Enjoyed the game. On clear cut chances we deserved to win. Just missing a bit of luck.
Jones was excellent. Was probably just having a wobble and doesn't really need Hector telling him what to do.
Bakinson is a surprisingly poor footballer, although I do like his physicality and the way he gets up and down the pitch.
Jones says he wants us to increase the amount of balls we get into the box, but feel like we lack presence there with May & Kanu. It would need a terrific delivery, something we also don't have.
Jones has made us difficult to play against which is a great base to build on. It's just a shame the defense that gets the first clean sheet in ages can't continue to the next game.
Kanu went through, pulled the trigger I was celebrating…turned around and they were on the attack. Argh…football!!!!!
Tennai Watson went down about 30 mins into the 1st half (I will not be surprised if he was told to), NJ called the whole team over, 1 minute of instruction later and NJ had nullified Pompey’s free man and advance.
Prior to that, our midfield 3 were shifting across the pitch to close out the Pompey FB’s advance, Pompey worked it out, played up one side (usually the left) waited for the shift and two rapid passes later Raffety was galloping into acres of space. Small was obviously tasked with nullifying Kamara (successfully).
Post instruction, our ball side wingback would engage the FB higher up the pitch, this changed the coverage the midfield 3 had to make, those position changes in the midfield slowed how Pompey could play into their FB’s and allowed the wingbacks time to get out and engage higher. It completely removed the space Rafferry / Ogilvie had to advance into. In fact I remember Raffery trying to hit a switch out wide to nobody because his options had gone!
1) The tactical understanding and awareness of the opposition that NJ has each game is very evident. 2) The adaptations in game aren’t off the cuff, plan a/b/c looks like it’s been planned and prepared on the training pitch.
3) We’re just scratching the surface under NJ. He is streets ahead of anyone we’ve had in the dug out since Curbs. 4) We’re not going down!!
A different scenario.......
Its football & players move around a bit.
And Nathan Jones' side had not won anymore games than Fleming's sides did. And won less than Appleton & Holden's first 4 games in charge.
2 sides to every story
But only ever one side to your stories. Boo.
The vast majority of fans can see a decent improvement and are therefore logically, but cautiously optimistic.
The main negative at the moment dragging the fan base down is your comments. Your endless misery is thoroughly draining me. I know I should just stop reading your posts, but .......
Enjoyed the game. On clear cut chances we deserved to win. Just missing a bit of luck.
Jones was excellent. Was probably just having a wobble and doesn't really need Hector telling him what to do.
Bakinson is a surprisingly poor footballer, although I do like his physicality and the way he gets up and down the pitch.
Jones says he wants us to increase the amount of balls we get into the box, but feel like we lack presence there with May & Kanu. It would need a terrific delivery, something we also don't have.
Jones has made us difficult to play against which is a great base to build on. It's just a shame the defense that gets the first clean sheet in ages can't continue to the next game.
Blaming Hector for his bad form is another level. He made a couple of howlers yesterday, but got away with them. Were they also Hector's fault?
Just caught up with NJ's interview after the game. Despite Golfies continual negativity I can see what NJ is building. We would've lost to Bolton and Pompey if MA had still been in charge, NJ has given us a more solid and confident defence. He now has to work on more creativity in mid-field and hence giving chances to strikers. So Golfie can carry on saying a loss and a win would have given more points, yes of course that's true, BUT we would've lost both, hence 2 points are better than none! I'll take another draw tomorrow night and then lets look to winning moving forward.....this isn't going to be a quick fix, but we are moving in the right direction at last! NJ has a method of playing and a plan to get us to do it, providing we stay in this League this season we do have a much brighter future. He will defo trim down the squad, get better quality in and in positions he wants them. In my opinion 5 wins or 3 wins and 4 draws should see us survive....any thing more than this is a welcome bonus. I would like to think the wins will be Carlisle, Wigan, Fleetwood, Shrewsbury. Draws Northampton, Cheltenham, Stevenage, Cambridge, yes that's optimistic, but we're a much better outfit than we were just 4 games ago, 50 points should be enough.
Totally agree with you........
However, until we win our first game we are going down. Yes, 2 points from.Bolton & Pompey was better than I, and most people expected, but sometimes teams get the new manager "bounce" and win one of them. And again, you are accepting that a point tomorrow would be a good thing.....and than accepting draws against Northampton & Cheltenham (presumably because we are away from home & only won once on our travels).
So, despite having a go at my negativity, you are not expecting a win until we play Carlisle......which is after THREE more games have been played. At which time you then expect us to win 4 out of our last nine, having, by then, won just once in 20 !! And 2 of those 4 matches will be real 6 pointers.
I really hope that you are right.....but as I keep on saying WE NEED TO START WINNING GAMES. And the sooner the better.
Kanu went through, pulled the trigger I was celebrating…turned around and they were on the attack. Argh…football!!!!!
Tennai Watson went down about 30 mins into the 1st half (I will not be surprised if he was told to), NJ called the whole team over, 1 minute of instruction later and NJ had nullified Pompey’s free man and advance.
Prior to that, our midfield 3 were shifting across the pitch to close out the Pompey FB’s advance, Pompey worked it out, played up one side (usually the left) waited for the shift and two rapid passes later Raffety was galloping into acres of space. Small was obviously tasked with nullifying Kamara (successfully).
Post instruction, our ball side wingback would engage the FB higher up the pitch, this changed the coverage the midfield 3 had to make, those position changes in the midfield slowed how Pompey could play into their FB’s and allowed the wingbacks time to get out and engage higher. It completely removed the space Rafferry / Ogilvie had to advance into. In fact I remember Raffery trying to hit a switch out wide to nobody because his options had gone!
1) The tactical understanding and awareness of the opposition that NJ has each game is very evident. 2) The adaptations in game aren’t off the cuff, plan a/b/c looks like it’s been planned and prepared on the training pitch.
3) We’re just scratching the surface under NJ. He is streets ahead of anyone we’ve had in the dug out since Curbs. 4) We’re not going down!!
A different scenario.......
Its football & players move around a bit.
And Nathan Jones' side had not won anymore games than Fleming's sides did. And won less than Appleton & Holden's first 4 games in charge.
2 sides to every story
But only ever one side to your stories. Boo.
The vast majority of fans can see a decent improvement and are therefore logically, but cautiously optimistic.
The main negative at the moment dragging the fan base down is your comments. Your endless misery is thoroughly draining me. I know I should just stop reading your posts, but .......
There's only 1 side to my story because we've not won in 3 months.
I'll be happy to eat humble pie when we beat Derby and/or Northampton. Coming into a 6 pointer against Cheltenham with less than another 3 points on the board could be the nail in the coffin, because by then it could be 1 win in 18 & 1 away win all season.
Love to be proved wrong & praying with all my heart we dont get relegated. But until we actually start winning games nothing has changed.
Results not performances will keep us up. So that’s what Ive been focussed on since Reading away.
We can look at things from multiple angles but the simple fact is since we changed manager (yes it was too late but we can’t change that now) we haven’t won once. And have 3 from 12.
Unlike the scum up the road who receive an instant new manager bounce.
Our new manager bounce to date hasn’t quite got the same results…..
The bloke up the roads working with a squad that just missed the play offs last year ours is working with a mob half of which were on a free or on school holidays.
To say there hasn't been a bounce is ridiculous, you couldn't have watched the first part of the season
On stats alone you have to agree with Golfie but as always the devil is in the detail. We haven't been beaten in three, early December was the last time that happened. Where Golfie is spot on is we must win games, although there are a few on here who believe we didn't create enough on Saturday, no credit given to Portsmouth's defending though. Port vale are at home to Fleetwood tomorrow, even with Port Vale's wretched form, this is a game that they must win. Cheltenham are at Wycombe and form wise could provide a shock result, something Wycombe would be keen to avoid lest they start to look over their shoulders. We definitely need to win and get that monkey off our back, but so do the other teams around us and I still think Shrewsbury and Reading will be drawn into the mix.
Enjoyed the game. On clear cut chances we deserved to win. Just missing a bit of luck.
Jones was excellent. Was probably just having a wobble and doesn't really need Hector telling him what to do.
Bakinson is a surprisingly poor footballer, although I do like his physicality and the way he gets up and down the pitch.
Jones says he wants us to increase the amount of balls we get into the box, but feel like we lack presence there with May & Kanu. It would need a terrific delivery, something we also don't have.
Jones has made us difficult to play against which is a great base to build on. It's just a shame the defense that gets the first clean sheet in ages can't continue to the next game.
Blaming Hector for his bad form is another level. He made a couple of howlers yesterday, but got away with them. Were they also Hector's fault?
I think you've misread that part, although it could be clearer. Some were saying Jones mistakes were because he didn't have Hector alongside him any more. I'm saying he doesn't actually need Hector to play well, he was just having a wobble.
Just caught up with NJ's interview after the game. Despite Golfies continual negativity I can see what NJ is building. We would've lost to Bolton and Pompey if MA had still been in charge, NJ has given us a more solid and confident defence. He now has to work on more creativity in mid-field and hence giving chances to strikers. So Golfie can carry on saying a loss and a win would have given more points, yes of course that's true, BUT we would've lost both, hence 2 points are better than none! I'll take another draw tomorrow night and then lets look to winning moving forward.....this isn't going to be a quick fix, but we are moving in the right direction at last! NJ has a method of playing and a plan to get us to do it, providing we stay in this League this season we do have a much brighter future. He will defo trim down the squad, get better quality in and in positions he wants them. In my opinion 5 wins or 3 wins and 4 draws should see us survive....any thing more than this is a welcome bonus. I would like to think the wins will be Carlisle, Wigan, Fleetwood, Shrewsbury. Draws Northampton, Cheltenham, Stevenage, Cambridge, yes that's optimistic, but we're a much better outfit than we were just 4 games ago, 50 points should be enough.
Totally agree with you........
However, until we win our first game we are going down. Yes, 2 points from.Bolton & Pompey was better than I, and most people expected, but sometimes teams get the new manager "bounce" and win one of them. And again, you are accepting that a point tomorrow would be a good thing.....and than accepting draws against Northampton & Cheltenham (presumably because we are away from home & only won once on our travels).
So, despite having a go at my negativity, you are not expecting a win until we play Carlisle......which is after THREE more games have been played. At which time you then expect us to win 4 out of our last nine, having, by then, won just once in 20 !! And 2 of those 4 matches will be real 6 pointers.
I really hope that you are right.....but as I keep on saying WE NEED TO START WINNING GAMES. And the sooner the better.
I'm being realistic, NJ isn't gonna turn years of decline around in just a few games. In your head If we don't win immediately we're doomed. I'm coming from a different angle, we need 5 wins and a draw or 2 to get to 50 points. I'm not saying the games I think we can get something from are necessarily correct, but I'm prepared to draw a few more games while NJ gets his ideas across, If he can do it quicker then great! Everyone knows WE NEED TO START WINNING GAMES, as you so eloquently shout it! But bloody hell you keep on banging on about it as though you're the only person who knows it. I'm hopeful for a draw tomorrow night, god only knows what you'll be like if we lose!! Sometimes looking at the bigger picture is the way to go. So yes 5 wins and 2 draws is what I think we need, if we can't do that we deserve to go down, however I believe NJ has improved the team in structure and confidence, its work in progress, but if we get to 50 points quicker then I'm all for that!
Really amusing to see the keeper giving pelters to his defender for taking a crazy free kick that went straight to one of the Lincoln forwards only to see him doing something similar later on!
Got to stop sodding about with those silly short corners.
Note on this. We have only scored from ONE corner this season and it was last week from a short corner. I’ve no issue with them, we just need to be better at them than the embarrassment that was today’s offside howler.
Unless the Linesman noticed the smallest of movements when May stopped the ball, but saw a comment on Twitter suggesting that it was the wrong call from the Lino.
If the ball didnt go forwards when May touched it, Small wasn't offside?
The offside law doesn't mention the direction of the ball, it just has to be played (or touched). It's quite rare to be offside from a ball not played forward but this was a perfect example of it.
Similar misunderstandings occur when occasions players are flagged offside in their own half (rare but also possible).
Is this the American soccer version ? You cannot be offside in your own half, if you have run back from the opponents half when the ball is kicked the offence took place in the opponents half but the free kick would be taken where he actually received the ball.
That's a refereeing howler tbf, no way that's even close to ten yards
Don't have to be 10 yards for a quick FK do you?
Ah ha.....my old chestnut.
Why is it allowed for the opposition to form a wall when the FK is 20/25 yards from goal but not elsewhere. If you fouled a player on the half way line would you be given time to form a wall ?? If not why not ? Is their anything in the laws of the game that says when or where you can take "time out" to form a wall. I know teams sometimes take a quick free kick when close to the penalty area but not often. No idea of the stats but I reckon it must be 95%+ that a wall is formed when a free kick is 30 yards from goal, but in the centre circle....probably 0%.
Got to stop sodding about with those silly short corners.
Note on this. We have only scored from ONE corner this season and it was last week from a short corner. I’ve no issue with them, we just need to be better at them than the embarrassment that was today’s offside howler.
Unless the Linesman noticed the smallest of movements when May stopped the ball, but saw a comment on Twitter suggesting that it was the wrong call from the Lino.
If the ball didnt go forwards when May touched it, Small wasn't offside?
The offside law doesn't mention the direction of the ball, it just has to be played (or touched). It's quite rare to be offside from a ball not played forward but this was a perfect example of it.
Similar misunderstandings occur when occasions players are flagged offside in their own half (rare but also possible).
Is this the American soccer version ? You cannot be offside in your own half, if you have run back from the opponents half when the ball is kicked the offence took place in the opponents half but the free kick would be taken where he actually received the ball.
Another one.
Bloke next to me was doing my nut in first half shouting out "offside lino !" everytime their keeper took a goal kick & Bishop was 5 yards ahead of our defenders.
After the 3rd or 4th time I politely told him that you can't be offside from a goal kick.
That's why I try not to get too bothered with the crowd baying for blood when a decision seemingly goes against us because half of them dont know the laws of the game.
Enjoyed the game. On clear cut chances we deserved to win. Just missing a bit of luck.
Jones was excellent. Was probably just having a wobble and doesn't really need Hector telling him what to do.
Bakinson is a surprisingly poor footballer, although I do like his physicality and the way he gets up and down the pitch.
Jones says he wants us to increase the amount of balls we get into the box, but feel like we lack presence there with May & Kanu. It would need a terrific delivery, something we also don't have.
Jones has made us difficult to play against which is a great base to build on. It's just a shame the defense that gets the first clean sheet in ages can't continue to the next game.
Blaming Hector for his bad form is another level. He made a couple of howlers yesterday, but got away with them. Were they also Hector's fault?
I think you've misread that part, although it could be clearer. Some were saying Jones mistakes were because he didn't have Hector alongside him any more. I'm saying he doesn't actually need Hector to play well, he was just having a wobble.
Ah, I see what you mean. 👍 Jones is 9/10 aerially, but 6 or 7/10 on the ground for me. Most teams lump it at this level, even Pompey on Saturday.
That's a refereeing howler tbf, no way that's even close to ten yards
Don't have to be 10 yards for a quick FK do you?
Agree, but we have seen players booked for infringement in that scenario, ref should have had it retaken...but it was Port Vale, so where's the problem!!
It’s been mentioned by someone further up the thread but I thought the general standard of our defensive clearances on Saturday was very iffy. Not all of course but far too many were scuffed and caused us as much problem as the original ball. I don’t think anyone was blameless in this.
And Nathan Jones' side had not won anymore games than Fleming's sides did. And won less than Appleton & Holden's first 4 games in charge.
2 sides to every story
But at least the team is showing much more fight and enthusiasm than under the Albatross that was Appleton. Hopefully a win shortly will make you change your tune!
And Nathan Jones' side had not won anymore games than Fleming's sides did. And won less than Appleton & Holden's first 4 games in charge.
2 sides to every story
But at least the team is showing much more fight and enthusiasm than under the Albatross that was Appleton. Hopefully a win shortly will make you change your tune!
Unfortunately he's been playing the same tune more or less all the time I've been on this site.
Special mention to the guy sitting a couple of rows behind me. Spent most of the game shouting instructions to our players. He reminded me of one of those annoying parents at a kids game. Halfway through the second half he seemed to quieten down, then got up to go to the loo, only to re-emerge a couple of minutes later, sniffing (he must've caught a bug) and then proceeded with his vocal tirade until the final whistle. Amazing how much better he was after his tinkle.
Aah - you got me Tangoflash, A Curbs stand near the front? Think I’d better ‘fess up’ and apologise to everyone within shouting distance !
Around 10 years ago I was diagnosed with a brain tumour- benign thankfully, it was an alarming 16 x 12mm when scanned.
I used to be the most laidback/calm guy around, still am in most environments. Just watching our boy’s & whilst driving I morph into ‘Mr Hyde’!
Once relaxed I do appreciate the futility of shouting out instructions to our team!
Once again, apologies to anyone affected.
PS. Next season we shall be moving further up the stand.
Draw was a fair result, thought they were going to nick it in the dying seconds when from being in their corner in the 96th minute we offered a ridiculous cross into their box which they ran up the other end and almost scored with the last kick of the match. Isted makes me feel a lot more comfortable than Brewer ever did.
This. Thomas' cross into the West stand when the Pompey area was loaded with our players nearly cost us big time.
From that throw, Pompey worked the ball down our end and got a final throw which they threw in long. After a scramble the ball dropped to one of their players and as his foot drew back i thought **** this is in. So relieved when it flew past the post.
If we had conceded that was down to Thomas.
Anyway, we didn't so maybe NJ has brought a change of luck with him as well.
You are using the word “cross” extremely loosely there!
it went laterally from outside the box into, sorry, miles over the box, so technically, yes, it was a cross.
Draw was a fair result, thought they were going to nick it in the dying seconds when from being in their corner in the 96th minute we offered a ridiculous cross into their box which they ran up the other end and almost scored with the last kick of the match. Isted makes me feel a lot more comfortable than Brewer ever did.
This. Thomas' cross into the West stand when the Pompey area was loaded with our players nearly cost us big time.
From that throw, Pompey worked the ball down our end and got a final throw which they threw in long. After a scramble the ball dropped to one of their players and as his foot drew back i thought **** this is in. So relieved when it flew past the post.
If we had conceded that was down to Thomas.
Anyway, we didn't so maybe NJ has brought a change of luck with him as well.
I'm not having that argument that Thomas with a cross up one end, nearly cost us at the other end. It went out of play AND we should have been prepared for a counter attack either way.
Was at the game with some mates including two Pompey fans expecting a high scoring game so we was all pretty shocked with a 0-0. The Pompey boys came away happy as they're thinking is nick something away from home and win their home games and they will be home and dry and they're probably right. I was pleased with a point and more importantly a clean sheet and a determined, resilient display against the league leaders who let's be honest weren't at their best. All in all a good day out with my Pompey friends very complimentary of The Valleys atmosphere and our team
We took a point off the league leaders. Build on it.
Some folks were telling us we’d get zero points from Bolton, Portsmouth and Derby, so we’re above their expectations. We have navigated two now with one still to play and those same people will tell you it’s not been good enough.
After Derby in midweek we have the easiest (by average league position) run in of any team in the bottom 8-10 teams.
Keep playing at the level that we have against Bolton and Pompey and we will win enough of those games to stay up.
Some folks also said to give Appleton more time and that we’re not in a relegation battle 👀
Point taken but a major reason for that: for a long time I didn’t think that we’d attract anyone that could do any better, my honest opinion at the time was we were probably looking at the Cowley brothers coming in, at best.
Swapping one bang average third tier manager for another didn’t appeal to me. By the time he was let go it had become clear there was no coming back and anyone with a bit of experience, Cowleys and all, would’ve been a better choice.
Some will insist that the board waited too long but I’ll take the positives and say it’s a clear sign that they’re not here to hire and fire at the first signs of adversity.
Again, on top of all that, when he was sacked I still didn’t think we’d get near Michael Duff, let alone Nathan Jones. We were getting turned down by League 2 and Indian Premier League managers ffs.
Comments
Jones was excellent. Was probably just having a wobble and doesn't really need Hector telling him what to do.
Bakinson is a surprisingly poor footballer, although I do like his physicality and the way he gets up and down the pitch.
Jones says he wants us to increase the amount of balls we get into the box, but feel like we lack presence there with May & Kanu. It would need a terrific delivery, something we also don't have.
Jones has made us difficult to play against which is a great base to build on. It's just a shame the defense that gets the first clean sheet in ages can't continue to the next game.
Boo.
The vast majority of fans can see a decent improvement and are therefore logically, but cautiously optimistic.
The main negative at the moment dragging the fan base down is your comments.
Your endless misery is thoroughly draining me.
I know I should just stop reading your posts, but .......
He made a couple of howlers yesterday, but got away with them. Were they also Hector's fault?
However, until we win our first game we are going down. Yes, 2 points from.Bolton & Pompey was better than I, and most people expected, but sometimes teams get the new manager "bounce" and win one of them. And again, you are accepting that a point tomorrow would be a good thing.....and than accepting draws against Northampton & Cheltenham (presumably because we are away from home & only won once on our travels).
So, despite having a go at my negativity, you are not expecting a win until we play Carlisle......which is after THREE more games have been played. At which time you then expect us to win 4 out of our last nine, having, by then, won just once in 20 !! And 2 of those 4 matches will be real 6 pointers.
I really hope that you are right.....but as I keep on saying WE NEED TO START WINNING GAMES. And the sooner the better.
...Who cares, they lost, and that's all that matters...ain't it...🤷🙄
I'll be happy to eat humble pie when we beat Derby and/or Northampton. Coming into a 6 pointer against Cheltenham with less than another 3 points on the board could be the nail in the coffin, because by then it could be 1 win in 18 & 1 away win all season.
Love to be proved wrong & praying with all my heart we dont get relegated. But until we actually start winning games nothing has changed.
To say there hasn't been a bounce is ridiculous, you couldn't have watched the first part of the season
I'm hopeful for a draw tomorrow night, god only knows what you'll be like if we lose!! Sometimes looking at the bigger picture is the way to go. So yes 5 wins and 2 draws is what I think we need, if we can't do that we deserve to go down, however I believe NJ has improved the team in structure and confidence, its work in progress, but if we get to 50 points quicker then I'm all for that!
Why is it allowed for the opposition to form a wall when the FK is 20/25 yards from goal but not elsewhere. If you fouled a player on the half way line would you be given time to form a wall ?? If not why not ? Is their anything in the laws of the game that says when or where you can take "time out" to form a wall. I know teams sometimes take a quick free kick when close to the penalty area but not often. No idea of the stats but I reckon it must be 95%+ that a wall is formed when a free kick is 30 yards from goal, but in the centre circle....probably 0%.
Bloke next to me was doing my nut in first half shouting out "offside lino !" everytime their keeper took a goal kick & Bishop was 5 yards ahead of our defenders.
After the 3rd or 4th time I politely told him that you can't be offside from a goal kick.
That's why I try not to get too bothered with the crowd baying for blood when a decision seemingly goes against us because half of them dont know the laws of the game.
Jones is 9/10 aerially, but 6 or 7/10 on the ground for me. Most teams lump it at this level, even Pompey on Saturday.
Agree, but we have seen players booked for infringement in that scenario, ref should have had it retaken...but it was Port Vale, so where's the problem!!
Hopefully a win shortly will make you change your tune!
12 more games to continue that standard that has now been on show in the last 2 games
Think I’d better ‘fess up’ and apologise to everyone within shouting distance !
I used to be the most laidback/calm guy around, still am in most environments. Just watching our boy’s & whilst driving I morph into ‘Mr Hyde’!
Still "highlights", however low you may think they are...🤷♂️
Was at the game with some mates including two Pompey fans expecting a high scoring game so we was all pretty shocked with a 0-0. The Pompey boys came away happy as they're thinking is nick something away from home and win their home games and they will be home and dry and they're probably right. I was pleased with a point and more importantly a clean sheet and a determined, resilient display against the league leaders who let's be honest weren't at their best. All in all a good day out with my Pompey friends very complimentary of The Valleys atmosphere and our team