A draw against Pompey is a good result - positivity thread

[Craig_H]

"Title-winning mantra"? What's that other than a meaningless soundbite? We want to win the title and got a point there. They wanted to win the title, lost there, but won the league regardless. *shrugs*

You're talking as though losing at Pompey was a part of their masterplan though.

It's fairly obvious to me this one, pompey away is a tough game where you need to be giving yourself as much chance of winning as possible and not leaving anything to chance.

Dropping SG and FT isnt giving yourself as much chance as possible and IS leaving things to chance, somewhat. There are other games where you can do that and still most likely win. Pompey away doesnt fall into that category.

Not really sure what's debatable in that mate.

[Craig_H]

It expresses faith in the squad, faith in the players he's brought in. He'd be no kind of manager if he'd lost all faith in 'squad players' by mid-September.

After the Toulouse home game, people were (rightly) eulogising over the quality of our squad and it's strength in depth.

One draw at Pompey, and suddenly most of these players aren't good enough.

Europe's a different ball game shags, and pompey are tougher than toulouse...

He needs to pick the right players on the given day and he got it wrong yesterday. What did we actually create? Not a great deal....until they came on late in the game...does that not kinda make the point?

[Craig_H]

That's right, 'cos it was all Crouch's fault.

I dont see where i attached blame onto crouch. I've been one of his biggest backers over the years.

It's not his fault, it's Rafa's fault for reducing our level of quality up front in a game where we were always going to need everything we could muster.

[poorscousertommy]

We should start to worry when there's 10 games left and we're 20 points off the pace.

I have never read a more ridiculous comment in my life! Fredo, you are the new Comical Ali

[Shaggy]

You're talking as though losing at Pompey was a part of their masterplan though.

No I'm not. I'm saying they went there with a full-strength side and lost...but they won the title anyway.

[Craig_H]

They made an impact and posed a threat (and God knows I wanted them both to start) but they are both fast, strong players...always likely to make an impact against tiring legs. There's no guarantee it would have been the same had they started.

Nothing's a guarantee, but playing the percentages, our chances of victory would've been increased significantly had they started..surely that's a no-brainer?

[Shaggy]

Europe's a different ball game shags, and pompey are tougher than toulouse...

He needs to pick the right players on the given day and he got it wrong yesterday. What did we actually create? Not a great deal....until they came on late in the game...does that not kinda make the point?

Not really, cos they were coming on fresh against tiring legs. Always going to make an impact. You're talking as though had SG & FT started then it would've been a gimme, which it obviously was never going to be.

[Craig_H]

Pennant has been a matchwinner for us (not goals-wise, obviously) several times since the turn of the year, Crouch has been a matchwinner for us on countless occasions and Benayoun was a matchwinner in the Premier League for West Ham many times.

We had more than enough quality to win the game yesterday - we just didn't play very well. **** happens in a long season, but we maintained our unbeaten record and kept another clean sheet. Onwards, surely.

All three of those are in a different galaxy, compared to Gerrard and Torres. Or even Babel who, unlike ANYONE who started that game, is able to create real spark and make things happen. The one player who started yesterday who MIGHT JUST fall into that category was Pennant. And what does rafa do? Takes him off....

[Shaggy]

Nothing's a guarantee, but playing the percentages, our chances of victory would've been increased significantly had they started..surely that's a no-brainer?

Percentages, ifs and buts mate.

[Craig_H]

Percentages, ifs and buts mate.

[Shaggy]

All three of those are in a different galaxy, compared to Gerrard and Torres. Or even Babel who, unlike ANYONE who started that game, is able to create real spark and make things happen. The one player who started yesterday who MIGHT JUST fall into that category was Pennant. And what does rafa do? Takes him off....

But Pennant was ineffectual on the day.

[Shaggy]

S'true though. Nothing more than ifs and buts. Torres had a clear sight of goal and ballsed it up.

[Craig_H]

But Pennant was ineffectual on the day.

You think so? Wasnt his best game, but he was the only constant source of real width. Unlike Yossi 'the invisible man' benayoun...

I like pennant, i feel he gives fairly constant threat and takes players on.
The only player of yesterday's starting team that i would say that for...

[Craig_H]

S'true though. Nothing more than ifs and buts. Torres had a clear sight of goal and ballsed it up.

If he'd played for an hour, he'd have probably had MORE clear sights of goal and one would've gone in.

[Shaggy]

Yeah I thought he was cack other than a couple of fleeting moments.

I've come to like him too, but I thought he was pretty rubbish yesterday.