pommpey
THE FUTURE ... AS IT USED TO BE
- Banned
- #1
Not sure we can talk about 'narrow margins', 'inability to spend money' and some perceived gulf in class any more, to be honest. Yeah, injuries have taken their toll, crowd absence maybe less, but today's outing was a clear indication of our failings at this lofty level. I also suggest anyone who is still shipping a bit of blood in the old todger about last (half a) season and the previous three, commence detumescing a couple of notches. We need to affirm what we are and where we are 'right now'. What happened in the past is but a dim memory. That glorious afternoon in the car park carrying the players from the coach can go down in fond memory like Darlington away and Leicester away, because we have some painful truths to deal with if we don't want to see our club relegated as bottom club and furthermore fall again through the trapdoor of the Championship too. On todays performance, I challenge anyone to prove that thought wrong.
First fifteen minutes we looked the more likely team to score and a few chances - Didsy putting Poor Kid through, his own attempted chip - maybe we should have made the most of it. But our complete disorganisation at the back with Scumpton playing long ball over the back after long ball over the back exposed our frailties. For the record I don't think our 'back three' had a massively bad game considering none of them are who you'd pick out of our fully fit squad. But it was bound to come unstuck at one stage and when you have someone with vision and pace like Tella terrorising Baldock and Bogle, if it didn't come from the daft free kicks they were giving away, it would come from one over the top. Ampadu had no option to put the challenge in and it was a lottery given his and Tella's position if he made contact with the player or the ball, and Ramsdale - who had a great game - wouldn't stand a chance with a dead ball specialist like Ward-Prowse taking the kick.
After that we went all flaccid, and Southampton started to take control of the game, and us. With Ings off the pitch and Adams on, you'd think we'd double down on his propensity to score against us, but the second half, with it all to play for and us really needing to impose, push on and get a result - and achieve Objective #2 of this season - we just remained flaccid, sloppy, careless and above all else, beatable. From Lundstram's expected fuck up and Adams's class strike, it was then a toss up with how they'd manage the game to a win and also how many more we'd ship.
Just seen Wilder looking a bit more humble on his interview, which is good. He is right, there does need to be a shake up. Some players do need to go and he does need to review this season and fucking well learn. Today is a great example of why it has gone so wrong but measure that against the myriad of losses at home earlier with a stronger line up and really, nothing has changed, has it? We are all over the place for the majority of games no matter what system or players we field, and oppositions simply pick us off like professional boxers. They know our game and how to beat us and that measure of predictability is the story of our campaign and downfall. If WIlder is to start on the front foot next August he has some key decisions to make, chief of all how he sets the team up to challenge and above all else, win. He's done it before and like with Norwich, can do it again. Whereas Norwich didn't spend and came crashing down, we have spent and wasted and have come crashing down. It's not good enough.
Ramsdale 8/10: Improving with every game now. He seems to be finding some sort of embattled form, keeping the score acceptable, whilst watching screamers like Adams's whistle past his despairing grasp. Some decent stops.
Bogle 6/10: Had his hands full with Tella and Bertrand and various others out wide who pressurised our unfamiliar set up. Slight chance in second half but still shows his potential
Baldock 5/10: Well out of position. Really exposed at times and you could see, yearning to do what he wants to do up that flank. Easily thwarted by the long ball over the top too.
Bryan 6.5/10: Again, not a bad outing from Kean who when you think about it seriously, wouldn't even make our bench on a normal Saturday.
Ampadu 5/10: Fair to middling stuff. He gets himself into the various situations and scrapes but to me, is longing for the end of the season where he can finally get the fuck outta Dodge and move his career in a different direction which doesn't involve some of the schmucks he currently plays with
Stevens 2/10: Like Enda. Clumsy, unconfident, failing and ready to be one of those shipped out, possibly back to Pompey
Lundstram 0/10: Dreadful. Halfway through the second half, he could have sneaked off the pitch, gone and had a shower and got changed and fucked off, and it would have affected our game not one iota. He was clueless in the middle, a terrible, clumsy gaffe which led to Adams's strike and made some frankly idiotic playing decisions that if Wilder watches a vid of the game, would convince him that he should play no further part in our starting team for the rest of the season. The sooner we get rid of Lundstram, the better. I recall criticising him in a PL warm up game against Stade Riems a bit back that he was fucking useless and getting a shitload of abuse for it. Fancy discussing that POV now?
Norwood 5.5/10: A moderate improvement on previous woeful outings and even if it gets him into the 'he's shit' bracket instead of the 'he's fucking shit' bracket, small gains, huh? At least once or twice I witnessed him actually sprinting back to cover on transition of possession and less pointing and pinging. Then he's subbed for McPub. Great work Wilder!
Fleck 7/10: A better performance from him. Not perfect but more John than Jimmy, even if it in effect gave us nowt in progressive attacking and threat.
McGoldrick 7.5/10: His shit pass to a very free Brewster was the first error Dids has done this season so drops half a point for it. Otherwise he was really our only outlet, until subbed for Sicknote
Brewster 6/10: Honestly thought he worked very, vey hard and as ever with our strikers, got nothing at all. I jumped out of my seat when McGoldrick had the chance to put him through because I want the kid to score a goal so much.
McBurnie 4/10: Did what McBurnie did, when played completely out of position in the fucking number ten spot. We already had a Number 10 on the pitch in McGoldrick so why not get old arms and legs up in the box to compete with Vestergaard and Bednarek and have Poor Kid feeding off the knock downs? Then McB is out on the fucking wing, then deep lying, then falling over in their penalty D. Jesus.
Mousset 0/10: Fucking abysmal. Look, Wilder ... just pay the fucker off and get shut, eh? He is neve gonna turn good and suddenly transform into Billy Dearden of Brian Deane is he? He's a fucking fraud, and the muted questions many of us had when you signed him from Bournemouth (then, a PL side) having spent much of his time as he does with us - on the bench - with a piss poor return on goals were answered tonight. He has had his chance, and so have you. Ditch him.
Sharp 6/10: Simply for the effort he put in trying anything he could to wrestle this dismal game into a result. It was typical Billy and typical 'Captain goes down with the ship' stuff
We have ten games left now and one clear objective but with three gainable points today squandered against a Southampton side really holed below the waterline and ready to sink, we fucked it up big style regardless of the apparent capabilities on show. It was an other poor performance amongst poor performances aplenty and the rawness of losing now much be numb in that dressing room and not having much effect. The only way Wilder can deal with it is to take some of the aforementioned Twelve O'Clock High philosophy and bench - or drop completely - some of the weak areas we have to give the up and comers some incentive to impress and gain a Premier League badge or two. What the fuck have we got to lose?
I also heard Merson on Gillette Soccer Satdi say that he saw Wilder was downbeat in his interview and 'he wouldn't be surprised if something didn't happen this evening'. I fucking hope not. I want him here next season. He is our only hope. Some of the players however, are definitely not.
pommpey
First fifteen minutes we looked the more likely team to score and a few chances - Didsy putting Poor Kid through, his own attempted chip - maybe we should have made the most of it. But our complete disorganisation at the back with Scumpton playing long ball over the back after long ball over the back exposed our frailties. For the record I don't think our 'back three' had a massively bad game considering none of them are who you'd pick out of our fully fit squad. But it was bound to come unstuck at one stage and when you have someone with vision and pace like Tella terrorising Baldock and Bogle, if it didn't come from the daft free kicks they were giving away, it would come from one over the top. Ampadu had no option to put the challenge in and it was a lottery given his and Tella's position if he made contact with the player or the ball, and Ramsdale - who had a great game - wouldn't stand a chance with a dead ball specialist like Ward-Prowse taking the kick.
After that we went all flaccid, and Southampton started to take control of the game, and us. With Ings off the pitch and Adams on, you'd think we'd double down on his propensity to score against us, but the second half, with it all to play for and us really needing to impose, push on and get a result - and achieve Objective #2 of this season - we just remained flaccid, sloppy, careless and above all else, beatable. From Lundstram's expected fuck up and Adams's class strike, it was then a toss up with how they'd manage the game to a win and also how many more we'd ship.
Just seen Wilder looking a bit more humble on his interview, which is good. He is right, there does need to be a shake up. Some players do need to go and he does need to review this season and fucking well learn. Today is a great example of why it has gone so wrong but measure that against the myriad of losses at home earlier with a stronger line up and really, nothing has changed, has it? We are all over the place for the majority of games no matter what system or players we field, and oppositions simply pick us off like professional boxers. They know our game and how to beat us and that measure of predictability is the story of our campaign and downfall. If WIlder is to start on the front foot next August he has some key decisions to make, chief of all how he sets the team up to challenge and above all else, win. He's done it before and like with Norwich, can do it again. Whereas Norwich didn't spend and came crashing down, we have spent and wasted and have come crashing down. It's not good enough.
Ramsdale 8/10: Improving with every game now. He seems to be finding some sort of embattled form, keeping the score acceptable, whilst watching screamers like Adams's whistle past his despairing grasp. Some decent stops.
Bogle 6/10: Had his hands full with Tella and Bertrand and various others out wide who pressurised our unfamiliar set up. Slight chance in second half but still shows his potential
Baldock 5/10: Well out of position. Really exposed at times and you could see, yearning to do what he wants to do up that flank. Easily thwarted by the long ball over the top too.
Bryan 6.5/10: Again, not a bad outing from Kean who when you think about it seriously, wouldn't even make our bench on a normal Saturday.
Ampadu 5/10: Fair to middling stuff. He gets himself into the various situations and scrapes but to me, is longing for the end of the season where he can finally get the fuck outta Dodge and move his career in a different direction which doesn't involve some of the schmucks he currently plays with
Stevens 2/10: Like Enda. Clumsy, unconfident, failing and ready to be one of those shipped out, possibly back to Pompey
Lundstram 0/10: Dreadful. Halfway through the second half, he could have sneaked off the pitch, gone and had a shower and got changed and fucked off, and it would have affected our game not one iota. He was clueless in the middle, a terrible, clumsy gaffe which led to Adams's strike and made some frankly idiotic playing decisions that if Wilder watches a vid of the game, would convince him that he should play no further part in our starting team for the rest of the season. The sooner we get rid of Lundstram, the better. I recall criticising him in a PL warm up game against Stade Riems a bit back that he was fucking useless and getting a shitload of abuse for it. Fancy discussing that POV now?
Norwood 5.5/10: A moderate improvement on previous woeful outings and even if it gets him into the 'he's shit' bracket instead of the 'he's fucking shit' bracket, small gains, huh? At least once or twice I witnessed him actually sprinting back to cover on transition of possession and less pointing and pinging. Then he's subbed for McPub. Great work Wilder!
Fleck 7/10: A better performance from him. Not perfect but more John than Jimmy, even if it in effect gave us nowt in progressive attacking and threat.
McGoldrick 7.5/10: His shit pass to a very free Brewster was the first error Dids has done this season so drops half a point for it. Otherwise he was really our only outlet, until subbed for Sicknote
Brewster 6/10: Honestly thought he worked very, vey hard and as ever with our strikers, got nothing at all. I jumped out of my seat when McGoldrick had the chance to put him through because I want the kid to score a goal so much.
McBurnie 4/10: Did what McBurnie did, when played completely out of position in the fucking number ten spot. We already had a Number 10 on the pitch in McGoldrick so why not get old arms and legs up in the box to compete with Vestergaard and Bednarek and have Poor Kid feeding off the knock downs? Then McB is out on the fucking wing, then deep lying, then falling over in their penalty D. Jesus.
Mousset 0/10: Fucking abysmal. Look, Wilder ... just pay the fucker off and get shut, eh? He is neve gonna turn good and suddenly transform into Billy Dearden of Brian Deane is he? He's a fucking fraud, and the muted questions many of us had when you signed him from Bournemouth (then, a PL side) having spent much of his time as he does with us - on the bench - with a piss poor return on goals were answered tonight. He has had his chance, and so have you. Ditch him.
Sharp 6/10: Simply for the effort he put in trying anything he could to wrestle this dismal game into a result. It was typical Billy and typical 'Captain goes down with the ship' stuff
We have ten games left now and one clear objective but with three gainable points today squandered against a Southampton side really holed below the waterline and ready to sink, we fucked it up big style regardless of the apparent capabilities on show. It was an other poor performance amongst poor performances aplenty and the rawness of losing now much be numb in that dressing room and not having much effect. The only way Wilder can deal with it is to take some of the aforementioned Twelve O'Clock High philosophy and bench - or drop completely - some of the weak areas we have to give the up and comers some incentive to impress and gain a Premier League badge or two. What the fuck have we got to lose?
I also heard Merson on Gillette Soccer Satdi say that he saw Wilder was downbeat in his interview and 'he wouldn't be surprised if something didn't happen this evening'. I fucking hope not. I want him here next season. He is our only hope. Some of the players however, are definitely not.
pommpey
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), Bogle etc.
