pommpey
THE FUTURE ... AS IT USED TO BE
- Banned
- #1
Excellent performance across the park today against a Chelsea side on paper light years ahead of our 'Championship Cloggers'. The Sky commentators made large of 'what Chelsea aren't doing' and 'what Chelsea have to do' forgetting that for most if not all the game, Sheffield United simply didn't allow them to do what they shoulda, coulda and woulda done. If Chelsea were playing Bournemouth, Everton or West Ham today, they'd possibly have come away with something. But today, whenever they gained possession, they were faced within seconds with a three-five red and white brick wall, and when they switched off or dared to come so far they were resolutely punished, twice by a striker in his autumnal years and written off by many.
To me, Wilder and Knill between them have more kudos than much of the management teams above them. We've had a dip, and they have dug the team out of it. Three wins at home against pretty much fancied oppositions is testimony to that and the way it has been done, tough, disciplined and not relying on reputation and gamesmanship says where we are. Today was a joy to watch.
Henderson 6.5/10: I don't think he was overly troubled, made key interceptions, catches and punches as required. His distribution long however was iffy at times, but hey-ho. He's saved us enough this season.
Baldock 7.5/10: Typical run-shirt-wringing-wet performance from George. First half he was pegged back a bit and for me, should have run on into the box and fired on goal late in the second.
Basham 9/10: This bloke is at a level and not letting it drop. Shame he was hit by the ball and concussed. His drag backs and backheels - he's a centre half. So tricky, so good.
Egan 9/10: Aside from some headers upwards, he was redoubtable. Great getting his feet where it counts and just doing the job on tricky forwards like Abraham and an experienced Giroud when needed
O'Connell 8.5/10: Great turn out and with the other two, made the central butress of the red and white wall. Slightly hesitant once, but other times well on his game again
Stevens 8.5/10: Much, much better game from him. For large parts had Willian down his sock. Skied a sitter at the end, but his cross for McBs goal was masterful
Berge 7.5/10: He is improving and gaining in understanding, but he's still a bit 'joggy' and louche. The shove on Berkeley was fucking stupid. Willian put one in two weeks ago from that position. Luckily he didn't take this one.
Norwood 7.5/10: A much, much better performance from him in an advanced position. Berkeley couldn't get away from him and he marshalled our team well as Captain. Great ball onto McGs head in the first half but fuck me, why do most of his corners hit the first man?
Osborn 8.5/10: Another run-himself-flat outing from Ozzie. I don't think the galacticos of Chelsea could understand this ex-Notts Forest nobody chasing their arses about the pitch and making their lives very, very difficult. He has such energy and in a side like ours, can only get better. Fleck - beware. When/if you come back, you have to be better than Osborn
McBurnie 8/10: Such a fucking handful. Chelsea's back line is replete with international standard defenders and McBurnie was employing all of them. His goal was just what we do and I am surprised Lampard hadn't planned for a Stevens-Osborn one-two and McB just free-headering it home. If I was Lampard, I would have replaced all my back four at that moment. We made them look shit.
McGoldrick 10/10: Just fucking mercurial. He is old, not fast, doesn't possess anything any PL club would actively rate yet Chelsea's fear of him grew and grew with each passing minute. You just don't let an old head like McGoldrick's dominate a game like that and create space in the six yard box. I bet Billy and Zivs went and got changed at half time. He was so involved and active and so deserved his brace. Well fucking done Didsy.
Mousett 4/10: Yes. I would have scored that fucker. He'd left his defender making a choice of bringing him down or hoping he'd spoon it and guess what? Good job it wasn't 0-0 at that moment, or he'd be in a taxi and on his way to Manchester airport now, bound for France. It was a shocking miss.
Jagielka 6/10: Great block late on but he allowed Giroud too much space at times. He's getting on a bit, and really Robinson would have been a better choice
EDIT> Lundrstam 7/10: Back to his chasing self, and hopefully back for the run in
Wilder 10/10. Well done Tufty. Shame Sky couldn't bring themselves to interview you post match.
Opposition 1/10. We made them look dismal and overrated, but not because they played bad. They have a team stuffed with internationals. They just failed to have anything to match us and get the better of us and we made them pay for their underestimation of our team spirit. Great seeing them pump it long as a last resort. Good remarks from Lampard at the end.
pommpey
To me, Wilder and Knill between them have more kudos than much of the management teams above them. We've had a dip, and they have dug the team out of it. Three wins at home against pretty much fancied oppositions is testimony to that and the way it has been done, tough, disciplined and not relying on reputation and gamesmanship says where we are. Today was a joy to watch.
Henderson 6.5/10: I don't think he was overly troubled, made key interceptions, catches and punches as required. His distribution long however was iffy at times, but hey-ho. He's saved us enough this season.
Baldock 7.5/10: Typical run-shirt-wringing-wet performance from George. First half he was pegged back a bit and for me, should have run on into the box and fired on goal late in the second.
Basham 9/10: This bloke is at a level and not letting it drop. Shame he was hit by the ball and concussed. His drag backs and backheels - he's a centre half. So tricky, so good.
Egan 9/10: Aside from some headers upwards, he was redoubtable. Great getting his feet where it counts and just doing the job on tricky forwards like Abraham and an experienced Giroud when needed
O'Connell 8.5/10: Great turn out and with the other two, made the central butress of the red and white wall. Slightly hesitant once, but other times well on his game again
Stevens 8.5/10: Much, much better game from him. For large parts had Willian down his sock. Skied a sitter at the end, but his cross for McBs goal was masterful
Berge 7.5/10: He is improving and gaining in understanding, but he's still a bit 'joggy' and louche. The shove on Berkeley was fucking stupid. Willian put one in two weeks ago from that position. Luckily he didn't take this one.
Norwood 7.5/10: A much, much better performance from him in an advanced position. Berkeley couldn't get away from him and he marshalled our team well as Captain. Great ball onto McGs head in the first half but fuck me, why do most of his corners hit the first man?
Osborn 8.5/10: Another run-himself-flat outing from Ozzie. I don't think the galacticos of Chelsea could understand this ex-Notts Forest nobody chasing their arses about the pitch and making their lives very, very difficult. He has such energy and in a side like ours, can only get better. Fleck - beware. When/if you come back, you have to be better than Osborn
McBurnie 8/10: Such a fucking handful. Chelsea's back line is replete with international standard defenders and McBurnie was employing all of them. His goal was just what we do and I am surprised Lampard hadn't planned for a Stevens-Osborn one-two and McB just free-headering it home. If I was Lampard, I would have replaced all my back four at that moment. We made them look shit.
McGoldrick 10/10: Just fucking mercurial. He is old, not fast, doesn't possess anything any PL club would actively rate yet Chelsea's fear of him grew and grew with each passing minute. You just don't let an old head like McGoldrick's dominate a game like that and create space in the six yard box. I bet Billy and Zivs went and got changed at half time. He was so involved and active and so deserved his brace. Well fucking done Didsy.
Mousett 4/10: Yes. I would have scored that fucker. He'd left his defender making a choice of bringing him down or hoping he'd spoon it and guess what? Good job it wasn't 0-0 at that moment, or he'd be in a taxi and on his way to Manchester airport now, bound for France. It was a shocking miss.
Jagielka 6/10: Great block late on but he allowed Giroud too much space at times. He's getting on a bit, and really Robinson would have been a better choice
EDIT> Lundrstam 7/10: Back to his chasing self, and hopefully back for the run in
Wilder 10/10. Well done Tufty. Shame Sky couldn't bring themselves to interview you post match.
Opposition 1/10. We made them look dismal and overrated, but not because they played bad. They have a team stuffed with internationals. They just failed to have anything to match us and get the better of us and we made them pay for their underestimation of our team spirit. Great seeing them pump it long as a last resort. Good remarks from Lampard at the end.
pommpey
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