Pompey.
 

A great point against a partisan 15000 plus crowd, well done red men.:)

Re: Pompey.
 

What are Pompey doing in this division?,on platform with thousands of them and hardly anyone moaning!!
Very good defensively,need to work on holding the ball up more,but very pleasing point 😀

Re: Pompey.
 

Full-blooded contest, Stanley lads all put in a proper shift today and were well deserving of the point. Sean Mc nearly won it, drew a sharp save from their keeper. Good to see Proccy back as well.

Re: Pompey.
 

This proves the point I have been hammering away on another thread. We can compete at a higher level. If we can raise our game for the big teams then why are allowing teams poorer than us to drag us down? Cashman is right it was a well earned point. I have not seen a team at home that were any better than us, including Hull. But I have noticed it does not take long for opposition teams to suss out our tactics. We have a few positives going forward in the fact that our defence is better, our midfield need to communicate better, why our strikers have to come back into our own half to win a ball is a classic example of a weakness we need to address quickly. Teams should be wary of coming to Stanley. we are better than we are showing at present. We need to be able to to switch playing tactics in a game to give us the edge. I am aware we have no right to expect to win every game but, we should not be worried about any other team in this division.

Re: Pompey.
 

Defensively we were very solid today and refused to be dragged out of position,but the unsung hero for me was Coonelly,he filled in so many gaps left by others I lost count.
He made them go sideways and back numerous times because of his reading of the game.
Biggest compliment I can give him is we don't miss joycy as much as I feared.

Re: Pompey.
 

Cracking game today with two well matched teams, almost like a cup tie at times. Also great to be at Fratton Park with 15,000 passionate fans. First time I've been able to see Stanley in the flesh and agree with F19 that our defence seems really solid. All back four were excellent and I was very impressed with both Davies and Pearson. Haven't seen the possession stats but, whilst I'm sure they show Pompey had most of it, I doubt they will show how much of that possession was spent passing back to their keeper because Stanley closed down so well. Thought Pierro did really well today given that he had two and very often three defenders on him as soon as he got the ball. But goals remain the missing ingredient and, other than a bit more luck or a billionaire investor, I'm not sure that there is an easy answer to that problem. It's a problem most clubs have. Bit disappointed in Mr.McConville; he doesn't seem to have matured that much and was really lucky not to get sent off for wrestling. Luckily the ref was so poor he didn't know whether to watch the second round of wrestling or follow the ball; fortunately he decided on the latter.
Great point, well done to the squad and manager.

Re: Pompey.
 

Talking of stats and goals (well, I was), the stat of the day must be Barnet's 3-2 loss to Carlisle, this despite having 28 shots at goal! (That's six more than England had today).
So what price a bit of luck in front of goal?

Re: Pompey.
 

Got to admit Exile,I am a Pearson fan,got massive heart,plenty bottle and can play a bit to.
Bucko was up against a good lad as well and his defending is getting better (we all know he can play!!)
Davies is key tho,what a find he's been,a Aldred type player but faster!,big future ahead for him IMHO

Re: Pompey.
 

Well done Stanley, a great away point today.

Re: Pompey.
 

"If we can't beat Accrington and Morecambe at home":-


Portsmouth Message Board |

At least they give us credit, which is more than most of the big boys usually do.

Re: Pompey.
 

overall quite positive comments from the pompey board, fair play to em.:)

Re: Pompey.
 

Hi F19

Given how excited you were that we had signed Wakefield, do you think Matty is keeping him out of the side deservedly?

Re: Pompey.
 

Good question Phil,as Wakefield has done nothing wrong and looks a great prospect.
Slightly different from Pearson and maybe has a bit more balance/composure,but it's Mattys "will to win"catches my eye.
I first thought they would both play giving us a big uncompromising back four,but Bucko has curtailed that with his rapid improvement in the defensive side of his game and really can't be dropped.
Although a attempted cruyff turn on the edge of our box with three men around him yesterday wasn't one of his best decisions !!!
You could even play Wakefield at CB with Joe,who's also a good prospect,
Simple for the lads,keep clean sheets and you'll keep your shirt,if you don't,there's good players waiting to step in.

Re: Pompey.
 

My thought is, keep defending well @ the goals will come,no doubt at all,slong as we aint shutting up shop, which i aint seen so far.:)

Re: Pompey.
 

My only concern is looked more of a threat when Kee came on.
The pressure will build on Terry as he's not only our centre forward,but captain/leader so you can't really drop him.
His record suggests his goals come in clusters,so I hope he breaks his duck soon and doesn't let it get to him.
Hardest position on the field is a lone striker!!!

Re: Pompey.
 

Did we also not look more of a threat the last home match when Kee came on? I thought so anyway.

Re: Pompey.
 

I am Sat in my room at hospital after a operation yesterday and this result has made my recovery that musweeter nobody gives us a pray against so called big sides.

Re: Pompey.
 

Got to agree Cashy,showing a bit of form is Billy,another dilemma for Coley !!!

Re: Pompey.
 

Mr.Gornell always gives his all and is a willing runner and was up against a good defence yesterday (it was for a reason that Pompey's MoM was one of their CBs), but he doesn't appear to be the classic goal poacher. Is he suffering from that ailment more often seen in cricket - the curse of captaincy? I trust the Voodoo Gods will prove me wrong.
I can understand Professor Coleman's reluctance to 'fix' something that wasn't broke but I would have liked to have seen Snr.Bruna given 15 minutes down the left wing to add a bit of pace in that area.

Re: Pompey.
 

Crooks was in that area a few times in the last 15 minutes and was one on one with their fullback,could have paid dividends as Proccy blocked up the middle

Re: Pompey.
 

I think Coley has a bit of a dilemma on his hands. If Wakefield has only signed till January, he's going to need game time or else he'll be off and we will have lost a good player. Pearson is clearly a brave and whole-hearted player, but that heart-in-mouth moment yesterday when he sliced the ball across our goal led me to wonder whether a slight lack of composure has been his Achilles heel in the past.

Bucko, on the other hand, sometimes goes too far the other way, as you mention. But his distribution from the back is very good for this level. It's been a long-standing personal bugbear that we so often lose possession with the hoof from the back, but this season we are definitely trying to play our way out, which is a big plus.

Re Kee, he looks well short of match fitness, but is always a presence against tiring defenders. I thought Proccy also looked sharp when he came on, which will be good competition for Crooksy.

Re: Pompey.
 

To be fair Phil all players have a mistake or two in them,but I think Pearson has been consistent whether left of right back and I wouldn't hesitate playing him the holding/defensive midfielder.
I am not convinced this position is Crooksys best,for me he's better when he has license to drift into spaces (like Windass).
I know he's an imposing lad but he's not one for the "rough stuff"and gets pushed off the ball too easily (good technically tho).
So many options available makes for good debate !!

Re: Pompey.
 

It does indeed! Crooks does provide flair in the middle, like you say, whilst also some height at the back to defend set-pieces, so you can see Coley really valuing the variety of roles he brings to the team.

The way Coneelly is playing, the holding/defensive midfielder role is taken, which keeps Proccy out unless you pair them. Coley did this yesterday, but it made perfect sense as we needed to see out the game. Starting with those two would leave us a bit short of attacking flair, which is where we are struggling a bit as it is.

Re: Pompey.
 

Great post match interview by Coley. He deserves a lot of credit for seemingly turning our defence round as compared with last season, which hasn't happened by accident. He sees that we need to sharpen up our finishing and just hope he will be bold enough to stand down any player who is performing even a little bit under expectations, regardless of status!

Re: Pompey.
 

When playing 4-2-3-1 ,the two holding players don't normally get ahead of the ball,but I presume Crooks gets encouraged to get forward/join in.
So technically it's more 4-1-4-1 when we are attacking.
I think when we don't have the ball Proccy/Pearson are the better options and are more disciplined.
Then again we are doing well defensively so he must be doing alright !!.
Who would be a manager,you need your head testing 😃😃😃

Re: Pompey.
 

I think Crooksy was absolutely knackered when he went off, understandably as he covered some ground. He won that free kick just outside the box late on 'cause he fell over. Proccy was a good swop for him, given the pressure from Pompey. I'd have brought McConville off for Bruna. But the Professor's judgement proved correct. Just loved the pregnant pause on his post match interview when he had to think long and hard when asked if he was happy.:)

Re: Pompey.
 

It was a great point. I was a little surprised that Bruna was left on the bench again. I think if he was given a bit more game time he would be a great addition to the squad, I have seen flashes of quality from him that would leave other players breathless.

Re: Pompey.
 

I am on the fence with Bruna,technically excellent,but very suspect when we don't have it !!, John Miles ??.
Good impact sub for me,but that's just my opinion

Re: Pompey.
 

When we don't have the ball I meant!!

Re: Pompey.
 

John Miles ?..... Great singer not much of a football player sadly !......
Like yours truly he dididn't know his 4-4-2 from his 4-5-1 either F19, but is there really need to drag his name into a comparison with the dashing Señor Bruna ?, who, it is rumoured , is absolutemente inutil where warbling a sentimental ballad is concerned !...
But wait !...am I mistaken for once ?....Alfred.E. with his eye for detail thinks that there just might be more than one John Miles in this world , and he that hit the charts with 'Music' in
1976 might not be The Stanley's erstwhile flying striker who wasn't born until 1981 !!.
So, I have been labouring under a serious misconception for some time now or so it would appear,
Alfred.E.is sniggering in his corner, and I turn to my tumbler of Absolut V and T covered in embarrassment again.....and continue to follow you and the tactical gurus with interest and excitement !.TTFN......KTF !.

Re: Pompey.
 

Fair enough, but even impact subs need a decent amount of minutes on the pitch in order to be effective. Too often our subs only get about 10 minutes even when games are being changed by the opposition's imaginative substitutions.

Re: Pompey.
 

Fwiw, I agree Kee made a difference to our threat level when he came on, but then their defenders would have been tiring by then, so perhaps it would have been just the same if Gornell had replaced Kee at the same point. Certainly their defence had Gornell, Mingoia and McConville shackled throughout and we only looked really dangerous when Windass and to a lesser extent Crooks were attacking from deep.

Equally our defence looked competent and confident pretty well throughout, only a couple of moments of panic and a couple of over-confidence had me worried. I don't know them well enough to pick out the best (first game I've seen this season), it was just a very good all round team effort for 90 minutes against a Pompey attack which looked promising but never really delivered.

For me, the highlight was Mooney's incredible save :eek: down to his left bottom corner towards the end of the second half - a genuine point saver. And the greatest surprise was that there were still 22 players on the park at the final whistle :rolleyes:.

All in all, I think that was the best Stanley display I've seen over the 20 or so games I've managed to get to since Woking :). Not as exciting as Watford, Newcastle or the win here last year, but the best football and in the face of a daunting crowd.

Twice I was asked by Pompey fans how long it took me to get down. "Walked it in 20 minutes" seemed to surprise them .... :D

Re: Pompey.
 

Good interview on the Fishy site with Mr.Davies. If he's not already on a two year deal, Stanley should offer another year's contract now as there'll be loads of clubs sniffing around at the end of this season.

Re: Pompey.
 

Agree hes been immense all season so far imho.

Re: Pompey.
 

Great prospect,plays with no fear,will play at an higher level,no doubts at all

Re: Pompey.
 

Not many but a few highlights from the game!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk2cjjj_4QM

Re: Pompey.
 

Better than the rubbish on Sky's web site, Baldy, which showed one second half Pompey attack, followed by one from the first half.
From the away end we could see how close it was to the goalpost, but didn't appreciate how far out was Gornell's header. Great cross and great header.
Also Pompey keeper made a great save to deny McConville in the second half which, I guess, didn't rate a "highlight" for the Pompey faithful.

Re: Pompey.
 

Honest view from Cooky:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBnGlEtbYNI

Re: Pompey.
 

Was that a swipe at our "game plan" at the end as he turned round to see who was around before he said it?

Also noticed he still has his 4 different voices that change during his interviews!!

Re: Pompey.
 

Once a snake.:D

Re: Pompey.
 

Never heard an snake sound so hoarse.
He's history to Stanley, Brizzle Rovers next up.

Re: Pompey.
 

Good picture of you Chimer and your 2 lady friends packing up at the end of the game on Kipax,s gallery.

Re: Pompey.
 

Some great photos. I especially like the ones of Mr.McConville's entanglement with their right back. I've never seen so much bottom on display since John Spencer took on Eddie Reardon.

Re: Pompey.
 

Thanks Andy, I wouldn't have seen that without your tip :)

Re: Pompey.
 

Your welcome believe you can buy copy,s if you so wish, just to satisfy your curiosity My wife and I had the pleasure of your company following a home game quite a few years back in the nearby Chinese restaurant can,t remember which game maybe you can elaborate hopefully see you again sometime.

Re: Pompey.
 

I remember meeting you, and that in fact it was a Friday night before the game - we were staying at Sparth House and had wandered out expecting to get a meal in one of the pubs between there and the ground, but were too late!

After much cudgelling of the brain, I think the game was the first home match of our second season back - and Darlington (who were they!) stuffed us 3-0.

Were you using a different AccyWeb alias then? AndyD didn't compute in my brain, and I was wondering how the hell you'd recognised us in the photo!

Re: Pompey.
 

Well remembered it was Friday I think now as for Accyweb did,nt bother then AndyD is just my shortened name if you can remember we live on Blackburn rd down near the Dunk hotel see you next time when you are at home or maybe somewhere away I do get to 8 or 9 a season depending on form maybe 1 or 2 more.