Nice result and what we needed…only one game in but I think we need to hold onto Taty if we can, it is clear, to me at least, that he and Bowen possess that extra bit of quality that is likely to make all the difference in the upcoming season
Not sure what to make of that. We did all the damage in a ten minute spell either side of half time. Portsmouth had more of the play for most of the game besides that.
Bowen clearly looks a level above, as expected. Taty would score a lot of goals at this level, but who knows if he's staying or not. Midfield still looks like a big issue. Orford didn't do a lot, while Alvarez should have absolutely dominated the midfield but didn't, and could have been sent off.
KWP looked great. Pablo looks like he'll be fine at this level. Kilman and Mav were solid.
Badly need quite a few signings though, we hardly have more than 12 or 13 players before it's academy prospects.
Really enjoyed the game today (maybe not the first half)
Key takeaways • As we know, Bowen and Taty are too good for the championship, lets hope we can keep Taty he'll loads • KWP was class, given he was the championship best right back last time he was here.... feel he will be again • Kante showed how he can be a huge asset this season, especially as some arent convinced • Scarles and Orford quite good, especially nice to see for Orford who was a bit of a surprise inclusion in the XI but imo took his opportunity • Solomon adds much needed quality on the left • Missed Alvarez, he his yellow which he always will, but he looked good and will be an asset in this league
Back from game - we were not perfect but showed our class with three excellent passages of play & clinical, quality finishing. That’s all you need at this level. It’ll be too good for most Champ sides. Midfield is not right yet which explains our struggles today - Alvarez starting out of nowhere, Orford & Kante both raw, no proper width on the left. Once we get that sorted we’ll be good to go. We brushed aside Pompey comfortably after we equalised, I felt, despite not being great. We were never at risk from then on after a slow & ‘pre-season’ start.
Mavropanos, Kilman, Taty the standouts, Bowen showed class with his goal & assist. KWP struggled physically first half & they targeted him but played well going forward second half. They got in behind Scarles quite a lot throughout the game, I felt. Pablo was better than I’ve seen him before & Kante showed glimmers of potential but he will make errors, which he did. Orford safe & steady. Alvarez is probably rusty but showed signs of his reckless self. Maybe he will improve with games.
Overall, a winning start to the season, three good goals & now full focus on Burnley & getting that top third of the pitch sorted.
Portsmouth finished 18th last season on 55pts with -15 GD. While most of the players in the starting XI joined over the last two seasons four of them were first team regulars in League One
Their big mistake was to score and wake us up
And yes, the commentators were dreadful. Paul Walker and David Phillips apparently
Didn't get a stream to watch, but noticed on the Beeb that Paul Parker made a comment and just wanted to hear a few on here's view...
He said 'something like' he worried about us in the league, and that Portsmouth were finding it too easy to get in behind our full backs, he also said he worries about our keeper, which if I'm being honest, so do I...I don't really rate him ( Mads ).....
Is there any truth in these comments from yesterday's game or was it Parker just seeing a different game to others?
Walker-Peters & Scarles struggled IMO - players ran off & in behind Scarles quite a lot & got in the space between/behind him & Kilman which he covered a few times. Walker-Peters was also out of position a few times & was physically bullied in the first half (they targeted him with balls in the air to the forward who pulled onto him). Mads didn’t have much to do, IMO.
Noticed Magassa again not in the squad, plus Cornet going missing
Is Magassa injured or all of a sudden not fancied ?....BTW Parker did have some nice things to say about us, amongst others, he said he rates Kante, but feels he needs a creative box-box player alongside him.....
The surprising thing or perhaps not, was Kilman's performance, as Lukerz says he was one of the standouts. Is it a self-confidence problem that made him so awful in the PL? Maybe he feels subconsciously that the Championship is his level, so is able to be more assertive. That run he made through midfield was like as Chicago said "KIlman invoking his inner Rice". I know it's early days, but I think he's going to be one of our best players this year. (I just know this is going to come back and haunt me )
Comments
Bowen clearly looks a level above, as expected. Taty would score a lot of goals at this level, but who knows if he's staying or not. Midfield still looks like a big issue. Orford didn't do a lot, while Alvarez should have absolutely dominated the midfield but didn't, and could have been sent off.
KWP looked great. Pablo looks like he'll be fine at this level. Kilman and Mav were solid.
Badly need quite a few signings though, we hardly have more than 12 or 13 players before it's academy prospects.
Dodgy streams that keep buffering, Bowen doing what Bowen does and boundless optimism on here.😃
Key takeaways
• As we know, Bowen and Taty are too good for the championship, lets hope we can keep Taty he'll loads
• KWP was class, given he was the championship best right back last time he was here.... feel he will be again
• Kante showed how he can be a huge asset this season, especially as some arent convinced
• Scarles and Orford quite good, especially nice to see for Orford who was a bit of a surprise inclusion in the XI but imo took his opportunity
• Solomon adds much needed quality on the left
• Missed Alvarez, he his yellow which he always will, but he looked good and will be an asset in this league
Mavropanos, Kilman, Taty the standouts, Bowen showed class with his goal & assist. KWP struggled physically first half & they targeted him but played well going forward second half. They got in behind Scarles quite a lot throughout the game, I felt. Pablo was better than I’ve seen him before & Kante showed glimmers of potential but he will make errors, which he did. Orford safe & steady. Alvarez is probably rusty but showed signs of his reckless self. Maybe he will improve with games.
Overall, a winning start to the season, three good goals & now full focus on Burnley & getting that top third of the pitch sorted.
Portsmouth finished 18th last season on 55pts with -15 GD. While most of the players in the starting XI joined over the last two seasons four of them were first team regulars in League One
Their big mistake was to score and wake us up
And yes, the commentators were dreadful. Paul Walker and David Phillips apparently
I bet neither of them has ever read Jane Austen
He said 'something like' he worried about us in the league, and that Portsmouth were finding it too easy to get in behind our full backs, he also said he worries about our keeper, which if I'm being honest, so do I...I don't really rate him ( Mads ).....
Is there any truth in these comments from yesterday's game or was it Parker just seeing a different game to others?
Is it a self-confidence problem that made him so awful in the PL? Maybe he feels subconsciously that the Championship is his level, so is able to be more assertive. That run he made through midfield was like as Chicago said "KIlman invoking his inner Rice".
I know it's early days, but I think he's going to be one of our best players this year.
(I just know this is going to come back and haunt me