ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Portsmouth Performance ? The Big Test

Although I've been pleased with the results since The Derby, I'm still cautious about what real progress has been made by the team. The Uefa Cup and League Cup have been useful in building our confidence but the standard of our opponents has been poor (a good team would have punished our unforced mistakes against Nurnberg for instance) and Sunderland were very poor giving us far too much space to play in. But without doubt Cahill has made a big difference since his return and Pienaar has certainly improved. And a special mention has to be given to Howard who has been top class.

The big test for me though is our 'performance' (not just the result) against Portsmouth. Not a top 4 team but a very good team. I still think our midfield is too lightweight. It has the skill to brush aside the Sunderlands but I still think Gravesen needs match practise for when the going gets tough. But well done to the team and I hope the run continues.
Ged Dwyer, Liverpool Posted 29/11/2007 at 12:52:29

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Michael Kenrick

Just a footnote: Gravesen's knees/legs have gone, apparently.

Peter Pickles
1 Posted 29/11/2007 at 15:16:27

He can have mine, I’ve no use for them. All I do sit here reading footie gossip all day. Tell him he can have my arse as well, I’m fed up talking out of it!

Neil Scott
2 Posted 29/11/2007 at 15:21:30

Can anyone shed some light on the situation with Gravesen? he came off the bench some 5-6 weeks ago and changed the game against Bolton. Since then he has been injured. any news on when or IF he will be back?

Wayne McNee
3 Posted 29/11/2007 at 15:28:08

For the amount of time Grav’ spends falling on his arse every game he gets, he doesn’t need legs or knees!!

Nick Entwistle
4 Posted 29/11/2007 at 15:39:44

Portsmouth have only won twice at home this season... bit surprised when I found that out.

Clyde McPhatter
5 Posted 29/11/2007 at 15:52:27

It will be interesting to see what impact all the nonsense about Harry does to Pompey. It can either have a lightning rod effect where it galvinizes their squad or the opposite effect where it distracts their routine leading up to what amounts to a 6 pointer. Looking back to last year’s match on the Coast, they got that wonder goal from a million miles away which set us back on our heels. If we play the way we are capable, the least we will get is a draw. I think a losing score line here will be a massive letdown....Lock up Harry for the weekend!

Connor Rohrer
6 Posted 29/11/2007 at 16:45:58

To be honest Gravesen is severely unfit. Why Moyes hasn’t given him reserve games I’ll never know. Yes he changed the game against Bolton but since then his substitute performances and cameos have been poor.

Its going to be a clash of opposites in the midfield on Saturday. Portsmouth are physical whereas we are lightweight. They depend more on pace and power whereas we depend on our technical ability and intelligence. Carsley will have to be on top of his game in this one because he will be needed to do the dirty work and release the likes of Osman, Pienaar and Arteta. If there getting to physical then Moyes always has the option of swapping Cahill and Osman. Cahill drops into a more central role alongside Carsley whereas Osman plays behind Yakubu.

I am really hoping Arteta turns it on and gives a good performance away from home. Probably bar Spurs away this season he has been average on the road. Generally going missing and not demanding the ball. If we an get him on the ball in good areas then he has every chance of taking the piss out of both Glen Johnson and whoever left back they pick.

As I’ve said it will be a tough game but we are more than capable of getting a result whether its a draw or win. Either will do to be honest just to keep us in the mix. Hopefully Yobo and Lescott will tighten up and make us hard to beat because the story of this season has been us trying to outscore our opponents instead of keeping it tight and going for the win.

COYB

Clyde McPhatter
7 Posted 29/11/2007 at 17:13:48

If we allow them a 6pt lead over us, then I think that will be hard to overcome as their away form has been so good. But, you are so right about Arteta and his away performances. I think we will no straight away in the first quarter hour whther or not Mikey has come to play.

Graveson is probably done. But, that’s okay.

Brian Donnelly
8 Posted 29/11/2007 at 17:40:35

However we play, it must be an improvement on the first half-hour of last years game at Pompey.
.
We had a few injuries and played Valente LM, Yobo at RB and Weir was brought back ? what a complete shambles. Yobo is pretty poor at RB unless he is playing against someone with real pace, then he can use his pace to nullify the effectiveness of that player. However his general positioning and awareness at fullback are not great.

With the injuries we had and Moyes tactics of playing the available players out of position, we were just not in the game. We were sitting too deep against a very slow Pompey attack and we were hoofing it even more than normal.

Eventually Moyes changed it ? took Weir off put Stubbs in midfield, Simon Davies at RB and Yobo & Lescott at centrebacks.

It was all too late and Pompey must have had one of the easiest victories (2-0) of the season.

Derek Thomas
9 Posted 29/11/2007 at 23:55:18

Ah, Clyde, both you and Arteta have given us some ’magic moments’