Better every game this lad 

Got everything this lad, loves a tackle, great engine, can pick a pass and has an eye for goal. It’s early in his career but could see him in a midfield role.

Just watching the goals again, it was great control from Dempsey pulling the ball down for the 2nd goal

One, off topic, remark.

I've long felt that the current fashion for celebrating a goal by sliding 15 yards on your knees is a horror injury waiting to happen. It certainly requires a pitch in good condition. I hope no young follower ever tries it on Hilton Estate.

Charles tried to do this yesterday and it went wrong, it seems without any damage thankfully.

Is it just me being curmudgeonly ?

4 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

One, off topic, remark.

I've long felt that the current fashion for celebrating a goal by sliding 15 yards on your knees is a horror injury waiting to happen. It certainly requires a pitch in good condition. I hope no young follower ever tries it on Hilton Estate.

Charles tried to do this yesterday and it went wrong, it seems without any damage thankfully.

Is it just me being curmudgeonly ?

Knees, slides, cartwheels, backflips all very tin pot 

Do a shearer and get back on with the game ffs

5 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

One, off topic, remark.

I've long felt that the current fashion for celebrating a goal by sliding 15 yards on your knees is a horror injury waiting to happen. It certainly requires a pitch in good condition. I hope no young follower ever tries it on Hilton Estate.

Charles tried to do this yesterday and it went wrong, it seems without any damage thankfully.

Is it just me being curmudgeonly ?

Bit like getting a booking for taking your shirt off

It's a bollocks rule but it's still a rule 

Score five goals, take shirt off five times means a ban 

For what

Seem to remember a West Ham player few years back, was already on a yellow, scores late winner so takes his shirt off, second yellow and he's off

I'd fine him a month's wage

 

19 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

One, off topic, remark.

I've long felt that the current fashion for celebrating a goal by sliding 15 yards on your knees is a horror injury waiting to happen. It certainly requires a pitch in good condition. I hope no young follower ever tries it on Hilton Estate.

Charles tried to do this yesterday and it went wrong, it seems without any damage thankfully.

Is it just me being curmudgeonly ?

Yeh Charles tried to knee slide close to the orange perimiter path, he probably thought there was more grass to be had there 😀

He soon cut his slide short when he realised there was no sliding to be had.

If we’d tried that celebration at New House Farm back in the day, we’d have needed skin grafts on our knees.

Edited January 15, 20233 yr by Burndens Bogs

23 minutes ago, Biggish Dave said:

Just watching the goals again, it was great control from Dempsey pulling the ball down for the 2nd goal

Was in front of us, the touch was brilliant he also produced a little trick to go round their man. (The man was at the WC btw) 

They have had a keeper on loan just been recalled, based on that goal they will be getting another in soon. 

23 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

One, off topic, remark.

I've long felt that the current fashion for celebrating a goal by sliding 15 yards on your knees is a horror injury waiting to happen.

14 minutes ago, DirtySanchez said:

It's a bollocks rule but it's still a rule 

I'm not sure sliding on your knees to celebrate a goal is an actual rule, let alone a booking if you don't.

Could be wrong of course.