Back from the game - Southampton (H)

[AirRaidSiren]

McDermott has built/made this team into a one dimensional football team. Adkins has limitations when choosing a team and style. It will take all summer and beyond to get us out of this such negativity. Today's team selection was a step forward imo, shame the team cannot get out of the rut of 'confidence lost'.

[RoyallyFcuked]

To anyone writing off Adkins or blaming him for today's result, please shut the fcuk up because you don't have a clue. I think he chose to start ALF upfront on his own today because he wanted to give him the full 90 mins, like Pog got in the last game. I don't think ALF actually did any worse that Pog in that role....

Of course he didn't son and you really are the football expert.

I agree, RoyallyFucked. End of the day, he had one game to see what Reading was about, change a few things after seeing a shower of shit against Arsenal, seen maybe some potential, seen what isn't for him and played others we didn't expect. Maybe he's playing these just for future reference but fact is, he' s at least trying with no favouritism. I thought we done so well up until Flapperici let in the goal. Heads down and never played the same again and we allowed them to dominate us in the second half. Shame.

Yeah you're right, we were doing well until their first goal. We wernt playing the McD style, there were some promising signs. But then when the goal went it, they went back to shit ball, which as some have said, is partly down to a lack of confidence. Adkins is going to give everyone a decent chance, so they have an opportunity to prove their worth and to see who he wants for next season and who he doesn't.

[Ian Royal]

How many bl00dy times? When we lack confidence we go more long ball as players are reluctant to try anything that might lose them the ball. THE SAME HAPPENS WITH ANY TEAM, got that Winchy_Baby? Under McDermott we tried to play fast football with attacking wing play and mixing passing with more direct play(see the Sunderland game after we'd put a run of wins together). He did not get us playing long ball football by design a lack of confidence after losses made that happen.

He always played to the strengths of the players he had. Who knows? Perhaps if his two best players weren't sold from under him to balance the books two summers running we might have been playing to a style more to your liking.

We played pretty long ball last season even when our confidence was soaring. We did the same the season before last. It's just it came off far more often. That's because McDermott set up the team to have a central midfield that's almost sole function was to spoil in front of the defence and then get it up the pitch instantly. Assuming the defence didn't just cut them out completely. This is exactly why we struggled until Roberts came in, because we didn't have enough quality upfront to be able to cope with relying solely on hoofs and pacey wingers.

Both Dolan and Adkins have recognised this doesn't work and have tried to instil a more passing approach. But with confidence and form shot, we are just going to fall to old ways and do it badly on top of that. It'll take a while to train it into players that the first thought is to control or lay off, not hit it into a channel.

McDermott's inability to plan ahead, recognise the weaknesses in his squad before the season started (or during it this season) and adapt his style is why we're screwed. Adkins is not going to wave some sort of magic wand and make it all right. So we are going to see plenty of the same crap. But we'll also see hints of something different and better gradually growing out of it. Like we did in the first half hour today.

I don't think we need huge changes to our squad. But we do need a few absolutely key ones, because the majority of our midfield lack the ability to play the way they should. We can cope with one, or maybe two. But not four or five. And that's not our only big weakness.

[Ian Royal]

Of course he didn't son and you really are the football expert.

I agree, RoyallyFucked. End of the day, he had one game to see what Reading was about, change a few things after seeing a shower of shit against Arsenal, seen maybe some potential, seen what isn't for him and played others we didn't expect. Maybe he's playing these just for future reference but fact is, he' s at least trying with no favouritism. I thought we done so well up until Flapperici let in the goal. Heads down and never played the same again and we allowed them to dominate us in the second half. Shame.

Yeah you're right, we were doing well until their first goal. We wernt playing the McD style, there were some promising signs. But then when the goal went it, they went back to shit ball, which as some have said, is partly down to a lack of confidence. Adkins is going to give everyone a decent chance, so they have an opportunity to prove their worth and to see who he wants for next season and who he doesn't.

But importantly, and for the morons, Adkins will be picking a side to try and win a game, even if it involves rotating through the squad and giving a lot of players a chance. Because the fact is our squad is full of mediocrity and it almost doesn't matter which players are picked in a lot of cases, because there's no appreciable step up or down in quality.

[RoyallyFcuked]

Joeroyal you fcuked your last comment up son. I didnt even write the comment that youve quoted me writing, I wrote the comment underneath. So the irony here is that it is in fact you that is limited in the both the brain and skill department.

[AirRaidSiren]

@RoyallyFucked

Also, I actually saw a midfield playing the ball and dominating play for the first time this season, up until their goal. It's there to see, but unfortunately they still have that negative McDermott syndrome. I have some faith in them.

[RoyallyFcuked]

I agree, RoyallyFucked. End of the day, he had one game to see what Reading was about, change a few things after seeing a shower of shit against Arsenal, seen maybe some potential, seen what isn't for him and played others we didn't expect. Maybe he's playing these just for future reference but fact is, he' s at least trying with no favouritism. I thought we done so well up until Flapperici let in the goal. Heads down and never played the same again and we allowed them to dominate us in the second half. Shame.

Yeah you're right, we were doing well until their first goal. We wernt playing the McD style, there were some promising signs. But then when the goal went it, they went back to shit ball, which as some have said, is partly down to a lack of confidence. Adkins is going to give everyone a decent chance, so they have an opportunity to prove their worth and to see who he wants for next season and who he doesn't.

But importantly, and for the morons, Adkins will be picking a side to try and win a game, even if it involves rotating through the squad and giving a lot of players a chance. Because the fact is our squad is full of mediocrity and it almost doesn't matter which players are picked in a lot of cases, because there's no appreciable step up or down in quality.

Agreed Ian, for example I cant decide who is worse out of Leigertwood and Karacan.

[AirRaidSiren]

@Ian Royal

I think we do have quality, I also think this squad WOULD have stayed up or had the quality under a different manager pre-christmas. I also think McDermott shot the confidence out of the entire squad. It's far far far too late to save us and fortunately, Adkins signed up.

[joeroyal]

Joeroyal you fcuked your last comment up son. I didnt even write the comment that youve quoted me writing, I wrote the comment underneath. So the irony here is that it is in fact you that is limited in the both the brain and skill department.

Temper temper child please try to compose yourself

[RoyallyFcuked]

@RoyallyFucked

Also, I actually saw a midfield playing the ball and dominating play for the first time this season, up until their goal. It's there to see, but unfortunately they still have that negative McDermott syndrome. I have some faith in them.

Agreed, hopefully we will see more of this in the coming games. If we manage to score a nice goal or two as a result of a great move, and then win a game. It might give us some much needed confidence, the target now is to win at least 2 games and not finish bottom.

[AirRaidSiren]

@RoyallyFucked

Also, I actually saw a midfield playing the ball and dominating play for the first time this season, up until their goal. It's there to see, but unfortunately they still have that negative McDermott syndrome. I have some faith in them.

Agreed, hopefully we will see more of this in the coming games. If we manage to score a nice goal or two as a result of a great move, and then win a game. It might give us some much needed confidence, the target now is to win at least 2 games and not finish bottom.

I just want to beat West Ham again, that will end my season with a snigger

[Ian Royal]

@Ian Royal

I think we do have quality, I also think this squad WOULD have stayed up or had the quality under a different manager pre-christmas. I also think McDermott shot the confidence out of the entire squad. It's far far far too late to save us and fortunately, Adkins signed up.

I agree we had a decent shout of staying up, but players, fate and the manager have consipired to throw away that chance. The problem is, woefully out of form and confidence we don't have the players to step up and make a success of the changes that are needed against the quality of opposition we are facing.

I wonder how many people are still laughing at how much Adkins spent on Rodriguez and Ramirez (who admittedly had a poor game against us) now. We're desperately lacking in players of this sort of quality. And when you compare the likes of Schneiderlin, Ramirez, Cork and Davis to Leigertwood, Karacan, Tabb and Guthrie I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[royal-biscuit-man]

Whoever started the chant 'your just a small town in portsmouth', needs to take a long hard look at themself

[AirRaidSiren]

@Ian Royal

I think we do have quality, I also think this squad WOULD have stayed up or had the quality under a different manager pre-christmas. I also think McDermott shot the confidence out of the entire squad. It's far far far too late to save us and fortunately, Adkins signed up.

I agree we had a decent shout of staying up, but players, fate and the manager have consipired to throw away that chance. The problem is, woefully out of form and confidence we don't have the players to step up and make a success of the changes that are needed against the quality of opposition we are facing.

I wonder how many people are still laughing at how much Adkins spent on Rodriguez and Ramirez (who admittedly had a poor game against us) now. We're desperately lacking in players of this sort of quality. And when you compare the likes of Schneiderlin, Ramirez, Cork and Davis to Leigertwood, Karacan, Tabb and Guthrie I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Yeah, top post.

[Ian Royal]

Sorry, I should have added "in the time we have before we're relegated" because I do think a lot of the players can step up to the changes during the summer and next season.

[AirRaidSiren]

the target now is to win at least 2 games and not finish bottom.

I just want to beat West Ham again, that will end my season with a snigger

Most likely we will not pick up a single point under adkins this season.
We've got:
Liverpool -lose
Norwich -lose
QPR -close call, but expect a loss
Fulham -lose
Man C -lose
West Ham -lose

I'm actually going to agree with you, even though you're a half-wit

[Ian Royal]

I will be shocked if we extend our record 8 losses on the bounce in all competitions to 14.

[royal_ross]

Whoever started the chant 'your just a small town in portsmouth', needs to take a long hard look at themself

True but some of their chants were just as moronic.

[sandman]

I liked their chants and I liked ours everything was just great.

[AirRaidSiren]

"You're just a town full of taxi's. toooown full of taxi's. Your just a town full of taaaxi's"

...is one I remember well from Saints fans in the past