Pompey (H)

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

We have some right fucking bellends on social media

[kent_white]

13 hours ago, desperado said:

JDB’s legs had gone. As good as Maghoma had been he’d become less influential. No need for CDM in Sheehan, Morley did well when he came on. And Charles coming on was, well, completely understandable wasn’t it? We all wanted to see him on didn’t we? And we carried on creating chances, some good ones. 

That's how I read it too.....

[desperado]

Just now, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

We have some right fucking bellends on social media

It’s been hard enough on here! And  that’s with people who I respect and can debate with.

At least here it’s considered, respectful and discussed rationally in the main.

I dread to think what bullshit was coming out on #bwfc and Craig’s Facebook page. Keep well away from there when Bolton don’t win. 

[Casino]

2 hours ago, Stig said:

 1 miscontrol by Ogbeta

Sheehan

 

[Biggish Dave]

If we get Charles fully up to speed and end up in the play offs, him and Collins will outscore any team and we'll be promoted - I'm confident of that

[Stig]

54 minutes ago, desperado said:

If I'd have responded to this yesterday, my angry/emotional/pissed up response would have been dismissively condescending.

And it shouldn't do because it's a well thought out opinion, which I'll take the time out to respond to.

But it does come across as someone who thinks they have the upper hand on Evatt, the solutions to any problems we may encounter and a definitive tick-box summary of "what's stopping us"

It's not that simple, so it's hard for football fans to argue/counter argue with limited coaching knowledge, but I suspect 4-3-3 has a whole host of defensive limitations. Worked great getting us out of L2, but encountered problems with it in L1. Players have been recruited with our current formation in mind. It's developed and evolved to put us in the best position we've been in for 3 seasons.

The coaching team have talked extensively about tactics, fluidity, playing with a possession based attacking style. Throwing the ball backwards is part of this and is usually an effective way of us keeping hold of the ball to go on to create chances, it's happened a lot this season to good effect. It's risk vs reward which is an effective part of the way we play.

The best example of countering your mentality claim, is directly related to this example. Ogbete showed great mental strength to come back from his mistake. He never shied away from receiving the ball, he took on attackers to great effect in his own half and created our first goal. I think this epitomises, along with Santos, Maghoma, Collins (other players who've been questioned), how mentally strong our players actually are. 

I just think it's really easy to claim what the problems/answers are as a fan without truly understanding the methodology of coaching/managing professionally. 

And that's not to naively suggest we have no problems and can't be better, of course we can but I trust FV, Evatt and his team to know how to do this better than someone on a fans forum.

That game shouldn't be being highlighted for the reasons we aren't top 2. More celebrated for the fact we matched/bettered the champions, have players who are in great form, have players who have answered the critics, players who are back hungry from injury, to get us promoted playing the brand of football that has been so good to watch these last 4 seasons. 

 

Good counter arguments. 

I'd say the formation point isn't me having a difference of opinion with Evatt, more a case of most other managers having a difference of opinion with Evatt. All the top teams in europe play a version of 433 these days. The last successful team I can remember playing a 3/5 at the back was Chelsea under Conte. I get we can't change now after building the team around 532 but I'd say 433 is a more proven successful formation we should move to in the summer.

On tactics, I completely agree with retaining possession. I just think we're doing it too deep, where the risk is too high for very little reward. Move that possession further up the pitch.

And the mentality was good yesterday, as you point out. I was more looking at how we've been away from home across the whole season, and highlighting where Pompey seem to have the edge on us.

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, Eddie said:

This has blown my mind, how two people (and I’m pretty sure you’re not one with pre-conceived views) can watch the same thing and come to such a different opinion.

Honestly I thought he was a joy to watch yesterday. He was dying to get on the ball and when he did he generally made something happen - he was absolutely everywhere on the pitch because he just wanted them to give it him, confidence was sky high and he won’t get the assist for the goal, but it was all his good work in the first place to get the ball to Ogbeta.

I was sat there thinking, there’s no chance we keep him for next season unless we go up, he’s playing Championship football next season.

But then you watched the same thing and thought he wasn’t just bang average, but dreadful! Mental!

Don’t take that as any kind of dig by the way, like I say, I know you’re not just trying to back up pre-conceived views, just found it interesting more than anything.

Agree with this post, and like you I respect anyone saying they saw the game differently and that Maghoma was poor, as long as its not one of those posts just slating a player because they don't like them. 

But yes, I loved watching Maghoma yesterday, full of invention, close control, trickery, and a couple of fantastic tackles.  He did drift out of the game the longer it went on but overall he added to that game and performance, and he looks undroppable to me for now, we really need him on his game for the last few matches.

[FrancisFogarty]

Just now, Biggish Dave said:

If we get Charles fully up to speed and end up in the play offs, him and Collins will outscore any team and we'll be promoted - I'm confident of that

Me too, game time together is all they need. I can’t see the point in taking one off for t’other. Especially with 15/20 minutes left, when we could be chasing the game.

I’ve said earlier they could be the next Walker and McGinley.

If we’re only going to play one of them it’s a waste of money and a squad number.

[Lostock Whites]

As much as I have resigned to the play offs, in which I am confident about this time around.

Hope definitely is not all lost on top 2 for one second.

That Cambridge away trip for Derby is a lot more difficult than it may seem. They're fighting for their lives and actually at home they're a lot more solid.

These are Cambridge's recent results at home:

Charlton - Draw

Wigan - Win

Northampton - Draw

Their last home loss was a narrow 0-1 to Posh. But in this time they also beat Barnsley away 2-0.

Let's hope Kachunga could do us a favour. But I have a sneaky feeling about that game. Pressure on Derby, and they will be given all the possession.

[gonzo]

I genuinely have no idea what some people are on about.

We were absolutely brilliant yesterday against a league winning team. 

We beat them all over the pitch and were 2 sitters away from winning. 

There was fuck all wrong yesterday. What else could Evatt do? 

If it is the play offs we beat anyone. Including the tangerine shite.

[desperado]

2 minutes ago, Stig said:

Good counter arguments. 

I'd say the formation point isn't me having a difference of opinion with Evatt, more a case of most other managers having a difference of opinion with Evatt. All the top teams in europe play a version of 433 these days. The last successful team I can remember playing a 3/5 at the back was Chelsea under Conte. I get we can't change now after building the team around 532 but I'd say 433 is a more proven successful formation we should move to in the summer.

On tactics, I completely agree with retaining possession. I just think we're doing it too deep, where the risk is too high for very little reward. Move that possession further up the pitch.

And the mentality was good yesterday, as you point out. I was more looking at how we've been away from home across the whole season, and highlighting where Pompey seem to have the edge on us.

It’s a fair debate and you make your points well.

And there’s no denying Portsmouth have had the edge on us throughout the season. Not excuses, and I know any club can do this, but the omissions of key players at key times has negatively affected us.

Good to see everybody fit, firing and ready to give their all to see us to the end of the season. 

[wakey]

I remember seeing the line-ups pre Oxford home game.

I looked at their formation against ours and thought they'd have pockets all over the place to exploit gaps in our set up.

We dicked em five nowt.

Moral of the story: I know fuck all about formations.

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, Eddie said:

Think it was actually a couple of minutes before if it’s the one I’m thinking of - looked a harder chance than the header to be fair and if he had have volleyed it in then it would have classed as an amazing finish from your centre back. The header however, unless my perception of how easy a header it was was completely skewed then it goes down as almost as bad a miss as Bod’s second half effort.

It shouldn’t detract from how good he was though for the last 60 minutes. Hopefully the injury isn’t too bad because Santos of the second half would increase our chances in the play offs by a considerable amount. So many times he was left one on one with their forwards and he made it look easy - we don’t have another defender at the club that can do that.

Another good post, agree with every word.  I remember thinking "how could he not get a better connection/direction with that"?  It looked harder to do what he did than make the keeper work.  But I wasn't surprised as such, when he went up to head it I never thought for a second he would bury it, he just doesn't possess that technique, unlike for eg Toal or Iredale.  Santos was fantastic defensively but he's never going to be a threat from headers offensively, he's another Zat Knight in terms of direction and conviction.

[Underpants]

14 hours ago, desperado said:

JDB’s legs had gone. As good as Maghoma had been he’d become less influential. No need for CDM in Sheehan, Morley did well when he came on. And Charles coming on was, well, completely understandable wasn’t it? We all wanted to see him on didn’t we? And we carried on creating chances, some good ones. 

It's funny how some see it differently. Me being one.

[Casino]

Not mentioned anywhere, i dont think, first half collins got the merest touch on a cut back and it denied maghoma the chance of the match

[radcliffe white]

13 minutes ago, gonzo said:

I genuinely have no idea what some people are on about.

We were absolutely brilliant yesterday against a league winning team. 

We beat them all over the pitch and were 2 sitters away from winning. 

There was fuck all wrong yesterday. What else could Evatt do? 

If it is the play offs we beat anyone. Including the tangerine shite.

Think it’s just folks frustration as yesterday was an excellent performance but sadly it’s other games where we’ve fell short, we should be on the pitch against port vale celebrating

but if play offs we are in a much better position than last, I can’t see Blackpool personally getting in 

[Zico]

11 minutes ago, gonzo said:

We beat them all over the pitch and were 2 sitters away from winning. 

Sums the second half of the season up for the most part 

Just hope (like we all do) if it comes to the playoffs we manage to finish the job off 

I think and know we can 

Am just fed up of waking away from games thinking shoulda woulda coulda 

[Biggish Dave]

7 minutes ago, Casino said:

Not mentioned anywhere, i dont think, first half collins got the merest touch on a cut back and it denied maghoma the chance of the match

Just seen that, didn't realise just how good a chance it would've been for Maghoma. 

[Greg_BWFC]

1 hour ago, 1969 said:

Don't ask me why but after yesterday I'm feeling so much more certain we will get promoted one way or another and I'm not a happy clapper 

Feel exactly the same.

Disappointed we couldn't get the win but thoroughly enjoyed the game, crowd, atmosphere the lot.

Was dreading having to go through the playoffs (and still am), but have gone from thinking we'd have zero chance to no having a good chance if we keep up that level of performance- us fans too.

As long as no blackpool (sorry to keep banging on about this lot, but they really are playoff specialists, don't ask me how).

Anyway, come on Cambridge 😄

[Greg_BWFC]

28 minutes ago, Casino said:

Not mentioned anywhere, i dont think, first half collins got the merest touch on a cut back and it denied maghoma the chance of the match

Yes. 

I'm at the other end of the ground but we were all wondering how we hadn't scored.

If he doesn't get a touch, it's an open goal.

[Greg_BWFC]

41 minutes ago, gonzo said:

I genuinely have no idea what some people are on about.

We were absolutely brilliant yesterday against a league winning team. 

We beat them all over the pitch and were 2 sitters away from winning. 

There was fuck all wrong yesterday. What else could Evatt do? 

If it is the play offs we beat anyone. Including the tangerine shite.

Agree with every bit of that mate, except the very last line 😟.

Might have been my most enjoyable game this season.

Felt like the entire ground was together with the lads.

I know my voice hasn't returned yet 😄

[tshape]

Absolutely gutted about yesterday now that the drink has worn off

[RUREADY2ROLL]

We were brilliant but it’s so disappointing we missed so many opportunities. Pompey fans on the motorway services were saying we are the best side in the division but don’t have the killer instinct. Sick of reading IF; we can still do it if Derby slip up Saturday but I can’t see it.

If we don’t lose in any of the next six games we are promoted 

[Traf]

49 minutes ago, Casino said:

Not mentioned anywhere, i dont think, first half collins got the merest touch on a cut back and it denied maghoma the chance of the match

Yeah, Evatt mentioned in post-game. Collins just diverted it away from Maghoma who really couldn't have missed.

[Leyther_Matt]

Thought the handball near the end was a bit of a desperate appeal at the time, even from NSL, but watching the highlights back it looks so obvious!

Got to do our bit and win the two games this week and just hope Cambridge do us a favour now that they’ve picked up a bit of home form. But performances like yesterday really should be enough to see us over the line, one way or another.