coalman

I know this is tempting fate in the worst way possible but our defence looks so much better without THB and Stephens in it. Not just being able to defend but also not cunting about slowly at the back.

So much this. The last two times he's done it we've lost all the momentum we were starting to build and didn't get it back. It may be a factor of trying to keep his large squad happy but it's not helping the football on the pitch.

Is it truly possible to unlearn the habits of Russball for those who have embraced it? The no look suicide pass for their second was classic high risk no reward Rusty. At the end of last season we tried a non THB, Bednarek, Stephens defence and looked far more solid. We even drew a game. There's no point being in top if your opponent can just waltz down our end and score.

All it takes to score against us is to cross the ball into our box. Until we fix that it doesn't matter what we do in the rest of the pitch. Choose centre backs who can defend and a keeper that pushes the ball sideways when he saves.

Nearly a Stephens classic sending off there

Bazunu has to be claiming that

That's more like it.

"I've blamed it on the players, I've blamed it on the fans, I'll probably start blaming it on the boogie now"

Second half was a whole lot better. First half was godawful. Please build on the second half. Jander has to be starting over Downes who just gives the ball away constantly.

The first set did. The second not so much

Jander stepped away from him - how is that a foul?

Stewart <> Archer Jander <> Downes please

Yeah but he created that situation by needlessly giving the ball away

We're holding the ball a bit longer so they have to work harder to press and it's not so obvious when the through ball is coming.

This is so much better. We're not just instantly returning the ball to them.

If you're going to push a Pompey player at least launch him into one of his team mates.

Maybe Jander for Downes. He's just not part of the game at all.

Agreed. If anything this represented the polar opposite of Martin. Get the ball, hit it long straight away looking for the killer long ball. Give ball away. Defend. Repeat. Something in the middle where we can control the game and pass through midfield rather than constantly trying to bypass it might be nice. When we pass it about we have the better players and look better. But we're just playing head tennis then hoofing it.

We're trying too hard to play the killer pass too early. It's just leading to us giving the ball away again over and over with no pressure on Pompey players in their half.

I wouldn't actually mind a five minute period where we just passed the ball about.

Stop playing head tennis and get the fucking ball on the deck.

I see your 55 inch TV and raise you 28 inches. COYR let's fucking have it!

It's saying something that of the managerial appointments that Sport Republic have made pre Spors that Russell Martin is head and shoulders the best of them. That's presupposing that Spors has done alright with Still.

Martin can't even win that.

Martin did have a lot of say and money to spend on improving that squad.... Instead he chose BBD, Cornet, Wood, Edwards, Taylor, Fraser, Archer ....