Wow is all I have to say. Bowyer and Gallen (and the players) really have done wonders. Would have been thrilled with 12th this season, when it began. Now I am might allow myself to have expectations. I had too much PTSD from last season to allow it until now.
Get in. What a feeling, I can't remember the last time we won 5 on the spin without conceding for 6. All the players immense today, really pleased that JW's finally got a goal. Gunter was immense. Maatsen plays well beyond his years and everyone put in a real shift.
Sensational sit up and take notice result. Yet still clearly a work in progress, I hope Famewo is not too serious an injury. Portsmouth was a very tough test today, but by a little bit we were the better team. Most of all it was a game that reminded me that Lee Bowyer, and Jacko know what they are doing. One example is the work rate of the otherwise unrewarded Washington. I also strongly disagree that Bogle had anything but a good game...he was a pain in the arse for Portsmouth all the time, they even brought on that sub at half time specifically to try to deal with his threat.
I'm scratching my head at how we managed to get some of those players. I'm so pleased we have Maatsen, but he's no surprise as we've had some great loanees from Chelsea in the recent past. Have Norwich really got defenders better than Famewo, though? And what muppets were responsible for letting Gunter, Shinnie and Smyth go from their respective clubs? It's not just about the new boys, the players from last season are playing fantastically as well and then Adam Matthews comes back and slots in like he hasn't missed a minute. The determination and work ethic in this team are something to behold and there's no lack of skill either. Well done to all the players and the management.
The ref had a stinker but I think we benefitted from that over all; Bogle may not think so though. Almost as bad as the ref was the artistic depiction of Jimmy Dickinson in the seats. It looks like the badly mutated love child of Bamber Boozler and the cop from the original 16-bit version of Road Rash. Sort it out Pompey, this bloke's your hero, give him a proper tribute. Finally a word to the commentators, great stuff as always guys but the comment that Williams has hit a vein of scoring form because he scored for Wales last month did tickle me.
Great result. All of us hoped for it, but I don't think many expected it.
Amos worried me a little today. Positives were that he does look better and better every week at coming to collect crosses, (which is a really big positive) and he did keep another clean sheet (which is a huge positive) However, he had a couple of moments there where, in all honesty, he should've been punished. It was only good fortune, Portsmouth's finishing or their decision making that stopped them scoring. I've enjoyed Amos so far this season, but I hope he's got a couple of rickets out of his system today, thankfully at no cost.
Scratches head in disbelief.
Yes, he made a mistake early on coming for a ball he was never going to get and it could have cost us a goal.
After that, he has put on a first class display of goalkeeping. He has caught just about every cross that Portsmouth put into the penalty area - something they were doing a lot. Given the windy conditions, it was a superb display in collecting crosses and taking the pressure off the defence.
And I'm struggling to think, apart from his early error, what else did he do wrong?
Six games without conceding a goal. Keepers we need to worry about really don't do that.
Well, maybe you should watch the game again? Mix up with Maatsen first half: Amos error Closed down by Curtis when faffing about with the ball: Amos error. Mix up in second half, claimed ball on the floor, but dropped it. Luckily no Portsmouth player could take advantage. Maybe a shared error. Portsmouth could/should have scored at least twice there.
A goalkeeper only needs one error to lose his team the game. Amos made at least two rickets there, maybe more, (I don’t know because replays were playing over a lot of the action .)
To be clear, I like him. He’s looked good this season and a lot of his game today was very good, particularly in the air (all of which I did say in my post) but you can’t afford to make three errors a game and expect to get away with it. Amos got away with it today.
Already been said but Gunter was inexplicably good at centre back, what an option that is especially with our injuries. Pratley was excellent despite being fortunate to stay on thanks to the most inept ref since Stroud. Shinnie will be a big player for us this season no doubt.
We will ride to promotion on a wave made of Shinnie's composure. Happy days.
I hope we sign him. Excellent player
I’m assuming that as he’s on loan we could sign him permanently at any point. I’d do it now.
Out of contract at the end of the season. I guess the concern if we go up is that Luton didn't think he was good enough for the Championship - he lost his place in the team when Nathan Jones came in and helped turn things around - maybe his natural level now is as a top L1 player?
Some moaning at Amos dropping a couple, but he comes for crosses and gets most of them and imho playing well.
Last year we had a keeper who hardly came for crosses and put defence under far more pressure on crosses.
No doubt Bowyer noticed that too.
Despite Phillips being a good shot-stopper, perhaps all along Bow wanted a keeper who commanded his box better? And that was Amos.
I wonder also if that might have been a contributory reason as to why Bowyer played such hard ball with Phillips wanting to leave for Championship football?
Great performance again. Really impressed with bogle, puts himself about, he’ll get his chance soon. Jonny was good and shinnie as always. Defence was rock solid. Pratley the leader again.
We will ride to promotion on a wave made of Shinnie's composure. Happy days.
I hope we sign him. Excellent player
I’m assuming that as he’s on loan we could sign him permanently at any point. I’d do it now.
Out of contract at the end of the season. I guess the concern if we go up is that Luton didn't think he was good enough for the Championship - he lost his place in the team when Nathan Jones came in and helped turn things around - maybe his natural level now is as a top L1 player?
Just like we didn’t think Stephenson good enough for League One but he’s now playing in the Championship. Maybe just that Shinnie doesn’t fit Jones style of playing?
Comments
Thoroughly bloody decent result.
All the players immense today, really pleased that JW's finally got a goal. Gunter was immense. Maatsen plays well beyond his years and everyone put in a real shift.
Yet still clearly a work in progress, I hope Famewo is not too serious an injury.
Portsmouth was a very tough test today, but by a little bit we were the better team.
Most of all it was a game that reminded me that Lee Bowyer, and Jacko know what they are doing.
One example is the work rate of the otherwise unrewarded Washington.
I also strongly disagree that Bogle had anything but a good game...he was a pain in the arse for Portsmouth all the time, they even brought on that sub at half time specifically to try to deal with his threat.
I thought that was a nice touch.
The ref had a stinker but I think we benefitted from that over all; Bogle may not think so though. Almost as bad as the ref was the artistic depiction of Jimmy Dickinson in the seats. It looks like the badly mutated love child of Bamber Boozler and the cop from the original 16-bit version of Road Rash. Sort it out Pompey, this bloke's your hero, give him a proper tribute. Finally a word to the commentators, great stuff as always guys but the comment that Williams has hit a vein of scoring form because he scored for Wales last month did tickle me.
Mix up with Maatsen first half: Amos error
Closed down by Curtis when faffing about with the ball: Amos error.
Mix up in second half, claimed ball on the floor, but dropped it. Luckily no Portsmouth player could take advantage. Maybe a shared error.
Portsmouth could/should have scored at least twice there.
A goalkeeper only needs one error to lose his team the game. Amos made at least two rickets there, maybe more, (I don’t know because replays were playing over a lot of the action
Nice.
Pratley was excellent despite being fortunate to stay on thanks to the most inept ref since Stroud.
Shinnie will be a big player for us this season no doubt.
Do you know a financial adviser who could help.
I am starting to believe we can do it.
Despite Phillips being a good shot-stopper, perhaps all along Bow wanted a keeper who commanded his box better? And that was Amos.
I wonder also if that might have been a contributory reason as to why Bowyer played such hard ball with Phillips wanting to leave for Championship football?
2 nil
3 points
4 centre halves out
5 wins in a row
6 clean sheets in a row
7 scorers of the last ...
8 goals in winning run