Porter and last neet

[Putney Blade]

Chaps,

Why does DW play him? No pace, lacks close control, not a goalscorer, he is ponderous. When he plays, we have to play the ball long and get it wide to hit hopeful crosses into the area. 'Cos he is slow,
can't even work the channels. It is barmy.

In contrast, Allan for P'smouth showed certainly in the first half what can be achieved if you have a player able to come off defenders, play in the hole between midfield and the back-line, has quick feet and skill. He was a constant threat and made things happen. With this type of player, don't always have to hoof the ball, as Keith Curle remarked our pattern of play is predictable, good teams will set themselves up to defend against it. Having a creative forward would enable us to mix it up a little. Even though Blackman, Kitson and Cresswell are like Porter, they offer a bit more on the deck.

Surely Miller must be better than Porter, playing him would offer something different, unsure if he is the quick footed, creative forward we need, but he must be quicker than Porter and from the Notts Country game he can take a goal, something Porter can't. Miller time?

UTB

 

[Grecian2000]

good teams will set themselves up to defend against it.

So we'll be in trouble if we come up against one in the FA Cup.

Being in a division where none exist (or none that I've seen this season or last) is playing right into our hands at the moment.

 

[BerksBlade]

No pace, lacks close control, not a goalscorer, he is ponderous.

He may be all of those things, but:
- He created a chance for Blackman in the first minute with a nicely-judged flick-on
- He won the penalty (by running into a "channel")

I'd like to see Miller given a go, but I'm not sure Miller/Blackman would work better than Miller/Porter?

 

[Houso]

Porter was absolutely fine last night! If that's the worst thing about our performance, we'll go up this season. I don't actually rate Porter much, but in his last two starts, he's done really well and played his role as you would hope. If we'd had Miller on the pitch (who I agree is a better player from what we've seen), we'd have drawn or lost the match.

A good stew needs plenty of salt, which while horrific to taste on its own, brings out the best in all the other flavours.

(Another truth from the book of Houso )

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Brilliant. We've got one thread on this board where it's suggested that playing with one of our better midfielders is like playing with 10 men, and now another questioning why another of our good performers last night is even playing for us.

It's a wonder fans didn't boo again at the final whistle.

 

[Hoyland Blade]

Got to totally disagree on this one, I think Porter was one of the bright spots last night. We all know he has his limitations but he won far more than his fair share in the air against an enormous centre-half, worked tirelessly off the ball to give our midfielders options and also worked very hard when we were not in possession.
I've always thought that getting the best combination of two players up front is more important than the individuals. For me, the best display by two players as a combination this season has been Porter and Miller. They seem to be a natural pairing because Miller is so aware and ready to gamble with runs off Porter whilst Porter is happy to do the hard graft winning the ball for him.
It's a difficult situation because Blackman and Kitson both bring a lot of individual talent to the table but are not necessarily a great pairing.
One thing that I would have liked to see last night was for Miller to come on next to Porter with Blackman replacing one of our wide midfielders (Flynn wasn't doing enough for me). When we're chasing goals and enjoying a lot of possession, I think that Blackman's pace and trickery would be a big threat out wide.
Miller was stripped and ready to come on last night when we scored .... would have been interesting to see what the change would have been.

 

[judge]

Totally disagree
Thought porter played well last night much better than Blackman

 

[Houso]

One thing that I would have liked to see last night was for Miller to come on next to Porter with Blackman replacing one of our wide midfielders

Agree on this.

To to the truth (and not to go all Football Manager here), considering our lack of width at the moment, I think we'd be better off if we went:

4 - 2 - 3 - 1

In a budget low rent version of what Chelsea play.

McDonald and Doyle would anchor the midfield, and we could have three from Blackman, Miller, Flynn and Cofie behind Porter or Kitson. This is especially the case when we play at home.

That said, we're winning so I won't complain too much.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

Don't know how anyone can criticise Porter's performance last night. He created a chance for Blackman, won a free kick in a dangerous area and then drew a foul out of the defender for the penalty. He created our best chances in the game and worked tirelessly.

Porter, Maguire and Collins were our best players on the night.

 

[Wapping Blade]

Don't know how anyone can criticise Porter's performance last night. He created a chance for Blackman, won a free kick in a dangerous area and then drew a foul out of the defender for the penalty. He created our best chances in the game and worked tirelessly.

Porter, Maguire and Collins were our best players on the night.

I love the way Maguire just puts his body in the way of opposition players and they just bounce off him

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I love the way Maguire just puts his body in the way of opposition players and they just bounce off him

I commented on this last night. McLeod looks a decent player these days, makes good runs and is quite quick but fortunately he kept running into a brick wall called Harry Maguire

He's a big strong lad and he uses his size intelligently. Becoming a very good centre half.

 

[Trigger Blade]

A good stew needs plenty of salt, which while horrific to taste on its own, brings out the best in all the other flavours.

You can also make a good stew using porter.....

https://www.hubbub.co.uk/in-your-area/1/recipes/irish-beef-and-porter-stew

 

[Houso]

I'm even more profound than I knew.

 

[Putney Blade]

Don't know how anyone can criticise Porter's performance last night. He created a chance for Blackman, won a free kick in a dangerous area and then drew a foul out of the defender for the penalty. He created our best chances in the game and worked tirelessly.

He was ok, but my point is that when he plays, we have to play hoof ball that is easy to defend against, and as consequence, we find it difficult to create chances, hence the 1-0's. Different type of player would give us a Plan B and enable us to play in a different way, this will become evident when we have to chase games. There is absolutely nothing to be gained by using Porter, there is much to be gained by using a different type of player, probably like Miller.

 

[Houso]

Thing is Putters, that's not due to Porter playing, that's due to how bereft of creativity and width we are in midfield.

All playing Miller instead of Porter would achieve is that there would be fewer knock ons and less holding up. We'd be under more pressure at the back as a result.

We need to look at the flanks and McDonald's form when it comes to any introspection at the moment.

 

[Kenilworth]

Not really - it's the partner that was playing up front with him that made some of his work less effective. Blackman was playing too far away from him and when Porter won a header Balckman was nowhere to be seen - apart from the first attack - which was an awful, lazy, casual attempt with the wrong foot.

The reason Porter looks better with Miller is that Miller anticipates what Porter is going to do and with his Crewe academy background he has been schooled in the thinking part of the game as well as the composed execution. By contrast Blackman looks very raw and unskilled. He is a talent, I agree, but he needs to be a bit more humble and work on the parts of his game that help others, not just himself. He would then get more chances to score and have more than 8 goals to date (at least 3 of those pens don't forget).

 

[Houso]

Don't think that would alter Putters complaint that we hoof it up to Porter's bonce mind...

 

[Kenilworth]

Don't think that would alter Putters complaint that we hoof it up to Porter's bonce mind...

The point being that if Porter had a strike partner that was more able to anticipate and read the game that tactic would be more effective. As it is we sit so deep, allow the opposition to keep the "middle third," and lack any real pace to turn a defensive situation into an attack, hence lumping to Porter (or Kitson) as one of the only ways we have of releasing any pressure. We certainly don't look like we can play out of defense with any level of skill and precision at pace and then harm the opposition.

 

[Gibbo89]

Think you've got to give Portsmouth some credit for that. They did work incredibly hard at closing us down and never allowed our midfield to get any sort of passing game going. To say most are supposed to be on monthly contracts they definitely put in a shift. Now if we had any players who were capable of taking on and beating a man we may not have had to rely so much on hopeful punts forward. Shame we got Cofie on loan and not Allen

 

[SwissBlade]

Thought Porter was the better of the two strikers last night, although Blackman seemed more likely to get goal scoring opportunities. Blackman was cool as with the pen, I like his confidence.

I would however, like to see Miller get his chance up front alongside Porter.

I don't think anyone was particularly bad last night, Flynn frustrated as he's just not strong enough to stay on his feet, ever. He makes Bambi on ice look well balanced! But with the ball at his feet Flynn has the potential to cut through teams, he showed fleeting moments of this. But please please don't let him take corners, its like watching cotterill on corners. Why do wingers think that because they play on the wing that they can cross a decent ball in. Invariably they can't

 

[Kenilworth]

Think you've got to give Portsmouth some credit for that. They did work incredibly hard at closing us down and never allowed our midfield to get any sort of passing game going.

But that goes for most of the 15 league games we have played this season - it's not just Pompey who have stiffled our midfield "creativity"

 

[mattbianco1]

Agree on this.

To to the truth (and not to go all Football Manager here), considering our lack of width at the moment, I think we'd be better off if we went:

4 - 2 - 3 - 1

In a budget low rent version of what Chelsea play.

McDonald and Doyle would anchor the midfield, and we could have three from Blackman, Miller, Flynn and Cofie behind Porter or Kitson. This is especially the case when we play at home.

That said, we're winning so I won't complain too much.

Adjust the win bonus before major games and go "gung-ho" style if we're not winning with 15 mins left

 

[Kenilworth]

Why do wingers think that because they play on the wing that they can cross a decent ball in. Invariably they can't

Show me a winger that can't cross and I will tell you that they aren't a winger.
That's just a description of a defensive, wide midfielder.

 

[norfolkblade]

I disagree with the thoughts on Porter, thought he played well last night. I think if Miller is going to play, it has to be for Blackman. Perhaps this could be tried in the cup this weekend?

 

[mattbianco1]

I thought Porter played well. He or Cresswell would be the obvious deputy when Kitson can't play. I would like to see Miller play more, he needs twenty mins, fifteen at least otherwise it's pointless. I would've told DW to get bent if he told me to go on in stoppage time and i'd give my left bollock to play for United!!

Gripes from last night:

No creativity for the strikers again. This is becoming worrying, we're not looking threatening at all going forward.

Substitutions - pointless at times. If they'd equalised DW would be under some right fire this morning.

Portsmouth - Shouldn't be in existence. Hate the club, hate everything that surrounds the club. If I spend all my money and can't pay my mortgage I get my house taken from me. If I overspend in business, i have my business taken from me. Portsmouth have got the best team i've seen this season at BDTBL, fast, skilfull, dangerous. They will be top 6 at the end of the season if they carry on avoiding pts deductions and fine. Shouldn't be allowed its a mockery. How can a team that had to release ALL PLAYING STAFF then concoct a team of well known players. It's wank; I fucking hate them!

Positives:

3pts.
Joint top.
Unbeaten
Still playing shit (wait till we turn this corner)

 

[Swanseablade]

Shame we got Cofie on loan and not Allen

Defo, I thought Allen was the most dangerous player on the park last night.

Did nobobdy else spot Willo's foot into Doyle (I think) just before they hit the upright?
He was a bit naughty at times last night.

 

[sitwell]

Defo, I thought Allen was the most dangerous player on the park last night.

Did nobobdy else spot Willo's foot into Doyle (I think) just before they hit the upright?
He was a bit naughty at times last night.

After that he never had a touch did you notice .

 

[super_pig]

Chaps,

Why does DW play him? No pace, lacks close control, not a goalscorer, he is ponderous.
UTB

because he wins an awful lot of headers.. it's the neeeewwww style

 

[puppet]

because he wins an awful lot of headers.. it's the neeeewwww style

Its make do and mend. We got rid of Quinn (our creative outlet on the left) and Willo (our creative outlet on the right - who imho made McDonald look like Monty last night, largely because he had people to pass to...), Lowtons gone and hey presto... none of the kids we didn't give much of a run out to last season aren't good enough. We're stuck with semi hoof style whether we like it or not, at least we pass it around the back four for 2 minutes before hoofing

 

[Hodgyman]

"Got to totally disagree on this one, I think Porter was one of the bright spots last night. We all know he has his limitations but he won far more than his fair share in the air against an enormous centre-half, worked tirelessly off the ball to give our midfielders options and also worked very hard when we were not in possession.​

I've always thought that getting the best combination of two players up front is more important than the individuals. For me, the best display by two players as a combination this season has been Porter and Miller. They seem to be a natural pairing because Miller is so aware and ready to gamble with runs off Porter whilst Porter is happy to do the hard graft winning the ball for him.​

It's a difficult situation because Blackman and Kitson both bring a lot of individual talent to the table but are not necessarily a great pairing.​

One thing that I would have liked to see last night was for Miller to come on next to Porter with Blackman replacing one of our wide midfielders (Flynn wasn't doing enough for me). When we're chasing goals and enjoying a lot of possession, I think that Blackman's pace and trickery would be a big threat out wide".​

​

I couldn't agree more with Hoyland Blade's comments. It has become obvious that Blackman isn't able to form a striker partnership with anyone at the club. He might be more use to us using his pace where there is more room on the wing. But we have seen that Porter can do enough good work with Miller's anticipation alongside him.​

​

I would give us a rest from Flynn and let him make way for Blackman to play wide. Flynn will do well to avoid taking over from Monty as the fan's favourite scapegoat on his recent form. Our local under 10's can take better corners than him​