What a load of rubbish!

Sam Vokes went to Burnley on loan! Bastard! Open my mouth way too soon sometimes...should be a scout?

Saturday I went to the dreadful game that was Watford at Vicarage Road (which we have a bloody awful record there now). It was even worse than the Barnet game earlier in the season, the away faithful were treated to an abysmal display made worse by the fact Watford were playing only slightly better than us.

What I will say about Watford is that they showed what we lack, space, they broke in space with play being switched and using their large physical players to hold up the ball for their pacey wingers (again destroyed by pace...).
Chris Iwelumo was a constant menace throughout the game, Pearce had almost no chance going up against him at time, he even took out two players trying to kick the ball. Good crosses and nice passing helped Watford achieve their win, but like I've said earlier, it wasn't amazing football, just simple.

Portsmouth were undone in their lack of movement, very static play, the midfield kept getting choked unable to break out of their own half, often with people dropping out of positions to try help them out leaving us vulnerable. Kitson constantly made this movement which was alright, he does often win balls through this method, but that game he was like Buck Rodgers, floating into space but nothing to get out of it. It left a very hair-raising predicament that when Watford won the ball they instantly passed it out wide and broke down our defence who were still tracking back into their positions, Ben-Haim was constantly doing this the whole game, coming out of position too often with nothing to show for it.
The long-ball tactic was employed in the game as well, to no avail, it just didn't work, I don't know who thought it would be a good idea, as we don't have anyone with the pace to run behind the flick on (well if Kitson ever jumped for a ball!). Pearce and Huseklepp were the stand out players from the game, always focused and trying to salvage anything from the game! Huseklepp's free-kick right at the death gave us a glimmer of a consolation goal but Loach was equal to the free-kick (Huseklepp on set-pieces from now on please?), Peace again was a rock in that defence, constantly talking to the other defenders making sure they had their man covered.

I applaued Appleton as he got his post-match comments spot on and was refreshing to hear the honesty, I think he's getting a good idea of who is the dead-wood at the club (i.e. Ben-Haim, Kitson, Norris) and realising that players are being made to play awkward football, I mean even under Guy & Gray we still played this badly, just on those occasions we managed to capatalise on goalscoring opportunities. Nottingham Forest were on top of us first half until Huseklepp scored, Barnsley pegged us back for 30 minutes with their blistering pace and attacking threat (well Vaz Te being crap), and even Doncaster they had us on the back foot, so the pattern is across the previous games, not just this one.
The 'experts' at The News and Facebook already saying Appleton is a rubbish choice and should be given 1 month to prove himself.....rubbish! He's had 5-6 days to train with the players, hardly anytime to get to know them or even ask them to gel to his way of training. Hopefully he'll add a few more players to our beleaguered squad to give it more depth and fight for places in it, personally I think we need to go for a more 'defensive' formation for the next game against leicester, go for a 4-2-3-1 formation.
With this we will have a strong back line with two defensive midfielders sitting in front stopping the midfield from progressing and also helping slow down the play. Mullins and Mokoena/Norris/Ward could fit in these roles. Then have a combined attacking midfield of Huseklepp, Razak and Lawrence (if fit) with Varney as your lone striker and it will have a formidable attack as well as defence. As much as 4-4-2 is a great formation it does not reflect the positional strengths we have in the squad.
Here is a quick diagram of how it would look;

 

 

 

 

A 4-2-3-1 formation I feel would work better

This is only what I think....which is never always right. Only when 'scouting' players, ha!
Hopefully by Thursday Appleton will of raided the loan market for a few players to have until January, then the real test will begin for him.

Play Up Pompey! Dreading the Leicester game, return of Nugent.....hat-trick....I bet...

For the love of Vokes!

Michael Appleton was appointed on the 28th day of Portsmouth's search for a new manager and I feel very happy with the choice. I feel it will be one great piece of astute business by CSI, some fans feel he may not have managerial experience, but tell that to Brendan Rogers or Nigel Adkins who have done very well after being given their break by respective clubs (Watford and Scunthorpe). Still dreading a certain match if we don't perform better before then!

Onto potential loan signings with the new manager, especially since Bjorn Helge Riise has gone back to Fulham after a uneventful month on loan. I feel we could still do well in this market, maybe an out and out striker as opposed to a winger/striker, my personal favourite is Sam Vokes. He plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers and dosen't feature too much in Mick McCarthy's plans, in fact he scored a brace against Norway at the weekend against Norway;

Sam Vokes celebrating a brace for Wales against Norway

I'm sure a few games in the Championship will give him a good platform to prove to McCarthy that he can play at a high level and be good for us to fire in the goals alongside our other attacking players!

Perhaps also we might see a loan signing or two from Appleton's former club? A few good links there could prove valuable (maybe Chris Wood?) in the January transfer window.

In the mean time my tickets for Watford on the 19th. Seated in the 4th bloody row! Going to have to watch out for balls the whole game!

Thoughts on Michael Appleton

Today is 27 days since Steve Cotterill left Portsmouth and headed north to Nottingham Forest and after the many rumours and speculation on The News website and other media outlets the main candidate has emerged. A surprise perhaps, an assistant manager at The Hawthornes, one Michael Appleton who has been at the Midlands club for over 10 years, retiring through injury at the age of only 27 and quickly establishing himself as a grounded coach he quickly worked his way through the backroom staff up to his current position of Assistant Manager.

After doing a quick search on forums and news comment sections the Baggie fans seem in high praise of Appleton and his eagerness to manage, they say "he is not experienced to lead West Brom if Hodgson leaves, but Portsmouth would present a golden opportunity....good luck to him". There are many more posts that talk up his man management and eagerness to get into management, especially after his career was cut so short.
On the flip side the 'experts' at The News comment section are not as keen on Appleton, delusional at times in asking for managers such as Steve Coppell, Dave Jones or Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Let's break the reasons why they have been ruled out by myself and other journalists;

- Steve Coppell- Perhaps the fact he has left several clubs in the past citing 'lack of motivation', not the long-term option that the owners are looking for is it?

- Dave Jones- Already ruled himself out right at the beginning of the managerial search, he would prove to be an expensive appointment as he would refuse to work with a current set-up and wanting his own staff to come in. Plus a few chants of "Davey Jones sex offender" would put him off coming back to Fratton Park, however unfounded those chants are!

- Ole Gunnar Solskjær- Now he has garnered a lot of interest from a few clubs just by winning the Norwegian League title with Molde in his first season in charge, which is good for him, but come on, it's the Norwegian league! Probably the equivalent of League One over here (sorry to anyone from Norway reading this, but the football is quite slow paced and tedious). Rumour has it a famous Premier League manager has contacted Ole to persuade him not to return to England in great haste.

The only other manager I can see that fits the bill is Sean O'Driscoll, but he isn't a 100% fit for me, yes he did well with Doncaster on a very small budget, but he dosen't seem the best manager to take us forward.
I still see Appleton as the best person suited to this job, yes he may not have actual hands on experience of being a manager in the day to day sense, but all managers have to start somewhere! Look how well some young managers are doing i.e. Eddie Howe at Burnley, Villas-Boas at Porto/Chelsea, Josep Guardiola etc. They have had a good break and proved their worth as managers despite doubts at first. Plus with 7 years of experience as a coach at a Championship and Premier League level he will have knowledge of the leagues and what is needed of the players to perform on the pitch, especially when he's seen 2 promotions and 2 relegations since being at the club.
So in all I'm all in favour of Michael Appleton, I hope the club quickly put this enigma of negotiations and appoint him as soon as possible to get onto the training ground to implement his own changes.

Next blog might be about the Team GB squad possibilities...

Portsmouth vs Nottingham Forest; The Return of Cotterill

Last Saturday saw the return of Steve Cotterill to Fratton Park after leaving 3 weeks earlier to take over at Nottingham Forest. Since then the stats aren't bad for either team. With Forest winning 3 games in 4 since Cotterill took over, a impressive stat for the ex-Pompey boss, where as Portsmouth have won 3 in 5 games. Pompey were keen to get over that horrendous Derby game and the tense Crystal Palace game on Tuesday.

I personally was dreading this match, as despite Forest winning with little panache they were still Nottingham Forest. Big club with big players that can create good chances, thankfully Ishmael Miller was out injured, so one big striker to not worry about!

The lineup news was fantastic with a strong side that looked to go out and attack, a home debut to Abdul Razak whom sounded a handful for Derby in his short sub cameo. Huseklepp back in for injured Lawrence and Norris being captain.

The minute silence for Armed Forces Day was impeccably observed with not a word spoken, except the rumbles of traffic and the odd mobile phone. The referee marked the end of the silence and the Pompey Chimes rang out, game on!

Now the first half was quite tense in my eyes, always are as we never switch on! Excluding the first 15 minutes of the Doncaster game, we seemed to not be bothered! Constantly being pressed and attacked by the Forest players, who at least should've had scored a few of the chances they had, McGugan shouldn't of squared the ball, as the following player scuffed his touch and allowed Henderson to run out and smother the ball. Ben-Haim kept losing possession and leaving his position exposed, the short passing was awful, too narrow and never looking to go forward! After corners there was no rush to get forward, except for Razak. Speaking of the young midfielder he hasn't got used to the Championship, his passing was alright, but you could see his quality, with a few good turns and crosses he looks to be a good loan signing.
Then came our goal, a good flowing move which Forest blocked fell to Mullins whom teed up a volley which crashed off the crossbar which I thought went in off it and so did most the ground whom went to celebrate, hoofed out by Forest which Huseklepp picked up, turned and ran on the edge of the box and unleashed a curling strike which fired into the top corner, superb!  It was a great goal by the Norwegian and you could see he enjoyed it just as much as we did! The goal looked like the ones we saw on YouTube when researching his name when signed.

Half time signalled an interesting fact, it was the first time we went into the second half in the lead this season! Half time also had the amusing 50/50 draw where a Mr Coppell was the winner, those around us had a laugh thinking it was the ex-Bristol City manager.

Second half started slow, passing game which kept pinging around the midfield, poor passing and play by both sides made it stifling to push forward. Forest kept taking corners exactly the same, but at times were threatening as if it hit anyone it might of gone in! Razak made a beautiful pass, dummied the defenders passing to Varney whom squared it to Norris, shooting which was saved by Camp looping the ball into the air which Varney quickly pounced to head narrowly over! Good build up play by Razak and Varney.
Forest had a good chance with a poor clearance falling to Findley who turned and struck a sure goal but Henderson saved it with a superb outstreched hand! Great save by the 24 year old, keeping Ashdown on the bench once more! Kitson was pressing and chasing down balls constantly this half making an utter nuiscance of himself, he was playing to prove a point to Cotterill, and prove it he did! Corner in the 75th minute which was whipped in by Huseklepp and Kitson rose up to head the ball home, game on, the banter began after this! The various chants were hilarious and set a great atmosphere for the rest of the game (which even Cotterill enjoyed), here are some of the best;

• "4-4-2, 4-4-2, 4-4-2!"
• "Stevie Cotterill, your taxi's outside!"
• "Should've stuck with McClaren! Stuck with McClaren"
• The constant whey's when decisions were given for us
• "2-0 to the 4-4-2"

One chant I always find a little disrespectful is the "There's only one Jamie Ashdown" chant, it is quite annoying since Henderson is proving to be a better keeper at the moment. As Benjani is only sung to when he's on the pitch, same as Kanu.
Later in the game we were still pressing forward looking for another goal, some scrappy play led to the 3rd goal of the afternoon which was crossed in by Norris after picking up a failed cross and crossed it low which Erik struck round the defender and beyond Lee Camp, another nice finish by the Norwegian! Not long after was another chance! Halford with a downward header which only just hit the bar and went over, inches more lower and it might of crashed in off the crossbar! That's the 4th time I've seen Halford hit the woodwork this season!
Full time and a good victory in the bag, it's been a good progression from the boring stand-off football Cotterill played into a good working team under Guy & Gray, with all this talk about new managers they have done very well to keep focused throughout, hats off to them!

Perhaps another blog about the main candidate? Maybe so, but after a nice Battlefield 3 session first!

So another 3 points, up to 16th! Play Up Pompey!