pommpey
THE FUTURE ... AS IT USED TO BE
- Banned
- #1
Yeah, we won. A win is a win and all that. But in honestly, can we all acknowledge that just like the Bristol Rovers game, we made the gap in expected capability between the two teams seem a little narrower. It's also okay coming out with old tropes like 'The FA Cup is a great leveller' and 'you should never expect a win', but if it is a win, you should not be making it look so treasured, or so rare. We didn't beat Everton, Aston Villa or even West Ham today. We (narrowly) beat Plymouth Argyle, eleventh in two divisions below. Today's match made it look like we were in the playoffs in that division and we'd just pulled off another valuable victory and three points, and maybe we were back on with an automatic slot come May. It's not like Plymouth are any good either. For the first twenty minutes they hardly got into our half and they gave us that mandatory ten square feet of space around every player which made initial forays up the wings easy to do, and Norwood to smack the ball stylishly across the pitch, like he does. Too many times Argyle failed to close up the gaps when we were in possession, a luxury we don't have in our 'day-job' of surviving in the Premier League. But fuck me, how much do we need in front of goal to make it count? We still seem a bit shot-shy at times and despite Brewster having an unthreatening shot on target, a fluffed chance six yards out and Lundstram missing a fucking sitter, it's only when our centre back pops up on the back stick to nod home with the sureity required from our forward line (McBurnie - pay the fuck attention)
But we again showed some alarming lack of attention to detail and Plymouth regularly showed threat, especially when involving Camara. We seemed to want to show them the same amount of space after we'd scored and were lucky not to go in for the break 1-1 or even worse. The second half still failed to impress. Where you'd expect us to come out firing and organised and ready to put Argyle to the sword and finish the game off, we are still playing Wilderball. knocking the ball across the back four and up one wing, until we are met with a block, backwards, across the back four and down the other wing, rinse and repeat. Norwood has acres of space to show off, Ampadu is knocking it long and we aren't doing much until thank fuck, Norwood spots Billy, slots him a pass and he's in, round the keeper and it's in the net. Amazing what you can do when you change the fucking record once in a while.
Then Plymouth smell blood and we are defending - properly - for too-long spells of the game and giving sloppy, predictable balls away. And with equal predictability (and maybe one of Deadbat or ROYs bingo card regulars, Norwood is caught in possession, chases back and fouls the opposition. And more - we still fuck up possession, fail to manage the panic and Camara - who'd looked threatening all game and really was Norwood's to cancel out, is free in the box and does what Lundstram should have done in the first half from the same position. I reckon however had he hit it low down and pretty central maybe Cooper would have got his body behind it, instead Ramsdale (bingo moment) flops down and allows it under his body, like he did with Rashford's.
FULL HOUSE CALLED IN THE LOUNGE, BARRY!
After this, we are simply hanging on and thank for it didn't go to extra time. They'd have beaten us, definitely. As soon as they scored, a thought bubble popped out of every United player's head which read, "Oh fuck. We're gonna lose now." It wouldn't have taken much either. We looked desperately fragile in the final ten minutes and Plymouth seemed to be enjoying us on the ropes.
Quite simply, yet another desperate, dismal, disappointing outcome with a win we 'achieved' but possibly didn't deserve. Neither did Plymouth to be honest, but that in measure is what we have now quickly become - another version of Adkin's strugglers a few short seasons ago. Wilder might chide us with regard 'the system' but even if it shades past a pretty average third division outfit hoping the remaining minutes will be kind, then his system still isn't working and I fear for our credibility against Manchester United.
Ramsdale 3/10: Still shockingly below what we need playing where we are and aspiring for survival or an FA cup run. Even the BBC commentator thinks he's shit, and women's game goalkeeping itself is one of the great debating points of the cross-gender comparison. When I suggest the women's game is actually entertaining and good to watch, the less politically correct observers just illustrate some of the fucking howlers women keepers make, and it kinda deflates the balloon somewhat. In short, Ramsdale should play for Sheff Utd women, and mebbe we should have their keeper? Discuss.
Bogle 5/10: Iffy game with him in and out of it. Looked far from comfortable at times up against another 5-3-2 wingback system
Basham 5/10: Well taken goal but over the past few matches has dropped in form and seems to be finding it difficult
Egan 7/10: As usual, the rock at the back
Ampadu 5.5/10: Better game from him but he's still not impressive, even when given space to maraud forward
Stevens 6.5/10: Managed to exploit space Argyle gave him to get intto places of danger then simply passed wrongly or fluffed up the initiative
Lundstram 4.5/10: Drops 1.5 points for that fucking sitter. Otherwise was involved with little outcome
Norwood 4/10: Slightly better game from him and a really great pass to Sharp, but otherwise he was just showing off.
Fleck 5/10: Seems to be standing still at times or frustrated at the lack of options when he is on the ball. He's not even 50% of the John Fleck of 12 months ago
Brewster 3/10: Unimpressed by his failure to put chances away. There is no fucking way he is worth £23m
Sharp 6/10: Put a shift in and was rewarded with a well taken goal. But outside of that was a victim of shit service
Baldock 5/10: Furious George. Good to see him back
Bryan 4/10: Thought he was no better than Ampadu
Burke 5/10: Typical gutsy performance but with fuck all to show
McGoldrick unmarked
Really surprised Wilder didn't capitalise on this game to bring in some alternate players and a change in lineup. He seems stuck on 5-3-2 and like I say, it costs us. Personally I would have liked to have seen Rodwell, Verrips, Lowe make a start to refresh the system but no, it's Wilderball from start to finish and we were nearly put to the sword because of this. Bristol City might not be so timid to punish our weaknesses as Argyle today. Although we walk away from today with a win - three in four - I urge people to look at that run for what it is - a scraped FA Cup sin against a Div Two team where we were still not impressive, a win against a very underperforming Premiership side with a VAR goal the difference and today, where we hung onto our victory and could have thrown it away.
Finally: Ref/VAR - cunts. That handball was handball with a strawberry flavoured, spit-lubricated, ribbed condom slid on it and up-with-a-'hup! into the slack, well trafficked yet one would imagine accommodating warmth of Katie Price's tattered fundament. Arms in unnatural position - check, Player crossing flight of ball - check. Ball falling to advantage of opposition - check. Had that been Liverpool or Spurs, the cunt would have been redded and had his head kicked in outside the ground, and on the coach on the way back to Pastyland, moi loverrrr.
pommpey
But we again showed some alarming lack of attention to detail and Plymouth regularly showed threat, especially when involving Camara. We seemed to want to show them the same amount of space after we'd scored and were lucky not to go in for the break 1-1 or even worse. The second half still failed to impress. Where you'd expect us to come out firing and organised and ready to put Argyle to the sword and finish the game off, we are still playing Wilderball. knocking the ball across the back four and up one wing, until we are met with a block, backwards, across the back four and down the other wing, rinse and repeat. Norwood has acres of space to show off, Ampadu is knocking it long and we aren't doing much until thank fuck, Norwood spots Billy, slots him a pass and he's in, round the keeper and it's in the net. Amazing what you can do when you change the fucking record once in a while.
Then Plymouth smell blood and we are defending - properly - for too-long spells of the game and giving sloppy, predictable balls away. And with equal predictability (and maybe one of Deadbat or ROYs bingo card regulars, Norwood is caught in possession, chases back and fouls the opposition. And more - we still fuck up possession, fail to manage the panic and Camara - who'd looked threatening all game and really was Norwood's to cancel out, is free in the box and does what Lundstram should have done in the first half from the same position. I reckon however had he hit it low down and pretty central maybe Cooper would have got his body behind it, instead Ramsdale (bingo moment) flops down and allows it under his body, like he did with Rashford's.
FULL HOUSE CALLED IN THE LOUNGE, BARRY!
After this, we are simply hanging on and thank for it didn't go to extra time. They'd have beaten us, definitely. As soon as they scored, a thought bubble popped out of every United player's head which read, "Oh fuck. We're gonna lose now." It wouldn't have taken much either. We looked desperately fragile in the final ten minutes and Plymouth seemed to be enjoying us on the ropes.
Quite simply, yet another desperate, dismal, disappointing outcome with a win we 'achieved' but possibly didn't deserve. Neither did Plymouth to be honest, but that in measure is what we have now quickly become - another version of Adkin's strugglers a few short seasons ago. Wilder might chide us with regard 'the system' but even if it shades past a pretty average third division outfit hoping the remaining minutes will be kind, then his system still isn't working and I fear for our credibility against Manchester United.
Ramsdale 3/10: Still shockingly below what we need playing where we are and aspiring for survival or an FA cup run. Even the BBC commentator thinks he's shit, and women's game goalkeeping itself is one of the great debating points of the cross-gender comparison. When I suggest the women's game is actually entertaining and good to watch, the less politically correct observers just illustrate some of the fucking howlers women keepers make, and it kinda deflates the balloon somewhat. In short, Ramsdale should play for Sheff Utd women, and mebbe we should have their keeper? Discuss.
Bogle 5/10: Iffy game with him in and out of it. Looked far from comfortable at times up against another 5-3-2 wingback system
Basham 5/10: Well taken goal but over the past few matches has dropped in form and seems to be finding it difficult
Egan 7/10: As usual, the rock at the back
Ampadu 5.5/10: Better game from him but he's still not impressive, even when given space to maraud forward
Stevens 6.5/10: Managed to exploit space Argyle gave him to get intto places of danger then simply passed wrongly or fluffed up the initiative
Lundstram 4.5/10: Drops 1.5 points for that fucking sitter. Otherwise was involved with little outcome
Norwood 4/10: Slightly better game from him and a really great pass to Sharp, but otherwise he was just showing off.
Fleck 5/10: Seems to be standing still at times or frustrated at the lack of options when he is on the ball. He's not even 50% of the John Fleck of 12 months ago
Brewster 3/10: Unimpressed by his failure to put chances away. There is no fucking way he is worth £23m
Sharp 6/10: Put a shift in and was rewarded with a well taken goal. But outside of that was a victim of shit service
Baldock 5/10: Furious George. Good to see him back
Bryan 4/10: Thought he was no better than Ampadu
Burke 5/10: Typical gutsy performance but with fuck all to show
McGoldrick unmarked
Really surprised Wilder didn't capitalise on this game to bring in some alternate players and a change in lineup. He seems stuck on 5-3-2 and like I say, it costs us. Personally I would have liked to have seen Rodwell, Verrips, Lowe make a start to refresh the system but no, it's Wilderball from start to finish and we were nearly put to the sword because of this. Bristol City might not be so timid to punish our weaknesses as Argyle today. Although we walk away from today with a win - three in four - I urge people to look at that run for what it is - a scraped FA Cup sin against a Div Two team where we were still not impressive, a win against a very underperforming Premiership side with a VAR goal the difference and today, where we hung onto our victory and could have thrown it away.
Finally: Ref/VAR - cunts. That handball was handball with a strawberry flavoured, spit-lubricated, ribbed condom slid on it and up-with-a-'hup! into the slack, well trafficked yet one would imagine accommodating warmth of Katie Price's tattered fundament. Arms in unnatural position - check, Player crossing flight of ball - check. Ball falling to advantage of opposition - check. Had that been Liverpool or Spurs, the cunt would have been redded and had his head kicked in outside the ground, and on the coach on the way back to Pastyland, moi loverrrr.
pommpey
