Ollessendro
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Just got home after a mammoth weekend in Portsmouth, that cost me over £150, and hought I'd share my thoughts in the game. (As always) I had a few beers before and after the game, have a bad memory and did not take not so forgive me if I get the order of events mixed up.
Micky Adams Sheffield United miserable form continued as the Blades fell to their 4th straight defeat at the hands of Portsmouth. United lost by a solitary goal on the South Coast and are now without a win since before Christmas. Adams team was unsable to turn pressure into a result and despite controlling most of the game they left Hampshire empty handed. A sloppy, scrappy goal by defender Herman Hreiderson left the Blades still looking for their first win under Adams and still 6 points adrfit from safety.
My thoughts
We actually played quite well and were unlcuky not to get something out of the game. Other than the first 20 minutes United controlled the game, but failed to convert pressure into chances or goals. It was another disappointing afternoon and I take little solice in that we looked the better team. For all our huffing and puffing we only had two shots on goal and although their keeper smothered a couple ochances that could have lead to goals and Quinn missed a great chance I feel we would not have scored if we were playing now.
All the Pompey fans I spoke to after the game said we were the better team and they thought we were unlucky not to get a point. Cynics would say it was the same owd (lots of huffing and puffing but no real threat) and optimist would say it was a good performance and we were unlucky. It was probabl somewhere inbetween. We really have to start working opposition keepers though. For all our pressure yesterday I don;t really remember Ashdown having to make too many saves. Quinn should have scored when sent through, Ashdown smothered at the feet of Cresswell and Quinn and there were a couple of tame efforts. It was not enough and I felt like we never really looked like scoring.
The game
Portsmouth started very brightly and almost took the lead early on. They played some decent football and created a few chances with Nugent forcing a save from Simmonsen. Portsmouth played some good one touch football and United were chasing shadows for the first ten minutes. At that point I thought, 'oh fucking hell we are going to get pasted!?' Evans shot over when well placed and then disaster struck.
Former Blade Coterill swung a corner into the six yards box and the Blades failed to deal with the danger. HRIEDERSON was well palced and poked the ball home. Once again sloppy marking, failing to clear and general defensive mistakes from set pieces cost United.
The Blades started to come back into it and Evans long pass was almost seized upon by Quinn, but Ashdown just beat him to it and smothered the ball. In a similar situation Creswell shot and Ashdown blocked the ball and it flew away to safety. Portsmotuh looked dangerous on the counter and had chances with Hreiderson running the length of the field but failing to connect to a cross (think Collins made a decent clearance) and Kitson shooting down Kitson throat.
In the second half the Blades came out fired up and really went at Portsmouth. United played some decent stuff and actually tried to get it on the deck a little, rather than aimlessly punting everything. Ertl had a headrer cleared off the line, but the ref had blown for a foul. Then De Laet, on loan at the Blades earlier this season, ran from inside his own half unchallenged and produced a good save from Simmonson.
United were looking much more dominant and had two chances to equalise around the hour mark. Williamson had a goal bound shot blocked and then Quinn should have done better when put through by Nosworthy. It was a good run and great pass and Quinn should have buried it. He opted to choose first time on his weaker right foot, when he maybe had time to take a touch and get it on his left. That was the big chance for me. You really have to make the keeper work when in such a good position.
Adams gambled and threw on Vokes, Bent and Bogdanovic (for Nos, Doyke and Cresswell) for the last 25 mins or so. Collins had a headrer saved by Ashdown and Vokes headed over in the closing stages, but it was beginning to look like a frustrating day for the Blades. There were 4 minutes of injury time and United had a corner that was not cleared, but fell at Ashdowns feet when there were plenty of Blades players in the area.
Performances
United: Like I said we were ok. We just lack a bit of cutting edge and some real quality. We had a lot of possession, but did not create enough chances. We did not have much luck eaither. Like the ball dropping at Ashdowns feet towards the end, yet in the first half it fell to Hreiderson. All the Pompey fans I spoke to thought United deserved at least a point.
Portsmouth: I was surprised how bad then were. They have a decent side, but they were second best for the most part. Sure they got the result, but they did not play well. Kitson and Nugent (two very good strikers) were poor and their midfield was not impressive. They did defend very well though. The back four of De Laet, Halford, Rocha and Hreiderson is strong and was probably the difference.
One thing that pissed me off was there cynicism and unsportsmanship. They started time wasting in the first half and in the second is was terrible. Ashdown was the primary culprit. Part of it was the referees fault, as he did nothing. Asdown was taking ages to kick from his hands and goal kicks/free kicks took an eternity. At one point the Blades fans counted whilst he had the ball in his hands. We got to 15 before he kicked it and the referee did nowt.
Adams: thought he got it right today (other than persisting with Cresswell) and was unlucky. The tactics were right and there was not a lot more he could do. The players let him down (again) with their indiscipline. He put a rocket up their areses at half time and they really improved. Quite a few things changed (such as Simmonson's distribution) and Adams had clearly had words. Today was a positive sign for me that he might be the right man for the job and we should give him a crack in League One. The tactics, substitutions etc were good and I cannot fault him.
Player ratings
SS 6/10 He made a few good saves and kept us in it. However his distribution was woeful. He opted to hoof everything. It clearly was not working with Halford and Rocha mopping up everything and Cressy and Evans winning little or nothing. Still Simmonson ignored Lowton and Nos pulling short and opted to punt it long. After h/t he tried to roll stuff out and Adams had obviously told him to change things.
Nos 6.5/10 He was not great first half, but in the second half had a stormer. In fact his distribution was shciking first half (aimless punt after aimless punt) but he improved after h/t. He does not look like a professional footballer, but he was our best player second half. He defended well and really supported Riise. He put a great ball through for Quinn around the hour mark (when Quinn should have scored)
Lowton 5/10 He really struggled in the first 20 mins with Cotterill running him ragged. He got wrong side, got skinned and generally looked out of his depth. However (to his credit) he battled back and his performance improved. He did ok second half, without being spectcular.
Ertl 6/10 Thought he had a good game. He was composed on the ball and defended well. Every time he got the ball he got his head up and looked for the pass. It was refreshing not to see one of our defenders hoofing it every time.
Collins 5/10 He defended ok, but his distribution was shocking. He moppoed up well, won a fe headers and made a decent tackle or two. However every time he had the ball he looked really uncomfrtable and he just hoofed everything down the field.
Riise 6.5/10 He had a good game and worked hard. He has been a decent adittion by Adams. He got by his man a few times and delivered a few crosses into the box. He worked hard tracking back and tried to give an option.
Doyle 4.5/10 Poor mans Monty. He was rarely in the game and offered little going forward. He is slow and off the pace. I would drop him for Monty (and that is saying something!). He did make a few decent challenges, but he looks out of his depth in the Championship.
Williamson 4.5/10 Expected much more from him. He did not have a great game, but still looked like he could do things. He got caught in possession several times (including one time in our area) when he was nonchallantly dallying with the ball. He tried a few flicks and passes that did not come off. Still he gets his head up on the ball and always gives an option. Perhaps I am being a bit harsh, but he is someone I look to to do something.
QUINN 7/10 A real steel like performance from the Irishman. He battled hard and showed a lot of passion. He tracked back, was at the heart of most things and did well down the left. Kissing the badge at the end was over the top, but you could see that he really cares about the club.
Evans 5/10 He struggled to get into the game. He worked hard but did not get a lot of service. Rocha and Halford are bigger than he is and dealt with the high balls quite easily.
Cresswell 4/10 Another poor performance from the captain. He offered very little, though he did try. How he is getting in infront of Bogdanovic is beyond me.
Subs
Vokes: He is a big lad and won a few headers. He did not get into the game, but was a handful. I'd start him ahead of Cresswell if Adams wants a 'target man'.
Bogdanovic: He didn't really get into the game, but he worked hard and looked to have a touch of class. He played a 1-2 with Vokes and almost put him through. Has to start week in week out for me.
Bent: Awful. Ran backwards with the ball, offered little and looked slow and off the pace.
Atmosphere
I thought it would be better than it was. Fratton Park is a bot of a fortress and I though they would make more noise. At times the homes fans got behind their team, but I expected more. For large parts the United fans were much noisier.
The United fans were in good noise and good spirit, despite the shite we've had to put up with. We got behind the team and made a lot of noise. One Pompey fan in the pub after the game said he thought we were impressive. I thought the chant of 'Que sera .... we are going to Shrewsbury' was hillarious and even the home fans applauded it. I DO NOT like that shitty song the young lads towards the back were singing though (I just can't get enough). It was irritating and I don't think it does much to get behind the team. The other fans seemed to feel the same as me, as noone else joined in. However 20 or 30 17 year olds kept it going for large parts of the game. Still, the support was good and I enjoyed it.
Portsmouth
Is less of a shithole than I thought. It is poor, rough and the town centre is not nice. However Southsea is quite a nice area, the pubs are good and the people were nice. We had no trouble and actually chatted to many of the locals (at it should be). We went to a few decent real ale boozers and had a curry, all in the lively Alber Road area (Southsea). Once again, it was a good day out (apart from the footy!?)
One thing that infuriated me was that they do not serve beer in the ground. Well not for away fans anyway. It is bad enough going to a shot town, sitting in a shed and watching two shit teams. If you cannot have a beer before and at h/t, then that is torture!
Micky Adams Sheffield United miserable form continued as the Blades fell to their 4th straight defeat at the hands of Portsmouth. United lost by a solitary goal on the South Coast and are now without a win since before Christmas. Adams team was unsable to turn pressure into a result and despite controlling most of the game they left Hampshire empty handed. A sloppy, scrappy goal by defender Herman Hreiderson left the Blades still looking for their first win under Adams and still 6 points adrfit from safety.
My thoughts
We actually played quite well and were unlcuky not to get something out of the game. Other than the first 20 minutes United controlled the game, but failed to convert pressure into chances or goals. It was another disappointing afternoon and I take little solice in that we looked the better team. For all our huffing and puffing we only had two shots on goal and although their keeper smothered a couple ochances that could have lead to goals and Quinn missed a great chance I feel we would not have scored if we were playing now.
All the Pompey fans I spoke to after the game said we were the better team and they thought we were unlucky not to get a point. Cynics would say it was the same owd (lots of huffing and puffing but no real threat) and optimist would say it was a good performance and we were unlucky. It was probabl somewhere inbetween. We really have to start working opposition keepers though. For all our pressure yesterday I don;t really remember Ashdown having to make too many saves. Quinn should have scored when sent through, Ashdown smothered at the feet of Cresswell and Quinn and there were a couple of tame efforts. It was not enough and I felt like we never really looked like scoring.
The game
Portsmouth started very brightly and almost took the lead early on. They played some decent football and created a few chances with Nugent forcing a save from Simmonsen. Portsmouth played some good one touch football and United were chasing shadows for the first ten minutes. At that point I thought, 'oh fucking hell we are going to get pasted!?' Evans shot over when well placed and then disaster struck.
Former Blade Coterill swung a corner into the six yards box and the Blades failed to deal with the danger. HRIEDERSON was well palced and poked the ball home. Once again sloppy marking, failing to clear and general defensive mistakes from set pieces cost United.
The Blades started to come back into it and Evans long pass was almost seized upon by Quinn, but Ashdown just beat him to it and smothered the ball. In a similar situation Creswell shot and Ashdown blocked the ball and it flew away to safety. Portsmotuh looked dangerous on the counter and had chances with Hreiderson running the length of the field but failing to connect to a cross (think Collins made a decent clearance) and Kitson shooting down Kitson throat.
In the second half the Blades came out fired up and really went at Portsmouth. United played some decent stuff and actually tried to get it on the deck a little, rather than aimlessly punting everything. Ertl had a headrer cleared off the line, but the ref had blown for a foul. Then De Laet, on loan at the Blades earlier this season, ran from inside his own half unchallenged and produced a good save from Simmonson.
United were looking much more dominant and had two chances to equalise around the hour mark. Williamson had a goal bound shot blocked and then Quinn should have done better when put through by Nosworthy. It was a good run and great pass and Quinn should have buried it. He opted to choose first time on his weaker right foot, when he maybe had time to take a touch and get it on his left. That was the big chance for me. You really have to make the keeper work when in such a good position.
Adams gambled and threw on Vokes, Bent and Bogdanovic (for Nos, Doyke and Cresswell) for the last 25 mins or so. Collins had a headrer saved by Ashdown and Vokes headed over in the closing stages, but it was beginning to look like a frustrating day for the Blades. There were 4 minutes of injury time and United had a corner that was not cleared, but fell at Ashdowns feet when there were plenty of Blades players in the area.
Performances
United: Like I said we were ok. We just lack a bit of cutting edge and some real quality. We had a lot of possession, but did not create enough chances. We did not have much luck eaither. Like the ball dropping at Ashdowns feet towards the end, yet in the first half it fell to Hreiderson. All the Pompey fans I spoke to thought United deserved at least a point.
Portsmouth: I was surprised how bad then were. They have a decent side, but they were second best for the most part. Sure they got the result, but they did not play well. Kitson and Nugent (two very good strikers) were poor and their midfield was not impressive. They did defend very well though. The back four of De Laet, Halford, Rocha and Hreiderson is strong and was probably the difference.
One thing that pissed me off was there cynicism and unsportsmanship. They started time wasting in the first half and in the second is was terrible. Ashdown was the primary culprit. Part of it was the referees fault, as he did nothing. Asdown was taking ages to kick from his hands and goal kicks/free kicks took an eternity. At one point the Blades fans counted whilst he had the ball in his hands. We got to 15 before he kicked it and the referee did nowt.
Adams: thought he got it right today (other than persisting with Cresswell) and was unlucky. The tactics were right and there was not a lot more he could do. The players let him down (again) with their indiscipline. He put a rocket up their areses at half time and they really improved. Quite a few things changed (such as Simmonson's distribution) and Adams had clearly had words. Today was a positive sign for me that he might be the right man for the job and we should give him a crack in League One. The tactics, substitutions etc were good and I cannot fault him.
Player ratings
SS 6/10 He made a few good saves and kept us in it. However his distribution was woeful. He opted to hoof everything. It clearly was not working with Halford and Rocha mopping up everything and Cressy and Evans winning little or nothing. Still Simmonson ignored Lowton and Nos pulling short and opted to punt it long. After h/t he tried to roll stuff out and Adams had obviously told him to change things.
Nos 6.5/10 He was not great first half, but in the second half had a stormer. In fact his distribution was shciking first half (aimless punt after aimless punt) but he improved after h/t. He does not look like a professional footballer, but he was our best player second half. He defended well and really supported Riise. He put a great ball through for Quinn around the hour mark (when Quinn should have scored)
Lowton 5/10 He really struggled in the first 20 mins with Cotterill running him ragged. He got wrong side, got skinned and generally looked out of his depth. However (to his credit) he battled back and his performance improved. He did ok second half, without being spectcular.
Ertl 6/10 Thought he had a good game. He was composed on the ball and defended well. Every time he got the ball he got his head up and looked for the pass. It was refreshing not to see one of our defenders hoofing it every time.
Collins 5/10 He defended ok, but his distribution was shocking. He moppoed up well, won a fe headers and made a decent tackle or two. However every time he had the ball he looked really uncomfrtable and he just hoofed everything down the field.
Riise 6.5/10 He had a good game and worked hard. He has been a decent adittion by Adams. He got by his man a few times and delivered a few crosses into the box. He worked hard tracking back and tried to give an option.
Doyle 4.5/10 Poor mans Monty. He was rarely in the game and offered little going forward. He is slow and off the pace. I would drop him for Monty (and that is saying something!). He did make a few decent challenges, but he looks out of his depth in the Championship.
Williamson 4.5/10 Expected much more from him. He did not have a great game, but still looked like he could do things. He got caught in possession several times (including one time in our area) when he was nonchallantly dallying with the ball. He tried a few flicks and passes that did not come off. Still he gets his head up on the ball and always gives an option. Perhaps I am being a bit harsh, but he is someone I look to to do something.
QUINN 7/10 A real steel like performance from the Irishman. He battled hard and showed a lot of passion. He tracked back, was at the heart of most things and did well down the left. Kissing the badge at the end was over the top, but you could see that he really cares about the club.
Evans 5/10 He struggled to get into the game. He worked hard but did not get a lot of service. Rocha and Halford are bigger than he is and dealt with the high balls quite easily.
Cresswell 4/10 Another poor performance from the captain. He offered very little, though he did try. How he is getting in infront of Bogdanovic is beyond me.
Subs
Vokes: He is a big lad and won a few headers. He did not get into the game, but was a handful. I'd start him ahead of Cresswell if Adams wants a 'target man'.
Bogdanovic: He didn't really get into the game, but he worked hard and looked to have a touch of class. He played a 1-2 with Vokes and almost put him through. Has to start week in week out for me.
Bent: Awful. Ran backwards with the ball, offered little and looked slow and off the pace.
Atmosphere
I thought it would be better than it was. Fratton Park is a bot of a fortress and I though they would make more noise. At times the homes fans got behind their team, but I expected more. For large parts the United fans were much noisier.
The United fans were in good noise and good spirit, despite the shite we've had to put up with. We got behind the team and made a lot of noise. One Pompey fan in the pub after the game said he thought we were impressive. I thought the chant of 'Que sera .... we are going to Shrewsbury' was hillarious and even the home fans applauded it. I DO NOT like that shitty song the young lads towards the back were singing though (I just can't get enough). It was irritating and I don't think it does much to get behind the team. The other fans seemed to feel the same as me, as noone else joined in. However 20 or 30 17 year olds kept it going for large parts of the game. Still, the support was good and I enjoyed it.
Portsmouth
Is less of a shithole than I thought. It is poor, rough and the town centre is not nice. However Southsea is quite a nice area, the pubs are good and the people were nice. We had no trouble and actually chatted to many of the locals (at it should be). We went to a few decent real ale boozers and had a curry, all in the lively Alber Road area (Southsea). Once again, it was a good day out (apart from the footy!?)
One thing that infuriated me was that they do not serve beer in the ground. Well not for away fans anyway. It is bad enough going to a shot town, sitting in a shed and watching two shit teams. If you cannot have a beer before and at h/t, then that is torture!
