COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY
From My Seat: Portsmouth (H)
Comments (26) : No points from a game that put into perspective all the worries and fears that many fans have voiced since May.
NO CENTRAL MIDFIELD!
I don't blame Jags or Jack as they neither have shirked their duties but really two centre-backs playing out of position is never going to get us to where we ought to be.
The game showed us in a good light for long periods without being clinical enough to turn chances into goals, and there is no doubt that goals change games.
Witness Defoe twisting and turning when surrounded by Blues defenders and still poking the ball home.
Again twelve minutes before the break Defoe set up the right back Johnson to run clear and slot home without anyone tracking his run, yet another pointer to our woes in midfield.
Half-time and I am frustrated that we had chances to be two or three up but for bad luck,excellent goalkeeping and last ditch defending. Sadly not a trait shown at the other end.
No sooner had the second half started when we were awarded a penalty when Vaughan was bundled over. A conversation between Yak and Arteta saw Yak take responsibilty.
I thought that the conversation possibly centred on the fact that Yak had played for Pompey and knew how to beat James. Boy was he wrong, a lifeline thrown away.
Then we continued to have most of the play but without any constuctive build up through mid-field (That word again). Big Vic replaced Vaughan around the hour mark despite the manager saying he had come back with a calf strain only yesterday, this had little effect but we did scurry and harry until the seventy minute mark when one time Blues target Davis picked out Defoe who had pulled off his markers. In an instant he weighed up his options and delightfully chip Howard only to see his effort bounce off the bar only for the alert Crouch to head home.
This goal caused quite an exodus, the Park end especially, a sight I can't remember since Agent Johnson days.
The game was up now and those of us who stayed were left to squirm in embarressment along with Arteta who spent the last minutes shaking his head and wringing his hands.
The walk back from the ground was somewhat subdued as fans rather than rant and rave seemed to be quietly reflecting on the position the club seems to be in at the moment.
I heard one fan ask his mate 'Who was your man-of-the-match?' 'Yer avin a laff' was the reply. I checked the back of the proey and even with all players fit we appear to have no specialist central midfielders to come in save Castillo who is quite an unknown quantity. And even if the circulating rumour regarding Moutinho comes off then they would have to remain fit and suspension-free all season as there is just nothing in that department there. Ah but what about Cahill, my mate said. But I responded with, that's not his most effective position and how we could have done with him today when the half chances came about.
How have we got in this mess we will never know as such things are for boardroom only but that feeds speculation and then perception runs wild which does the club no favours at all with the fans,but more importantly a negative perception of the club can impede the signing of quality players and the all important investment.
Somehow the club as a whole needs to get back on track and not let perception get in the way.
I am not one for turning my back on the club but somehow I would love to be able to convey my disappointment at their inability to build on the platform that was there in May and have some idea who or what is to blame.
I just can't believe that both manager and board left dealings so late as a strategy or indeed wanted to see their club in such a disadvantageous position on the field.
I will never know the answers so I guess it's a case of just carry on regardless and get behind the lads and live with the perception that something is very wrong at the heart of the club and hope against hope all can be resolved.
Still come Tuesday morning I will know what we have to take us into the next games,just a little matter of Euro qualification and the Derby with Hull away in-between.
I can but hope that my travels will be more uplifting than today and the words 'Hope' and 'Central midfield' will be restored.
UP THE BLUES.
Reader Comments
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We need to string a few results together and we will be on our way.
We definitely do need reinforcements, though, especially the MIDFIELD. Keeping my fingers crossed for Moutinho & Michael Johnson/ Manny Fernandes.
I find Moyes’s reactions and his public statements worrying. Sounds like he’s confused and thrashing about - is he panicking?
As manager I don’t think he is getting as much out of the players we have and is making a right horlicks of getting reinforcements.
I actually support the stance that keeps our accounts under control ( look at the RS ) as it’s easy to panic and slip into financial meltdown.
Anway, there’s no-one more frustrated and disappointed than me at the moment, but hopefully there will be 1 or 2 more signings . I suggest moyesey takes them away asap for another get ’pre season ’ together to bond before the next game as we have a 2 week break ( although some will be away on international duty ) .
The glass is still half full for me at the moment. COYB
Fundamentally, there’s been too much crap off the field and here we are 3 games in with no real idea of who is going to fit in to the squad. It’s no wonder the players look like they have little or no confidence, vigour or desire to win.
Good points, I thought, were Baines performance (let’s keep him a full back. His crosses are generally excellent and we should start to latch on to them (that is, if Yak spends some time in the box. Yak had a good game, too. I like Rodwell - hardly ever wastes a pass.
We’re in for an interesting few weeks, eh!? Let’s hope we get back to our best pretty soon.
COYB
,in short a chronic lack of confidence or direction,all caused by lack of ambition.All the brilliant work of the previous years has been washed away like a sandcastle.Any player thinking of coming to us will be pushed well away by his agent.Kenwright must take all responsibility for the embarrasment that we have become,loan players and free transfers when quality was called for,he has destroyed our club and deserves to be reviled for doing so
TIM HOWARD - he seems untouched by any critisism, whatever be the scoreline. I have already admitted that I did not watch yesterday’s game. But, our number 1 GK has shipped 7 goals in 3 games. Maybe, he is blameless in any of the goals that we conceded. But, is he ?
The problem is a lack of competition for his spot. Tim knows that he will be the 1st on the team-sheet, whatever be his performance. We need a good back-up GK, one who would put Timmy under some pressure to perform.
I would be very surprised if DM does not sign a goal-keeper before the transfer deadline.
??The football we played yesterday was our best of the season ??
Don?t know what game you were watching mate. Everything was rushed about and we were reduced to seeing Yakubu coming back so deep and shooting hopelessly at goal from 30 yards. The back four was a mess Lescott looks a shadow of the player from last season. And the midfield was disjointed and non-existent. So if you think that was a good football performance you either don?t have a clue about football or you are just trying to wind people up.
Almost all of the goals conceded to date have come through the middle and/or from basic mistakes by the central defenders. The lack of a holding midfielder is obviously one issue. However, another issue is that when teams play 2 up front we often end up with both central defenders one on one with a forward. What this means is that, a single mistake from a defender (we’ve had a few of those) and we can concede a goal or if someone breaks from midfield and they can play off the other attacker. In both cases we have no cover behind the 2 central defenders. The thing is, we have 3 obvious central defenders and in Baines & Nev two decent wing backs. So, why not play to our strengths?
Yes Lescott looked a shadow of last season because hes playing in a different position.
We know he excells at LB, we also know Yobo and Jabs usually don’t let past six in two home games, so wouldn’t it be wise to give them a chance together in our next game?.
Baines looked great going forward in my opinion and would sit nicely in front of Lescott at RB who we know can also get forward.
That leaves us with a slight problem of centre mid.
Over to you BK & DM.
Please do not let us down.
He let Anderson de Silva leave without giving him a game, didn?t trust Gravesen and then let Carsley go. I thought he must have had a master plan.. which evidently was to play a 17-year-old centre-half in centre-midfield!
Even now he could change it and play Arteta in centre mid alongside Jags or Phil Neville. He?s acting like an idiot and Steve Round doesn?t seem to be much help. What?s going on?
I just disagree on one count. We were worried about central mid LONG before May. Many had doubts about Carsley himself, and the fact that he didn’t have a decent partner.
Other than that, spot on as usual
Cheers and Up the blues
But after watching the Portsmouth game.... I am really starting to panick, the goals that we let in were too soft...
Looks like we have more worries than just the midfield....
Owen is crocked not worth the salary... rather use Jose Baxter!! I must admit to being a big fan of Moyes, but I do think this summer may have broken him... I think he?s had enough. Celtic next stop??? I agree with Manny get him in again now ~ at least he?s shown, on more occassions than not, to be top notch...
Keep the faith BLUEBROTHER but learn to jump a bit further like me.... Long jump... GOLD LONDON 2012!!!!!!!!
How do Liverpool sign 10 players . How can they get an 19 yr old today from Brazil who doesn?t need a work permit and we get refused for a 21 yr old nigerian full international? What the hell is going on.
I don?t want to be a doom and gloom merchant but if we had too small a squad last year ( Moyes?s words ) we?ve now got an even smaller one , so I would pull out the EUFA and FA cups now before we are embarrassed too much !! BK has stressed that he has no huge amounts of money, and i am grateful that he hasn’t taken the club into financial meltdown, so without a benefactor we will however between 5th and 15th place forever. How do Man City attract such a massive investor in the shadows of Utd, coz that’s the excuse we offer being in the shadow of the RS ?! Still far too many unanswered questions at EFC again !!!!!!!!!
Yours completely and utterley fed up
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1 Posted 31/08/2008 at 04:25:17
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