From the cheap seats

[pommpey]

Howard 7/10. Stopping good. Distribution shit.
Harris 7/10. Looked handy going forward and good in the challenge. Shame we lost him.
Collins 6/10. Lost Garner a few times. Worried me a bit
Maguire 9/10. Very good game and unfortunate not to get the pen. Their player wanted to wear his fucking shirt I think
Freeman 7/10. Steady game. Reminds me of Westlake in a better game.
Doyle 7/10. Worked hard in the hole but at times was outgunned and gave a few passes away
Murphy 7.5/10. Our only outlet going forward. At one stage up on his own against four of theirs. Ran his shirt off and got nowt.
Scougall 6/10. Shame he couldn't get much out of the game but the midfield were required to sit deep and absob their attacks
Flynn 6/10. Starting to go backwards again. Again, worked hard but didn't get past their bruiser of a defender who didn't look that nimble
Coady 7/10. Worked hard to provide some kind of link between Baxter and the people behind. Looked knackered near the end
Baxter 6/10. Didn't get much or create much.

Hill 3/10. Felt sorry for him
Davies 8/10. Did very well breaking up their attacks down his side and provided some way up the wing if Flynn could get that far
Potter 4/10. 50p headed the only chance we had.

Team 8/10 against a rather physical, tactically better side.

Cluff 9/10. Went to keep them out and succeeded

Crowd 10/10. Heard throughout

pommpey

 

[blader]

Freeman 7/10. Steady game. Reminds me of Westlake in a better game.

No chance. Freeman got a 7, and that's more than Westlake ever got (or should have got!). He has good reviews from Derby and Notts County. I've said it before, as there is little chance to sign Brayford, this is the player we should be courting for next season. He is a great young prospect, and would like us to pin him down to a longer deal.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Harris was superb while he was on. Freeman also a very good debut. Mags and Collins struggeled a bit early on, but got better. Howard was good too. Minuses were Flynn, Murphy and Baxter, while the others had average games.

Disappointing performance overall, but not hugely surprising as it's hard to keep raising your game physically and mentally for so many games in a row. We could have needed some new input in the attacking positions, but the only new name today was a full back (Freeman), and then the first two subs (enforced) were also full backs, which made it difficult for us to change the pattern of the game.

Pleased with a point in the end, but I'm concerned it'll be too much to ask for this squad to keep winning against the best teams in the division in the next few weeks.

 

[moDtheGod]

Bit harsh on Collins. Thought both centre backs were good. Also harsh on Porter as he worked hard and wasn't given long enough on the pitch. The header wasn't easy. Agree with basically every other mark.

 

[moDtheGod]

Minuses were Flynn, Murphy and Baxter, while the others had average games.

Murphy was at the heart of everything good in the first half. But I can't remember him touching the ball in the second.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Harris was superb while he was on. Freeman also a very good debut. Mags and Collins struggeled a bit early on, but got better. Howard was good too. Minuses were Flynn, Murphy and Baxter, while the others had average games.

Disappointing performance overall, but not hugely surprising as it's hard to keep raising your game physically and mentally for so many games in a row. We could have needed some new input in the attacking positions, but the only new name today was a full back (Freeman), and then the first two subs (enforced) were also full backs, which made it difficult for us to change the pattern of the game.

Pleased with a point in the end, but I'm concerned it'll be too much to ask for this squad to keep winning against the best teams in the division in the next few weeks.

As usual I like your posts Bergen, but Davies, especially in the second half, was as steady as a rock. Like him a lot and you can see that he knows the game and at times his delivery is spot on. As you wrote, Harris looked very strong, and yes, Freeman looks another good prospect.

 

[Bergen Blade]

As usual I like your posts Bergen, but Davies, especially in the second half, was as steady as a rock. Like him a lot and you can see that he knows the game and at times his delivery is spot on. As you wrote, Harris looked very strong, and yes, Freeman looks another good prospect.

Yes, agree Davies was solid and composed, and looks a good footballer.

 

[Wards]

Harris, Doyle, Maguire and Freeman stand out performers for me. Tells you all you need to know about how we played! Happy with a point to be fair.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Murphy was at the heart of everything good in the first half. But I can't remember him touching the ball in the second.

He had a couple of good runs but quite a few unsuccessful ones as well and I thought he struggled more than in recent games. I wish he could strike the ball half as well as our goalkeeper, something for him to work on for next season.

 

[puppet]

Its a great testament to how far we have come since Crewe (A). Sure, we lacked firepower up front because the tactic we have used of clever, nippy play achieved nothing against their old guard style big lads at the back. I thought Baxter and Scougall look tired rather than out of their depth and Coady found it hard to find much space or the killer pass he plays at least once a game. But we have just won ten on the bounce, including three scalps from Divisions above in the cup and fought our way out of the relegation battle we looked certain to finish at best second to last in. Given that we are very resilliant in knock out competitions, is it worth the extra push now because unlike previous play off campaigns, we look unbeatable in a one off game right now. Or do we hedge our bets and try for a final against Arsenal that guarantees us European football? Either way, it would be silly to field a weakened team against Peterborough, just incase, given they are in 6th spot. THAT said also though, our 'weakened' team the other week ahead of Charlton won easily enough. Tonight we proved that we are very difficult to beat. I've seen negatives here and there but we played a very good (and also dirty and cynical) side tonight... Collins played well and lost his man once or twice but we always seem to have bodies bringing up the rear, with two relative newcomers (one fairly new, one debutant) in defence for the second half and they could not beat us. Well done Blades.

 

[Northyorksblade]

Not really surprising that Murphy, Flynn and Scougall tired in the second half, the last ten games they've run their proverbial socks off.

 

[puppet]

Not really surprising that Murphy, Flynn and Scougall tired in the second half, the last ten games they've run their proverbial socks off.

No I agree totally!

 

[moDtheGod]

He had a couple of good runs but quite a few unsuccessful ones as well and I thought he struggled more than in recent games. I wish he could strike the ball half as well as our goalkeeper, something for him to work on for next season.

He did have one particularly wayward shot in the first half... I love the guy but I laughed out loud at how bad it was. Still, nice that he feels confident enough to welly one from 35 yards out, even if it was closer to the corner flag...

Baxter has a habit of scuffing shots. Maybe they should all be working on it.