Went today and what a frustrating afternoon it was. We didn't look like a team who'd had practically 2 weeks without a game - more like a team who'd played every other day - to say slow and tired start would be an understatement. The two goals we conceded early on - think it was within a quarter of an hour were poor goals from defensive perspective. We simply do not look capable of defending - particulalrly winning knock downs or second balls in the box - I hate to say it but I really just want the ball smashed clear until we get a few clean sheets. There's a time to play football and a time to play percentages. I will be fair and say that for the next 20 minutes Pompey played well moving the ball with some purpose and making Stanley actually work - Bean scored a good goal and Westcarr took his really well and he looked like the finisher he can be. At this point I will say the ref was poor and his linesman on one side was even worse -the ref seemed to award any minor contact with a Stanley player as a freekick and yet give nothing our way then what looked like a perfectly good tackle earned Accy a penalty - Jones made a good save from the pen and justice was done. So 2-2 at half time and I was thinking ok, - carry on like this and we'll get at least the draw and I felt that we'd shown enough to give belief we'd start well in the second half. I was wrong - the second half was poor fayre all round - they passed the ball better than us and always looked more dangerous on the break - we never seemed to build any momentum of note and the game seemed to be heading for a draw which on balance would have been about right - ever masters of our own downfall we gave the ball away when it could have been put forward a lot quicker.....and their player a loanee from Watford took a good touch and strike to win it for them. So any positives - yes Bean had a very good game and is an essential starter, Westcarr worked hard and took his goal well, Taylor won most of the aerial balls and Jones was solid as always - we can't defend and I don't like to single out individuals but Chorley does not convince me - especially as a Captain. We need to sort things out very quickly with games coming thick and fast now - otherwise even an upper-mid table finish will be beyond us.
Chorley has been crap for ages. Remember last season on our good run when were won quite a few games and conceded barely any goals because he was suspended.... then he came back, we started conceding points and goals. Chorley being crap is not new, stats don't lie.
Yep PL I think you are right - he's not alone in poor defending but somehow we bizarrely look less organised when he plays - and he is Capt.....I'd give it to Dunne.
Here's the goal analysis from yesterday. [video=youtube;H8_Iy-4EP0o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8_Iy-4EP0o[/video]
Agree that Chorley is our weak link in defence, totally lacks in pace, isn't very good at clearing high balls, and should not be captain. He is not a leader of men. We should try and rid ourselves of him in the January window, if we can find anyone gullible enough to sign him. Also agree with Eastney that when fit, James Dunne should lead the team, as he is a born winner. Boy, oh boy, don't we miss the likes of Ricardo Rocha and Gabor Gyepes.
