Pompey Post Match

[sg6]

So poor!!! What message does dropping Vitor give to the rest of the players on the bench? Yakubu, Mee, Bruma, Vasell, Ricardo are not playing for their places, for sven they are a shoe in for every matchand its obvious from todays game that the players realise that too. Play players that fight for their shirt, half the team probably dont care about promotion as they will be there with their respective clubs next season! And as for another loan player, no thanks!

[SMX11]

Disjointed performance by a disjointed team. No consistancy in selection and therefore no understanding on the pitch. Yakubu needs dropping, but I don't think Waghorn will do any better.

[Dylan]

Very disappointing performance and result. No passion or urgency.

Why drop Vitor?! A brace and a clean sheet- what more could he have done?

I thought we started to fall apart- just stopped playing football- when Abe came off. Thought Vassell should've gone off instead for a straight swap. And was it me or was Dyer playing through the middle? He was rarely on the wing- where he should be.

Compared to others, I actually thought Gallagher played alright. Missed a chance which he should deffo scored, but worked very hard, tracked back, and wanted to play for the club unlike some others.

The goal we conceded was shocking in every aspect. Ricardo was nowhere near it, but our defence should always get to the ball first clearing it. I really hope Sven has the guts to admit he made a mistake and drop Ricardo; as I guarantee you all our opponents will know this, and they'll just put the ball into the box.

Regarding the rest of this season, it's going to be very very tough, and I'm starting to lose my optimism. A win today would've put us right in the mix of things. However I feel it's still possible. We've got 8 games left- I think 18 points would sneak us a playoff place- meaning we've got to win 6 games- difficult yes with hard games let such as Forest, Burnley, Watford but not impossible. A win is needed against Boro, and WE HAVE TO FINISH OUR CHANCES FROM NOW TILL THE END OF THE SEASON.

[filbertway]

It was by no means great, but it wasn't that bad a performance. Had we taken a few of the many chances we had we could easily have won that. Also where's this lack of desire coming from? From the match stream I was watching we seemed to be closing down constantly.

[Bert]

It boils down to not hitting the target. King and yakubu were both guilty. King with a free header first half (becoming a habit now) and yakubu towards the end.

I don't know what Gallagher was thinking of when he hit his one on one straight at the keeper.

Getting very annoyed with the quick free kicks and short corners, because they just get wasted.

Such a shame really, majority if results went for us.

[filbertway]

It boils down to not hitting the target. King and yakubu were both guilty. King with a free header first half (becoming a habit now) and yakubu towards the end.

I don't know what Gallagher was thinking of when he hit his one on one straight at the keeper.

Getting very annoyed with the quick free kicks and short corners, because they just get wasted.

Such a shame really, majority if results went for us.

That's basically how I saw it. I think it's just most frustrating that most results went our way and we didn't capitalise.

[Bugg]

What the **** is wrong with most of the people in L1/K1. I thought it was supposed to be the end that makes the noise. As soon as they scored most of the people in the block just gave up, not that any of them bother much before they score. Seems like most people just buy tickets there to look hard/cool.

By the way, what happened about 30 mins before the game outside the ground? I saw some louts fighting each other on the roundabout by the car dealership.

[Gazza M]

After the Scunthorpe match I talked about trying to keep some continuity in the side and for the rest of the season. Unfortunately Sven chose to change things today. I think it was a poor decision. Why drop the guy who carried most of the momentum for us last week. I felt sorry for Vitor today. That left us again with another defensive re-shuffle.

I think Sven has gone overboard with his re-shuffling, especially in defence.

I wish the teams above would start winning and put us out of our misery!!!

I heard on the phone-in people pointing fingers at the loanee signings commitment. I think this is the danger when you have a large number in the side. They came in to try and get us up and now this has diminished, they are just playing out time. I even saw that Paul Gallagher had quoted "this season seems to have gone on forever" in the Mercury.

I expect the season to fizzle out unfortunately. I think we need to get some sort of consistency back now. Lets see if we can get back to back wins or stay unbeaten for a few games or so.

There have been recent examples of Sven changing things and it has really slown our momentum down.

1) Dropping Weale against Derby and bringing in Ricardo when Weale was sky high in confidence and the team was flying.

2) Playing Bruma in midfield against Cardiff.

3) Dropping Ben Mee from centre back and putting Bamba on his weaker left side.

4) Changing the formation against QPR and Norwich

5) Dropping Vitor after 2 goals in previous match.

The message is simple Sven. Stop tinckering. If it aint broke, don't bloody try and fix it!!!!!

[The Doctor]

They didn't deserve a thing from that match, we could and should have won comfortably.

Got to question why bruma came back in, whenever i've seen him he's been average at best while vitor is probably the best defender at the club.

[martyn]

Why are people focusing on Yakubu's workrate? I'd say the fact he's wasted about his last 12 decent chances is more a pressing concern. He looks more and more like a busted flush, I'd kill for a Steve Morison (or whisper it quietly, a Marlon King) type player as the central fulcrum, a mobile big man who can also find the net. I don't want to beat up on Yak, but if he's not scoring (and he's not even looking like it now), it's like playing with 10 men. Our front 3 as a unit don't offer nearly enough however, Vassell is an attacking black hole most of the time and Gallagher had a very poor day.

Today showed Sven up. Pompey came and pressed high, worked hard and slowed the game down. We are a 1 paced unit who look a million dollars when allowed to play and impose our style, but can't alter it when the situation dictates that it's necessary. Ally this with a vulnerability to set pieces and it's a worrying combination.

A blind man could see within 20 minutes that we needed to up the tempo. Instead, our slow tempo allowed Pompey to keep a rigid shape and made it far to easy to press and harry us into mistakes/aimless hoofs. Yet, we continued this plodding throughout the 90 minutes with the inevitable 5 minute desperation at the end. One ball by Naughton into the box at the death summed it up. 5 Pompey players were in the 6 yard box ready to clear, our lot hanging were hanging idly around the penalty spot.

As for the changes, taking Yuki off in effect looked like a positive change but ultimately surrendered more ground to them as we had nobody able to pick up the loose balls in midfield whilst Waggy ended up spending his 20 minute jaunt at left back.

Dropping Vitor was an extremely poor decision as well, I don't care if Chelsea are giving us ££££ to play Bruma, it sends a negative message to the player, and squad to drop a talented guy after a 2 goal MOTM performance.

[wurmer]

We didn't deserve to lose that - but neither us or Portsmouth deserved to win it either.

We dropped back into clueless mode again in front of goal, and resorted to just banging it up-field towards the end rather than passing. That would have been a good idea in the first half, when they were defending into the sun, but a waste of time in the 2nd - it was just desperate.

Yakubu is slow, lazy and in no way playing like a Premier League level striker - if anything, he looks heavier than when he arrived!

Poor game.

[purpleronnie]

So the goalie not dealing with a cross lead to the goal....shock horror.

[Guest Col city fan]

Abysmal in front of goal.

Other results went our way, but i'm afraid if we keep playing like this it is bye bye play-offs, if not already.

Yakubu Premier league striker, pffft fvck off.

I've read many posts on here over the past few weeks, some of them clever and well-written, some of them nonsense.. However, if ANYBODY feels that that Sven side was positive for the future of the club then you are seriously deluded. Ricardo is a clown, Yakubu in the second half was a disgrace and why drop Vittor?

This is now Svens team (not Sousa's) and Sven HAS fooked it up with his team selections.

The amazing thing is that we are still just off the play-offs! And I STILL think that Hull will get 6th

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Said it before and I'll say it again, Sven is tactially inept.

Its actually absurd the way he picks 'his players' for no reason at all. Bruma isnt very good, but walks in straight ahead of Vitor, man of the match last week. Berner should be left back, Mee had a shokcer today, especially in the first half.

Yakubu is still immune from being subbed off strangely too, I'd rather drop him and have Vassell back in the central role. He brings on Dyer and playes him down the middle with Yakubu on the wing, whilst at this point Gally and Waghorn were playing all over the place. No formation at all.

I have had enough of it. I dont care where we were before he came, he quite clearly isnt a good manager under pressure. He picks players with no justification, and sends them out in no formation.

Season is over now for me, we might only be 5 points off, but we are that poor and badly managed I cant see us making it up.

[Fosse Boy]

Depressing game. Really am not a fan of packing squads with loan signings, mucking the team about.

Oh well, chin up. Possibly Brighton, Bournemouth AND Blackpool away next year. Every cloud an' all that...

And to the lad in the checked shirt in SK1 - good on you kiddo, get yourself up the back next game!

[Webbo]

. Bruma isnt very good,

Rubbish.

[SMX11]

Said it before and I'll say it again, Sven is tactially inept.

Its actually absurd the way he picks 'his players' for no reason at all. Bruma isnt very good, but walks in straight ahead of Vitor, man of the match last week. Berner should be left back, Mee had a shokcer today, especially in the first half.

Yakubu is still immune from being subbed off strangely too, I'd rather drop him and have Vassell back in the central role. He brings on Dyer and playes him down the middle with Yakubu on the wing, whilst at this point Gally and Waghorn were playing all over the place. No formation at all.

I have had enough of it. I dont care where we were before he came, he quite clearly isnt a good manager under pressure. He picks players with no justification, and sends them out in no formation.

Season is over now for me, we might only be 5 points off, but we are that poor and badly managed I cant see us making it up.

He was woeful against Norwich, he shouldn't have got an extension as he is clearly past it. Next season will be interesting saying that we have no fullbacks worthy of note and only Bamba who seems to be in in Sven's plans at the back. Naughton will be off to QPR imo and I wouldn't blame him, he has been the shining light in most of the bad performances.I just want some continuity in the team, Sven just brings in players for the sake of it. Bruma was a nothing loan, we certainly didn't need him and he refuses to play people who aren't 'his' players no matter how they play. I wouldn't be suprised if Kamara came in, but imo it is 10 games too late, he should have been brought in instead of Bruma.

[iBleedLeicesterColours]

Our season is definitly over. Say what you like about being negative, but its the truth.

Prepare for next season now I say. Get permanent players in. Yakubu is a waste of money. Vassell is unpredicatable too. Dyer & Waghorn must be wondering why they're on the bench. Vitor should have started. Vitor > Bruma.

Only positive left of this season is Forest 5-30 k/o on good Friday.

[sbfox]

I have had enough of it. I dont care where we were before he came, he quite clearly isnt a good manager under pressure. He picks players with no justification, and sends them out in no formation.

Season is over now for me, we might only be 5 points off, but we are that poor and badly managed I cant see us making it up.

Feel free to piss off and not come down the Walkers anymore this season then, save us having to read your dross week in week out (assuming of course, you bothered to go).

We are not poor, we played Scunny off the park last week and virtually the same starting line up went on a fantastic run in January and some of Feb. We could and should have scored at least 3 (King, Yak and Gally) and Naughton was unlucky with his screamer too. If those first three had gone in, we'd all be sitting here smug as anything about 'playing scrappy to win', happy with 3 points.

Our finishing was abysmal, but we were a final touch and a bounce the other side of the post from winning comfortably. Certainly, we were at our best, but the over-reaction (as usual) is pathetic.

Oh and some of our fans once again confirmed themselves as being amongst the most fickle in the league today. Barely heard L and K at all (what the **** were K 'cheering' at just after half-time, sounded disabled-tacular), Kop was deadly silent and don't get me started on hearing any semblance of noise from the Fosse Boys... Some many moaners and boo boys who would do better to stay at home.

[SeCrEt FoX]

Took my lad for his first ever game today Cant see him remembering this. First 10 mins we was all over them same as Norwich, after that nothing . Gally should of scored and what was with the crappy freekicks? Why didnt he have a crack? And on that note why dont anyone else have a crack from outside? Playing silly little passes in and around their 18 just invites them to take it off us . Are well theres next year

[Webbo]

(what the **** were K 'cheering' at just after half-time, sounded disabled-tacular),

It was jokey American style cheering, it got on my tits after a while as well.

[iBleedLeicesterColours]

What the **** is wrong with most of the people in L1/K1. I thought it was supposed to be the end that makes the noise. As soon as they scored most of the people in the block just gave up, not that any of them bother much before they score. Seems like most people just buy tickets there to look hard/cool.

By the way, what happened about 30 mins before the game outside the ground? I saw some louts fighting each other on the roundabout by the car dealership.

Saw a couple of lads leg it down the road and get nailed by the 50. Portmsouth and Leicester fans ?

[Bugg]

It was jokey American style cheering, it got on my tits after a while as well.

it got on my tits when it started, It's fvcking embarrassing.

[m00nie]

Feel free to piss off and not come down the Walkers anymore this season then, save us having to read your dross week in week out (assuming of course, you bothered to go).

We are not poor, we played Scunny off the park last week and virtually the same starting line up went on a fantastic run in January and some of Feb. We could and should have scored at least 3 (King, Yak and Gally) and Naughton was unlucky with his screamer too. If those first three had gone in, we'd all be sitting here smug as anything about 'playing scrappy to win', happy with 3 points.

Our finishing was abysmal, but we were a final touch and a bounce the other side of the post from winning comfortably. Certainly, we were at our best, but the over-reaction (as usual) is pathetic.

Oh and some of our fans once again confirmed themselves as being amongst the most fickle in the league today. Barely heard L and K at all (what the **** were K 'cheering' at just after half-time, sounded disabled-tacular), Kop was deadly silent and don't get me started on hearing any semblance of noise from the Fosse Boys... Some many moaners and boo boys who would do better to stay at home.

how is the over reaction pathetic??

we was shit..

you can say we could have and should have all day but we DIDNT...

how many shots were actually on target??

[The MayneFox]

I have ran out of patients with Yakubu, he dosnt seem to run, or care about the club, and is chances at the Kop end Oh My

HAving said that alot of the team were poor today. we need to get back into first gear and get moving up the table if we WANT to achieve promotion! for me our defence is shaky this is 1) to much "chop 'n' change 2) Ricardo, now he was ok today, probs fault for the first, im not one of these WEALO!!!, but i think that our defence is lacking confidence with him in goal recently, saying that they were ok today, maybe its just getting use to Ricardo

however Portsmouth did well they had a game: rough us up, take the lead, hold onto the lead, it just about worked, so fair play to them. referee was....crap! (im thinking of more angry to describe him atm!)

in conclusion, it seems weve lost that home confidence now, which at this time of the season is an attribute we MUST have. it was a frustrating game, in which we should of at least got 2 goals.

I think that Sven needs to have a reality check, it seems were taking 1 step forward and 2 back, now (but hey ho, every team has their bad form, [burnely ] were going through ours)