Pompey vs Saints - Sunday 1200

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Good to see Bree back and for all his faults you had to play Jack today. Wellington can be a bit rash, so let’s hope he shows controlled aggression today. Matsuki obviously the surprise, but is it really possible for Ross to start 2 games running? Obviously the manager has all the data & info to hand, so I’m reserving judgement until I know the reasoning behind the other 2 selections. Bench longs strong so if we can get to half time level, could buck the trend and pinch it second half. I think 2-2 more likely though…

Which was the score in August 1987. Mick going through his Pompey phase at the time

 

[James G]

If we can win, then we've halved the gap to the play off positions in two games,which is good

[SaintsRoyalty]

Don’t get the hate for Matsuki starting. Whenever I have seen him he’s been a little terrier going around and getting stuck in. Exactly the type of player you need on derby day. It’s not like Jander or Downes actually tackle someone.

The real surprise is Bree. Throwing someone in who has been playing for another club all season for a derby is batshit crazy. I don’t think another manager on the planet would do that. Not saying he will have a strong allegiance to Charlton but it’s still a mindset change going back to another club that we don’t need in a game that demands the most loyalty. 

Edited 8 hours ago by SaintsRoyalty

[Lord Duckhunter]

4 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Bottling it.

Don’t talk pony man. What ever you think of the selection, bringing Matsuki in isn’t bottling it. No doubt had he played a back 3, you'd say he bottled it. In fact any team that didn’t match exactly what you suggest,  would result in a claim he bottled it. 

[aintforever]

The bench does look strong, if we can get to the final stages level we should cause them problems.

[coalman]

1 minute ago, Midfield_General said:

Drops Stewart and Fellows
Absolute fucking joker

Fuck him

Given Stewart's injury problems and we ran him into the ground last time I get why he might have done that. Dropping Fellows when we're finally playing a formation to get the best out of him seems really odd. Matsuki isn't really a winger.

I think about the formation he could've picked and, while I'm not delighted, this is much closer to what we've wanted albeit with slightly differing personnel.

[Midfield_General]

There is no out ball whatsoever in that team, only Scienza so they’ll double up on him and kick the shit out of him, job done. Team of midgets up front in a game that will be a hard physical battle. Unbelievable 

[Saint NL]

Let's hope our right side clicks pretty quick, Matsuki and Bree have probably never played together 👀

[Mboto Gorge]

4 minutes ago, madge said:

Probably be 2-0 down by then. That’s an inept line up from a manager clearly lacking  clarity on what this match means. Given the skates a huge physiological advantage. 

This is the thing, whilst its level the skates will be committing men forward and the game should be more open to exploit the gaps. However if we are a goal or 2 down by the time Stewart and fellows are on, they’ll have dropped right back into a tight shape and their only focus will be on stifling any room for our attacking players so chances are fellows will have fuck all space and we will be passing it around in front of 2 banks of 4 , doing anything to hold onto what they’ve got. And we all know just how clueless we are at breaking down sides who pack the defence and midfield and sit in. Fucking idiotic from a manager well out of his depth.  

Edited 8 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[aintforever]

Just now, Midfield_General said:

There is no out ball whatsoever in that team, only Scienza so they’ll double up on him and kick the shit out of him, job done. Team of midgets up front in a game that will be a hard physical battle. Unbelievable 

Midgets and little pace, recipe for disaster.

[Midfield_General]

This is Spors’ and SR’s man remember.

If he loses this it’s 100% on them and that has to be the final straw 

[Saint Matty 76]

2 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

There is no out ball whatsoever in that team, only Scienza so they’ll double up on him and kick the shit out of him, job done. Team of midgets up front in a game that will be a hard physical battle. Unbelievable 

It's the exact same issue we had at SMS. 

You'd think someone might have told him to rewatch that one.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Unless Stewart plays 90 mins, we’ll have no out ball sometime during every game. 

[coalman]

3 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

There is no out ball whatsoever in that team, only Scienza so they’ll double up on him and kick the shit out of him, job done. Team of midgets up front in a game that will be a hard physical battle. Unbelievable 

Having one fewer centre back means an extra man in midfield so hopefully there will be more options. Plus having one fewer centre back means they have to move it quicker between them so (again) hopefully we'll be less static and harder to mark.

This may be wishful thinking on my part though.

[Saint Matty 76]

Just now, Lord Duckhunter said:

Unless Stewart plays 90 mins, we’ll have no out ball sometime during every game. 

Fellows is actually a pretty decent out ball for us due to how he plays on the turn.

[Osvaldorama]

4 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

There is no out ball whatsoever in that team, only Scienza so they’ll double up on him and kick the shit out of him, job done. Team of midgets up front in a game that will be a hard physical battle. Unbelievable 

Exactly right we are run by fucking muppets that don’t know football 

[scumbag]

Drops two outlets...fucking weirdo this dude. 

But then again, he's a visionary young manager taking English football by storm, and i'm just a middle aged corporate wage slave.

[Midfield_General]

That side has literally never played before right?

So it’s a completely experimental line up, that he’s testing out away in the derby 

Cunt

[RedArmy]

7 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

There is no out ball whatsoever in that team, only Scienza so they’ll double up on him and kick the shit out of him, job done. Team of midgets up front in a game that will be a hard physical battle. Unbelievable 

Yep. Unforgivable if this goes tits up

[bpsaint]

I’m clinging to the fact that in two of our biggest ever games, the play offs, AA stepped up when needed so here’s hoping he can take Ings’ king of the scummers crown today.

[Mboto Gorge]

I honestly can’t understand how fellows keeps being dropped or played out of position but Azaz starts every game despite having very limited impact in several recent games. Why the need for Matsuki and Azaz in the same lineup? Fucking ridiculous 

[aintforever]

1 minute ago, Midfield_General said:

That side has literally never played before right?

So it’s a completely experimental line up, that he’s testing out away in the derby 

Cunt

Our club is one big fucking experiment.

[Verbal]

It's good to experiment when there's nothing at stake. 

[tdmickey3]

Just now, Midfield_General said:

That side has literally never played before right?

So it’s a completely experimental line up, that he’s testing out away in the derby 

Cunt

Absolutely woefull manager/coach, no real idea about what matters.

The sooner he fucks off the better, win,lose or draw, just go

[tdmickey3]

Just now, aintforever said:

Our club is one big fucking experiment.

A failed one

[Wade Garrett]

More clever bollockery then.  Fucking idiot.

[sadoldgit]

10 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Don’t get the hate for Matsuki starting. Whenever I have seen him he’s been a little terrier going around and getting stuck in. Exactly the type of player you need on derby day. It’s not like Jander or Downes actually tackle someone.

The real surprise is Bree. Throwing someone in who has been playing for another club all season for a derby is batshit crazy. I don’t think another manager on the planet would do that. Not saying he will have a strong allegiance to Charlton but it’s still a mindset change going back to another club that we don’t need in a game that demands the most loyalty. 

I thought I read that Bree said that he didn’t want to come back so yes, if that is his attitude then I am surprised too. Playing wise though he has a goal in him, is pretty solid  and is obviously match fit. Can only assume he is happy to knuckle down and play out the season here.

[Baird of the land]

Matsuki selection is bizarre. If there's one player I would have said was unsuited to a physical derby it would be him. Hope to be proven wrong though.

[redandwhitey]

Or…..bring fellows and Stuart on when they start to tire in the second half and win or kill the game. Genius !

 

…possibly 🤪

[Saint Matty 76]

Anyway, out of our control now.

THB to win it for us.

[Willo of Whiteley]

The fact we’re favourites is quite funny 😂

[WinglessWonder]

Change of plan today as the management is poorly so I have to stay home to look after junior. Does anyone know what time the sky+ streams start (on an alternative streaming option obviously so I don't have anything more than a list of numbers!)

[Totton Saint]

Maybe the unexpected line up is aimed at sabotaging Pompey's pre match  game plan? Cannot think of any other justification.

 

 

 

[RedArmy]

What was the common theme during that winless run over Christmas and new year? 
 

We struggled to get Fellows and Scienza on the pitch together for any significant length of time, and it was too easy for one of them to be marked out of the game and we looked terrible. 
 

The most important fixture we have left this season and we can’t get them both on the pitch. 

[coalman]

Just now, WinglessWonder said:

Change of plan today as the management is poorly so I have to stay home to look after junior. Does anyone know what time the sky+ streams start (on an alternative streaming option obviously so I don't have anything more than a list of numbers!)

11:45

[egg]

Just now, Baird of the land said:

Matsuki selection is bizarre. If there's one player I would have said was unsuited to a physical derby it would be him. Hope to be proven wrong though.

Although I'd have played Fellows, Matsuki is an irritating little player, with a bit of flair, and plays on the half turn. Surprising selection, but not unsuited imo.

[BARCELONASAINT]

Before the lineup was announced i wasn't bothered about todays game. The owners, the manager and the players bar the odd one or two have sucked the life out of me......but after seeing that lineup i am just angry, so angry with the absolute bellend of a manager who claims to understand what the derby means to fans and how much we need a result today after our pathetic home performance against the shit down the road.

My wife has told me not to watch the game!

[macca155]

I think we all know that Stewart can't play two games in a week. Hopefully he'll come on later in the game. 

Fellows is a weird one, could be they were wary of him being targeted. Better choice would be Robinson on the right or maybe Armstrong, with Archer in the middle.

Oh well guess we'll soon find out.

[obelisk]

Eckert rolling the dice and gambling with his job again then. At least it's a back four but the plan (if there is one) seems to be to hold on and win the 2nd half, something that is a rarity for Saints. Brave. 😬

[WinglessWonder]

4 minutes ago, coalman said:

11:45

Cheers buddy, fingers crossed for a result! 

[saintant]

36 minutes ago, Adman said:

It’s a back 4 or the mad bastard is playing Bree right side of a three and Matsuki RWB

This is my concern. Wouldn't surprise me to see Bree as one of 3 centre backs with Matsuki replacing Fellows as the right sided wing back. Aside from that Stewart should have started unless he is injured in which case why is he on the bench? Eckert needs to get this right against an injury ravaged Pompey or he will have many testing questions to answer. No real presence upfront with lightweight AA is a real worry.

[coalman]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

This is my concern. Wouldn't surprise me to see Bree as one of 3 centre backs with Matsuki replacing Fellows as the right sided wing back. Aside from that Stewart should have started unless he is injured in which case why is he on the bench? Eckert needs to get this right against an injury ravaged Pompey or he will have many testing questions to answer. No real presence upfront with lightweight AA is a real worry.

Oh fuck, I hadn't even thought of that as an option given the lineup.

[AlexLaw76]

Matsuki is a busy player, but does seem to easily give the ball away a fair bit.

You have to assume Stewart, Charles and Fellows will get some decent time on the pitch, as long as the game has not been lost.

You watch, he will have Bree at RWB and have us pump balls up to Arma

🤣

[saintant]

27 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

There is no out ball whatsoever in that team, only Scienza so they’ll double up on him and kick the shit out of him, job done. Team of midgets up front in a game that will be a hard physical battle. Unbelievable 

Spot on.

[Saint Fan CaM]

What’s the betting that they will try the tippy-tappy try to clever bollox with the back four because there’s no out from defence? Stupid to think a previous failed experiment will work in a heated derby game, especially when officials will be shitting themselves and siding with P*****y in every 50/50. Can see us giving away a pen at some point in the game.

RE Stewart, think he’s protecting him a bit and brining him on later with Fellows will bring max impact.

[vectraman]

Fingers crossed the manager knows what he’s doing and it all comes good at kick off 🤞.
This is the one game where winning really does matter. 
20 minutes time I’ll be behind all of them - just do this Saints. Today is not the day to fuck it up. 
 

COYR 😇

[egg]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

This is my concern. Wouldn't surprise me to see Bree as one of 3 centre backs with Matsuki replacing Fellows as the right sided wing back. Aside from that Stewart should have started unless he is injured in which case why is he on the bench? Eckert needs to get this right against an injury ravaged Pompey or he will have many testing questions to answer. No real presence upfront with lightweight AA is a real worry.

That's a wild stretch of the imagination. It'll be 4231. I'd guess that Matsuki will tuck in at times, and also play this inside right channel, with Bree on the overlap where possible. I think there's a method to the madness. 

[trousers]

 

 

[Jonnyboy]

Is the match on the Sky TV app thing?

[Midfield_General]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

 

 

On Tuesday we went much more direct and finally won a game.

For a month before that we ‘kept it on the floor’ with Armstrong at CF and won fuck all.

Genius