Match Day Thread AFC Wimbledon v Pompey

How many minutes is that without a goal? It must be more than just the footballing gods conspring against Pompey. Are the fans and Jackett just not allowing the players to perform to their natural ability. Fans want to see the ball in the opposition goalmouth as quickly as posible, while Jackett has his methodology. The club have spent more than anyone else in the división recruiting strikers to deliver the goods, and both seem as productive as a neutered tomcat.

 

I'm not one to call for any manager to be sacked, but I lost faith in Jackett after the Coventry debacle and he has done absolutely nothing to restore my faith in him or my belief that he is the person for the job.

 

More disappointment and the 'Jackett out' fraternity seems to be expanding.
Summer recruitment is being blamed to some extent but I do not think this is valid criticism.
Firstly I think the three main players that were lost primarily left for reasons of personal ambition so the club and manager could not be blamed.
Losing Thompson and Clarke from the back line would make you think this is where the loss has been felt. However, from a defensive point of view we have been performing well despite injuries to Bolton and Brown having made selection irregular. Burgess appears to have responded well to the opportunity. I do have a concern though that, once possession has been won, the passing out of the back four is less constructive and perhaps this is where Clarke has been missed.
With regard to forwards only Lowe was lost and the additions of Marquis, Harrison, Harness and Williams should well and truly compensate and add up to a significant strengthening.
Yet we are failing to score goals!!!

The mid field is as it was for the second half of last season with Naylor and Close. Both have performed well individually at times although Close I believe has dropped off of late. He appears to go with the flow of the game but if the flow is negative he does not appear to be the man to reverse it. I agree with Woops that Cannon should be given an extended run.
However, I think perhaps the problem is we have two defensive orientated midfielders with the four in front of them being wingers or strikers. There is no effective attacking mid fielder or No 10. When Pitman is placed in this role he appears to play mainly as a striker and not as a play maker. Evans appears to favour taking up wing positions.
There appears to be no reliable conduit between the back six and the forwards. A player the back six can reliably sense where he is - almost without looking.
Of the existing players the most likely for this role appear to be Close or Morris. We will not know about Morris until he is fit. At the moment I would like to see Cannon take over Close's role and Close moved further forward.
Putting it another way, I think the main problem with our midfield is that there are two of them not three. I think this may be partly due to the fact we have almost too many theoretically good quality forwards to fit into the side and a relative shortage of mid fielders but the quality forwards are not getting the ball from the mid field.
I also think, from reading reports that the Jackett style of play is not attractive football. This was evident last season but is forgiven when the results are good but when the results are bad it is an additive critism.

Lets hope for a turnaround Tuesday night - PUP!

 

Thank You "Down Under" for a comprehensive assessment. I thought as much for Marquis was prolific for Donny who I suspect have a more creative midfield who were able to supply Marquis with the necessary ammunition to fire home.