qprdot.org

[Don]

Not ‘facts’, not ‘the ‘truth’, just few things as I saw them.

Boy. did the wind come into the back row! Good thing the stewards had no objection to us standing. Shame I was behind a tall bloke with curly hair that added an inch or two. And it’s not the sort of place you’d want to be if then needed to evacuate the ground suddenly. £20, though. Not too bad in this day and age.

Taraabt seems to have learned to pass. A couple of times it seemed to me like he’d have been better keeping the ball. And there’s a time and a place for fancy flicks. But, as many have said, you have to take the bad with him to get the good. And he’s learning.

Who was wearing Walker’s shirt? I’ve read about how Walker will play for England one day but this bloke was being turned inside out by Utaka time and time again. Quite good going forward but that did leave a big gap.

Some of our fans need to learn that if the ball hits an opponent’s leg, back or jacksie, it’s not handball. Just as the Pompey player needs to learn that just because the ball hit you on point A, it doesn’t always mean (as Johnnymb pointed out) that it hasn’t also hit point B.

Mackie was a bleedin’ inspiration. Chased everything, harassed opponents, never gave up. A modern Mick Leach? Was it him who was following Hulse’s header up? The slightest mistake from the goalie and he’d have scored.

Hulse. I didn’t see much to suggest that he’s any more than a slightly up-market and younger Brett Angell. Maybe he’s just settling in and once he gets off the mark, he’ll be fine.

Faurlin. Some lovely passes and just gave me a feeling of confidence every time he got the ball. I was disappointed (but not surprised) to hear some near me castigate him for not running about enough and then for making a rare mistake in the final minutes.

The ref made a fair few odd decisions, and a number of good ones. He started well, letting the game flow but did get more niggly. He did work well with his assistants although in the first half this led to an amusing bit where we didn’t get a free-kick when Mackie(?) was wrestled over but got one in the same position a minute or so later when the same player(?) slipped over. I guess the penalty was retaken for encroachment. This was obviously something that Mr Ward was hot on as he walked the length of the 18 yard line before the kicks were taken to warn players. LP suggested that the officials ‘colluded’ to get the first kick retaken. Good for us that he ‘colluded’ with the other lino to give ours. He looked over at the lino for the decision, hence the relatively late call. And he backed his colleague’s judgment on that even after the ridiculous “look where it hit me” tantrum.

No-one seemed to object to the award of their penalty. I’m not saying it wasn’t a penalty – it was earned in a thoroughly modern and professional manner; it’s just unusual to see people accept it so phlegmatically.

Paddy Kenny had good command of his area, exuded confidence and made a fine save from the first penalty. But I’d argue that he might have cost us a couple of points. With the exception of Utaka (who should have been cautioned for his boots), when we had the ball on the ground, we seemed to have the better of the game. When it was in the air, they had it sown up. So why did PK lump so many kicks just to see possession lost? Why did so many players pass the ball back to him when under relatively little pressure to allow him to do it? What’s wrong with throwing it out (when the laws allow) or maybe a defender or midfielder coming short to pick it up and start a move from the back? This isn’t park football and almost by definition the goalie is going to be the poorest footballer in the team. Maybe whacking it up to the big man will work sometimes. But not always. Still, that’s something that can be sorted out relatively easily if the will is there.

I knew Pompey had a ‘band’. Maybe I’ve been spoilt by Bill of the Barmy Army – a man who can play his instrument. But Pompey’s musicians? Suffice it to say I shan’t be looking for the CD on Amazon.

Our fans were in good voice for most of the night, although might it not be better to use the effort supporting the team rather than wasting a lot on trying to goad the opposing fans? They again, that’s all part of the fun.

Was it really only 2 years ago they won the FA Cup? Blimey. And weren’t their draw prizes amazing? A whole Pompey shirt was one prize and the raffle was up to £65! If it wasn’t claimed, there could be a rollover! I got the feeling it had rolled over a dozen times already.

I do hope we get a few more decisions going against us next time I go. It’d be a shame to miss Mr Warnock’s touchline antics. But he made a good decision to take Derry off when we were down to ten men. Sure, we missed his inspiration and grit but that second yellow was a-danglin’ like the sword of Damocles. In Colin we trust.

Isn’t it surprising how teams at the top get so many ‘lucky’ last-minute goals? Lower-placed teams seem to forget that tenacity, determination and confidence might come into it.

Who else thought ‘deary me’ when they saw the Pompey goalie choose the right direction for the penalty? But wasn’t Smith calm and composed? He was confronted by an away end celebrating us getting out of gaol before he’d even stepped up. And he must have been distracted by the “see my bruise” pantomime.

All in all, not a classic game but t did have some exciting passages of play. A draw away from home is not to be sneezed at and, overall, I’d say we earned it.
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I'm Ray Gardner. I drink Blackcurrant Tango. Come and get me!

[Jamie]

Cheers for this.

Not much information in match reports knocking about individual performances.

It's sad that some of our fans don't quite get that Faurlin is incredibly important for our side, and just because he doesn't charge around like Derry / Mackie doesn't mean he's not as influential on proceedings.
If more players had the technique and ability to read the game like him, then this country wouldn't have such a shite international team.

As for Paddy Kenny - I wouldn't aportion much of the blame to him. Warnock likes us to go direct when behind, or in away matches. It's worked up to a point so far, as more often than not Helguson has done exceptionally well for us in winning his fair share of balls in the air. Not seen Hulse yet this season so can't comment on how well he's done. It's a shame that we don't try and play it forward more as we certainly have the players with the ability to do so, but Warnock definitely knows what he's doing so fair play.

Sounds like this is the first time Walker's not had the better of his opposition player - and sounds like we were lucky they took Utaka off. Utaka is an odd player. He can look utterly brilliant one game, and then complete bollocks the next.
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"I still don't like calling her (Rosie) a dog. She was better than that" - Harry Redknapp

[Spiritof76]

Good report. Always a sign of a good team, when they can get something out of a game even when the odds are against it. Portsmouth on a tuesday night was always going to be a test, now for Forest...
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"I have always thought in the back of my mind cheese and onions".

[Son of Robin]

Top post Don.

Particularly liked your part on the 'see my bruise pantomime' and agree that on too many occasions Kenny looked to play it long therefore giving away possession.

I wouldn't mind knowing who left the door open at the back of the stand either, quite a draft coming in there! Still, twenty quid, mustn't grumble, all part of the fun!
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Saint Jude, Hope of the Hopeless, Pray for me

[C F Extremadura]

[LP]

Good points there. Right about the feeling of confidence with Faurlin, even if he's not having the best game you're still assured of a level of quality that is way above and beyond what we've been used to.

I'm glad that someone else has noticed Kenny's maybe 'over-direct' approach. A Sheffield United fan at work chuckled when I mentioned it, and said that pretty much summed Paddy up - but we agreed it's the only reason we can find fault with him

With a player like Walker in the side, surely we should be utilising him by way of bringing the ball out and starting an attack in a different way?

I suppose the question is whether Paddy is following Warnock's every instruction, or just doing it because it's what he's always done? It's something I've certainly wondered about with many keepers before.

Also, 'colluded' was probably the wrong word in hindsight. I will schedule a press-conference and assemble the media for a carefully worded apology to be read out by Max Clifford
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http://leophilli.ps

[Don]

[Jamie]

Right, was the penalty retaken because of encroachment or because Kenny came off his line?
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"I still don't like calling her (Rosie) a dog. She was better than that" - Harry Redknapp

[SagaLout]

Yes, Kenny can't be blamed for doing as he's told. Reina is in a similar situation at Liverpool. I saw an analysis of his pattern of distribution last season compared to this and it's obvious that Hodgson favours the wellie into the opposition's half whereas Benitez was all about retaining possession.

[DAVEf]

[Don]

Member #3 reporting. #4, 5, 6 & 7 were with me last night. But we're not anti-Walker, per se, like you we're just questioning the performance of the day job.
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I'm Ray Gardner. I drink Blackcurrant Tango. Come and get me!