6th March Match Thread

[Claret Forever]

• Gillingham v Ipswich Town
• Accrington Stanley v Swindon Town
• Blackpool v AFC Wimbledon
• Burton Albion v Peterborough United
• Doncaster Rovers v Plymouth Argyle
• Hull City v Bristol Rovers
• Lincoln City v Crewe Alexandra
• Northampton Town v Portsmouth
• Oxford United v Charlton Athletic
• Shrewsbury Town v Fleetwood Town
• Sunderland v Rochdale
• Wigan Athletic v Milton Keynes Dons

What's everyone's thoughts then? A lot of top versus bottom teams this game week. For us, having finally got the winless monkey off our back, difficult looking fixture against a team who turned us around 4-0 earlier in the year.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

I can’t see Plymouth giving us the space like Pompey did. Mayor destroyed us in the first half at Home park but if we can nullify that threat we should be ok if we play with the same intensity as we did on Tuesday

 

[Crewelad87]

Lincoln are the best team that have come to Gresty Rd this season. They outplayed us for long spells of the game, something I can’t remember any other team doing this season, I understand they aren’t in great form though and are struggling with injuries. So gives us a great opportunity to pick some points up, we’re just currently drawing too many games, only 3 losses in the last 18 games but far too many draws since the start of the new year. I’d say a score draw is a very good bet here.

 

[codaplenty]

Optimistic about playing an in form Shrewsbury, clearly the kiss of death ! We really were brilliant against Lincoln in the week so it will be a challenge to see if we can continue some of that form into todays game. Maybe Paddy Madden will start depending on his recovery from Covid, ditto Barrie McKay. Certainly expect Ged Garner to keep his place and young James Hill as well. We have some very promising academy lads breaking through, in particular our under 18's are on a 5 match winning streak -augers well for the future

 

[Third Team Lucky]

I'm looking forward to a goal fest at the DW this afternoon as we continue to display naivety in defence and creativity going forward. It's a return for Will Grigg to his most productive stamping ground and, while not yet on fire, he's warming up nicely with 3 goals and 3 assists in his first six games. Hopefully we'll see more than a 20 minute cameo from Josh McEachran and maybe even a brief run out for the returning Louis Thompson.

 

[GFC4EVA]

Ipswich at home, going to be tough

 

[Guernica]

Lincoln are the best team that have come to Gresty Rd this season. They outplayed us for long spells of the game, something I can’t remember any other team doing this season, I understand they aren’t in great form though and are struggling with injuries. So gives us a great opportunity to pick some points up, we’re just currently drawing too many games, only 3 losses in the last 18 games but far too many draws since the start of the new year. I’d say a score draw is a very good bet here.

Not been a great spell to say the least and would be great to get back to winning ways. Played Crewe twice this season away from home with two really good performances.

Team selection not a lot for Appleton to change other than full backs. Would like to see Sanders coming in and move Johnson on to the wing to replace Rogers. Losing Bridcutt has shown a defensive weakness and losing Grant means we're struggling in the centre of midfield.

Ended the game at Fleetwood well and with Morton back it gives us a bit more flexibility but it may be too soon for him to start. Been giving teams the first goal for far too long which gives us a mountain to climb.

 

[PuB]

Gills 3-1 up against Ipswich, about ten minutes to go.

 

[PuB]

Full time, first ever Gills home win against Ipswich.

 

[Reading-Gills]

Ipswich at home, going to be tough

Nothing tough about that. Great performance.

 

[GFC4EVA]

Nothing tough about that. Great performance.

Yeah that was pretty easy in the end, was expecting much more after their recent results

 

[Claret Forever]

A bit like the opposite fixture... no way is a 4-0 performance, but we've finishing every half chance we get, and Portsmouth are dead on their feet at the back. But wow! Another 45 minutes to go, but this will last long in the memory.

Until we got the first Porstmouth looked good, midfielders look quality on the ball but prone to bypassing it more than they need... but once the goals went in they've crumbled mentally.

Probably time for Sackett.

 

[Super_horns]

What is going on at Sixfields ?!

Northampton 4-0 up !

 

[Tinnion's right foot]

1-0 to the imps at half time. Looking much more like ourselves today (famous last words!)

 

[Bucket_]

That will likely go down as one of the worst ever halves of football any Pompey fan has witnessed. Utterly inexplicable. It says a lot that the only logical explanation I can go through in my head is that the players have thrown the game. Unacceptable

 

[Claret Forever]

I'd agree that we've not even played that well, just seemed like the Portsmouth defenders just gave up once the first goal went in.

 

[EricSabin]

We’ve been so clinical, fantastic performance so far. We’d been threatening a result like this (Ipswich, MK Dons) and now we’re turning performances into wins.

Happy to let Pompey have it at the back, waiting for one loose pass or touch and then that sets off our press and we’re forcing mistakes. It’s fantastic to see and the whole mood of the club has shifted in recent weeks.

 

[EricSabin]

That will likely go down as one of the worst ever halves of football any Pompey fan has witnessed. Utterly inexplicable. It says a lot that the only logical explanation I can go through in my head is that the players have thrown the game. Unacceptable

We were 4 nil up before you’d had a shot, no urgency from your lot and beaten easily at set pieces. Jackett seems under massive pressure judging by twitter? Twitter not always the best measure of course

 

[Bucket_]

We were 4 nil up before you’d had a shot, no urgency from your lot and beaten easily at set pieces. Jackett seems under massive pressure judging by twitter? Twitter not always the best measure of course

It’s hard to say without fans in the stadium, but at the moment it does feel like nearly the entirety of the fanbase is against Jackett, and a good amount feel he should have gone after our playoff defeat last year. It’s now turning into some real vitriol aimed at our owners for perceived lack of ambition. There’s also been strong rumours of contract/wage issues causing disgruntlement within the squad.

All in all, it’s the perfect time to play us, this has been building for weeks now. But credit due all the same, you’ve taken advantage of our mess

 

[Claret Forever]

Damp squib of a second half for us, but a really important win considering other teams around us have also picked up unexpected points today.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

What a game that was, end to end and could easily have been 8 all. I’m sure Plymouth will feel hard done by good side and Mayor will be giving Halliday nightmares again. Very hard fought 3 points and certainly a game we would not have won 7 days ago

 

[Tinnion's right foot]

Lincoln much better today - looked solid in the midfield and Morton upfront will score a few before the season's out. I thought Crewe were strangely toothless - lots of nice triangles in their own half, but not much up front. IIRC, some of the Crewe people on here have said the same.

 

[Guernica]

Lincoln much better today - looked solid in the midfield and Morton upfront will score a few before the season's out. I thought Crewe were strangely toothless - lots of nice triangles in their own half, but not much up front. IIRC, some of the Crewe people on here have said the same.

Johnson has to stay out on the wing, best player on the pitch by far.

 

[K-Win]

From top at Christmas to going 4 down by half-time in early March. We looked like a solid, together squad at the end of last year, but it's now obvious that the players are either tired, confused or pissed off. Possibly all three in some cases.

Personally I think most of our players know that Jackett is a dead man walking now and are assessing their options for next season. We have quite a few players out of contract in the summer and we're always slow when it comes to renewals.

I agree with Bucket that it's pretty much unanimous among the fans that Jackett has to go. He's had four seasons and we're going backwards. Enough is enough. It's just a case of whether the club do it now and still have an outside chance of the play-offs, or save a bit of severance money and wait until the end of the season. There's always a chance he may walk like he did at Rotherham? (Oh, by the way - well done Cobblers!)

 

[Marked Ox]

Another 0-0 albeit reasonably entertaining. The big moments in the game for both teams were us (Anthony Forde) hitting the post with a cracking effort and Jack Stevens magnificently saving Charlton's last minute injury time penalty.

A weak Ref today which Charlton exploited with some very good shithousery, to the point that both Charlton centre halves spent that much time attached to or bringing down Dan Agyei that they should be making marriage proposals to him. The shithousery led to a very poor/weak penalty being given to Charlton as it was pretty much identical to what happened to Shodipo which wasn't a penalty for us (correctly imo) as it was a "coming together" apparently. We really aren't that great at shithousery now Jamie Mackie (he wasn't great for much else at the end mind) has moved on.

Sad news released today that Mickey 'Mad Dog' Lewis, who played 351 games for us after joining in 1988 died of an aggressive Lung cancer. He last played for us in February 2000 and was also a coach, Assistant Manager (including when we got promoted back to the FL) and twice Caretaker Manager for us. A club legend and nice bloke by all accounts I've heard about him.

RIP Mad Dog

 

[Crewelad87]

That was horrible to watch, so passive from us today. Hardly any attacking threat, and so slow getting forwards. Polar opposite to the last few games vs Blackpool and Sunderland. Oh well, move onto another tough game on Tuesday vs Doncaster, hoping we revert back to our usual 4-3-3.

 

[codaplenty]

A fine away win albeit a comfortable one against a disappointing Shrews side. Fleetwood were never in any danger, we have a terrific midfield with Camps/Rossiter and Batty, sure hope we can make his loan deal a permanent one as he is aa tremendous asset to to team
We went something like 14 games without winning and now get 2 successive cracking away wins in a week, as Fergie once said 'Football...bloody hell '

 

[dannyc5]

Lincoln much better today - looked solid in the midfield and Morton upfront will score a few before the season's out. I thought Crewe were strangely toothless - lots of nice triangles in their own half, but not much up front. IIRC, some of the Crewe people on here have said the same.

We are pathetic going forward. No point trying to analyse it any more. It’s the same week in, week out.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Keeping situation is a mess. Neither of these keepers are League One standard and it's the #1 priority next season to sign a competent keeper at this level. However, both are under contract next season. One has to be bombed out in my opinion but there's no way we'll do that and that's why we'll struggle next season.

Travis Johnson and Rio Adebisi are playing for new contracts, wouldn't be surprised to see one of them go and one retained. Travis had the chance to make RB his own and he's let himself down badly, especially with the Swindon debacle. Rio hasn't developed like I've hoped but is that a by-product of being in the departing Harry Pickering's shadow? We desperately need Omar Beckles to sign that contract or we're in the shit. I think he will sign, but Donervon Daniels remains injury prone and is Billy Sass-Davies good enough for League One? I think he'll get his chance but I have reservations. Offord's return will be welcomed, we've missed him. But we'll need an LB, CB and probably an RB next season one way or another. Could Nathan Wood possibly return? He's a massive upgrade on what we've already got and we'd offer him a full season's worth of experience. Nolan and Lancashire will almost certainly be released freeing up vital wage space for replacements.

Midfield will be minus Wintle and maybe minus Lowery next year, although I can't see a club taking a punt on him because of fitness issues. Finney will return fully fit next year which is a massive bonus for us. Lundstram will be released and I'm sure Ainley will be offered a new deal, but the latter needs to get fit and pull his weight after a few years of inconsistent performances. I wouldn't mind us releasing Ainley, but the club will do all they can to retain him with him being under 24 and a regular. Could Joe Robbins break into the team next year after impressing at National League Altrincham in the Autumn? He's only just turned 19 but I see him as the next one to make the step up. Can't see us retaining Antony Evans either, and that'd be no great loss.

Dale is going to be the star man in the team next season and his consistency has improved. Think Kirk will be sold to a top end L1 club even if I think L1 is his ceiling. I expect Daniel Powell to be released as he's a League Two winger. I'd rather we pursued a natural winger over Stephen Walker. I like Ste but he doesn't fit our system and I'm still unsure where his strongest position is. Minimum of 2 natural wingers needed in the Summer.

Porter needs releasing. Mandron we're lumbered with for another year but he's just not going to get us goals. Need an experienced forward and a young lad in for next season else we're going to be racking up a load of nils next season.

Big change coming to the club in the coming months.

 

[Luke Imp]

Crewe played into our hands yesterday by being very passive. Recently teams have pressed us really high and we've struggled to build from the back - part of that is the opposition but part of that is down to no Bridcutt.

That said, Appleton's tweaks worked well, too. Bramall back in (who hasn't really got going since his January move) and moving Edun into midfield, Johnson back on a wing worked and he looked more comfortable and is better out there and Morton gave us much more movement and a threat in behind.

Arguably our best performance yesterday since Doncaster or Gillingham a month or so ago.