Tins n pots
Posted: Thu Oct 10, 2013 12:39 pm
I can't see that anyone has commented, so I'll have a go. This all has to be temptered by the fact that both sides played "weakened" teams.
We played pretty well in the first half. We dominated possession and played a number of neat passing moves to create several chances which should have been put away, with Mr James Beano Constable being prime culprit for missing. Portsmouth improved hugely when the irritatingly productive and useful Agyemang came on.
Callum O'Dowda put on a much improved show from Saturday. He looks technically pretty good, and he has pace, but he does need to put on some muscle to cope with the rigours of lower league football as he was knocked off the ball by heavy challenges on more than one occasion, no thanks to the ref not producing his book early enough.
Alfie looked a little more interested, although not much. My impression, and that is all it is, is that Alfie needs a lot of motivation and praise from the manager which perhaps may not be as forthcoming as he may like. My impression is also that Alfie prefers to play up front than on the wing, but he is a significantly more valuable asset playing on the wing when he is playing well. He isn't a striker and unless he grows 3 feet or improves his scoring chance conversion ratio, he never will be. Football is a team game, and players should be played in their most effective position.
I was slightly less convinced about Josh Ruffels. Sure he put in plenty of work, but it wasn't as effective as Scott Davies playing alongside him, and he gave the ball away too much in dangerous areas.
Having said the above, if we are to play youngsters to progress them and benefit from them (and in my view we most certainly should have at least 1 youngster playing in every match), then we have to accept that they will make a higher number of mistakes than more senior pros.
My MoM was Ryan Williams. A constant threat, bags of pace and skill, albeit like O'Dowda, did get knocked off the ball a bit too easily. Riding challenges comes from experience though.
Beano put in his usual work rate, but he does need to convert a few more of his chances this season. He should have scored 6 or 7 goals by now this season in my view.
Smalley looked a bit out of control and was lucky not to be booked on several occasions, and so could easily have received his marching orders, including a waist high challenge, studs showing, that looked nasty.
Hall did OK during his relatively brief showing.
The full backs were again poor, in particular Hunt.
Raynes was at fault for at least one of the Portsmouth goals, and for the second game in a row was beaten in the air leading directly to Portsmouth scoring. For such a tall man, it's a strange trait. The rest of his game was OK and he is a useful back up player, but nothing more.
Mullins had a reasonable game and Clarke was in good form.
Overall the scoreline reflected ability to put the ball in the net rather than balance of play, but that is so often the case at this level.
Excellent away support from Pompey, and surprisingly large home support for the competition, albeit little of it in the East Stand.
At the end of the day Brian, it is only the tin pot trophy, and apart from continuing the dismal run of home results, I won't shed any tears. Saturday and Northampton are much more important, and a poor performance or defeat will surely begin to raise questions over Wilder's position again.
We played pretty well in the first half. We dominated possession and played a number of neat passing moves to create several chances which should have been put away, with Mr James Beano Constable being prime culprit for missing. Portsmouth improved hugely when the irritatingly productive and useful Agyemang came on.
Callum O'Dowda put on a much improved show from Saturday. He looks technically pretty good, and he has pace, but he does need to put on some muscle to cope with the rigours of lower league football as he was knocked off the ball by heavy challenges on more than one occasion, no thanks to the ref not producing his book early enough.
Alfie looked a little more interested, although not much. My impression, and that is all it is, is that Alfie needs a lot of motivation and praise from the manager which perhaps may not be as forthcoming as he may like. My impression is also that Alfie prefers to play up front than on the wing, but he is a significantly more valuable asset playing on the wing when he is playing well. He isn't a striker and unless he grows 3 feet or improves his scoring chance conversion ratio, he never will be. Football is a team game, and players should be played in their most effective position.
I was slightly less convinced about Josh Ruffels. Sure he put in plenty of work, but it wasn't as effective as Scott Davies playing alongside him, and he gave the ball away too much in dangerous areas.
Having said the above, if we are to play youngsters to progress them and benefit from them (and in my view we most certainly should have at least 1 youngster playing in every match), then we have to accept that they will make a higher number of mistakes than more senior pros.
My MoM was Ryan Williams. A constant threat, bags of pace and skill, albeit like O'Dowda, did get knocked off the ball a bit too easily. Riding challenges comes from experience though.
Beano put in his usual work rate, but he does need to convert a few more of his chances this season. He should have scored 6 or 7 goals by now this season in my view.
Smalley looked a bit out of control and was lucky not to be booked on several occasions, and so could easily have received his marching orders, including a waist high challenge, studs showing, that looked nasty.
Hall did OK during his relatively brief showing.
The full backs were again poor, in particular Hunt.
Raynes was at fault for at least one of the Portsmouth goals, and for the second game in a row was beaten in the air leading directly to Portsmouth scoring. For such a tall man, it's a strange trait. The rest of his game was OK and he is a useful back up player, but nothing more.
Mullins had a reasonable game and Clarke was in good form.
Overall the scoreline reflected ability to put the ball in the net rather than balance of play, but that is so often the case at this level.
Excellent away support from Pompey, and surprisingly large home support for the competition, albeit little of it in the East Stand.
At the end of the day Brian, it is only the tin pot trophy, and apart from continuing the dismal run of home results, I won't shed any tears. Saturday and Northampton are much more important, and a poor performance or defeat will surely begin to raise questions over Wilder's position again.