-----------------Ashdown--------------- Halford----Rocha--Pearce--Ben Haim ---------Ward--Norris--Mullins------- ------------------Kanu------------------ -----Huseklepp---------Benjani-------
Rocha and Pearce are both left footed so they are unlikely to play together in the centre unless in an emergency. I can't see Pearce being dropped for Rocha, nor should he be, so Ricardo will remain on the bench. That's unfortunate, I know, but what else can you do? Ben Haim could be moved into the middle and Halford to right back, but then who do you put at left back? Herman doesn't have the pace anymore and, while Rocha is left footed, can he play at left back? I would replace Mokoena with Ward at right back but, while his passing is better, his defensive judgement is no better in my opinion. With that backline we need pace out wide in midfield so Huseklepp needs to go on the left on the assumption that Lawrence will get the right midfield spot. Norris and Mullins are the logical choice for central midfield but that leaves us without any creativity again. So I would drop one of them (take your choice) and put Old King Kanu in that spot because he can at least pick a pass out. Alternatively, put Williams out on the right and bring Lawrence into the middle but that's been tried before and didn't work. Benji and Futacs should start up front - but will they get the service? What is drawn from all of this is that we have a decent squad but one that is unbalanced, so let's hope that this new loan player can occupy that central midfield role, because until we find someone who can I suspect we are going to see an awful lot more hoofball.
----------Ashdown--------------- Ben Haim--Rocha--Halford--Pearce -----Ward--Norris--Mullins----- ---------Huseklepp----------- ----Futacs-------Benjani------
-------------Ashdown-------------- Halford---Rocha---Pearce---Ben Haim Ward---Norris---Mullins---Lawrence -------Huseklepp---Benhani Subs Henderson Mokoana Futacas Kanu
There you go Jake - I told you we'd be okay yesterday And I still have to experience a loss at Fratton Park
You have no idea how much I wish I was!! I enjoyed the game, well I've seen a lot worse. The game had 0-0 written all over it - but that goal was so sweet. The ref wasn't bad either - booked the wrong Pompey player (luckily, poor Rocha) but he didn't like the Blackpool players diving 2 blokes sitting behind me left early because it was the worst Pompey game they'd ever seen - which made me laugh because when they came in 1 of them asked the other where Nugent was!
