Dman

Give up nipper. You're making yourself silly now.

I want Tony Mowbray. He's done a fantastic job there.

Correct - because we appointed a manager who has no track record of being anything other than bang average. Given the cost and quality of our squad, reality should be way closer to our expectations. I'm not expecting us to piss the league like Leicester will (although had we not been rejected by their manager maybe we would have), but I expect us to be more dominant and look more comfortable than we have. Going down was an opportunity to rebuild with a view of going up and being stronger in the PL next season. Its an opportunity we've absolutely wasted as we only get weaker season upon season from here.

Apart from 30 mins against Leeds, 45 against Wednesday & Rotherham, I don't remember us absolutely dominating a full game all season. Its actually pretty depressing how average we've been every single week where it looks like we could concede with every attack.

KWP whaooo, KWP whaoo, he wears the number 2. He thinks pompey are poo clap clap clap clap He plays on the left, he plays on the right, Kyle walker peters, thinks pompey are shite

At a guess; Out: Adams KWP Sulumana Aribo S Armstrong In: A winger Replacement for whoever we sell

Its clearly a PR stunt to try and get fans on board after the boo's are starting to return to St Marys, but it comes across as arrogance from the club, beyond belief. Martin, the master of mid-table, is in no position to start lecturing of how his tactics 'will come good'. It hasn't taken Enzo time to get a tune out of Leicester, playing a very similar style.

That was A. Armstrong, which is arguably even more hilarious.

Apart from that Idiot TWar (who was determined to have the worst take on everything) a year or so ago, who on earth has overhyped him 😂 He's universally been known to be absolute rubbish.

Realistically he's playing for Hull after a stint up in Scotland. Had he stayed here, he'd have been competing with ABK, Salisu, DCC etc who are now all playing in European football. Even now, we have 3 CB's who you'd argue are better. Fair play to the lad for carving out a career at a decent level, but he wouldn't have made it here.

I wonder if we could see him in the 'false 9' role that Charly has been playing in recently. Done a similar role, with a degree of success at Rangers..

What's he been sulking about though? Its hardly our fault no PL sides had any real interest in him. It's not like we just outright refused to sell him nor set unrealistic expectations for him. This season should have been a win, win for Che. Come down, score 20 goals, drum up interest to leave on a free next season or get a big bumper salary. If he has any realistic hopes of playing for Scotland next season, he's gonna have to seriously up his performances as he'll likely be behind his fellow scotsman Steward in a month or 2.

I remember when a loss would ruin my weekend. I genuinely now forget about it after about by the time i'm half way down Britannia road. Supporting this club, in the PL, has sucked the enjoyment out of it for me and I actually now prefer not giving a toss and just using the football as an excuse to get together with my mates.

Its a catch 22. I'm not particularly fussed with being in the PL - Unless we're willing to give it a go and break into Europe / win a cup (wouldn't change those 2-3 seasons for anything), but if we're not aiming for promotion, what is the point in existing..? what is for certain, I don't want promotion with Martin in charge - it'd be embarrassing for us on a weekly basis.

A very well measured response as per from you, Always. With that sort of tactical intelligence, its a surprise you're not in the dug out.

Once we failed with attracting Enzo, Carrick was always the one we should have gone all out for.

When you look back over the recent years, we've always played best when we either won the ball up the pitch high (Ralph / Poch) or played direct, quick counter attacking football (Koeman). It was fun, exciting and generally speaking really successful. None of those enforced a lump it forward style and found a nice balance of quick / direct attacking football, with knowing when to slow play down and keep the ball. I'm just not sure that total possession football is suited to english football. We don't have the technical players like Spain, as an example and more often than not, teams will stick 10 men behind the ball and then counter at pace.

Probably worthy of a thread. Once touted as the conduit behind the players and Ralph, some even said 'the brains behind Ralph'. After leaving us he went on to assist, with varying success at Munich and the German national team. Now looks set to take his first step into management with Sheff Weds (for me, a bit of a daft decision on his behalf - much like Selles to Reading was). A good coach doesn't always make a good manager, so if he'll be a success or another Selles, its yet to be seen. Personally, whilst a huge gamble, I wouldn't have been too against us taking a punt on him at the start of the window.

Its alright, they're bound to fall away. They're debt ridden, skint and we're in a much better position - innit

Of course they are. They defend deep, compact and committed and then will try and counter / win bits and bobs from long balls and set plays - practically the ideal way of playing against a team who move the ball slowly and have more interest in possession stats than shots / goals. Teams like City can get away with it, because they have the best possible players. Championship sides not so much. Leicester keep the ball, but they pass with purpose. We don't.

Tel Aviv & Jerusalem. the 'country side' is a bit middle east desert, from what I saw of it.

I said at the time haggling, threats of court, throwing weight around etc over a million quid or so, was stupid considering we'd want to buy 3 or 4 of their players. I still can't believe we didn't sign him. Ridiculous.

yep, the way i've always seen it. It sounds like the main selling point is / was that its the cheapest place to get a ST in the ground. The reason its cheapest is because people generally don't want to sit there - as soon as popularity rises, so will the price.

He's doing what you'd expect a keeper to do - that's about it

The sort of game we should be stamping our authority on. If we have any hope of promotion this season, I'd expect us to really dominate this in terms of scoreline, possession etc. After a well earned great week, it'd be great for us to start fast with an early goal (or 2) then settle in working on attacking patterns etc. Think we'll need to score more than 1 if we're to win - Would expect them to get one from a set piece. Wouldn't change a winning team, especially with international break up coming.