Post-Match Thread and Ratings Pompey 1 - 0 Southend United

[LBBlue]

The diamond didn't work. It never has for us. The 4 midfielders were completely lost. The strikers had no service.
Perhaps we would have been better off if Brown had not been to watch them the week before.

The fact is the game could have been over in the second minute, when Pitman should have got a better touch on the cross into the six yard box.

We looked decently defensively because we played defensively. White and Timlin barely ventured forward and certainly not with any pace. They have to stay back to protect Ferdinand who can not move. The set up makes him look good so as not to expose his deficiencies. We certainly missed Demetriou's forays up the right hand side and his short passing and pace.

The first half was pretty much stalemate with neither side creating much. The penalty decision if given against us would have been subject to a lot of "discussion". Chris Phillips reckons that there has been a rule change that means a hand ball doesn't incur a red and a penalty. i.e. no double punishment. I'm sure Mick will confirm or refute that. Alternatively it could be that neither the ref or his assistant actually knew who had committed the offence so couldn't issue a card. The guy just threw himself in the way of the rocket shot. Brown would have been apoplectic if it had been given against us. No one appealed when it happened apart from a tentative question from Ferdinand.

After they scored we didn't not manage to trouble their keeper once. One half hearted shot from Cox was blocked.

Their substitution made the difference we couldn't cope with him and he got a good early cross in and Pitman got well in front of Ferdinand to head it in.

Wordsworth was supposed to be fit for selection but didn't make the bench. Has he had a relapse?

We build so slowly and end up shooting from distance. We had more shots than them as they were all behind the ball and that's what was left to try - try and win a corner. However they created more dangerous situations though working into decent crossing positions with pace

We lack that youthful endeavour pace and desire to win. This lot have not got it any more.

No one else had mentioned it but they had Ollie Hawkins ( Ex Daggers and Hemel Hempstead striker) standing in at centre half because they have run out of centre halves and we still created nothing. I presume Stuart O Keefe was injured so they weren't exactly at full strength.

 

[Jay_SUFC]

I actually didn't think we were that bad, but I believe for formation was wrong; however none of us know what would have happened if it was 4-4-2.

Still baffled why Timlin plays; why not put White at left back and play Elvis at right back.

Our problem is, we go 1 down and we don't seem to believe we can get back in the game.

Final word on Portsmouths ground; bleeding uncomfortable for anyone over 5'6" due to extremely little leg room!!

 

[rigsby]

Both of you pointed out how badly Kightly played today (and at Yeovil).I think we can expect to seem him "rested" for Tuesday's night's away game.Frankly,he hasn't looked the same player for us since he came back from injury and has been living on that performance against Blackburn (and other early season home performances) for some time now.

As far as "tactics" are concerned, Phil Brown pointed out in his post-match interview that he'd played a diamond formation,largely because of the excellent pitch at Pompey.Nothing wrong with that as long as the players perform (as they did in the first half).Obviously if we'd scored from that pen.the game/result could/would have been a lot different.

It'll be interesting to see who's rested along with MK on Tuesday.Wonder if Mcglashan will start?

The mid field line up was obviously dictated by the fact that Wordsworth was injured. Kightly did have plenty of the ball but as has been said he was not effective enough. Any manager in L1 would be entitled to pick Kightly in the middle of the park, especially as you have Lenny covering and Wright with his neat ,if unambitious passing.

People have said Lenny had a bad game. He didn't, its just he wasn't required to do what he does best....his usual covering for Wordsworth.

With Cox coming into space in the number 10 position, Ranger in the air and Robinson to chase a through ball all on a decent pitch it should be a joy to be in midfield and look up at those options in front of you. Alas it was our quality on the ball that failed us not the line -up or the tactics as many will claim.

A perfect example was on about the 5minute mark. We had a free kick 15yds in our half. Up till that point we had a fairly tame opening and the often critical home fans were quite. Just when you think launch it on Rangers head and lets see what they are all about......Kightly demands it in a tight positon on the half way line, loses it with a terrible touch and they go on to create 3 minutes of pressure and nearly score.....Queue much noise, Pompey chimes etc.....I'm amazed at times by professional footballers game management.....And no they should not need to be told by anyone.

If you watch their goal the lad on the left shifts onto his right foot a bends a really good inswing cross into just the right area. Difficult to defend and it was a great finish. Now you probably watched Kightly do that exact sort of cross against Blackburn. In more recent times, playing out wide, he wants to do to much, having far to many touches, running out of play over the by-line etc. Time to keep it simple and get some crosses in and if the ball is at your feet in the box with a clear chance to shoot don't try and be to clever and cut back in on your right.

Unfortunately McL hasn't hit the form he did this time last year. With McG you get a lot of huff and puff but very little end product. I watched him in one of the preseason friendlies when he fired in two quick crosses and Cox came in smashed them home on the run. At last I thought he has learnt to just deliver it but again he has failed to do it when it really counts so far.

So in answer to your question we may go back to width on Tuesday.....Possibly with McL but not McG to start.

 

[Shrimperforlife]

I actually didn't think we were that bad, but I believe for formation was wrong; however none of us know what would have happened if it was 4-4-2

This is my point.... browny thinks players are better than we are he claims.... I honestly feel that we complicate things by changing formations all the fecking time.... I feel most of our players aren't up to constant changes... they are league one players for a reason and can't step change all the time... play to our strengths not the oppositions...

 

[rigsby]

Alternatively it could be that neither the ref or his assistant actually knew who had committed the offence so couldn't issue a card. The guy just threw himself in the way of the rocket shot.
.

You can always tell when a player has blocked a shot with his hands.....He will be the one rolling around on the floor holding his stomach claiming he is badly winded. :thumbsup:

 

[Jay_SUFC]

This is my point.... browny thinks players are better than we are he claims.... I honestly feel that we complicate things by changing formations all the fecking time.... I feel most of our players aren't up to constant changes... they are league one players for a reason and can't step change all the time... play to our strengths not the oppositions...

Totally agree and it's one of my biggest gripes against PB - he gets too clever for his own good!!

Thing is every time he messes with the formation most times we end up losing, yet he doesn't seem to learn!!

Different if you are forced into it, like last season's 5 at the back, but that wasn't the case yesterday.

 

[LBBlue]

You can always tell when a player has blocked a shot with his hands.....He will be the one rolling around on the floor holding his stomach claiming he is badly winded. :thumbsup:

As the ref didn't give it - I really don't think the assistant from 40yards away knew and by the time the ref had decided it was a penalty he was up off the floor. The video ref would have known though after 3 replays.

 

[AndyT]

It was the assistant who flagged it and put his flag across his chest, so it was him who saw and gave it.

 

[onceknownasrab]

When a player has an off day, it is just one of those things that happens. When the entire forward line have an off day, continually, there is a problem. To a man they appear to lack confidence and clue. All of the strikers are seasoned pro's and know what they are supposed to do. I can only conclude there is an issue with what they are being told to do and what they think they should do. Clearly, if they are following instructions, the instructions are wrong. If they are not following instructions then how have we managed to assemble a front line of rebels? I have harped on regularly about the lack of goals in a PB team and still it continues. Before yesterday's game the manager trotted out the 'clean sheet mentality' line and for me that is the killer. We are not a world class side with defenders that can nullify all opposition. We are league 1, know there is every chance of conceding, and need to score more than the opposition to win. Let's play like a league 1 club and give it our all. We can save the clean sheet mentality for our days in the Champions League.

 

[rigsby]

It was the assistant who flagged it and put his flag across his chest, so it was him who saw and gave it.

Yes the ref wasn't quite sure what was happening so didn't really look at who had hand balled it. What you don't see on the highlights is the long chat with the assistant down in the corner. Last year at Gillingham they weren't sure what to give so they let the crowd decide it should be red. This time they were worried about making the tunnel for half time as the crowd were really piling it on so took the safe option.

Does make you wonder why can't an assistant come onto the pitch for the discussion.

 

[RHB]

Yes the ref wasn't quite sure what was happening so didn't really look at who had hand balled it. What you don't see on the highlights is the long chat with the assistant down in the corner. Last year at Gillingham they weren't sure what to give so they let the crowd decide it should be red. This time they were worried about making the tunnel for half time as the crowd were really piling it on so took the safe option.

Does make you wonder why can't an assistant come onto the pitch for the discussion.

They still needed the escort agency chaps that walked them off the pitch at half time.

 

[Tommy2holes]

Apart from playing 3 forwards away at Portsmouth and having more shots and corners than the home team.

Nice day to wheel out the old myth of if you attack you win always win 5-4. look at the Shrewsbury and Wigan goals conceded column and some of Southend's most 'fickle' fans might actually learn something about the game of Football.

And yet our goals conceded has increased again.

We manage shots apparently but other than Robinson's shot that was saved and the shot which led to the penalty I don't remember their keeper had anything to do.

Apart from Robinson's shot he could have literally pulled up a deckchair

 

[RHB]

And yet our goals conceded has increased again.

We manage shots apparently but other than Robinson's shot that was saved and the shot which led to the penalty I don't remember their keeper had anything to do.

Apart from Robinson's shot he could have literally pulled up a deckchair

If he had then Coxy's thumper of a shot would have gone in instead of hitting their defender. But there ya go.

 

[rigsby]

And yet our goals conceded has increased again.

We manage shots apparently but other than Robinson's shot that was saved and the shot which led to the penalty I don't remember their keeper had anything to do.

Apart from Robinson's shot he could have literally pulled up a deckchair

So the great block by a defender from Coxes shot or the follow up which was going in until it was hand balled don't count.

What about their keeper tipping it off McG's head late on he was certainly out of his deckchair then. Other good chances were blocked in the second half. The fact that Lenny shot wide doesn't mean we weren't attacking.

 

[Blues 'n twos]

Interesting comment from one of our own...as a point of order, I think that the seat allocation was initially 500, and offered to STH's first...thus filling the corner and working across as demand required....was it really that quiet in the middle ?

ps...I was in the 2nd block with my son, and it was buzzing, with 90% stood up engaging in the atmosphere

Portsmouth only allowed the Drum in on the day on the understanding that it was where it was placed yesterday, no reason given why....perhaps they were scared of the impact it would have on the Away support out singing the home fans?

 

[OldBlueLady]

Then it's one hell of a coincidence. Sack out groundsman of 20 years. Next season the pitch is the worst it's been in 20 years.

But it is a coincidence. We were let down in the summer by the company who usually do it and by machinery failing.

 

[rigsby]

But it is a coincidence. We were let down in the summer by the company who usually do it and by machinery failing.

Stop it OBL. Lets not facts or the truth spoil a great chance to slag the club.

 

[rigsby]

Portsmouth only allowed the Drum in on the day on the understanding that it was where it was placed yesterday, no reason given why....perhaps they were scared of the impact it would have on the Away support out singing the home fans?

Portsmouth officials and stewards did their best to keep us away fans quiet. All ticket in the first place. Aggressively stopped people from migrating to behind the goal. Then turned their backs on their fans to stare across no mans land at us whilst ignoring some usual gobby idiots hiding right behind them.

To top it off the starved us and we couldn't get a beer. One of the lads in their kiosk said well we did have 72 burgers at the start of the day......Ideal for 300 away fans.

 

[Seasick Steve]

Portsmouth officials and stewards did their best to keep us away fans quiet. All ticket in the first place. Aggressively stopped people from migrating to behind the goal. Then turned their backs on their fans to stare across no mans land at us whilst ignoring some usual gobby idiots hiding right behind them.

To top it off the starved us and we couldn't get a beer. One of the lads in their kiosk said well we did have 72 burgers at the start of the day......Ideal for 300 away fans.

As predicted yesterday on the match thread....


Seasick Steve Yesterday, 02:21 PM #5

have they run out of food yet?



Some things never change!!!
​

 

[Tommy2holes]

But it is a coincidence. We were let down in the summer by the company who usually do it and by machinery failing.

Not sure about machinery failing but have you considered that companies might not want to deal with us due to our treatment of the said employee