Saints 1-0 Pompey - Match Thread

[St Chalet]

Silly mistake, the boy will learn from this and he is one of our own.

[Turkish]

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. Absolutely in control I was confident we’d push on and get a couple more second half now it’s going to be backs to the wall, absolutely stupid 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, qwertyell said:

Fucking hell. Looks like he's going to burst into tears.

He's been way off the pace, to be fair. 

Need half time now. 

Out of his depth. His time is up in a Saints shirt now.

[AlexLaw76]

Take Leo off and we have zero running ability at their defence, Take Azaz off and we losing an enormous amount of creativity.

I personally think he will keep the same 10, but shuffle it a bit. We are fucked out wide.......

[Sunglasses Ron]

The moment he got booked I just knew he’d end up being sent off.

I know you have to back your players, but sometimes you have to help them out.

Massively frustrating and has fucked the game plan up.

[skintsaint]

Never easy is it.. 

[sfc4prem]

Just now, Turkish said:

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. Absolutely in control I was confident we’d push on and get a couple more second half now it’s going to be backs to the wall, absolutely stupid 

Weirdly could suit us, playing on the break.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, St Chalet said:

Silly mistake, the boy will learn from this and he is one of our own.

Not been impressed with him at all this year and now Jandar is back, an area to strengthen in January and loan him out to L1. 

[Saint Scott]

2 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Now Jandar’s fit again, Bragg just lost his place.

Prat.

Good. Jander will be starting ahead of him anyway with JWP 3rd choice

[Colinjb]

The occasion got to the kid. How he responds to this could break/make his career. Feel for him.

Now how the fuck do we set up for the second half?

[qwertyell]

Even before the sending off I didn't think the change of balance was working. We were slow going forward, and vulnerable on the break. 

A better team than Portsmouth would've hurt us.

[James]

Just now, Sunglasses Ron said:

The moment he got booked I just knew he’d end up being sent off.

I know you have to back your players, but sometimes you have to help them out.

Massively frustrating and has fucked the game plan up.

Tonda probably would have hooked him early in the second half but given he’d already got away with a couple he should have subbed him. 

[St Chalet]

I think he would have been hooked at Half Time for Jander, not his best game and on an early yellow.

[Saint_clark]

Knew he would get a red as soon as he picked up that first yellow, what an absolute idiot. He better pray it doesn't cost us today. 

 

Formation already looks lopsided with their best player funnily enough being Meghoma tearing us apart down the right. Now we don't have any wiggle room to change it to fill that gap without sacrificing Azaz and losing a huge part of our attack.

[Hawkswood]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

Jander on for the second half to shore things up, I assume, but we'd probably have to sacrifice Scienza in the process... (Who hasn't done a great deal so far, it has to be said)

He carries the ball well though and we're going to need that

[Saint NL]

Two poor challenges for the yellows, can't argue with them at all.

The sad thing is that we need to score again because we all know we can't keep a clean sheet 

[AlexLaw76]

Going to be 441, surely?

Azaz and Leo wide. But, we are already getting down down our right hand side, having either Azaz or Leo there aint going to help. Matsuki is bound to make an appearance sooner or later for one of them

[Zorba]

If we sit back and defend second half we will lose. Need an attacking set up for 2nd half. Shit or bust now.

[Lard]

Matsuki should’ve  been playing anyway. 
ridiculous to play Bragg in this game. 
we look shite. 
I can see them getting one….tails up and push for another. 
I’ll reiterate…we look shite. 

[Mr X]

I think we are screwed now just can't see us keeping a clean sheet just have to hope we can sneak another goal on the break before they do 

[trousers]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Take Leo off and we have zero running ability at their defence, Take Azaz off and we losing an enormous amount of creativity.

I personally think he will keep the same 10, but shuffle it a bit. We are fucked out wide.......

I'm wondering if he might do a straight swap with JWP and Jander...?

[saintant]

Bragg showed his inexperience. He knows he's on a yellow yet still decides to pull his opponents shirt after a poor touch. Bree and JWP on the right not working and if we don't change it that is likely where Pompey will get back in. Take off JWP and bring on Jander if he's ready or Matsuki. Going to be hard now and we've brought that on ourselves. I think with 11 we'd have made some big subs on 60 minutes and finished them off. 

[saintant]

9 minutes ago, danjosaint said:

Stemmed from that dick Mannings throw 

 

You can't blame Manning.

[madge]

Shite line up from the start and the red stemmed from going nowhere football. Totally on us that.. they’ve looked dangerous on the wing where we weirdly don’t have a winger!! Terrible decision and absolutely no clue why do it today. Pompey don’t exactly have have world class midfield. Stupid.

[AlexLaw76]

Before that, I thought we were pretty disappointing anyway. Barely tested their goal

[James]

That tosser McAnuff who screwed us on the EFL panel is just loving the fact we are down to 10.

[bpsaint]

1 minute ago, Colinjb said:

The occasion got to the kid. How he responds to this could break/make his career. Feel for him.

Now how the fuck do we set up for the second half?

Luckily if years of watching saints have taught me anything it’s that we’re likely to tough it out and grind out the win.

Oh.

[bangkoksaint]

If we don’t change the formation and personnel at HT then I fear the worst. Tonder needs to earn his corn

[Holmes_and_Watson]

We were pretty comfortable. Not creating lots of chances, but on top. Leo was drawing fouls, Azaz and Downes doing fine, and Bree an extra outlet.

Bree took his goal really well, from a lovely Azaz pass.

Sadly, Bragg got that red card. Two clear bookings so no complaints there. He'd been the weakest of our team today. The ball getting caught under his feet; not seeing a pass and getting caught in possession.

We're still capable of winning this. Bishop's header right before the break and a shot that went close were worrying though.

[Saint Pete]

Got to say, it was strange from Tonda changing the formation in this game when we have been perfect so far at home. It looked like we took 25 mins or so to settle into the change which was unnecessary and now Bragg's inexperience in a game like this has put us at disadvantage for second half. 

Totally understandable that Jander didn't start after so long out, but we should have just picked Matsuki or Fellows and stuck with usual formation. 

[trousers]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

I'm wondering if he might do a straight swap with JWP and Jander...?

Or, maybe... #shudders"... We'll go to a back 3... 😳

[Edmonton Saint]

Problem is Larin already looks gassed . Mubama as we have seen is shocking at hold up play . It’s going to be a long 45 minutes. We need to try and get a second in the first 15 or so

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Saint NL said:

Two poor challenges for the yellows, can't argue with them at all.

The sad thing is that we need to score again because we all know we can't keep a clean sheet 

Manning’s fault for the first one but on the second, you know you’re on a yellow, it’s not a danger situation, engage brain. He was nearly involved in a couple of danger incidents prior to that. He’s not that young either.

Beat hope is that Adams goes for them, who looks a red risk. Mousinho will probably sub him now if he has a bit more of a brain than Tonda has. 

[die Mannyschaft]

Need to go long each ball now 2nd half. Just so dodgy doing Russ Ball to Preretz all the time. 

[saintant]

7 minutes ago, trousers said:

Jander on for the second half to shore things up, I assume, but we'd probably have to sacrifice Scienza in the process... (Who hasn't done a great deal so far, it has to be said)

Sacrifice JWP for me. He's been very poor.

[Miltonaggro]

Half time. Bragg was awful all game and looking to turn around and two yard panic passes to Prowse, manager should have hooked him for Matsuki or Fellows at 30mins, obvious his head wasn’t in it. Larin, Manning, Downes and Peretz right up for it. Stephens looks like he has a mistake in him today which is worrying. Ref needs to find more consistency second half and team needs to keep energy straight after half time and do all to get a second goal - skates look lively but limited. Cagey but game on. 

[Saint Billy]

Bragg had been so off the pace from the word go it was an accident waiting to happen.

[Saint_clark]

Just now, Gloucester Saint said:

Manning’s fault for the first one but on the second, you know you’re on a yellow, it’s not a danger situation, engage brain. He was nearly involved in a couple of danger incidents prior to that. He’s not that young either.

Beat hope is that Adams goes for them, who looks a red risk. Mousinho will probably sub him now if he has a bit more of a brain than Tonda has. 

Tonda should have subbed Bragg straight away to be honest, seeing him make a challenge that rashly. Would have been brave to go that early but that's what he's paid for. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, saintant said:

Sacrifice JWP for me. He's been very poor.

His position is weird. Sort of sitting wide right, but deep

[Britannia]

Do not park the bus.  It will not work.

[NewYorkSaint]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Bragg showed his inexperience. He knows he's on a yellow yet still decides to pull his opponents shirt after a poor touch. Bree and JWP on the right not working and if we don't change it that is likely where Pompey will get back in. Take off JWP and bring on Jander if he's ready or Matsuki. Going to be hard now and we've brought that on ourselves. I think with 11 we'd have made some big subs on 60 minutes and finished them off. 

No, he didn't 'decide' to do it. Pure instinct.  I hate red cards. Almost always, the punishment doesn't fit the crime.

[sfc4prem]

Just now, Britannia said:

Do not park the bus.  It will not work.

I think it will, actually.

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Sacrifice JWP for me. He's been very poor.

Trouble is a straight like for like in the middle doesn't help us down the right. Bragg has really fucked us over, narrowed our options massively. I'd almost be inclined to take Leo off for Jander and go narrow with balls in from deep from Manning and Bree.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Britannia said:

Do not park the bus.  It will not work.

They are going to hit the wings and push us back...we just do not have much pace to break

Stupid stupid stupid from Bragg....in the middle of the park too

[carljack]

11 minutes ago, Turkish said:

No it was a shit touch played himself into trouble. 

Bit of both for me,to throw the ball at a right angle when you are in that field position is criminal at any level,that said the touch was poor.

[St Chalet]

It's a real shame to do it but we should sacrafice Finn for Matsuki to shore up that right hand side.

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, NewYorkSaint said:

No, he didn't 'decide' to do it. Pure instinct.  I hate red cards. Almost always, the punishment doesn't fit the crime.

The referee basically had no choice mate. 

[NewYorkSaint]

I think keep the current line-up through 60 mins... then bring on Jander or Matsuki for Scienza.  Azaz and Larin give us enough fire power.

[obelisk]

Less chance for fannying around with walking football at the back now. Long balls for our runners might be more fruitful against this lot.

[sfc4prem]

Portsmouth will change how they're playing i think. Not in terms of formation but i think they'll push up a bit higher and play it a bit quicker through the middle. Could suit us.