Pompey v Stevenage

[K-Win]

Pompey are short-priced favourites for this one (like we are most home games). We've got ourselves into striking distance of the promotion places so really need to keep the pressure on the top three with a win.

Stevenage have been on pretty good form themselves - 10 points from the last 15 so not coming into this short of confidence.

No doubt it was a cracking performance to win at Luton on Tuesday, but you can still never escape the feeling that a stinker or two lie in wait just around the corner.

 

[shoddycollins]

Doubts about Pompey's consistency and Stevenage's form are what prompted me to pick Luton over Portsmouth in the Last Man Standing game.

 

[Don Tonberry]

I remember the optimism last season after we beat Accrington away on a Tuesday night. We all thought we'd push on but then Newport came to our place and turned us over 3-0.

Stevenage are tougher opposition than they seem and they snatched a draw against us last season. But only a win will do tomorrow, especially as I expect all of our promotion rivals to win.

 

[Bucket_]

I'm also thinking about the Newport game. Hopefully we can actually learn our lesson from that..

 

[Bar Carousel]

The biggest factor today won't be the performance of any player on the pitch, but by the fans in the stands.

If we don't show any patience, and the moaning and groaning begins, we'll wilt on the pitch.

Stevenage are no mugs, and I'm expecting a tough game. Nervy 2-1 for me providing the fans play their part.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Portsmouth's results this week... League 2 in a nutshell.

 

[shoddycollins]

Well done Stevenage, do the same against Doncaster and I'll buy you a pint

 

[You Orns]

Was at the game today. Very poor performance by Pompey.

I don't think you could blame the fans either, while there was some frustration around they definitely stayed behind the team until the second goal went in. Unlucky not to get a point out of it in the end considering they hit the post with the last kick of the game.

The fans around me were unanimous in waiting Cook out though, is that feeling shared amongst the rest of you???

 

[Bar Carousel]

Well done to Stevenage.

We're bipolar, with a self destruct mode.

Cook admitting that Doyle and Burgess were subbed at half time for a dressing room bust-up.

After bossing Luton midweek so confidently, we've now got a two week break to mull over yet more inconsistency and questioning squad morale. That's four home defeats in five.

Cook getting more prickly by the week. Unfathomably, the knives are being sharpened, yet we sit 4th. Hope he can find a magic formula to mould some consistency into what are unquestionably a talented set of individuals, but rarely a team.

 

[Bar Carousel]

The fans around me were unanimous in waiting Cook out though, is that feeling shared amongst the rest of you???

I think he's the best manager we've had since Redknapp. A real passion for the game and infectious.

On the down side, many fans think he's too negative (persisting with one up front) and has too many favourites who play 90 minutes each week without ever being subbed regardless of their performance, whilst more effective players not in the clique get subbed.

Been a rumour of a bad team spirit for a while now, so worrying to hear two players being subbed for a half-time bust up (one being the captain).

Cook is definitely feeling the pressure. He's always been spikey in interviews, but it's got noticeably worse this season.

Last season under him there was progress. This season the expectation is far higher and many fans are losing faith that he has it in him to gel a team that can put a run together to get us out of this league. In 18 months, and one of the biggest budgets in this division, we've yet to win four on the bounce.

Personally, I think inconsistency is the 4th division. I don't want yet more change to unstable us. Seen more than enough of that in the last 8 years.

 

[K-Win]

I didn't realise they were subbed due to a bust up. That's not great for team morale is it.

We started well today but lost momentum in the second half. Stevenage took their chances well and we can't have any complaints with the result. I'm still not sure what to make of Forde in goal. He commands his area well but doesn't seem to actually make many saves. I've seen quite a few go straight through him this season.

The frustrating thing is that we have potentially a very good strike partnership in Smith and Chaplin that will never see the light of day under Cook. Despite the fact they looked pretty good together for the 20 minutes they got today, we also let 2 goals in so Cook will point to that and say it doesn't work.

I guess we have no option but to carry on with Cook for the time being but nothing makes a chairman twitchier than a poor run of home results and an unhappy squad.

 

[WAP]

Was at the game today. Very poor performance by Pompey.

I don't think you could blame the fans either, while there was some frustration around they definitely stayed behind the team until the second goal went in. Unlucky not to get a point out of it in the end considering they hit the post with the last kick of the game.

The fans around me were unanimous in waiting Cook out though, is that feeling shared amongst the rest of you???

I'm fully behind Cook, but we have to improve defensively.

We started off so well, Bennett hit the post, we were attacking fast, linking up really well.

Whatever happened at half time didn't help, losing Doyle and Burgess (our only real) leaders in the team.

Second half we started off so slow and didn't have a chance until Chaplin came on. I've said it from September but Evans at right back is not good for us. We need to get Talbot in at RB.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Personally, I think inconsistency is the 4th division. I don't want yet more change to unstable us. Seen more than enough of that in the last 8 years.

Its why some players aren't good enough for the level above - there are some very good players on a particular matchday, however they can't consistently put it together every day of the season. Its why there's been so many teams come straight back down (or within a couple of seasons) from League 1.

This is our third season back - our two previous we've been woeful for months on end, yet somehow managed to cling on to a top 7 spot (or within striking distance) for long periods.

I think the current top 5 (perhaps to a lesser extent Plymouth) from what I've seen have the capability to maintain that level of consistency, but you're not going to need 90 points to get automatic promotion this year.