Back From the Game - Pompey

[M Brook]

No manager with half a brain would play him at left back! What the hell are we doing, 2 games into the season, playing one of our least talented players out of position? And at CB of all positions? The poster who suggested that the money spent on renewing Ivar and Bryn's contracts should have been spent on a proper CB was spot on.

You really don't have much of a clue, do you? Bryn is a cracking player, for his age. And still has a lot to give in terms of ability and experience.

Totally disagree. Apart from the very occasional (maybe 1 in 10) good performance, he has been out of his depth for the past two seasons. He is way past his best and only kept on as a cheap and versatile option. While we defend players such as Bryn, smashing chap though he no doubt is, we will not progress. He is not good enough for us any more, whether played in or out of position.

[southsideroyal]

Based on Saturday's performance, I wouldn't have minded if we had picked up Sonko as cover. He was free if I'm not mistaken and his wages at Portsmouth must be within JM's modest means.

[NR_Royal]

Based on Saturday's performance, I wouldn't have minded if we had picked up Sonko as cover. He was free if I'm not mistaken and his wages at Portsmouth must be within JM's modest means.

I bet they're still paying about £15k pw the bastards.

[The Rouge]

The Rouge's thoughts after watching the game:

(I am normally pretty positive (I tipped us to finish 3rd this season - lets see) and I know it doesn't make much sense to read too much into the first couple of games of the season...)

- Whilst with a few minutes to go, we were looking at 0 points rather than a point, I still felt as if it was 2 points lost.
- Pompey were dire as you may expect. 3 subs named and a defender having (ineffectively) to play upfront after Utaka went off injured in the 1st half.
- Whilst we were by far the better team, there were a number of things that disappointed me:
1. I don't think Church can play the lone striker role. I like Simon Church - I worry about his finishing but he has a great all round game. Having said that - asking him to repeatedly out-jump Sonko and catch a ball on his neck is probably not fair on the guy.
2. They stopped us a bit from playing the ball to our wingers and we looked a bit clueless. We kept working hard to look for wingers but were then faced with the choice of asking them to beat 4 players and score, or whip in a cross for Church versus 2 big centre backs. There needs to be a threat through the middle. Gylfi is a huge talent and Howard is a good player, but somehow as a team, despite them defending fairly wide across the pitch, we didn't look like we could play through them (in the centre).
3. Williams had no real understanding with McAnuff and failed to execute a number of passes/flicks/not tripping over the ball that previous RFC full-backs would have done pretty easily.

On the positives, Gylfi, despite not having a great game, is always a threat. What a player.
Karacan's spoiling and tackles I felt were important in this game (without Tabb on the pitch) as we ran the risk of losing way too many 50/50s without him...

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Just got internet access again so here's my view.

1) Pearce did well
2) Gunnar had shocking and decent moments in equal measure
3) Jobi was much better at centre mid than at winger
4) Noel Hunt looked very good, constantly outjumping much taller opponents
5) Kebe was fantastic, their left back just couldnt play against him
6) Howard was brilliant particularly in the second half
7) Karacan was good in a combative sense, but his ball playing was poor

Lastly, Jamie Ashdown is a twat!!! Kicked Bryn, took a 'freekick' after our goal, kissed the post, was generally a twonk all game!!

[brendywendy]

at least against teams with big CBs we cannot play one up front.
Nhunt still able to change my mind on that though

[papereyes]

The Rouge's thoughts after watching the game:

(I am normally pretty positive (I tipped us to finish 3rd this season - lets see) and I know it doesn't make much sense to read too much into the first couple of games of the season...)

- Whilst with a few minutes to go, we were looking at 0 points rather than a point, I still felt as if it was 2 points lost.
- Pompey were dire as you may expect. 3 subs named and a defender having (ineffectively) to play upfront after Utaka went off injured in the 1st half.
- Whilst we were by far the better team, there were a number of things that disappointed me:
1. I don't think Church can play the lone striker role. I like Simon Church - I worry about his finishing but he has a great all round game. Having said that - asking him to repeatedly out-jump Sonko and catch a ball on his neck is probably not fair on the guy.
2. They stopped us a bit from playing the ball to our wingers and we looked a bit clueless. We kept working hard to look for wingers but were then faced with the choice of asking them to beat 4 players and score, or whip in a cross for Church versus 2 big centre backs. There needs to be a threat through the middle. Gylfi is a huge talent and Howard is a good player, but somehow as a team, despite them defending fairly wide across the pitch, we didn't look like we could play through them (in the centre).
3. Williams had no real understanding with McAnuff and failed to execute a number of passes/flicks/not tripping over the ball that previous RFC full-backs would have done pretty easily.

On the positives, Gylfi, despite not having a great game, is always a threat. What a player.
Karacan's spoiling and tackles I felt were important in this game (without Tabb on the pitch) as we ran the risk of losing way too many 50/50s without him...

Actually much the same from here. We looked quite solid but had very few decent ideas of how to break them down. It was only when they clearly faded in the last 20 that we made much of our wing play.

Ritchie was quite good for Portsmouth.

[Jeffers217]

No manager with half a brain would play him at left back! What the hell are we doing, 2 games into the season, playing one of our least talented players out of position? And at CB of all positions? The poster who suggested that the money spent on renewing Ivar and Bryn's contracts should have been spent on a proper CB was spot on.

AMEN brother. I like Bryn, good player, but a lot worse than Kish!

[andrew1957]

Just got internet access again so here's my view.

1) Pearce did well
2) Gunnar had shocking and decent moments in equal measure
3) Jobi was much better at centre mid than at winger
4) Noel Hunt looked very good, constantly outjumping much taller opponents
5) Kebe was fantastic, their left back just couldnt play against him
6) Howard was brilliant particularly in the second half
7) Karacan was good in a combative sense, but his ball playing was poor

Lastly, Jamie Ashdown is a twat!!! Kicked Bryn, took a 'freekick' after our goal, kissed the post, was generally a twonk all game!!

I only listened on the radio but your comments seem very in line with the commentary that I heard.

The Pearce knockers cannot seem to ever see the young guy's qualities. He is getting better and better and by all accounts had an excellent game.

Sounded like Jobi was brilliant when he moved to CM.

Gunnar as you say sounded as though he gave his all but did have several nightmare moments. Those who want him to go are living in cloud cuckoo land - a player like Bryn is really important as he can fill in at full back, centre back or midfield. Very few players are that versatile and he could continue to be vital if we have an injury crisis.

Having said that - as I have said elsewhere - we DO OBVIOUSLY NEED ANORTHER CB OPTION if we are to be competitive this season.

[PEARCEY]

Andrew. You miss the point. Pearce is only good enough for League Div 2(apparently). Most people on here know better than McD(apparently).

[andrew1957]

Andrew. You miss the point. Pearce is only good enough for League Div 2(apparently). Most people on here know better than McD(apparently).

I agree.

As John Terry is about as fast as Pearce no doubt he is also a League 2 player at best. Amazing that Chelsea and England managers just cannot see it.