Search results

Fair summary. I think the key point to add is that Des was way to slow to work out where the squad was in those early weeks and find a way to get results, but that late form seemed to be a reflection of him finding his feet as much as players returning or January signings making any difference...

If we had an excellent January window, we’d have been fine this season. Not easy to do due to player availability etc, but we didn’t need to spend £400k on one for the future while Lincoln picked up the safest of safe bets in Taylor scoring every week for a Colchester side creating next to...

Exactly this - we’ve been hamstrung all season by having totally inefficient cover in multiple areas. The cracks didn’t show in August or September, but by the time Des came in they certainly were. Remember Pompey? Ahead in that game against a now Championship side, then off the bench came...

For sure, and there’s a big difference between getting 77 points and 74. Average over the last 5 years has been 75 and gradually going up. 77 should get you in, 75/76 borderline, 74 lucky to make it. If we get to 77 though, both historically and based on the bookies odds for the run-in, more...

For a bit of context after last night, we’re still odds on to make the playoffs with the bookmakers - 1/2, 4/9 sort of prices. We’d be unlucky if Lincoln got 6/6 and Barnsley got 3/6, and we missed out with 77 points.

Stevenage lost Steve Evans today to Rotherham. Alex Revell caretaker for two games. Hopefully useful timing.

I’m not sure it was an energy issue last night, as much as not having a Plan B when it comes to playing a well organised side that’s been very well set-up to negate our strengths. I’m delighted that we now seem to have a very clear Plan A (this is huge progress from Des’ early months) and that...

Friday huge now. Win that and it piles pressure on Lincoln. Cheltenham winning last night really helpful - they’ll be desperate for a win and can match Lincoln physically at least. Barnsley and Blackpool can’t both win.

Couldn’t afford not to take our chances tonight. Goodrham should have had two and Harris should have scored before half time. As soon as they scored, they shut the game down horribly but effectively. Awful to watch but got the result they wanted.

We’ve been excellent on the counter-attack recently and there’s no doubt Posh will commit people forward. The concern is Mason-Clark vs Sam Long, but Long did ok at theirs last season. The hope is that they struggle find space in our half to play with our full backs sitting deep, and that...

7 if the draw is with Lincoln, tough ask to win all their other games. Takes Blackpool and Stevenage out of the equation as well. 7 much less likely to be enough if we draw with Posh and lose to Lincoln. Would just need to win 2 of the other 3 then.

That Barnsley result feels big. Stevenage in rotten form beating them, and now they have Reading, Blackpool away, Pompey away and Northampton. If they lost on Saturday, they could easily end up on 77/78 or less with an inferior GD to us. Not sure Blackpool beating Fleetwood 1-0 suggests they’ll...

No I agree and we saw that when Accrington beat Pompey for us the other year. Where there is a drop off is when teams mix and match their selections. We see every year the impact that lack of consistency and cohesion has when PL teams make 7 or 8 changes in the domestic cups. I can see Pompey...

They are, but left out five players who aren’t under contract for next season (including Mo Eisa) on Saturday and have three away games before we play them. Wouldn’t need asking twice if I was offered being one point ahead of Lincoln after 45 games.

Not sure it’s a great time to play Posh - they basically need to win every game to go up but coming off a Wembley win and probably three points against Vale, they’ll fancy themselves. If I was offered 5 points from these 3 games now, I’d be tempted. Would fancy us to win at Exeter and get to 78...

It does but is he L1 quality? 2.5 years he’s been here and never nailed down a place. Had a failed loan spell in the conference too. Ebou Adams at Derby is the ideal, not that we’d get him now. I wouldn’t be surprised if we looked for a Herbie Kane type that principally can play but can still...

We can’t lose to them, it’ll give us too much to do. Like you say there’s no big difference in run-ins. Worth pointing out though that while they’re 15 games unbeaten Lincoln and obviously in amazing form, they’ve actually only beaten two top-half sides in that run. Had a lovely run of fixtures...

If we’re still level after that game, 6 points from Cheltenham away and Portsmouth home is no certainty. I’d rather have Stevenage and Exeter, especially if Pompey haven’t won the league by then. It’s a must not lose. If we draw that and win the other games, we’ll make the playoffs.

That’ll be the key signing this summer - a midfielder that can add some physicality and agility but is still technically good enough on the ball to not undermine how we want to play. Not many of those knocking around L1 - such a shame McGuane hasn’t maintained his form this season.

He’s had to contend with a lot and done a good job, but let’s not act like it’s a miracle he’s kept that squad up - Knibbs, Smith, Wing, Azeez, Savage, Button, Holmes. He had Abbey, McIntyre and Vickers who all got good moves in January as well. It’s a thin squad and the off-field stuff will...