Wishing the lads all the best for what should be a special day. Hoping for a win but sort of expecting a defeat as we never seem to turn up at our own parties. Desperately want Roland to go so that I can start enjoying Saturday afternoon's again with family and friends #COYA #BoycottContinues
The sun is shining at The Valley and today's game against @officialpompey definitely goes ahead! See you all in SE7 later as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our return home. #cafc
Rob LeeVerified account @7RobLee 2h2 hours ago More Congratulations to my 2 old clubs @CAFCofficial celebrating 25 years back to the valley and @NUFC on 125 years United today, hope you both have fantastic days !!!
Judging by the amount of Pompey fans knocking around Waterloo currently I predict a bumper turnout. Expect to have a bell ringer near you wherever you are are in the ground I reckon.
If either Clarke or Reeves is fit they should play. For the past few games we have had a gaping hole in central midfield, forcing us to either play back or down the wings. Even Aribo would be an option if the other two are not fit.
Except Karl will probably stick one of them on the right and Holmes down the middle.
Possibly, and part of the rationale might be that the runs down the left haven't produced much joy recently. Personally I'd keep him on the left, but get him to cut back inside more often, or vary the crosses a bit. A lot of teams seems to have sussed us out.
I think last game they had identified a weakness down the left. The attacks down that side produced the highest number of crosses I think I have ever witnessed to the point I was bored by the tactic. Unfortunately they were crap crosses. However, they were doubling up on Homes and blocked off the option of cutting in. When KAG came on he exploited the gaps and changed the game.
If Billy is back in the centre it would give us a better balance and in theory a team would not be able to spare three men to cover DaSilva and Homes which would give more space, and if they did, Billy is equipped to exploit it.
That was them though. I have no idea where or if Portsmouth have weaknesses.
I think a lot of the fact that it feels like teams have "sussed us out" of late is because we've been missing Reeves, Clarke, and Fosu. As such we looked terribly one dimensional against Peterborough. I think having the two #10s back will help that. Clarke's movement can really free up those around him, and he is really important in the press. He came off the boil a bit, I suspect in part because he was rumored to be carrying knocks, so hopefully the rest has done him good.
As to playing Clarke on the right, hopefully that won't happen with Marshall back in the squad. Marshall is definitely better about tracking back than Holmes or Fosu were. I suspect Robinson started playing Clarke and Reeves on the right in part to free up Fosu and Holmes, but also to help protect Solly when he was going through that phase of being very poor (think about the Walsall game). Again, with Marshall back hopefully there's a bit more balance and his width will create more space for the players in the middle.
Comments
https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5a2ad537f3aa9/four-things-to-see-at-the-valley-tomorrow
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DQmTAZiXUAAATUw.jpg
@7RobLee
2h2 hours ago
More
Congratulations to my 2 old clubs @CAFCofficial celebrating 25 years back to the valley and @NUFC on 125 years United today, hope you both have fantastic days !!!
@Nelse61
2h2 hours ago
Going Back to the Valley. Back to the Valley! We’re going back to a Valley.
@mattholland8
2h2 hours ago
More
Replying to @CAFCofficial
Good luck today
https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5a280655c6926/matt-holland-on-his-great-memories-of-the-valley … #cafc
On a train just outside Strood trying to get to Charlton. Trains already late ffs.
Shame they are going to see us win 2-0
:-)
As to playing Clarke on the right, hopefully that won't happen with Marshall back in the squad. Marshall is definitely better about tracking back than Holmes or Fosu were. I suspect Robinson started playing Clarke and Reeves on the right in part to free up Fosu and Holmes, but also to help protect Solly when he was going through that phase of being very poor (think about the Walsall game). Again, with Marshall back hopefully there's a bit more balance and his width will create more space for the players in the middle.
The exile is over our dreams have come true.
Wonder if they make good paper planes?
No matter where we roam,
The valley is our home.
Balloons.
“How often do you get asked about that playoff hat trick Clive?”
“Not very often mate, I live in Sunderland.”
Legend.