Nathan Thompson booked for fouling List. Apparently Matt Clarke was booked just before half time, but the commentators on Express FM have no idea whatsoever why !!
I'm fine thanks wooperts. Been trying to get this painting finished in the dining room.... but the light has gone now and it's a struggle.
We could have easily gotten more. Gillingham weren't great, but with only one goal in it, there's always that risk they'll equalise. On another note, it's so refreshing to have a manager who wears an actual suit and not a tracksuit. It looks so much more professional and gives such a better appearance of competence than a tracksuit. Plus all the best managers wear suits. Mourinho, Wenger, Ferguson... Charlatans and fakes wear tracksuits, like Alladyce and Redknapp.
BBC Sports match statistics:- Home Team: Gillingham............Away Team: Portsmouth Possession Home 42% Away 58% Shots Home 4 Away 16 Shots on Target Home 0 Away 3 Corners Home 3 Away 9 Fouls Home 14 Away 6
Because of the international break last Saturday was one of the rare occasions league 1 games were televised live in Australia and the Gillingham game was one of them. I recorded the game to watch later since it was on in the middle of the night but it was very interesting to see all the players I have been reading about on screen for the first time. I have to say the game in general was not inspiring but Pompey were the better side. I will therefore comment on each player to see if my perceptions based on just one game accord with the perceptions of those that see them regularly. Of course the problem with watching on screen is that you see players on the ball performance but not their off the ball contribution. McGee: I came away with no real impression of the goalkeeper - primarily because he had to do so little in earnest. Thompson: I was impressed by his attacking play and general control. At the beginning of the season I had hoped Thompson may be the defensive mid-fielder winner of 50 -50 balls that we required and this may yet happen when back 4 players return from injury. However, I was unsure that he currently has the fitness for a mid field roll but this may not be a valid concern. Donohue: Played very well until injured - a good signing probably. Haunstrup: Only on for a short while but I was very impressed. Seemed to have very easy control of the ball. On that small showing it surprises me they have not persevered with him at full back. Clarke: Impressive but a different style of player to what I had imagined. More robust and safety first in his approach on the day while I had the impression from match reports he was more inclined to play the ball out of defence. I did think he was perhaps at fault for the disallowed goal and lucky the player was marginally offside but you are always going to make one mistake a game in that position. Hawkins: Clearly did very well on the day being played out of position. However, I think his rave reviews were a little overdone and I would not want him regularly in that position. O,Keefe: Did not leave a strong impression but probably one you have to see live to appreciate his work rate. Close: Impressed. Passing was good and appeared to hold his defensive positioning well. His discipline in holding position possibly inhibits him from going for too many 50-50 balls which I know he has been critised for not doing. Lowe: Played well Kennedy: Clearly had an excellent game - perhaps to the point where Pompey relied on him too much to supply the attacking menace. Bennett; Exemplified all I had read about him. Beat men easily but it rarely came to much. However, he did show some pace and , despite Lowe and Kennedy I can imagine the attack could lack pace without him. Main: Probably his off the ball performance was his critical contribution. I thought he got poor service. He certainly tried hard (perhaps too hard being aware of the pending limited opportunity with Pitman and Hawkins returning to the attack). Did well considering his lack of match time. While Pompey dominated it wasn't always with classy football, and given Gillingham's lowly position, I can see how we may struggle against better sides. The unresolved question for me is the front two pairing - or front one. Given Pitmans absence I was very disappointed that Naismith was not played. I wonder if his personality is somehow against him since it took him a long time to convince Cook that he had to play him and now Jackett has largely ignored him. If we play one up front Hawkins and to a lesser extent Main may be the players that can 'put it about' and win a few balls in the air. However, winning 'flick ons' from long balls rarely lead to anything and in my opinion may be an over-rated skill. The flip side to this is that Chaplin's lack of height may be an exaggerated weakness. I think we should think in terms of two up front when ever possible and possibly try Pitman as the 'lead man' with either Naismith or Chaplin the "No 10.' The fact that this may not be Pitman's best position would be compensated for by the opportunity to include one of the other two who I think may contribute more running. Anyway I would welcome any comments on the above.
