Fulham @ Portsmouth [R]

RE: Re: RE: Fulham @ Portsmouth {pregame}

If he plays, John also needs to learn how to stay onside. Campbell will have him offside all day long.

 

Pompey

Bit of a bogey team for us, would like to tender this line up.
Neimi

Volz Knight Pearce Quedrue

Bocca

Liam Jensen Boa

Routledge McBride

Think this is defensive minded enough but also as an attacking flair about it, If Campbell is playing you have got to attack down the flanks, hitting long balls to Mcbride who will be watched by Sol want work as well as against other teams, but going at their full backs with speed will, if it means McBride slotting back slightly than pushing up front as per normal so be it, but if the big mans in the back thats the way i feel you have to play against them.

 

RE: Pompey

If nothing else, we are going to see Coleman's tactics tested with this match-up. There really are quite a few ways to go against this squad on the southern coast.

The updated starters with me as imaginary manager:

----------------------- Neimi ----------------------------

-- Rosenior ---- Knight ---- Pearce ---- Queudrue --

------------------------ Volz ----------------------------

---------- Brown ----------------- Boa Morte ---------

---------------------- Jensen --------------------------

---------- John --------------------- McBride ---------

Subs:
Bocanegra
Radz
Helguson
Routledge
Czech Keeper

Final: Portsmouth 0 - 1 Fulham

With this line-up, we arguably have 7 defenders at disposal (if Boa Morte is up to the task) and 4 definitive defenders (although Brown is pretty good defensively). And on counter attacks or when working the ball up the midfield, we've got the creativity and touch of Jensen and/or two good sized forwards to cross into and test the tough defenders of Portsmouth.

Regardless, this match should be interesting for its ability to test the players and manager. Can't wait!

 

Re: RE: Pompey

I read that Brown is out with the ankle injury and Diop is back in the squad, though probably on the bench. I don't think we will see a lot of goals in this match. It could be one of those ugly 0-0 draws, and I would be satisfied with that.

 

RE: Re: RE: Pompey

The updated starters, with me as imaginary manager:

----------------------- Neimi ----------------------------

-- Rosenior ---- Knight ---- Pearce ---- Queudrue --

------------------------ Volz ----------------------------

-------- Routledge ----------------- Boa Morte -------

---------------------- Jensen --------------------------

---------- John --------------------- McBride ---------

Subs:
Bocanegra
Radz
Helguson
Diop
Czech Keeper

 

RE: Re: RE: Fulham @ Portsmouth {pregame}

We're a scrappy team on the road this season -- who'd have thought? Even so, a draw would be acceptable at Fratton Park.

 

RE: Re: RE: Fulham @ Portsmouth {pregame}

It is couragous to put volts in the holding role at the back of the diamond, he would be very attacking, but probably does not have the physical bulk to play it. The question is would he cause so much trouble that Pompey would have to hold a man back to defend his aggression.

 

RE: Re: RE: Fulham @ Portsmouth {pregame}

Personally I don't like the idea, but the more I think about it I believe CC will come out with a 4-5-1 formation and look to hold Portsmouth.

From reading pregame reports, Portsmouth are expecting 2 starting defenders back (Campbell and, eh, Primus?) back after missing the game against Man.U. and they have played well at home.

I forgot what result I predicted earlier in this week in my other post, but I'm still hoping for a draw.

 

Zat with a header! 0-1 up!

 

Re: RE: Re: RE: Fulham @ Portsmouth {pregame}

Quite right too.

 

A great result for Fulham. It was a hard-earned point, considering that Pompey looked to be the better team throughout the match. Niemi had one key save after another, which really helped our cause.

This is the type of match that we probably would have lost last year -- we're no longer just push-overs on the road.

COYW!

 

We should have won. Niemi should have had that ball. BUT, this prevent defense type crap that Coleman puts us in after we have a lead has now cost us two wins. Progess, yes, but now we really need to work on holding a lead or adding to it. And if that is a team's concern, that is usually pretty good news.

1 point away. I'll take it.

 

I am happy with the point of course, but not happy with the refereeing in this one. In particular, the Pompey goal. You can go back through every post I have made on this site and every article I have ever written and you will never find me complaining about officiating.

However, today, the Pompey goal was a clear foul. The Pompey players just kept kicking and holding down Niemi until the ball went in the back of the net. While Niemi never had the ball completely protected, the Portsmouth players prevented him from doing so by holding him and kicking him. It was ridiculous.

Niemi was fantastic today. Save after save after save from him. Most of those saves were of the fantastic variety. He is the sole reason Fulham earned a point today.

Up to Manchester City next Saturday. That is a winnable game.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fulham @ Portsmouth {pregame}

Kanu had firmly planted himself between Niemi and Cole for sure. But Niemi should have never let it get to that point. Great job by Niemi as always, but if a keeper, especially one of Niemi's caliber, has his hands on the ball, I don't expect him to let it go.

 

RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Fulham @ Portsmouth {pregame}

Hooray for the point, but they weren't up to snuff today. Obviously stronger in the second half, but they didn't play with the same strength they showed Everton last weekend. Portmouth is a great team, so I won't discount them - I think we were lucky to walk away with a draw here.

 

I agree completely, but I'm not going to bash Niemi too much. He made some crucial saves to stop Portsmouth from scoring a second goal. He truly was a superhero, the Portsmouth goal was just Portsmouth getting the better end of a scuffle in front of the net. Just like in hockey, the puck gets close, the offense tries to push it in, the defense/goalie tries real hard just to get the puck - these things just happen.

1-1 isn't a bad result, now let's go to Manchester City and give them the blues!

 

Not bashing at all, although I'm sure it kind of sounds that way. Just my honest opinion. I'm content with 1 point, but I can't help it if Fulham has my expectations up these days!

 

I'll take the point on the road, but let's take 3 Man City . 32 Pts by X-mas!!

 

Having re-watched the game I recon Pompey had the following chances where there could/should have scored. Where (A) appears I give Antti credit for a top draw save that on another day could have gone in.

First half
Davis header onto the bar
Lua Lua free kick (A)
Primas cross to Lua Lua
Header from Kanu (A)

Second half
Gary O'Neil slid in from Kanu ball
Primus nearly bundled in in the back post
Benjani hit the crossbar from a corner.
Lua Lua hit from Benjani (A)
Benjani turn and shot from Lua Lua (A)
Lua Lua long distance parried by Antti (A)

I make that 10 good chances, with numerous other chances.

There were a considerably number of corners and massive amounts of pressure.

The Knight goal was probably an own goal. I recon it was going wide before Stephanovic deflected it. Once again it shows the value of taking your chances. We did not do that last season.

There was nothing wrong with the Pompey goal. Too often keepers are over-protected (I say this as a fairly incompetent keeper). Antti was just not strong enough, but also Liam was on his feet and could have come to clear. I don't really feel defender or keeper can feel too responsible.

Again I though Rosenior had a top game, he was all over the pitch (player of the month for Nov?)