pommpey
THE FUTURE ... AS IT USED TO BE
- Banned
- #1
Another dirty win ... and yeah, I'm gonna moan a bit. The reason is that as much as we are joint top and looking already promoted, the question always hangs in the consciousness: 'why do we have to make it so fucking hard for ourselves?'
Sky obliged the distant supporter tonight and from their simply cretinous matchday team, it was evident they were looking for the Tangerines to turn us over (you can have that one Fallowfield) and seemed obsessed with the daft match at BDTBL in October. Sure, it was possible, but what was evident was that Appleton has the noose round his neck now and needed summat out of tonight.
In fairness, Blackpool once again gave us a game. They were quick out of the traps and moving at us, pinning us in our own half straight away and although we didn't look ruffled until they hit the bar, we realised we were giving them far too much bandwidth and space to operate in. Instead of sitting back and soaking, the idea now was to utilise the back-in-post Bogle to dance around wide and open them up. Fucking good call really because it also dragged N'Daiye into the scrap and before long we are looking a damned sight more purposeful. Although we carved chances out and flunked them you had the idea that it was only a matter of time before summat happened. And it did. Bogle through, feeds N'Daiye, he feeds Berge and just when we are expecting him to boot it harmlessly into the stand, he calmly steadies himself and clips it past the keeper. That's more like it.
But we are still in 'can't kill these cunts off' mode for the rest of the half. Blackpool characteristically steer the ball over toward the increasingly liable Stevens and try all sorts of shit to gain a foothold before we park the bus. But we go in 1-0 up, hopefully straight at them second half to bulldoze them flat.
Second half and without the expected changes we start well but still not managing to penetrate Blackpool's fragile defence. They end up down our end and McAtee receives and rounds a slipped player and runs seventy yards to show similar composure than he did last week to double our lead. The Blackpool players are somewhat disconsolate and Appleton wobbles on his stool somewhat. That's more like it.
But again, we are pinned back and unable to impose. Berge, invisible since his goal is still disappointingly ineffective and vacant. N'Daiye runs and chases everything and so does Billy and McAtee is looking isolated, leaving much of the Alamo-like defending to the rest of the team and a back three clearly not happy with itself in form and function, robbed of Egan. Bogle comes off post a fucking horror tackle (remember Fulham last year?) and George is sent on and we hook McAtee for Doyle and Enda for a much improved Lowe to deal with their threat and push up the wing a bit and during this time ship a pissy, sloppy, typically United-in-defence goal and don't seem at all to cope with Madine who is basically bossing and bullying his way onto every ball. We end the game playing out wide with Jebbo on for a knackered N'Daiye and up their end for seconds and secure the three points, albeit uncomfortably.
Foderingham 6/10: He's still in the hinterland of inconsistency unfortunately and was fortunate not to fall victim to the fierce shot on goal, which although was a decent save was dealable straight on with a more assured catch or parry
Bogle 8/10: Great return from him and over 70 minutes a better option in many ways than George has been in penetration and innovation
Anel 6.5/10: Decent outing for him albeit despite his height he found it tough against Madine at times when it was his job to pick him up. Unlucky going forward
Clark 6.5/10: Did okay if not remarkable out of position if horrendously thugged over by Madine who in my opinion had him tucked down his sock
Robinson 5.5/10: Not a remarkable match for him. His throws were ineffective and he looks somewhat rusty against a bit of pace
Stevens 3/10: Slipped over a few times and struggled with the demands of their wide players
McAtee 6.5/10: Improving with every game if a bit outmuscled and outfought tonight. Great lung busting run and finish for his crucial goal to get us the win
Norwood 7.5/10: Another decent of unremarkable game where he 'did his job' in midfield and held it together, especially when we were under the cosh
Berge 3/10: Yep - he scored. But what the fuck else did he do? Pedestrian and uninvolved. And that fucking header out of the box on six minutes. Man, oh-man.
N'Daiye 7.5/10: An unproductive but nonetheless impressive game for him. We miss him when he gets subbed, don't we?
Sharp 5/10: Grafted like fuck, but got fuck all.
Baldock 5.5/10: His appearance kinda 'reset' that right wing and we stopped attacking down there
Doyle 6/10: Subbed the wrong midfielder in my opinion but added some form and function where Berge was clearly struggling to provide it
Lowe 6/10: A welcome replacement for the beleagured Stevens. At least him coming on stopped them feeling emboldened to attack down the left
Jebbison 5/10: Chasing carrier bags in the wind
HJ&SMcC 6/10: Again, questionable subs and squad, but three points all the same. Monday's game is essential in that we continue to chip at QPRs weaknesses early and stop this patient 'we'll get a goal sometime in future' approach. The key is Lowe/Bogle/N'Daiye/Doyle/McAtee and how Hecky uses them for full effect. With Egan back and some form of normality in the team with Clark and Anel back where they should be there is no reason we shouldn't further open up the gap and keep the pressure on Burnlah.
Happy New Year to all My Take ... readers. We are going up next year.
pommpey
Sky obliged the distant supporter tonight and from their simply cretinous matchday team, it was evident they were looking for the Tangerines to turn us over (you can have that one Fallowfield) and seemed obsessed with the daft match at BDTBL in October. Sure, it was possible, but what was evident was that Appleton has the noose round his neck now and needed summat out of tonight.
In fairness, Blackpool once again gave us a game. They were quick out of the traps and moving at us, pinning us in our own half straight away and although we didn't look ruffled until they hit the bar, we realised we were giving them far too much bandwidth and space to operate in. Instead of sitting back and soaking, the idea now was to utilise the back-in-post Bogle to dance around wide and open them up. Fucking good call really because it also dragged N'Daiye into the scrap and before long we are looking a damned sight more purposeful. Although we carved chances out and flunked them you had the idea that it was only a matter of time before summat happened. And it did. Bogle through, feeds N'Daiye, he feeds Berge and just when we are expecting him to boot it harmlessly into the stand, he calmly steadies himself and clips it past the keeper. That's more like it.
But we are still in 'can't kill these cunts off' mode for the rest of the half. Blackpool characteristically steer the ball over toward the increasingly liable Stevens and try all sorts of shit to gain a foothold before we park the bus. But we go in 1-0 up, hopefully straight at them second half to bulldoze them flat.
Second half and without the expected changes we start well but still not managing to penetrate Blackpool's fragile defence. They end up down our end and McAtee receives and rounds a slipped player and runs seventy yards to show similar composure than he did last week to double our lead. The Blackpool players are somewhat disconsolate and Appleton wobbles on his stool somewhat. That's more like it.
But again, we are pinned back and unable to impose. Berge, invisible since his goal is still disappointingly ineffective and vacant. N'Daiye runs and chases everything and so does Billy and McAtee is looking isolated, leaving much of the Alamo-like defending to the rest of the team and a back three clearly not happy with itself in form and function, robbed of Egan. Bogle comes off post a fucking horror tackle (remember Fulham last year?) and George is sent on and we hook McAtee for Doyle and Enda for a much improved Lowe to deal with their threat and push up the wing a bit and during this time ship a pissy, sloppy, typically United-in-defence goal and don't seem at all to cope with Madine who is basically bossing and bullying his way onto every ball. We end the game playing out wide with Jebbo on for a knackered N'Daiye and up their end for seconds and secure the three points, albeit uncomfortably.
Foderingham 6/10: He's still in the hinterland of inconsistency unfortunately and was fortunate not to fall victim to the fierce shot on goal, which although was a decent save was dealable straight on with a more assured catch or parry
Bogle 8/10: Great return from him and over 70 minutes a better option in many ways than George has been in penetration and innovation
Anel 6.5/10: Decent outing for him albeit despite his height he found it tough against Madine at times when it was his job to pick him up. Unlucky going forward
Clark 6.5/10: Did okay if not remarkable out of position if horrendously thugged over by Madine who in my opinion had him tucked down his sock
Robinson 5.5/10: Not a remarkable match for him. His throws were ineffective and he looks somewhat rusty against a bit of pace
Stevens 3/10: Slipped over a few times and struggled with the demands of their wide players
McAtee 6.5/10: Improving with every game if a bit outmuscled and outfought tonight. Great lung busting run and finish for his crucial goal to get us the win
Norwood 7.5/10: Another decent of unremarkable game where he 'did his job' in midfield and held it together, especially when we were under the cosh
Berge 3/10: Yep - he scored. But what the fuck else did he do? Pedestrian and uninvolved. And that fucking header out of the box on six minutes. Man, oh-man.
N'Daiye 7.5/10: An unproductive but nonetheless impressive game for him. We miss him when he gets subbed, don't we?
Sharp 5/10: Grafted like fuck, but got fuck all.
Baldock 5.5/10: His appearance kinda 'reset' that right wing and we stopped attacking down there
Doyle 6/10: Subbed the wrong midfielder in my opinion but added some form and function where Berge was clearly struggling to provide it
Lowe 6/10: A welcome replacement for the beleagured Stevens. At least him coming on stopped them feeling emboldened to attack down the left
Jebbison 5/10: Chasing carrier bags in the wind
HJ&SMcC 6/10: Again, questionable subs and squad, but three points all the same. Monday's game is essential in that we continue to chip at QPRs weaknesses early and stop this patient 'we'll get a goal sometime in future' approach. The key is Lowe/Bogle/N'Daiye/Doyle/McAtee and how Hecky uses them for full effect. With Egan back and some form of normality in the team with Clark and Anel back where they should be there is no reason we shouldn't further open up the gap and keep the pressure on Burnlah.
Happy New Year to all My Take ... readers. We are going up next year.
pommpey
