If Pandur stays in his box it's a simple pass back, the moment he comes charging out he takes control especially when he can see everything in front of him, sorry but that's down to Pandur, even told Ajayi it was his and waved him to a side.
Not a bad performance - we should be putting teams like Derby to the sword but we need much more up front - despite running his socks off, Joseph is never going to be a footballer
Well done City. They played well and wereunlucky to lose it. Destan looked decent to me when he came on, he drove us forward rather nicely.
Pandur really had a nightmare of a game, handles outside his box, and got away with it, then calls for a ball Ajayi could easily handle.
Pandur gave Ajayi the nod, but slipped at the point he went to clear it. Keeper errors generally mean a goal. Shame really as we were on top and might have won, but were 100% worth a draw. We'll win more times than lose playing like the second half with players to return. Best thing to do is win your next game, so let's give Pompey a drubbing.
We’ve been playing with the walking wounded and have done brilliantly. I think some need a bit of perspective.
I mean, kind of... But I find it a bit rich to say we 'should' be putting anybody to the sword when last season we scraped survival, we're currently under a transfer embargo, we're riddled with injuries and every man and his dog, including many on here had us down for relegation this season. What we've done so far has been miraculous considering. I'd far rather keep expectation minimal for the time being and enjoy the ride. It's good to watch us again for the first time in a few years.
Confidence is a huge thing for keepers - it can be easily lost and it's sometimes difficult to rebuild. Pandur has shown all the signs of a player who is very low on confidence. His diffidence when coming off his line has been a problem all season and it was clearly on show again tonight.
Personally for me, we do need to sign another decent keeper in January, if at all possible, for several reasons: 1. Pandur will cost us more points this season, that’s an absolute given. 2. We really have an unknown quantity on the bench and is a possible disaster waiting to happen should he be required. 3. As someone else alluded to, we need someone decent to push Pandur, and if Pandur does end up costing us more points, which I now have no doubt he will, we need a capable replacement to cover. I was happy to give Pandur more of a chance after his heroics last season, but for me, he’s had those chances, we need a decent other to compete.
Same. I’m still expecting a mid-table finish. We’re just not consistent enough and we concede too many soft goals. Our biggest weakness is that we don’t defend set pieces and crosses well at all. Positives are that we have a fighting spirit and create and score lots of chances.
I said about expectations last week so I think you make a very good point. With getting the results we have, comes increased expectations, and I totally include myself in that, I can get carried away with it all too. However, it’s not even being in the playoffs for me, it’s getting as many points as early as possible so we’re not worrying about stability or relegation and have room to breathe.
Aside from the obvious of our best players being out injured. Crooks and Gelhardt both carrying injuries. Ndala and Akintola both returning from injuries and not fit. All 4 played today.
I do wonder, particularly when talking about defending corners if he's been instructed not to come off his line? I don't think he could do anything about tonight's, but the Charlton one maybe he could have? Or some of the others we've conceded possibly? I aren't going to hang him over that mistake tonight. He's young and a very good keeper at this level. He stops a lot of the shots we've seen flying into our goal under other keepers as well.
Not sure how.. not many decent free keepers around, we're maxed out wage budget wise, cant spend on transfer fee's and only have 1 loan spot available. He'll be fine this season but I do agree we need a better keeper to challenge him next season, maybe someone who can take his place.