pommpey
THE FUTURE ... AS IT USED TO BE
- Banned
- #1
Expected us to fully reset today, and come out and batter Blackpool, way down the league. Yep, last season they came and nicked all three points but after a series of unimpressive games and one point in nine, surely our form was to change today and we'd romp them 3-0 or summat and cement our place at the top against a resurgent chasing pack. Certainly, if we have any dream of automatics, it is important we win our remaining games before the WC break and push on the other side minus the injuries and crocks. Top two by the New Year is essential right now.
Today we started still nervy but going forward but even up to the first goal we looked fragile at the back and susceptible to a shock break and a goal. If anything we went one up against the run of play because Blackpool again seemed able to deal with anything we had. In the middle of the park we were easily mopped up and couldn't connect, hold the ball or chase down second balls. Out wide much endeavour was wasted because if you are playing Wilderball, it needs overload and we weren't doing that. At one up we still looked vulnerable and pretty clueless but still put some pleasing movements up in their half if the delivery was pretty shit in the end. At two up I thought we'd manage the win but fuck me talk about switching off when it wasn't needed for both of their responses? The back five all looked - as they have recently - like they've never trained together before and today was the first time they'd ran out in the stripes. No one came out of that first half in our back line with any credit. Where we looked bulletproof six weeks ago we now look like pushovers. How the fuck did we end up like this? In midfield again we are not exactly pulling up trees and the mistake to start Billy was there to see as he had a pretty uneventful hour.
To come out for the second period and concede further was simply unacceptable, even if Egan assisted it inadvertently. Comedy stuff. And lets face it, if you don't put away your chances and we had plenty both against ten ... then nine men ... you deserve to go into 8 minutes of injury time on prayers. Fortunately Norwood obliged via a few ricochets and we get a scraped draw from the jaws of abject humiliation. I'm not rejoicing we got a point today. I am angry. To give a two goal lead away, to allow them back in the game, take the lead, lose any numerical advantage and for us to be struggling to beat this side is wrong on all fronts, and I feel it is one or two players out there who need to stand up and be counted. Norwich next. They won't fuck about beating us if we let them.
Fodringham 6/10: No real chance with all three goals. Let down by his defence. But getting enmeshed in a post whistle scrap and losing him for three now with no firm replacement we feel we can fully trust
Baldock 5/10: Industrious and busy but fucking terrible with his crossing
Basham 4/10: Going backwards now. Lost all his sharpness, guile and ability to be trusted with the RCB position
Egan 5/10: Really poor from him. Seemed all over the shop today but possibly because of those around him playing like poppos
RND 5/10: Tough outing but error prone and nervy at times. We need Clark back and him out wide bombing up the flanks making a nuisance of himself
Osborn 2/10: Dreadful. Runs about with zero purpose and easily outfought and outmuscled
Doyle 7/10: Worked his tits off trying to get forward and get some reasoning into what was a pretty static midfield
Norwood 6/10: Not an entirely bad afternoon, but not good either. Well taken goal, this after he'd found the BLLT earlier with a better stood up chance. His dead ball stuff was more miss than hit
McAtee 5/10: He can turn it on, but he's just a kid. In the right place for his fumbled goal but largely he looked like a schoolkid on with the men
N'Daiye 7/5/10: Again, the only player looking dangerous. Willing to control the ball, get it on the deck and move at the opposition who in truth, were just asking for it. Scored a real striker's goal
Sharp 3/10: Worked hard but his days are growing dim now. Good assist ... but that was it.
McBurnie 7/10: Turned things round and added more bit to our attack, if having his efforts well saved
Brewster 6/10: Loses a point for the penalty miss which was the pressure point we needed to be sorted. Ran at them and bought their first red
Anel 7/10: Inpired sub for an ailing Basham. He has the skill and ability to move effectively from defence to attack and threaten their backline and bought us our penalty
Khadra 1/10: Really piss poor. Misplaced passes and clumsy control. He isn't what we thought he was, is he?
Again, I don't range all the blame at Hecky and Co for this. Yes, he should have brought the subs on as soon as we went 2-3 down because it was clear we were never going to get any better and could have gone further behind. But certain players out there are not good enough now for a PL chasing team which has to look like a PL team. Today we looked like a L1 team, and certain players even lower than that.
pommpey
Today we started still nervy but going forward but even up to the first goal we looked fragile at the back and susceptible to a shock break and a goal. If anything we went one up against the run of play because Blackpool again seemed able to deal with anything we had. In the middle of the park we were easily mopped up and couldn't connect, hold the ball or chase down second balls. Out wide much endeavour was wasted because if you are playing Wilderball, it needs overload and we weren't doing that. At one up we still looked vulnerable and pretty clueless but still put some pleasing movements up in their half if the delivery was pretty shit in the end. At two up I thought we'd manage the win but fuck me talk about switching off when it wasn't needed for both of their responses? The back five all looked - as they have recently - like they've never trained together before and today was the first time they'd ran out in the stripes. No one came out of that first half in our back line with any credit. Where we looked bulletproof six weeks ago we now look like pushovers. How the fuck did we end up like this? In midfield again we are not exactly pulling up trees and the mistake to start Billy was there to see as he had a pretty uneventful hour.
To come out for the second period and concede further was simply unacceptable, even if Egan assisted it inadvertently. Comedy stuff. And lets face it, if you don't put away your chances and we had plenty both against ten ... then nine men ... you deserve to go into 8 minutes of injury time on prayers. Fortunately Norwood obliged via a few ricochets and we get a scraped draw from the jaws of abject humiliation. I'm not rejoicing we got a point today. I am angry. To give a two goal lead away, to allow them back in the game, take the lead, lose any numerical advantage and for us to be struggling to beat this side is wrong on all fronts, and I feel it is one or two players out there who need to stand up and be counted. Norwich next. They won't fuck about beating us if we let them.
Fodringham 6/10: No real chance with all three goals. Let down by his defence. But getting enmeshed in a post whistle scrap and losing him for three now with no firm replacement we feel we can fully trust
Baldock 5/10: Industrious and busy but fucking terrible with his crossing
Basham 4/10: Going backwards now. Lost all his sharpness, guile and ability to be trusted with the RCB position
Egan 5/10: Really poor from him. Seemed all over the shop today but possibly because of those around him playing like poppos
RND 5/10: Tough outing but error prone and nervy at times. We need Clark back and him out wide bombing up the flanks making a nuisance of himself
Osborn 2/10: Dreadful. Runs about with zero purpose and easily outfought and outmuscled
Doyle 7/10: Worked his tits off trying to get forward and get some reasoning into what was a pretty static midfield
Norwood 6/10: Not an entirely bad afternoon, but not good either. Well taken goal, this after he'd found the BLLT earlier with a better stood up chance. His dead ball stuff was more miss than hit
McAtee 5/10: He can turn it on, but he's just a kid. In the right place for his fumbled goal but largely he looked like a schoolkid on with the men
N'Daiye 7/5/10: Again, the only player looking dangerous. Willing to control the ball, get it on the deck and move at the opposition who in truth, were just asking for it. Scored a real striker's goal
Sharp 3/10: Worked hard but his days are growing dim now. Good assist ... but that was it.
McBurnie 7/10: Turned things round and added more bit to our attack, if having his efforts well saved
Brewster 6/10: Loses a point for the penalty miss which was the pressure point we needed to be sorted. Ran at them and bought their first red
Anel 7/10: Inpired sub for an ailing Basham. He has the skill and ability to move effectively from defence to attack and threaten their backline and bought us our penalty
Khadra 1/10: Really piss poor. Misplaced passes and clumsy control. He isn't what we thought he was, is he?
Again, I don't range all the blame at Hecky and Co for this. Yes, he should have brought the subs on as soon as we went 2-3 down because it was clear we were never going to get any better and could have gone further behind. But certain players out there are not good enough now for a PL chasing team which has to look like a PL team. Today we looked like a L1 team, and certain players even lower than that.
pommpey
