First pre-season game I have watched, but that was quite encouraging. I’ll temper my excitement by saying that I’m not sure how “at it” Pompey were but we certainly did our bit in making life hard for them. The energy and pressing we showed was very good and, apart from dominating possession with no real penetration for 20 mins or so after we scored first goal, they had very little of the play.
First half I thought we were impressive and comfortable without the ball but didn’t create a lot, apart from the goal which was a good run well found and a nice finish by TC.
Second half the intensity stepped up a bit and we looked very good. Encouraging signs of an old fashioned big man/little man partnership between Ahadme and TC. Absolutely ideal for Ahadme to get a confidence boosting goal and for it to be assisted by TC. If TC can carry his pre-season goalscoring into the league campaign then you can really see how that pairing can be effective with TC’s natural comfort running the channels and Ahadme’s work rate and physical presence. Kanu and Chuks both looked lively off the bench as well and with Leaburn and Godden not involved Jones could have some selection headaches to come.
Was also impressed with both full backs, especially when we pushed them a bit higher second half. I haven’t seen Ramsay getting too much attention, but I think he is going to be very good for us this season and looks a very good get from lower down the pyramid.
Last week and this week was like chalk and cheese. We were very good today , our closing down was superb. Love the look of Edwards and Ramsey as wing backs and Thomas was superb. Pompey were awful though and i can't see that team winning many games in The Championship.
Got to feel a little bit sorry for Pompey's centre backs. For sixty mins they had to deal with Ahadme, all fingers, elbows and other sharp body parts in their faces, then we introduce Chuks as his replacement. They probably had a Bernard Bresslaw moment, 'AWW no Sid' !
That was a good performance especially second half, hard to read too much into pre season games but that certainly made it a touch easier to see May scoring twice for Birmingham against WBA at the same time
Lots of positives on show during that performance. So good to see us with such strength and depth but I guess it’s only a friendly so next week will tell us a bit more.
Pompey fans must be quite concerned as they looked as poor, as we looked good.
No denying those lads are fit and raring to go. Only pre-season but fitter, sharper and totally committed. Drop a 1% of effort, NJ’s blood pressure rises and the player knows he has seen it. Bring on Wigan!
Thought our full backs looked fantastic and the defence was so much more aggressive and organised. Ahadme looks like the thug we thought he might be and Doherty was a proper captain. Coventry - best I’ve seen him play. Everyone else solid.
I know it's only a friendly, but I quite enjoyed that. Feeling optimistic for the season, definitely positives on display.
What did your son make of it?
He absolutely loved it, early goal probably helped plus having some real friendly kids sat in the row in front. He'll be sleeping in his new kit tonight no doubt lol, already said he wants to come back for a proper game. Managed the full game which is pretty good for a 5 year old!.
That was a good performance especially second half, hard to read too much into pre season games but that certainly made it a touch easier to see May scoring twice for Birmingham against WBA at the same time
Bloody hell, we just had to bring Alfie May into the discussion...enough already...🤦♂️
The highly insightful @Leuth of this parish has correctly observed our ''swarm' the opposition' approach. Today for example I can hardly remember a moment when a Portsmouth player with the ball wasn't getting immediately closed down, harried, tackled and sometimes it was by more than one of ours. On the odd occasion they threatened to get away there were some committed tackles, very notably today by Ramsey and Edwards, but others too. It is a very long way from the style we played under Ben Garner, who wanted us to keep the ball and risk very little, but the Jones team is all about winning the ball back if they have it, and getting it into some kind of mix as soon as possible. Of course that kind of leaves us vulnerable to the opposition having players good enough to hit distant forwards with pinpoint passes, but we have a battling mindset in areas where the play in general tends to occur.
Fair play to the boys that was a much better team effort and performence, we looked hungry today, Still feel we need to create more but what impressed me the most was when all the subs came on, instead of slowing things down and not really being able to get into the game which tends to happen a lot on mass changes, we looked even better and was well up for it. Lets go into the Wigan game full of confidence and smash em.
Mannion - not much to do but looked ok. Distribution is a step up on the norm of the last few years Ramsay - Excellent. Really threatening going forward and rock solid in defence. Gillesphey, Mitchell Lloyd - Solid and untroubled. Worked really well together Edwards - Excellent! tough tackling, some decent delivery. Really like him Coventry - Best game so far IMO. Had lots of possession and kept the ball ticking over. No - he won't smash into a tackle like Dobbo but his ball retention and passing are likely to make him REALLY important. Doc - Busy, mobile, vocal - I like what I saw there. Intelligent and knew when to cover and when to go. Anderson - Mobile, tough tackling and so skilful. Love it Ahadme - Excellent. Got lots of rough treatment but I assume he was winding the defenders up and shithousing them. No shortage of skill, strong as an ox too. Campbell - a goal and an assist. Can't ask much more and worked really hard too
Chuks should have scored Thierry looked tricky, pacy and hungry. Kanu was very energetic
Nathan is really going to struggle to pick his best 11 but that was such an assured performance. Strong, mobile, efficient. Even the defenders didn't piss about - if you're facing your own goal just put it out and get into shape - didn't try to do anything flashy.
That was a good performance especially second half, hard to read too much into pre season games but that certainly made it a touch easier to see May scoring twice for Birmingham against WBA at the same time
Bloody hell, we just had to bring Alfie May into the discussion...enough already...🤦♂️
Just home, PWR. Edwards looks some player, Mitchell too. Coventry I thought looked tidy on the ball, very composed, don’t understand the criticism he gets. Nice set pieces too. Campbell played well, Ahadme a handful, Docherty looked good too. I’m hopeful of a top six place on that showing.
Comments
The three at the back looked comfortable and composed as well.
Second half the intensity stepped up a bit and we looked very good. Encouraging signs of an old fashioned big man/little man partnership between Ahadme and TC. Absolutely ideal for Ahadme to get a confidence boosting goal and for it to be assisted by TC. If TC can carry his pre-season goalscoring into the league campaign then you can really see how that pairing can be effective with TC’s natural comfort running the channels and Ahadme’s work rate and physical presence. Kanu and Chuks both looked lively off the bench as well and with Leaburn and Godden not involved Jones could have some selection headaches to come.
Today for example I can hardly remember a moment when a Portsmouth player with the ball wasn't getting immediately closed down, harried, tackled and sometimes it was by more than one of ours. On the odd occasion they threatened to get away there were some committed tackles, very notably today by Ramsey and Edwards, but others too.
It is a very long way from the style we played under Ben Garner, who wanted us to keep the ball and risk very little, but the Jones team is all about winning the ball back if they have it, and getting it into some kind of mix as soon as possible.
Of course that kind of leaves us vulnerable to the opposition having players good enough to hit distant forwards with pinpoint passes, but we have a battling mindset in areas where the play in general tends to occur.
Was particularly impressed with the wingbacks.
Ramsay - Excellent. Really threatening going forward and rock solid in defence.
Gillesphey, Mitchell Lloyd - Solid and untroubled. Worked really well together
Edwards - Excellent! tough tackling, some decent delivery. Really like him
Coventry - Best game so far IMO. Had lots of possession and kept the ball ticking over. No - he won't smash into a tackle like Dobbo but his ball retention and passing are likely to make him REALLY important.
Doc - Busy, mobile, vocal - I like what I saw there. Intelligent and knew when to cover and when to go.
Anderson - Mobile, tough tackling and so skilful. Love it
Ahadme - Excellent. Got lots of rough treatment but I assume he was winding the defenders up and shithousing them. No shortage of skill, strong as an ox too.
Campbell - a goal and an assist. Can't ask much more and worked really hard too
Chuks should have scored
Thierry looked tricky, pacy and hungry.
Kanu was very energetic
Nathan is really going to struggle to pick his best 11 but that was such an assured performance. Strong, mobile, efficient. Even the defenders didn't piss about - if you're facing your own goal just put it out and get into shape - didn't try to do anything flashy.
If I were @Fanny Fanackapan I suspect I'd have a tngle!