And this is why you don't loan out one of your best, potentially match-changing players please log in to view this image
Yep - me too. Alan Knight is just talking about Connolly on Pompey Player. The players definitely aren't responding well to Richie Barker.
On paper we should have one of the most potent attacking line-ups in the league. With Agyemang, Jervis, Taylor, Fogden, Holmes, Barcham, Ferry and Wallace, yet we seem incapable of untilizing them in full effect in any formation and likewise seem incapable of scoring most times. Our defence, likewise, should be solid and any combinaion of Devera, Chorley, Bradley, N'Gala, East, Painter, Moutaouakil and Alfei should be effective but they seem nervous and leaky every game. Perhaps its my optimism showing through but I thought things were improving throughout January. We started on a loss by went four games unbeaten before ending the month on a win. Now we start February with a lack-luster performance and a loss. It's dissapointing to say the least.
Jesus Christ. This season is physically painful. Not particularly bothered about Connolly leaving; he did very little for us in the last few months. Wouldn't miss any of the players tbh.
If we get relegated again that will pretty much be the end of us and we will have this group of players to thank.
I attended today and wished I hadn't - we were dire in the first half and Torquay (no disrespect) are a poor team - it shows the state we are in - we had nobody today in midfield who wanted to work and harass players when we didn't have the ball and they certainly looked more up for it than we did. Only a smart save from Carson and a good follow up clearance from Chorley (only plus point today he looks good) prevented a first goal and it seemed like only moments later they scored anyway. They as the away team then did a professional job - they defended in banks and looked only to break on the counter attack. Second half we at least played some decent football and upped the work rate but never looked like scoring. I wish we had kept Connolly...not only a goal scorer but a clever passer in tight areas.....we lacked imagination and I think escaping the drop is all we can hope for....and it won't be a certainty. Our team may look good on paper but on the pitch I just don'r see it in enough periods in a game to justify anything more than below average League Two fodder....and it pains me to say that. We needed to lure a few more lower league scrappers to join us - our team needs to roll up it's sleeves and get on with it, they seem to be sleepwalking into trouble and based on today if they don't wake up we could very easily drop out of league football.
ok, my take on it.......I was at FP this avo..........it was DIRE......verging embarrassing! We can all blame the manager, but for me its down to the 11 shirts on the pitch to follow the orders, I could see Barker shouting what he wanted, you could see what he was trying to do......it just didnt happen. Jervis - tripped over more times than I care to remember and could not get a shot away Taylor, work rate was 10/10, just didnt seem to be in the right place at the right time, not his best game by far and he would have been disappointed. Big pat - came on and gave his all, but because he has become a bench player, for me he was off match pace, his work rate and determination was good though. Carson - couple of moments where Shorey, Painter and Chorley bailed him out........my pet hate is for keepers to punch/ parry away when they can clearly catch and keep the ball! I could rate all the players, there is no point, it wont change the result, but I guess a few at Pompey are contemplating tonight what it is to play in front of 15,500 screaming fans........especially Fogden who had the chance to put us level with 1 min to go........vertually open goal......and over the bar it goes! Chorley had a good game, Painter had a good game, Alfei was off his game today as was Wallace...........in fact by half time I would have taken him to Peterborough my self! I guess........it is going to be one of those seasons......the defence for me were ok, apart from the goal they did well especially in the first half......second half we didnt have to defend.......I am sure the goals will come........its just we dont have time to wait.....these players have to hit the ground running. Not sure about Padovani.......my preference would be Racon, the midfield looked short of ideas today...........and as for Holmes (MOTM....do me a favour) his deliveries are dire........ at least if we get corners from the right Shorey can actually deliver. To summerise, for me, too many wasted opportunities.....its going to be close.....very close.........and if I am honest if we hadnt have picked up the wycombe points......which if we are all honest was born out of sheer luck......well lets just say we are going to need a whole heap more of that luck to stay in the FL! trying to keep the faith....BP
Richie Barker "it was a disappointing end to the week". Disappointing? How about absolutely ****ing disgraceful?
Yes saw Scunny the other night......that could be a real battering for us. :-( .........re the goals - actually Bonz looked ok from set-pieces and is just a good old big distracting unit in theory freeing up someone else to nip in.....just hoping that we start to fulfill the potential that is there....but as BP said we may run out of time.
Totally agree with you regarding Barker........and sticking my head on the block would suggest that the barker haters have not been to see a game since his reign........the players are way fitter, sharper and to a degree more determined...........I dont know what happened in the first half..........but it was on par with the Fleetwood performance! The goals are a worry, I feel sure they will come, but as you say it is of concern from whom.......Jervis and Taylor seem to be barkers choice of weapon, now they need quality service and that was lacking today..........sorry, but for me Holmes is dire, I dont doubt his work rate but its all in vein if you beat 3 players, get to the byline and then cant cross a ball higher than knee height! The home games should be where we pick up points and its scary to think away teams are dealing with the crowd size nerves better than our lads!
If we stay in this league I would imagine we would do much better next season, but honestly it's in the balance whether we stay up right now.
agreed........sadly as i would like to be more optimistic...........perhaps......in true pompey style......the lads will pull a blinder at accy next week and turn the books again
Boy, oh boy, it's going to be a nerve racking run in to the seasons end. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it over to the game today. Listening to Express FM, I'm pleased I missed this dire performance. This is Richie Barker's choice of players, why can't they remember his instructions when the match commences ? Everything seems to "go to pot", they struggle to retain possession, passes go astray, they can't shoot on target, they can't cross the ball, etc., etc. I agree with bp, in as much as the players look much fitter since Guy departed, but we need to improve our overall play pretty damn quickly if we have any hope of remaining in the Football League. PUP (please !)
I haven't heard anyone calling for Barker's head yet - but Barker lovers should remember that he was sacked from Crawley after a very poor run of form! We've also dropped further down the table since he came in. He is not going to be the messiah that everyone hoped for. However, despite the fact that I just can't warm to him, don't know why, can't really put my finger on it - he has got the players fitter and has fixed the leaky back 5. Unfortunately he hasn't done much with the forwards, that's gone backwards. He's doing what they all do, playing his own men and discarding the ones who were already here. It's a weakness that all football managers have. Very few of them inspire their players. He's got a long way to go yet.
