George Egglestone was complaining about the turgidity of the first half against Stoke. I must admit Pompey first halves are normally chronic affairs but the gaining of points is all that matters at this moment in time. George sits in the south stand and I sit in the north stand. We exchange thoughts, ideas and feelings on Pompey more regularly now we have joined the ranks of grumpy old men.
Pompey are excused duty this weekend because hopefully Manchester United are screwing the chances of the previous manager but one to win the Carling Cup. However I have no real objections to him winning this trophy as long as he ends up below us in the league table and perhaps drops down to the Championship even.
Next Tuesday Pompey play Chelsea at home and the Scolari Chelsea might have been in our sights but the rejuvenated Chelsea should be too strong for us on paper but perhaps a surprise draw might still be on the cards. That is an awfully long sentence but I was holding my breath and disbelief while I wrote it!
However we need twelve points to reach the magic number of 40. We must beat Middlesbrough away, WBA, Sunderland and Bolton at home. If we can force draws with Everton here at home, Hull and Newcastle away we will give ourselves a buffer zone of three extra points. These 15 points will also help to keep other teams below us and in the relegation zone.
We are playing better defensively and we were robbed by a rotten referee decision for a penalty at Stoke. However if I see Distin or Campbell with their hand up and an opposing forward looping a header into our net yet again (Beattie at Stoke and Torres at Fratton) rather than getting between the player and goal I shall do myself a mischief! Hreidarrson should have continued off the field after chasing the winger but didn't and so kept Beattie onside so what game was Distin watching to claim offside?
I don't think Crouch is our best striker when it comes to speedy counter attacking. He works really hard at winning the ball coming out of defence and he works really hard as the first line of defence. I don't think Kranjcar is strong enough to be the main playmaker in the hole behind the striker(s). Basinas played a really tight passing game for his first two games but looked a bit bewildered by what was expected of him at Stoke - too many lofted balls. He is a neat passer along the ground and needs better outlets provided.
I am seriously tempted by the double ranks of four in defence and four in midfield, especially in away games, with a variation in home games. I have problems with the attack in either version.
Four in defence are Johnson, Campbell, Distin and Hreidarrson. I would use Kaboul if the opposing attackers are more mobile and Pamarot would be my defensive substitute.
Four in midfield are Little, Davis, Basinas and Hughes. I think the middle two are forming a partnership worth cultivating. I know the latter two have been out of the picture with injuries but I would stick them both in front of the full backs with instructions to hold their ground. I wouldn't expect either to come marauding forward.
The variation at home would be to replace either Little with Pennant or Hughes with Belhadj. Traore would be my substitute. Kranjcar could also be used as the player in the hole if I wanted a further tactical change.
Up front is a real problem. I would like to see the Greek Gekas given a run out but he is a complete unknown quantity to the fans. He is a shoulder of the last defender sort of guy who does his best work in the 12 yard box. He is not a lone striker and therefore needs to be working in a partnership but with whom? I have expressed my reservations about Crouch but he can be used in the looser formation at home when Pennant or Belhadj are playing but needs to be encouraged to go for goal himself rather than laying off for non-existent support. He needs to get into the box more.
Nugent is a willing war horse but lacks the cutting edge and skills needed to worry Premiership defences. Utaka has the pace but lacks the cutting edge and skills needed to worry Premiership defences. Kanu is a slower version of Crouch. Both these players need pacy support men.
Up front away from home I would use a pace merchant like Utaka in the centre prompted and supported by another trickier striker or midfield player. Both these players would be expected to be knackered by the second half or the hour mark and therefore to be substituted by a similar pairing or a pair offering something slightly different. Perhaps away from home Pennant, Traore or Belhadj could be that trickier player playing in the hole behind or beside the lone striker. Perhaps young Pele might also find a role here or at least as one of the substituting pair. Nugent could form one of the substituting pair as well. As you can see I have real problems with the attacking options using the players we have got. I still think we needed a powerful playmaker in that hole and a stronger forward. I am glad we didn't buy Jimmy Bullard in the end (turned out too expensive by far) but he and Nolan were the sort of players I had in mind. Someone in the shape of an Emile Heskey, Darren Bent, Marlon Harewood or even Carlton Cole was the sort of forward I had thought about. Play Up Pompey! I am not depressed and think we are in with a real chance of escaping relegation with Hart and Kidd in charge but the view from the South and North Stands is going to be of pretty dire football at times. However Pompey goals scored and Pompey points gained are all the game is about for the rest of this season. Then we can build for next season in the summer.
I wish the owner would sell the club and let us all move forward on the new stadium. I saw a new Fratton Park of 40000 capacity as part of a dream scenario for the World Cup bid. I also see that an entertainment arena as part of the new stadium would add real benefit to the scene on the South Coast. I appreciate what the owner has done but he has now become something of a block and needs to make way for a new investment of money, energy or ideas.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
How to eat an elephant?
The idea is to walk 1800 kilometres or 1100 miles from Caen on the Channel to Marseilles on the Mediterranean. The idea is not mine but is taken from the website, France on Foot.
My own suggestion would be to bring the walk down into bite size chunks, a week here or a fortnight there, rather than attempting to do the whole walk in one. How do you eat an elephant? One mouthful at a time is the answer.
The fact that someone has done the trip before me and written extensively about the experience deters me not a jot. I feel that attempting the task and the effort/determination to complete it will be beneficial to me as a person. I am not a trailblazer or put off by walking in others’ footsteps. I am not trying to claim credit for the idea but am rather setting myself a challenge that perhaps would have been impossible at any other stage of my life. I will need to plan and prepare to a degree that I have rarely needed to do. I will also need the assistance of the best beloved in the matter of helping with the logistics. On occasion I hope to welcome her as a walking companion but don’t intend insisting on her walking all the way with me. I hope others will join me on occasions and in sections of the walk. I could also see if people were willing to sponsor me for some or the entire walk and give the money raised to charity. But the aim is the walk itself!
I am writing about it in my blog to publish my intentions and to stiffen my resolve. I don’t want the idea to remain a pipe dream. This is something I have thought about and dreamed of during the last few years of my teaching career. When asked what I was going to do on my retirement, I would often say that my ambition was to walk one of the grand randonnees in France without giving too much thought to how or when.
I believe my physical health and well being is now good enough to sustain the endeavour if done over sufficient time. Thanks to the lovely Debbie Hobbs (Cardiac Rehab IV), I am fitter now than I have been for some years. I am overweight. If, however, I wait until I have lost weight I won’t start. Instead by setting myself the goal and getting into training for the event I will actually motivate myself to lose weight, thus achieving both aims. I will also check with my doctor and cardiologist to make sure I am doing nothing untoward. The sufficient time though depends on whether I do one or two sessions per year. I would want to walk in spring or autumn rather than in the summer. I could therefore in theory do both a spring and autumn expedition in one year if I chose or was able.
In the walk described at France on Foot, the account is only of the first 494 miles or just under half of the trip. This half takes 32 days in 4 instalments of about 127 miles each. If I did one instalment a year, it would take me four years but if I could manage two instalments a year I could do the whole walk in four years, which would see me to 2013 or my 66th year.
In the walk described at France on Foot, the first section is 128 miles long over 8 days. This is approximately 11.5 miles per day. (There are 1.6 kilometres in a mile.) I had expected to do days of walking interspersed with rest days and may have to revert to this plan after I have reviewed my training. I need to build up my walking gradually in terms of energy levels and distance covered. There is the local Wayfarers Walk and, of course, the South Downs Walk on which to practise. In the past I have mainly done circular walks, which are still valid exercise, but are not extending enough in their own right.
I already have the maps on which to plan the route. I have thought about this plan before but it has returned to me with a new determination. I need to think about equipment especially boots and clothing. I will also need to think about the logistics as my initial plan is to move from camp-site to camp-site along the randonnee. Rather than carrying my tent, though, I have a different plan, which involves the best beloved closely. She is not adverse to the plan I have sketched for her but is interested in the detail almost as much as I am. This post is obviously one I shall return to frequently as the idea takes more concrete shape in my head. For now it is back to the funding applications I am putting in for the Havant Literary Festival.
My own suggestion would be to bring the walk down into bite size chunks, a week here or a fortnight there, rather than attempting to do the whole walk in one. How do you eat an elephant? One mouthful at a time is the answer.
The fact that someone has done the trip before me and written extensively about the experience deters me not a jot. I feel that attempting the task and the effort/determination to complete it will be beneficial to me as a person. I am not a trailblazer or put off by walking in others’ footsteps. I am not trying to claim credit for the idea but am rather setting myself a challenge that perhaps would have been impossible at any other stage of my life. I will need to plan and prepare to a degree that I have rarely needed to do. I will also need the assistance of the best beloved in the matter of helping with the logistics. On occasion I hope to welcome her as a walking companion but don’t intend insisting on her walking all the way with me. I hope others will join me on occasions and in sections of the walk. I could also see if people were willing to sponsor me for some or the entire walk and give the money raised to charity. But the aim is the walk itself!
I am writing about it in my blog to publish my intentions and to stiffen my resolve. I don’t want the idea to remain a pipe dream. This is something I have thought about and dreamed of during the last few years of my teaching career. When asked what I was going to do on my retirement, I would often say that my ambition was to walk one of the grand randonnees in France without giving too much thought to how or when.
I believe my physical health and well being is now good enough to sustain the endeavour if done over sufficient time. Thanks to the lovely Debbie Hobbs (Cardiac Rehab IV), I am fitter now than I have been for some years. I am overweight. If, however, I wait until I have lost weight I won’t start. Instead by setting myself the goal and getting into training for the event I will actually motivate myself to lose weight, thus achieving both aims. I will also check with my doctor and cardiologist to make sure I am doing nothing untoward. The sufficient time though depends on whether I do one or two sessions per year. I would want to walk in spring or autumn rather than in the summer. I could therefore in theory do both a spring and autumn expedition in one year if I chose or was able.
In the walk described at France on Foot, the account is only of the first 494 miles or just under half of the trip. This half takes 32 days in 4 instalments of about 127 miles each. If I did one instalment a year, it would take me four years but if I could manage two instalments a year I could do the whole walk in four years, which would see me to 2013 or my 66th year.
In the walk described at France on Foot, the first section is 128 miles long over 8 days. This is approximately 11.5 miles per day. (There are 1.6 kilometres in a mile.) I had expected to do days of walking interspersed with rest days and may have to revert to this plan after I have reviewed my training. I need to build up my walking gradually in terms of energy levels and distance covered. There is the local Wayfarers Walk and, of course, the South Downs Walk on which to practise. In the past I have mainly done circular walks, which are still valid exercise, but are not extending enough in their own right.
I already have the maps on which to plan the route. I have thought about this plan before but it has returned to me with a new determination. I need to think about equipment especially boots and clothing. I will also need to think about the logistics as my initial plan is to move from camp-site to camp-site along the randonnee. Rather than carrying my tent, though, I have a different plan, which involves the best beloved closely. She is not adverse to the plan I have sketched for her but is interested in the detail almost as much as I am. This post is obviously one I shall return to frequently as the idea takes more concrete shape in my head. For now it is back to the funding applications I am putting in for the Havant Literary Festival.
Thoughts prompted by a folding bicycle
I read "What are you doing in there?", the blog of a fellow traveller in the foothills of life and experience. We have a great deal in common and it is quite sustaining to read others' thoughts and to realise how much we are prompted by the same needs. My friend, Peter, has just had a pop at the Abu Qatada case, half term holidays and bankers. He is more reasonable than I am as I can get quite apoplectic when asked to give my opinion. I call myself a liberal but some of my views come across as illiberal. However the remarkable thing about Peter's recent postings is he has reminded me of something I had once said I was going to do in my retirement.
Peter is going to ride a Brompton bicycle in the round of the Brompton World Championships at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in September. Part of the reason for this ambition was when his son James cycled to Paris over a period of three days last year. I also was mightily impressed by James' feat but not enough to want to take to the saddle of a bicycle.
No my ambition is to walk 1100 miles in France from the Channel coast to the Mediterranean cote.
Peter is going to ride a Brompton bicycle in the round of the Brompton World Championships at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire in September. Part of the reason for this ambition was when his son James cycled to Paris over a period of three days last year. I also was mightily impressed by James' feat but not enough to want to take to the saddle of a bicycle.
No my ambition is to walk 1100 miles in France from the Channel coast to the Mediterranean cote.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
We won!
I feel obliged to help out Pompey with my presence at the moment as yesterday I helped them secure their first win since November last year.
Manchester City were a fairly dire set of visitors who didn't impress a great deal. However they were also the visitors a couple of years back when Pompey embarked on the Great Escape, by which they escaped threatened relegation. Hopefully yesterday's victory will mark a similar change in this season's fortunes.
Both sides contributed nothing very much to a drab first half. However in the second half Pompey were playing towards the Fratton End and my seat in the North Stand is level with the penalty spot at the Fratton End. The noise we made was deafening at times and truly arousing.
Both Pompey full backs scored. Glen Johnson dribbled into the box, hit one shot which rebounded back to him, persisted and moved parallel to the goal before hitting a stunning volley with his left foot into the roof of the net. The Fratton End erupted and I found myself dancing an insane jig of jubilation with hundreds of total strangers.
The Herminator's goal was a typical header from a cross from approximately the penalty spot. The celebration was almost as loud and as ecstatic except for the sudden realisation that we had at least ten minutes of the match left.
Now this season Pompey have failed to maintain a lead for any length of time and indeed have given the opposition so many goals in the fading minutes or even seconds of a match. You could feel the tension throughout the ground as the Pompey fans expected the worst. However it was not to be and we chalked up a historic victory.
I was also impressed by the number of times I saw Brian Kidd in the technical area calling over midfield players to give them instructions to relay back to their team mates. He looked like he wasn't just exhorting them but rather giving them pointers as to what structure and tasks they needed to do. In other words they were receiving directions rather than reactions.
I thought Basinas made another steady contribution in the middle of the park in front of the two centre backs before he was substituted by Mullins. The latter made an okay contribution but there were a couple of passes that went astray and made the crowd groan in frustration. Pennant went off to be replaced by Belhadj in the centre of the park, which heightened the alarm as the Algerian is a bit reckless and a hot head. I would like to have seen Geras and the youngster Pele but perhaps this wasn't the match.
Robinho was substituted after a very nondescript performance for a £30 million player. Bellamy was booked for truculence after finally getting on the referee's wick - long after he had got up the noses of the crowd, who would have booked him just for being Bellamy. Otherwise the Manchester City missed Wright-Phillips and didn't seem to have much of a cutting edge (remember, they beat us 6-0 at Eastlands earlier in the season!)
Paul Hart wasn't in evidence compared with Mark Hughes who seemed to get quite animated in his technical area on occasions. It is a shame his team weren't as animated as their manager. I thought Brian Kidd looked like a very good acquisition for Pompey and hope he is with us for a time. I hope he is a portent that his previous boss, Sven Goran Ericsson, is on his way as the new Pompey boss. In previous posts I expressed the opinion that Avram Grant would join us soon and that I wasn't particularly adverse to his arrival - he did a good job as stand in Chelsea manager last season. However SGE would be something else again and would show the football world and the Premier League that Pompey still have ambitions. We also no longer need to look fondly back on the feats of the previous manager but one. "The Blue Army", the Pompey tribal chant that still raises the hairs on the back of my neck, doesn't need a name attached to it - it still has a power of its own. The team earned back some of its pride yesterday and the crowd saluted them.
Manchester City were a fairly dire set of visitors who didn't impress a great deal. However they were also the visitors a couple of years back when Pompey embarked on the Great Escape, by which they escaped threatened relegation. Hopefully yesterday's victory will mark a similar change in this season's fortunes.
Both sides contributed nothing very much to a drab first half. However in the second half Pompey were playing towards the Fratton End and my seat in the North Stand is level with the penalty spot at the Fratton End. The noise we made was deafening at times and truly arousing.
Both Pompey full backs scored. Glen Johnson dribbled into the box, hit one shot which rebounded back to him, persisted and moved parallel to the goal before hitting a stunning volley with his left foot into the roof of the net. The Fratton End erupted and I found myself dancing an insane jig of jubilation with hundreds of total strangers.
The Herminator's goal was a typical header from a cross from approximately the penalty spot. The celebration was almost as loud and as ecstatic except for the sudden realisation that we had at least ten minutes of the match left.
Now this season Pompey have failed to maintain a lead for any length of time and indeed have given the opposition so many goals in the fading minutes or even seconds of a match. You could feel the tension throughout the ground as the Pompey fans expected the worst. However it was not to be and we chalked up a historic victory.
I was also impressed by the number of times I saw Brian Kidd in the technical area calling over midfield players to give them instructions to relay back to their team mates. He looked like he wasn't just exhorting them but rather giving them pointers as to what structure and tasks they needed to do. In other words they were receiving directions rather than reactions.
I thought Basinas made another steady contribution in the middle of the park in front of the two centre backs before he was substituted by Mullins. The latter made an okay contribution but there were a couple of passes that went astray and made the crowd groan in frustration. Pennant went off to be replaced by Belhadj in the centre of the park, which heightened the alarm as the Algerian is a bit reckless and a hot head. I would like to have seen Geras and the youngster Pele but perhaps this wasn't the match.
Robinho was substituted after a very nondescript performance for a £30 million player. Bellamy was booked for truculence after finally getting on the referee's wick - long after he had got up the noses of the crowd, who would have booked him just for being Bellamy. Otherwise the Manchester City missed Wright-Phillips and didn't seem to have much of a cutting edge (remember, they beat us 6-0 at Eastlands earlier in the season!)
Paul Hart wasn't in evidence compared with Mark Hughes who seemed to get quite animated in his technical area on occasions. It is a shame his team weren't as animated as their manager. I thought Brian Kidd looked like a very good acquisition for Pompey and hope he is with us for a time. I hope he is a portent that his previous boss, Sven Goran Ericsson, is on his way as the new Pompey boss. In previous posts I expressed the opinion that Avram Grant would join us soon and that I wasn't particularly adverse to his arrival - he did a good job as stand in Chelsea manager last season. However SGE would be something else again and would show the football world and the Premier League that Pompey still have ambitions. We also no longer need to look fondly back on the feats of the previous manager but one. "The Blue Army", the Pompey tribal chant that still raises the hairs on the back of my neck, doesn't need a name attached to it - it still has a power of its own. The team earned back some of its pride yesterday and the crowd saluted them.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
I have another blog page
This is for the attention of my cousin, Denise, who has just joined the ranks of my regular readers.
I also write a theatrical blog as well called "Bench Hamlet 2008", which can be found in the links on the right of this page. In this sister blog I cover my adventures as a member of the Bench Theatre, which I have been since 1972 or 37 years! I try to include on this sister blog the articles I write for the Benchpress, the newsletter for the Bench Theatre. I also do reviews of theatre I have seen or taken part in. I occasionally wander into the back alleys of theatrical lore and superstition plus some of the old ideas of the theatre that might be dying out but are worth the preserving. I am suggesting that the "Bench Hamlet 2008" is worth the occasional read as well as this my home blog.
It is happy birthday to Elodie, my grand niece, and Denise's grand daughter this Saturday - Joyeux anniversaire, cher Elodie! Elodie's father, Vincent, est francais and Amy, Elodie's mother, is fluent in French. As regular readers of this blog will know, I am a Francophile and this French addition to the family fills me with enormous pride!
I also write a theatrical blog as well called "Bench Hamlet 2008", which can be found in the links on the right of this page. In this sister blog I cover my adventures as a member of the Bench Theatre, which I have been since 1972 or 37 years! I try to include on this sister blog the articles I write for the Benchpress, the newsletter for the Bench Theatre. I also do reviews of theatre I have seen or taken part in. I occasionally wander into the back alleys of theatrical lore and superstition plus some of the old ideas of the theatre that might be dying out but are worth the preserving. I am suggesting that the "Bench Hamlet 2008" is worth the occasional read as well as this my home blog.
It is happy birthday to Elodie, my grand niece, and Denise's grand daughter this Saturday - Joyeux anniversaire, cher Elodie! Elodie's father, Vincent, est francais and Amy, Elodie's mother, is fluent in French. As regular readers of this blog will know, I am a Francophile and this French addition to the family fills me with enormous pride!
Monday, February 09, 2009
Chinese New Year
"http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A4185380"
The Chinese New Year of the Ox was celebrated last week. The Best beloved said she was also born in the Year of the OX, so naturally I looked it up at the link above. The characteristics of someone born in the year of the Ox are:
"Those born in the year of the Ox are said to be easy-going, though they can sometimes be bigoted and stubborn, with furious tempers. They hate failure and don't like to be challenged. At their best they are quiet and patient, with a tendency to inspire confidence in others."
The Best Beloved does appear easy-going and can be stubborn, but "bigoted" and "with a furious temper" don't fit her character at all. I think the first part of the second sentence about hating to fail is fairly accurate as anyone will tell you if you have played cards or games with her. The bit about doesn't like to be challenged is off beam. However the last sentence sums her up beautifully!
"Oxen are said to be compatible with those born in the year of the Rat, Snake and Rooster." Unfortunately I was born in the year of the Boar or Pig.
"Those born in the year of the Boar (also known as the Pig) are said not to say much, though they have a thirst for knowledge. They don't have many friends, but those friends they do have are friends for life and they are exceptionally loyal to them. They tend to be chivalrous and gallant and they loathe arguments, despite their quick tempers. They face the problems of life head-on, and solve them with fortitude and honesty. Boars are said to be compatible with those born in the year of the Goat and Rabbit." I quite like these characteristics and to a certain extent agree with them. I am shy on first acquaintance despite appearing over-confident - elements of being an actor perhaps? I can say a lot but not all of it of much value. I would like to believe the three middle sentences apply to me, especially about friends and loyalty.
The Year of the Rabbit
1951 1963 1975 1987 1999
The Year of the Goat
1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003
If you find the year of your birth is in either the Year of the Rabbit/Hare or the Year of the Goat/Ram/Sheep, then look up your characteristics at the link above and see if you recognise yourself in the description. The former are said to be financially lucky and the latter talented artists who enjoy the simple pleasures of life. You see, the former would make me money and the latter wouldn't spend too much. Does that what they mean by being compatible?
The Chinese New Year of the Ox was celebrated last week. The Best beloved said she was also born in the Year of the OX, so naturally I looked it up at the link above. The characteristics of someone born in the year of the Ox are:
"Those born in the year of the Ox are said to be easy-going, though they can sometimes be bigoted and stubborn, with furious tempers. They hate failure and don't like to be challenged. At their best they are quiet and patient, with a tendency to inspire confidence in others."
The Best Beloved does appear easy-going and can be stubborn, but "bigoted" and "with a furious temper" don't fit her character at all. I think the first part of the second sentence about hating to fail is fairly accurate as anyone will tell you if you have played cards or games with her. The bit about doesn't like to be challenged is off beam. However the last sentence sums her up beautifully!
"Oxen are said to be compatible with those born in the year of the Rat, Snake and Rooster." Unfortunately I was born in the year of the Boar or Pig.
"Those born in the year of the Boar (also known as the Pig) are said not to say much, though they have a thirst for knowledge. They don't have many friends, but those friends they do have are friends for life and they are exceptionally loyal to them. They tend to be chivalrous and gallant and they loathe arguments, despite their quick tempers. They face the problems of life head-on, and solve them with fortitude and honesty. Boars are said to be compatible with those born in the year of the Goat and Rabbit." I quite like these characteristics and to a certain extent agree with them. I am shy on first acquaintance despite appearing over-confident - elements of being an actor perhaps? I can say a lot but not all of it of much value. I would like to believe the three middle sentences apply to me, especially about friends and loyalty.
The Year of the Rabbit
1951 1963 1975 1987 1999
The Year of the Goat
1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003
If you find the year of your birth is in either the Year of the Rabbit/Hare or the Year of the Goat/Ram/Sheep, then look up your characteristics at the link above and see if you recognise yourself in the description. The former are said to be financially lucky and the latter talented artists who enjoy the simple pleasures of life. You see, the former would make me money and the latter wouldn't spend too much. Does that what they mean by being compatible?
Goodbye Tony
It is with sadness that I say farewell to Tony Adams as manager of Pompey. I think he has been let down by the players and by the club. He wasn't the greatest man manager and he was too quirky in a very conformist world. I was pleased he played my selection on Saturday against Liverpool. He did bring on Kranjcar as suggested in the second half but in the 46th minute rather than the 60th. He should have shut up shop before the end but I am not sure that he had the players with which to do that. This was always a problem for Tony is that the midfield pool to choose from is too restricted. He took off Mullins to bring on Kranjcar. If Tony had been able to stick with me I feel sure we would have weathered the rest of the season. I do feel Crouch, Campbell and Distin in particular need a good kick up the a***! I felt Nugent and the Herminator played well for the team. I thought Basinas had a quietly effective debut once he moved into the centre of the park - trying to get him to fill that right hand berth of the midfield was a mistake. Basinas needs to sit in front of the two centre backs with Mullins and Davis as his two willing assistants. If you put on Kranjcar he needs to sit at the pointy end of a little diamond formed by those four players. Belhadj and Pennant provide the two wide players of the midfield moving up to make two wingers. Crouch should be dropped for a while or at least kept as an impact player on the 60th minute. Play Nugent up front by himself or send on Geras to do that job. The only way to bolster the team if defending a lead is to reinforce with another central defender, i.e. Pamarot or Kaboul. In other words we play with three centre backs and two full backs. In order to do this we would have to sacrifice one of the wide players and Belhadj would have to be my first choice. If this was felt to be defending too deep, we could send on Traore to work alongside Kranjcar in the hole behind the lone striker rather than using the youngster to replace Belhadj wide on the left. I haven't heard of anything of Glen Little recently but he could certainly do a job on the wide right of midfield to plug the gap in front of Johnson and possibly behind Pennant. It would restrict even further the England full back's forays down the right.
My team versus Manchester City:
James
Johnson Campbell Distin Herminator
Basinas
Davis Mullins
Pennant Belhadj
Nugent
(4-5-1)
Substitutes: Begovic, Pamarot, Kaboul, Kranjcar, Traore, Little, Crouch and Geras.
If I felt that a more attacking formation was appropriate i.e. 4-4-2, I would drop Belhadj and bring on Kranjcar in the hole behind Nugent.
James
Johnson Campbell Distin Herminator
Basinas
Davis Mullins
Kranjcar
Pennant Nugent
I am expecting Avram Grant to be announced as the new Pompey manager as from today or at least this week. I suspect Basinas and Geras were his signings. I think Grant did a good job with Chelsea but was made to make way for a starrier name in Scolari. I think and hope that Grant can stave off relegation and keep Pompey safe. I also hope he can get the players to accept their responsibility for our present precarious state and perhaps cut out some of the silly mistakes. At the moment every mistake is being punished by a goal given away. Perhaps we also need a manager who can bring a modicum of luck with him. Poor old Tony had no luck whatsoever!
My team versus Manchester City:
James
Johnson Campbell Distin Herminator
Basinas
Davis Mullins
Pennant Belhadj
Nugent
(4-5-1)
Substitutes: Begovic, Pamarot, Kaboul, Kranjcar, Traore, Little, Crouch and Geras.
If I felt that a more attacking formation was appropriate i.e. 4-4-2, I would drop Belhadj and bring on Kranjcar in the hole behind Nugent.
James
Johnson Campbell Distin Herminator
Basinas
Davis Mullins
Kranjcar
Pennant Nugent
I am expecting Avram Grant to be announced as the new Pompey manager as from today or at least this week. I suspect Basinas and Geras were his signings. I think Grant did a good job with Chelsea but was made to make way for a starrier name in Scolari. I think and hope that Grant can stave off relegation and keep Pompey safe. I also hope he can get the players to accept their responsibility for our present precarious state and perhaps cut out some of the silly mistakes. At the moment every mistake is being punished by a goal given away. Perhaps we also need a manager who can bring a modicum of luck with him. Poor old Tony had no luck whatsoever!
Thursday, February 05, 2009
In this bad weather
The following is a text message received this morning from my little brother:
"Weatherman said the temperature is going to drop really low tonight and every one should check on elderly friends, you ok?"
It did make me laugh but he is only two years my junior and he does live in the frozen north. I have told everyone down here the story of Bradford being built on seven hills like Rome. In snowy weather a snow plough starts off on top of each hill and works its way down into the centre freeing the roads for the morning rush hour into work. During the day they work their way out of the town centre back up to their depots at the top of each hill, thus clearing the way for the evening rush hour. Now I don't know whether this is true about the snow ploughs (the seven hills resemblance to Rome is) but I always like to make the point that you would be hard pressed to find seven snow ploughs in the whole of Hampshire. Bradford is (was?) geared up for bad weather and snow ( I must have told you the story as a college student home for Christmas and doing the Royal Mail and getting lost in a snow blizzard up Manningham?) whereas Hampshire isn't. How the tide has turned this winter. Mind you here in Havant we, as usual, are protected by the Solent and the isle of Wight even from a north easterly from Siberia and our mini climate saw off the snow quickly.
Anyway I replied to little brother: "So far so good, youngster!" but you cannot get the right amount of irony in a text message.
I welcome my cousin, Denise (known to everyone else as Kath - but therein lies another story)as a reader of my blog. She was most put out that I hadn't told her about my appearance on "Ladies of Letters" (see below) before it was broadcast. I tell so many people through my Facebook and through this blog that I thought I must have covered everyone.
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." Franklin D. Roosevelt.
"Weatherman said the temperature is going to drop really low tonight and every one should check on elderly friends, you ok?"
It did make me laugh but he is only two years my junior and he does live in the frozen north. I have told everyone down here the story of Bradford being built on seven hills like Rome. In snowy weather a snow plough starts off on top of each hill and works its way down into the centre freeing the roads for the morning rush hour into work. During the day they work their way out of the town centre back up to their depots at the top of each hill, thus clearing the way for the evening rush hour. Now I don't know whether this is true about the snow ploughs (the seven hills resemblance to Rome is) but I always like to make the point that you would be hard pressed to find seven snow ploughs in the whole of Hampshire. Bradford is (was?) geared up for bad weather and snow ( I must have told you the story as a college student home for Christmas and doing the Royal Mail and getting lost in a snow blizzard up Manningham?) whereas Hampshire isn't. How the tide has turned this winter. Mind you here in Havant we, as usual, are protected by the Solent and the isle of Wight even from a north easterly from Siberia and our mini climate saw off the snow quickly.
Anyway I replied to little brother: "So far so good, youngster!" but you cannot get the right amount of irony in a text message.
I welcome my cousin, Denise (known to everyone else as Kath - but therein lies another story)as a reader of my blog. She was most put out that I hadn't told her about my appearance on "Ladies of Letters" (see below) before it was broadcast. I tell so many people through my Facebook and through this blog that I thought I must have covered everyone.
"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Pompey changes for Saturday
I have discovered that I can't include Pennant in my team for Saturday's game against Liverpool as his loan agreement means he is no allowed to play against his own club. I have also learned that Kaboul is doubtful but that Kranjcar and Campbell might be available.
This would change my team formation:
James
Johnson Distin Campbell Hreidarson
Davis Basinas Mullins Belhadj
Crouch Nugent
Belhadj would become the main outlet down the left rather than Pennant down the right. This might cramp Nugent's style a bit but he has earned the right to start the game. Davis would not play wide right but central defensive as in my previous post. This should enable Johnson to break down the right as in previous games before Pennant's arrival. Campbell would replace Pamarot as club captain. Pamarot and Wilson would be my defensive substitutes if and when needed.
My 60 minute plan would have to change. Geras would definitely replace Nugent and Kranjcar would replace Crouch. This would change the format to 4-5-1 but with Kranjcar in the hole behind Geras. I could retain Crouch instead of Kranjcar if I felt there was profit still left in doing so. I could also do a change between Belhadj and Traore if I needed to freshen up the left wing attack.
My 75 minute plan, decided by whether we are winning or losing at that stage, is to have the option to send on Traore or Pele to join Kranjcar as attacking midfield players in place on one of Davis/Basinas/Mullins - probably the Greek as he might find the pace of the Premier League difficult to sustain in his first match.
This still leaves me two days to practise these changes with the squad. I believe the basic squad knows its job and perhaps only needs to run through set pieces with Basinas taking corners and free kicks. I would work on getting the ball behind the opposing right back to supply Belhadj. I would also practise the changes proposed for the 60 minute plan and possibly the 75 minute plan. The latter could almost be as much of a surprise to your own team as to the opposition and therefore only needs sketching in on the training field.
Play Up Pompey!
This would change my team formation:
James
Johnson Distin Campbell Hreidarson
Davis Basinas Mullins Belhadj
Crouch Nugent
Belhadj would become the main outlet down the left rather than Pennant down the right. This might cramp Nugent's style a bit but he has earned the right to start the game. Davis would not play wide right but central defensive as in my previous post. This should enable Johnson to break down the right as in previous games before Pennant's arrival. Campbell would replace Pamarot as club captain. Pamarot and Wilson would be my defensive substitutes if and when needed.
My 60 minute plan would have to change. Geras would definitely replace Nugent and Kranjcar would replace Crouch. This would change the format to 4-5-1 but with Kranjcar in the hole behind Geras. I could retain Crouch instead of Kranjcar if I felt there was profit still left in doing so. I could also do a change between Belhadj and Traore if I needed to freshen up the left wing attack.
My 75 minute plan, decided by whether we are winning or losing at that stage, is to have the option to send on Traore or Pele to join Kranjcar as attacking midfield players in place on one of Davis/Basinas/Mullins - probably the Greek as he might find the pace of the Premier League difficult to sustain in his first match.
This still leaves me two days to practise these changes with the squad. I believe the basic squad knows its job and perhaps only needs to run through set pieces with Basinas taking corners and free kicks. I would work on getting the ball behind the opposing right back to supply Belhadj. I would also practise the changes proposed for the 60 minute plan and possibly the 75 minute plan. The latter could almost be as much of a surprise to your own team as to the opposition and therefore only needs sketching in on the training field.
Play Up Pompey!
Ladies of Letters - first episode
I watched the first episode of the "Ladies of Letters" starring Maureen Lipman as Irene and Anne Reid as Vera. I recognised the house used as Vera's as being the set in which I filmed my very short scene. I sat on the armchair visible in the lounge while at that time the sofa was occupied by technical crew, who were monitoring video screens perched on the coffee table of the filming going on elsewhere in the house. I climbed the stairs, which Vera is seen to fall down in the first episode, to meet the first assistant director and the director to have my part explained to me. The whole house was crammed with technical crew filling every nook and cranny so it is very interesting to see it looking so pristine and empty on screen.
I was very pleased to see one of my photos being used as Gerald when Vera is in the kitchen preparing a recipe that she is going to send to Irene. My photo is then given a close up full screen and a dollop of the mixture Vera is making lands on the bottom right of the photo.
I am hoping that other photos of me are used in further episodes leading up to my brief physical appearance. In order to justify my appearance, I need to be clearly identifiable as Gerald, Vera's dead husband. I didn't really meet Anne Reid as she was leaving the base as I was arriving, so we simply exchanged a polite hallo. Ingrid and I did spend an enjoyable day at Chichester watching the two halves of "Nicholas Nickleby" presented as matinee and evening performances on the one day. Ingrid sat next to Ann Reid and they chatted away amicably in the breaks - the best beloved as a real talent for doing that - old curmudgeon here prefers emailing to actually speaking. We were sat behind the late but lovely Anita Roddick of the Body Shop and somehow we seemed to get her involved in our conversations as well. Mind you, it was that kind of show that elicited oral responses picked up by those around you.
"To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer" Paul Ehrlich.
I was very pleased to see one of my photos being used as Gerald when Vera is in the kitchen preparing a recipe that she is going to send to Irene. My photo is then given a close up full screen and a dollop of the mixture Vera is making lands on the bottom right of the photo.
I am hoping that other photos of me are used in further episodes leading up to my brief physical appearance. In order to justify my appearance, I need to be clearly identifiable as Gerald, Vera's dead husband. I didn't really meet Anne Reid as she was leaving the base as I was arriving, so we simply exchanged a polite hallo. Ingrid and I did spend an enjoyable day at Chichester watching the two halves of "Nicholas Nickleby" presented as matinee and evening performances on the one day. Ingrid sat next to Ann Reid and they chatted away amicably in the breaks - the best beloved as a real talent for doing that - old curmudgeon here prefers emailing to actually speaking. We were sat behind the late but lovely Anita Roddick of the Body Shop and somehow we seemed to get her involved in our conversations as well. Mind you, it was that kind of show that elicited oral responses picked up by those around you.
"To err is human, but to really foul things up you need a computer" Paul Ehrlich.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Pompey v Liverpool
In this post I allow myself free rein to suggest what team I would put out against Liverpool on Saturday at Fratton Park.
I am assuming that Kranjcar and Hughes are still injured and not available for selection. The former would certainly feature in any squad and probably any team I selected. The latter would be used more tactically as a squad member. I am also assuming that the new signings are available.
I would first of all play 4-4-2 at home and for this Saturday play the team that finished strongly against Fulham last week.
James
Johnson Distin Pamarot Hreidarrson
Pennant Davis Basinas Mullins
Crouch Nugent
The only change that I have made is to take Traore off the left wing and bring on Basinas in the middle of the park. Traore was very quiet in the Fulham game and if I was going to use a wide left player I'd bring Belhadj back after his suspension. However I would use Pennant as my main outlet wide right and let Nugent play in the left channel as in his Preston days. Pamarot came on for Kaboul in the 78th minute and was a steadier influence. Basinas and Mullins would be encouraged to bring ball forward from defence.Nugent would be encouraged to give it everything he has got for the first hour.
I would keep Asmir Begovic as goalkeeper substitute. Kaboul and Wilson would be available as defensive substitutes as and if needed to replace any of back four. My midfield substitutes would be Belhadj, (Traore) and (Pele). My forward substitutes would be Geras and Utaka.
My 60 minute plan would be to replace one of the midfield trio with Belhadj and Geras to replace a tiring Nugent to make an attacking 4-4-2 if we needed to win the game. I think this would give the Liverpool a new set of problems to solve. If we needed to defend a lead I would bring on Belhadj to replace Nugent and play 4-5-1. The two wide players would provide the main outlets to turn defence into offence. Crouch would be left to work up front alone.
My 75 - 80 minute plan would depend on the state of play but I would have the option to replace Crouch up front with Geras in the 4-5-1 formation. If we had gone for the 4-4-2 formation I could freshen up the attack by bringing off the tired Crouch and sending on either Traore or the young Pele in the hole behind Geras as lone striker. This would again give the Liverpool defence some fresh problems to solve and hopefully not weaken our team.
I am not expecting too much from the game as I believe that Torres and Liverpool are hitting a bit of form at the moment. I would like to see Pompey continue in the form they showed against Villa and against Fulham in the second half. If we can hold Liverpool in the first half and score a goal on the break, we should be grateful for a point from this game.
I would have my eyes set on three victories and a draw out of the remaining eight home games, or 10 points. We have seven remaining away games and one win and three draws would give us another 6 points. This would make the total for the season 40 and hopefully this would keep us safe from relegation. A draw against any of the top four would be a real bonus home or away and there are one or two teams away that might be feeling the strain of the season even more than us and might be turned over if we can keep clean sheets and get our scoring boots on.
Play Up Pompey!
I am assuming that Kranjcar and Hughes are still injured and not available for selection. The former would certainly feature in any squad and probably any team I selected. The latter would be used more tactically as a squad member. I am also assuming that the new signings are available.
I would first of all play 4-4-2 at home and for this Saturday play the team that finished strongly against Fulham last week.
James
Johnson Distin Pamarot Hreidarrson
Pennant Davis Basinas Mullins
Crouch Nugent
The only change that I have made is to take Traore off the left wing and bring on Basinas in the middle of the park. Traore was very quiet in the Fulham game and if I was going to use a wide left player I'd bring Belhadj back after his suspension. However I would use Pennant as my main outlet wide right and let Nugent play in the left channel as in his Preston days. Pamarot came on for Kaboul in the 78th minute and was a steadier influence. Basinas and Mullins would be encouraged to bring ball forward from defence.Nugent would be encouraged to give it everything he has got for the first hour.
I would keep Asmir Begovic as goalkeeper substitute. Kaboul and Wilson would be available as defensive substitutes as and if needed to replace any of back four. My midfield substitutes would be Belhadj, (Traore) and (Pele). My forward substitutes would be Geras and Utaka.
My 60 minute plan would be to replace one of the midfield trio with Belhadj and Geras to replace a tiring Nugent to make an attacking 4-4-2 if we needed to win the game. I think this would give the Liverpool a new set of problems to solve. If we needed to defend a lead I would bring on Belhadj to replace Nugent and play 4-5-1. The two wide players would provide the main outlets to turn defence into offence. Crouch would be left to work up front alone.
My 75 - 80 minute plan would depend on the state of play but I would have the option to replace Crouch up front with Geras in the 4-5-1 formation. If we had gone for the 4-4-2 formation I could freshen up the attack by bringing off the tired Crouch and sending on either Traore or the young Pele in the hole behind Geras as lone striker. This would again give the Liverpool defence some fresh problems to solve and hopefully not weaken our team.
I am not expecting too much from the game as I believe that Torres and Liverpool are hitting a bit of form at the moment. I would like to see Pompey continue in the form they showed against Villa and against Fulham in the second half. If we can hold Liverpool in the first half and score a goal on the break, we should be grateful for a point from this game.
I would have my eyes set on three victories and a draw out of the remaining eight home games, or 10 points. We have seven remaining away games and one win and three draws would give us another 6 points. This would make the total for the season 40 and hopefully this would keep us safe from relegation. A draw against any of the top four would be a real bonus home or away and there are one or two teams away that might be feeling the strain of the season even more than us and might be turned over if we can keep clean sheets and get our scoring boots on.
Play Up Pompey!
Monday, February 02, 2009
Pompey Transfer Window
This post is dedicated to my thoughts on the Pompey plight (1 point from being in the bottom three of the Premiership) and the transfers made during this transfer window in January 2009.
We lost Diarra at the beginning of January so the entire midfield trio that won us the FA Cup - Diarra, Muntari and Mendes- has gone. The replacements have been slow coming but we have got in Mullins and Pele. The former has proved to be a good thing and alongside Davis should prove capable of providing the defensive bulwark in midfield to protect the defence. Neither Mullins or Davis are what I would call playmakers, creative and attacking midfielders, who link the defence and the attack, supply the ball forward into the danger areas or are in the box alongside the strikers when required. Mullins I hope will be the right material for team captain once he has got his feet under the table more. We need a leader on the field - Sol Campbell makes a good club captain - but is not vociferous enough on the pitch and doesn't scare his own players enough (General Wellington: "I don't know about the enemy but they frighten me!").
Pele is very young and inexperienced. Tony Adams describes him as one for the future but we need one for the next 15 games, otherwise Pompey's Premiership future looks pretty grim. I have seen a YouTube video of one of the goals scored by the young Portuguese (burdened with an impossible name) and he certainly can strike a ball beautifully. He might be able to be used in that last half hour of a game when the game can be turned or we are desperate. I will write in a moment about that last half hour of games because I have a bit of advice for Tony Adams from a lifetime as an armchair critic and supporter.
As I write I understand that we have signed Greece captain Angelos Basinas on an 18 month deal. The 33 year old will add some "defensive steel" to Pompey's midfield. You notice that he isn't a playmaker and we are still talking a defensive midfielder.
The Daily Mail rumoured that we were trying to sign Austrian captain, Andreas Ivanschitz. The 24 year old is one of Austria's chief playmakers and is the sort of player we should be looking for - although there is always the doubt that he can get up to speed fast enough in our present circumstances particularly and the premiership generally. He would provide an alternative to Kranjcar in that hole behind the strikers, where I don't feel the Croatian has been used enough in his Pompey career to date. Kranjcar possesses technical skills enough but lacks a little pace and certainly doesn't qualify as a fierce tackler. He should be sued as a tactical option. He certainly could supply the telling pass through the centre, feed the wide midfielders and shoot at the edge of the box. Perhaps Ivanschitz can do this as well and add a bit of steel in winning the ball first in the opposing half of the field.
We have also signed Theofanis Gekas on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. Tony Adams says (on Sky Sports): "He's always on the shoulder of the last defender, he looks to get in behind the defence and he's got a great eye for goal. Hopefully that will continue with Pompey." My reaction is that such a player needs to have the ball supplied behind the defence or through the defence - which once again calls out for a playmaker.
Adams needs to sort out the back four. Kaboul is very naive as witness the Nevland goal for Fulham's second on Saturday. He tried to play the Fulham player offside in his own half. I think a lot of time was spent on the training field last week cramming heads and unfortunately the lessons are only half learned. I think Kaboul and Distin can become a good unit together with work as both have pace and ability. That is why Kaboul gets the job over Sol Campbell for me but the latter could be used to replace injured players and when the opposition are relying on one striker. Johnson and Hreidarson are the full backs for now and certainly Johnson is the star player for Pompey at the moment. He now needs to adjust to having Pennant in front of him. Hreidarson is a more reliable left back than Belhadj and the latter can be sued as the wide left midfield player - temperamental as hell but would also be helped by balls behind the opposing full back rather than being expected to run past or through them every time. Traore, on loan from Arsenal, could be used when Belhadj unavailable or could even replace him on the magic hour point if Belhadj has run himself ragged. Imagine that prospect if you're the opposing right back.
At the moment I am still going with TA's 4-5-1 system as I suspect that might be why he has brought in the reinforcements he has. The back four I have listed above could at the moment have three defensive midfielders (Davis, Mullins and Basinas) in front of them defending the middle of the park and with two wide midfielders (Pennant and Belhadj) providing the main attacking outlet. All three defensive central midfield players need to defend higher up the pitch and to be able to deliver the ball to the wide midfield players and especially behind the opposing full backs. We then come to the tricky problem of who plays as the lone striker. I suspect Crouch's contract says he has to play every game unless injured or suspended. Otherwise I cannot understand his use every game whether tactically valid or not. He needs help in close support if he is going to make the attacking impact we want. I believe tactically there may be a case for another player, a Nugent, a Geras or even a Utaka playing upfront alone for the first half if we feel that tactically we want to defend. I don't believe that Tony Adams has a Tactical plan for that magical 60 minutes point, to change the game in the last half hour. (You can almost set your clock by Benitez at Liverpool) I believe you can hammer away at an opposing defence for 60 minutes with your original choice and then substitute them with fresher determined strikers to give the tiring opposing centre backs a new set of problems to sort out. If you feel the game is going your way you can send out a new pair as strikers and withdraw one of the trio of defensive midfield players. Alternatively you could compromise with an attacking midfielder in the hole behind a new lone striker instead of the defensive midfielder. If one or both of your wide midfielders is having an unprofitable day, you can go strictly 4-4-2 by reinforcing across the midfield. Without Geras I would have settled for Crouch and Nugent as my first choice strike force with Utaka as the fresh pair of legs and injection of pace on the hour. Coupled with an attacking midfield player in the hole behind him, I think Utaka could grasp the simplicity of the role required of him. He or Nugent simply cannot be used as wide right players. In the Championship from whence we bought Nugent I think you will find his records showed he worked on the left of the strike force and that was where he did most of his damage.I think I would now only use Kanu as a very last resort and mainly to keep the opposing side thinking.
We have a squad which should be capable of lifting us clear of the relegation zone if some of the players learn to play together and a bit out of their skins but not desperately so. I think Davis has proved himself as a defensive midfielder and Mullins could work as a link between defensive midfield and central midfield. Basinas is an unknown quantity as yet. Pennant promises to be an exciting addition and the Belhadj/Traore combo on the left negates the necessity of using Kranjcar there. I just feel that Tony Adams needs to free himself and his squad of the siege mentality prevalent at the moment. It is the feeling that they have worked all week and the 11 players sent out should be man enough to do the job. I believe that this is only partly the answer. The team sent out in the first half is the team considered best to keep a clean sheet and hit the opposition swiftly on the break. All the team should be prepared on the hour for a change in tactics depending on how the game is going. This will change the formation to defend a lead gained or to score goals. I can see the sense of 4-5-1 but the old 4-4-2 is that much more flexible and can be both defensive and offensive. We have reinforcements in midfield and upfront. We have sufficient numbers already in defence. We just need to gel more closely as a team and squad, We need the manager to be more proactive on the touchline and a leader on the field to remind everyone of their responsibilities in no uncertain terms. With those requisites in place, Play Up Pompey and this season may not yet be the disaster it seems.
I don't hold out too much hope against Liverpool on Saturday especially if Torres is back in goal scoring form. However we should learn from their team organisation (a back four protected permanently by two defensive midfielders freeing their attacking midfielders and strikers to roam) and their tactical use of time and substitutes. I am also hoping that Nugent maintains his goal hunger and that Geras proves the goalscorer that Tony Adams believes him to be. It is however in the game against Stoke that I expect Pompey to bully their way to victory, to show that our place in the Premiership is not in doubt.
We lost Diarra at the beginning of January so the entire midfield trio that won us the FA Cup - Diarra, Muntari and Mendes- has gone. The replacements have been slow coming but we have got in Mullins and Pele. The former has proved to be a good thing and alongside Davis should prove capable of providing the defensive bulwark in midfield to protect the defence. Neither Mullins or Davis are what I would call playmakers, creative and attacking midfielders, who link the defence and the attack, supply the ball forward into the danger areas or are in the box alongside the strikers when required. Mullins I hope will be the right material for team captain once he has got his feet under the table more. We need a leader on the field - Sol Campbell makes a good club captain - but is not vociferous enough on the pitch and doesn't scare his own players enough (General Wellington: "I don't know about the enemy but they frighten me!").
Pele is very young and inexperienced. Tony Adams describes him as one for the future but we need one for the next 15 games, otherwise Pompey's Premiership future looks pretty grim. I have seen a YouTube video of one of the goals scored by the young Portuguese (burdened with an impossible name) and he certainly can strike a ball beautifully. He might be able to be used in that last half hour of a game when the game can be turned or we are desperate. I will write in a moment about that last half hour of games because I have a bit of advice for Tony Adams from a lifetime as an armchair critic and supporter.
As I write I understand that we have signed Greece captain Angelos Basinas on an 18 month deal. The 33 year old will add some "defensive steel" to Pompey's midfield. You notice that he isn't a playmaker and we are still talking a defensive midfielder.
The Daily Mail rumoured that we were trying to sign Austrian captain, Andreas Ivanschitz. The 24 year old is one of Austria's chief playmakers and is the sort of player we should be looking for - although there is always the doubt that he can get up to speed fast enough in our present circumstances particularly and the premiership generally. He would provide an alternative to Kranjcar in that hole behind the strikers, where I don't feel the Croatian has been used enough in his Pompey career to date. Kranjcar possesses technical skills enough but lacks a little pace and certainly doesn't qualify as a fierce tackler. He should be sued as a tactical option. He certainly could supply the telling pass through the centre, feed the wide midfielders and shoot at the edge of the box. Perhaps Ivanschitz can do this as well and add a bit of steel in winning the ball first in the opposing half of the field.
We have also signed Theofanis Gekas on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. Tony Adams says (on Sky Sports): "He's always on the shoulder of the last defender, he looks to get in behind the defence and he's got a great eye for goal. Hopefully that will continue with Pompey." My reaction is that such a player needs to have the ball supplied behind the defence or through the defence - which once again calls out for a playmaker.
Adams needs to sort out the back four. Kaboul is very naive as witness the Nevland goal for Fulham's second on Saturday. He tried to play the Fulham player offside in his own half. I think a lot of time was spent on the training field last week cramming heads and unfortunately the lessons are only half learned. I think Kaboul and Distin can become a good unit together with work as both have pace and ability. That is why Kaboul gets the job over Sol Campbell for me but the latter could be used to replace injured players and when the opposition are relying on one striker. Johnson and Hreidarson are the full backs for now and certainly Johnson is the star player for Pompey at the moment. He now needs to adjust to having Pennant in front of him. Hreidarson is a more reliable left back than Belhadj and the latter can be sued as the wide left midfield player - temperamental as hell but would also be helped by balls behind the opposing full back rather than being expected to run past or through them every time. Traore, on loan from Arsenal, could be used when Belhadj unavailable or could even replace him on the magic hour point if Belhadj has run himself ragged. Imagine that prospect if you're the opposing right back.
At the moment I am still going with TA's 4-5-1 system as I suspect that might be why he has brought in the reinforcements he has. The back four I have listed above could at the moment have three defensive midfielders (Davis, Mullins and Basinas) in front of them defending the middle of the park and with two wide midfielders (Pennant and Belhadj) providing the main attacking outlet. All three defensive central midfield players need to defend higher up the pitch and to be able to deliver the ball to the wide midfield players and especially behind the opposing full backs. We then come to the tricky problem of who plays as the lone striker. I suspect Crouch's contract says he has to play every game unless injured or suspended. Otherwise I cannot understand his use every game whether tactically valid or not. He needs help in close support if he is going to make the attacking impact we want. I believe tactically there may be a case for another player, a Nugent, a Geras or even a Utaka playing upfront alone for the first half if we feel that tactically we want to defend. I don't believe that Tony Adams has a Tactical plan for that magical 60 minutes point, to change the game in the last half hour. (You can almost set your clock by Benitez at Liverpool) I believe you can hammer away at an opposing defence for 60 minutes with your original choice and then substitute them with fresher determined strikers to give the tiring opposing centre backs a new set of problems to sort out. If you feel the game is going your way you can send out a new pair as strikers and withdraw one of the trio of defensive midfield players. Alternatively you could compromise with an attacking midfielder in the hole behind a new lone striker instead of the defensive midfielder. If one or both of your wide midfielders is having an unprofitable day, you can go strictly 4-4-2 by reinforcing across the midfield. Without Geras I would have settled for Crouch and Nugent as my first choice strike force with Utaka as the fresh pair of legs and injection of pace on the hour. Coupled with an attacking midfield player in the hole behind him, I think Utaka could grasp the simplicity of the role required of him. He or Nugent simply cannot be used as wide right players. In the Championship from whence we bought Nugent I think you will find his records showed he worked on the left of the strike force and that was where he did most of his damage.I think I would now only use Kanu as a very last resort and mainly to keep the opposing side thinking.
We have a squad which should be capable of lifting us clear of the relegation zone if some of the players learn to play together and a bit out of their skins but not desperately so. I think Davis has proved himself as a defensive midfielder and Mullins could work as a link between defensive midfield and central midfield. Basinas is an unknown quantity as yet. Pennant promises to be an exciting addition and the Belhadj/Traore combo on the left negates the necessity of using Kranjcar there. I just feel that Tony Adams needs to free himself and his squad of the siege mentality prevalent at the moment. It is the feeling that they have worked all week and the 11 players sent out should be man enough to do the job. I believe that this is only partly the answer. The team sent out in the first half is the team considered best to keep a clean sheet and hit the opposition swiftly on the break. All the team should be prepared on the hour for a change in tactics depending on how the game is going. This will change the formation to defend a lead gained or to score goals. I can see the sense of 4-5-1 but the old 4-4-2 is that much more flexible and can be both defensive and offensive. We have reinforcements in midfield and upfront. We have sufficient numbers already in defence. We just need to gel more closely as a team and squad, We need the manager to be more proactive on the touchline and a leader on the field to remind everyone of their responsibilities in no uncertain terms. With those requisites in place, Play Up Pompey and this season may not yet be the disaster it seems.
I don't hold out too much hope against Liverpool on Saturday especially if Torres is back in goal scoring form. However we should learn from their team organisation (a back four protected permanently by two defensive midfielders freeing their attacking midfielders and strikers to roam) and their tactical use of time and substitutes. I am also hoping that Nugent maintains his goal hunger and that Geras proves the goalscorer that Tony Adams believes him to be. It is however in the game against Stoke that I expect Pompey to bully their way to victory, to show that our place in the Premiership is not in doubt.
Snapshots
I did forget to say that even if my scene is cut from the broadcast series of "Ladies of Letters" on ITV3, my photographs should appear on set as Vera's husband, Gerald. I originally sent my airbrushed photographic model ones but they wanted rougher more everyday snapshots. The snapshots are an essential set up for the scene in which I appeared so hopefully if we get a close-up of my snapshot in one of the episodes my scene should appear shortly thereafter.
Ever hopeful!
Ever hopeful!
Candlemas 2009
Today is Candlemas Day, midway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. This is the day of the ritual purification of Mary and the blessing of candles in the church. As usual it is based on a pagan festival of light. We have a light covering of snow outside so what weather that forecasts for the rest of the winter I am not too sure. Apparently this date is also Groundhog Day!
It is also the second anniversary of my triple heart bypass so has become a very important date in my own personal calendar. I was reminiscing with the Best Beloved about it this morning and realised it was a complete blank to me. At first I thought it was my selective memory at work but then I realised that I spent most of this day and the next couple unconscious in 2007. I remember being prepared for the operation in the ward by two lovely nurses and then wheeled to the surgery suite. After that I remember coming round in the high dependency ward after spending two days in intensive care. Listening to the best beloved though I did get an inkling of how tough it had been for my girls and little brother. I am sorry for any pain I caused to anyone but am mighty glad to be alive, even with a covering of snow outside. Spring is on its way!
"There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it" Edith Wharton
It is also the second anniversary of my triple heart bypass so has become a very important date in my own personal calendar. I was reminiscing with the Best Beloved about it this morning and realised it was a complete blank to me. At first I thought it was my selective memory at work but then I realised that I spent most of this day and the next couple unconscious in 2007. I remember being prepared for the operation in the ward by two lovely nurses and then wheeled to the surgery suite. After that I remember coming round in the high dependency ward after spending two days in intensive care. Listening to the best beloved though I did get an inkling of how tough it had been for my girls and little brother. I am sorry for any pain I caused to anyone but am mighty glad to be alive, even with a covering of snow outside. Spring is on its way!
"There are two ways to spread happiness; either be the light who shines it or be the mirror who reflects it" Edith Wharton
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Ladies of Letters
The new series of "Ladies of Letters" starts broadcasting on Tuesday on ITV3. I am quite excited as one of my previous posts will reveal that I actually appeared in a scene as Gerald for this series. I have set my machine to record to see if I can actually see myself on TV in a dramatic role. I am half expecting to have had the scene I recorded cut as it was just a couple of hours shooting and my bit lasted all of two minutes, which will translate into very small screen time, so don't blink or you will definitely miss me. I had also half expected to have seen the films in the order that I recorded them, which is equally naive. So I still await my big screen début in "Shanghai". I have started sitting nearer the screen in anticipation. I used to sit on the back row under the projection booth but have gradually edged forward. If the scenes have been kept for the film, you should see me descending the steps of the German embassy in Shanghai in the second world war or crossing the dance floor behind Gong Li and John Cusack. I am accompanied on the steps by a tall white haired man, who looks distinctly Gestapo.
I have applied for a photographic shoot in March/April as a model, and for a TV programme pilot, in which I have to be myself and take part in unusual group activities. I will keep you informed, loyal reader, if these events do come to pass.
I have decided to keep my Pompey thoughts in separate postings so that you can skip them if you have no interest in football. I chatted on-line this morning with an ex-pupil from Trosnant, where I taught for 11 years as a young teacher and football manager. He blames me for his interest in football and for the fact that he has spent some years coaching football in the USA and elsewhere. The best beloved and daughters tolerate football rather than understand the passion that seizes their husband and father on occasion.
I have applied for a photographic shoot in March/April as a model, and for a TV programme pilot, in which I have to be myself and take part in unusual group activities. I will keep you informed, loyal reader, if these events do come to pass.
I have decided to keep my Pompey thoughts in separate postings so that you can skip them if you have no interest in football. I chatted on-line this morning with an ex-pupil from Trosnant, where I taught for 11 years as a young teacher and football manager. He blames me for his interest in football and for the fact that he has spent some years coaching football in the USA and elsewhere. The best beloved and daughters tolerate football rather than understand the passion that seizes their husband and father on occasion.
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