First of all I've not posted on here for a while. I have been busy and that. This is a bit of a rant and some of this stuff maybe due to today's result. I'm up my rents in Scotland and had to utilise a terrible stream from NotEnglandTV 3 or something. At the start of the game I thought that we would steam roller Pompey, as they had selected a very young and inexperienced side, peppered with some old heads - rocha, Ashdown and Pearce. Pompey started the game with aggression and desire which seemed to put off lightweight players like Jack Cork - it seemed that every time there was a high ball in the centre the Pompey players were keener on winning the ball, Jack Cork seemed more concerned about where the Pompey players were rather than the ball, as a result I don't think he one a header all game. This is why I have a preference for Morgan! The referre today was awful, booking players for what appeared to be no reason - booked Sharp for running the length of the pitch and then doing nothing to Magguire when he did it he was already booked though, but refs need to be consistent. I was really impressed with Magguire and Allen, although both could/should have been reprimanded by the ref more strongly - Magguire kicking out at Fonte at the start and Allen's late challenge on Lallana. This was probably the tactic they went for and to be fair to them it paid off. The Pompey's last goal I think Cork or Hammond should have been around where Norris was, we had our backs to the wall and they should have been deeper tracking the midfielders runs. Take nothing away from the finish though, it was superb. Shame that the other 9 time out of 10 would have ended up next to Westwood in the Northern! Lallana was quality at times today, however I was desperately disappointed when he dived, he is better than that and is not the Southampton way of doing things. For me it was a dive and there is no changing my mind on it. Up front I felt Rickie must have been still injured, apart from that free kick he was pretty anonymous all game, for me his link up play is terrific but he seemed more focused on dropping deep all game today. Billy Sharp more than made amends today, Rickie may have the long distance and volleys but Sharp is proving his worth with poachers goals he got today. In all I think a draw was fair, but the fashion in which we conceded the last goal has made me feel like we lost. Which I am annoyed at myself for, we have gone top of the league but I'm desperately disappointed. On today's performance, we cannot afford anything other than a win on Monday and getting momentum for Reading. I hope we can get it, it will put my mind at ease, the pressure is on the lads to get results at the most important part of our season is massive. It just seems like the steal of the other teams is better than ours at present, the point being that a young inexperienced side gave us a run for our money today, our team didn't have that same desire today. I can't believe how negative I'm being negative, it might be today's performance and the manner in which we drew but I am very despondent at the minute and can't wait for Monday for the boys to put things right. COYR.
Lambert might not have been his usual self, but he still won almost every header in the air. Just annoyingly, we very rarely managed to pick up the second ball. Partly I guess because we just don't have the Lampard/Gerrard (or Norris!) type of CMs, who love to burst into the box. As for the ref, I thought he possibly might have got the Pearce tug on Sharp wrong. But as Pearce was the last man, and hence would have had to go, it was a very big call to make. And I wasn't completely sure if it was a foul or not. Apart from that though, it was just the odd thing in the middle of the pitch, but hardly enough to complain about.
Didn't see match myself so can't judge, but Adkins indicated that he thought the ref was letting them get away with a lot...the fact he mentioned it at all indicates that as NA rarely mentions the ref. Think he was angry about Spider's injury.
I can't remember one bad decision from him. And he had good communication with the linesmen, which is something you don't see often enough.
It was Lambert's assist for Sharp's second goal. Maybe he wasn't 100% today, who knows, but he was still in there being twice as effective as other stand-ins might be.
Pompey were spectacularly lucky. Their keeper made numerous amazing saves and 9 times out of 10 both of their goals would end up in orbit.
the keeper done the job he's paid to do (sometimes) as did the strikers. its not as if they were sliced jammy efforts they were genuine shots on target hit well thats all. i love the way pearce is classed as an old head too at 24 goes to show what a shake up we've had with these borrowed youngsters, loan players seem to do well at your place for some reason ohara was the main man last time despite being on loan from spurs.
we all understand that but unfortunately cotterill the clueless prick released any of our youth that looked like they had potential stating that they were not good enough. two of them have gone on to get league1 player of the year and runner up i believe. just shows how clued up he really is. those players could have made a real difference this year but as it stands other than whats left of the first team we have literally got kids on the books. 3 or 4 of which have been in and around the first team and will no doubt have to be included next year. i don't think at the start of the season with a supposed 5 year plan in place and a wealthy backer they were looking at the replacement of half of the squad mid season.
think the ref let the game flow really well, for sharpes goal (can not remember first or second) initially he dis allowed it, but he had the balls to talk to the linesman and change is mind
Think any one who doubted Sharp maybe should think again his two goals showed his in the box predatory instincts and this guy will bag plenty of goals for us. Him and Ricky can form a formidable partnership one imposing in the air with great link up play and an eye for goal and one who will be eager to pounce on any chance that drops in and around the eighteen yard box both players any defence would not relish keeping quiet.
I wonder where Alex is at the moment. He seems to be rather quiet, which is surprising considering how vocal he's been recently against Sharp.
Is it my imagination or did the team look a bit disjointed yesterday. There were a lot of incidences when two and sometimes three players were going for the same ball. Not so much in the second half true, but certainly in the first. I am a fan of Guly's but to me yesterday, he didn't seem to want to know. His body language seemed to be all wrong. He seemed to give up on balls that normally he would push for. He really does not seem to like the idea of playing right of midfield and was rarely out wide when needed. Although there was one certain incident when his run outwide, damn near paid off. De Ridder in my opinion is a waste of space. He just does not, it would seem, have the quality needed to take advantage of his obvious speed and an ability to take on the opposition. Me thinks he is trying too hard perhaps!! Was very disappointed with yesterdays result. However you cannot take away the quality of Pompey's goals both were out of the top drawer. It is true they wanted it a lot more than we did and seemed to be first to the ball on most occasions. This has been a bad trait of ours all season along with are lack of ability to pick up on the second ball. We lack experience in mid field and it is beginning to show. We lack the coolness of an old head and the awareness of a strategic passer, despite the good players we have in those positions. Squeaky bum time perhaps.....I don't have that much of a worry about us not actually succeeding in obtaining promotion this year. I do have my doubts though as to our ability to stay there without quite a few changes.....
I thought we looked very disjointed yesterday, especially in the final third where a lot of the time the little flicks by Rickie were going nowhere near the runners, just seemed like they were on different wavelengths 90% of the time. I am still not 100% convinced by Sharp, I guess it comes down to how you rate a player. Yes he got two goals yesterday by being in the right place at the right time, which is a hard skill to master, the first goal was a great, composed finish aswell. I personally like strikers to have a bit more about their game than just being in the right place at the right time and being good finishers. There are plenty of examples of players who have had very successful careers by only having these traits though, so I think it just comes down to a matter of opinion/taste when rating players.
I thought the officials were awful. The two linesmen waited for the reg to make decisions even throw ins. they just weren't confident. Rocha should of had a red card. You can't deny it. Kicking the ball at the crowd on purpose and then slapping Lallana is a red card. Not a yellow. He also booked one of there players for a elbow which he indicated when showing he yellow card. If He saw a elbow has to be a red. Iv never seen Adkins like he was yesterday with officials. Which says something.
