Portsmouth v Rochdale

[nelsonpfc]

We've had a fairly good pre season. Apart from Bournemouth we've played all non league teams thanks to the friendly vs Cardiff being cancelled due to us playing them in the League Cup. Recruited well I think. Interesting to see if the players from last season can step up. 3 of the first choice back four injured and the lack of an experienced replacement for Michael Doyle in midfield is a worry, although moving Carl Baker to centre midfield looks like it could either be a master stroke or we could be massively bullied and overrun there. We looked the business against Bournemouth on the attack but very open at the back. Crawleys powerhouse centre forward beasted us in the first half last week so i'm hoping there aren't as many big lump centre forwards as there are in the league 2!!! Jackett has been playing either 4411/4231 with Brett Pitman in an slightly deeper role with young Chaplin or Kal Naismith leading the line. Both full backs will get forward alot so I think any team with high fast wingers will get alot of joy on the counter attack. Can't see many 0-0 draws until the Burgess-Clarke unit is back and fit although Burgess should be ok for Saturday at the back.

Likely lineup
Luke McGee

Gareth Evans
Christian Burgess
Tom Davies
Tariq Holes-Dennis

Kyle Bennett
Carl Baker
Danny Rose
Kal Naismith/Milan Lalkovic

Brett Pitman

Conor Chaplin/Naismith

Rochdale look like they are a decent top half side so I expect a very hard introduction to league 1, but hoping a full Fratton Park along with the Eisner takeover annouced this week we can possibly edge it 2-1 Pitman and Bennett scoring

 

[K-Win]

Central midfield seems a bit of a worry at the moment. Jackett has clearly not been fully convinced by either of the promising, but green duo of Close and May - hence Carl Baker being thrown in there last Saturday alongside Danny Rose. All looks a bit makeshift to me.

I'd be surprised if he doesn't bring in one or two experienced central midfielders before the end of August but it looks like he may have to wait for one or two players to leave first.

The rest of the squad looks fairly well balanced. Hopefully Clarke will be back soon to stiffen up central defence.

 

[FarehamPompey]

Can't wait, as said CM is a bit thin, but I'm going with 3-1 Pompey, Pitman 2, Chaplin 1.

 

[Bar Carousel]

I think we'll win this.

Euphoria of the new owners being paraded. New manager. Maybe a last minute signing to sort out the CM issue.The buzz of a new season. A full house.

What can possibly go wrong?

1-2.

 

[Bucket_]

^ Would be a classic Pompey scenario to have the fanfare of everything new for it to all go flat with a rain drenched 0-1 loss.

But I'm feeling optimistic, so 3-1.

Can't wait!

 

[K-Win]

I fancy a 2-1 win. Pitman & Bennett for us. Henderson for Dale.

 

[FarehamPompey]

Strange line up, but who are we to judge! Didn't think Talbot even had a look in, let alone starting 11. Also, most thought Davies was a dead cert to be CB with Burgess. No Lalkovic in the squad either?

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Predictable Pitman!

 

[Bucket_]

Lalkovic was injured apparently.

Super Brett! He's gonna bring up the level of those around him, I'm convinced. He looks so so and then shows up with a class touch or finish.. could be a golden signing.

Real shame Holmes-Dennis got injured, I thought he was our best player in the early stages! Looks exciting.

In general it was a tough game, the pace was noticeably quicker. Rochdale looked decent but didn't really create a huge amount.. was encouraging to see that we were adjusting to the upped pace before the red card, but I imagine that Oxford next weekend will be a big test. Get that midfielder in asap, I like Baker but he had no time today, and really struggled.

 

[Bobbin']

What happened to Holmes-Dennis?

We should never have sold him and I am hoping he has a good season with you.

 

[nelsonpfc]

Dennis looks like he jarred his knee. Was in alot of pain but managed to limp off. Hoping it was ligaments!

 

[Bucket_]

"Hoping it was ligaments" Hoping you meant wasn't?

Jackett's interview offered hope it was just a knock, that'd be ideal. He looked just as good as Enda, if not better. Strong, athletic, solid in defence but really keen to attack. All you'd want in a full back!

 

[Bar Carousel]

I thought today showed that we've stepped up in class.

Dale could easily have snatched an equaliser as we kept on giving the ball away in dangerous places on the pitch. To be fair, we recovered well, mostly down to Whatmough.

Pitman looks to be a class above. Very Claridge like I thought.

Point of note. I sat in the Milton End and not long after kick off a mob of ours turned up and spent the game goading the away fans. Coupled with sporadic chants of 'you're support is fucking shit' etc from around the ground. Always liked a bit of banter, but this just seemed a bit billy big bollocks to me. Keep that up and it'll come back and bite us on the arse.

 

[nelsonpfc]

"Hoping it was ligaments" Hoping you meant wasn't?

Jackett's interview offered hope it was just a knock, that'd be ideal. He looked just as good as Enda, if not better. Strong, athletic, solid in defence but really keen to attack. All you'd want in a full back!

yeah Mistyped.. fingers crossed