MattVillaPortsmouth

When your lucks out, it’s out. Great hit for their second, we should have had enough to win, created enough but the same old story (decisions, composure, defensive lapses) something needs to change 

11 hours ago, useless said:

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You obviously haven't read my post properly, as I haven't tried to dress anything up, i pointed out poor decision making, and have done in so i other posts in this thread today, but it's just plain dumb to completely ignore we've had bad luck with injuries, so it's only fair that I point that out as well, if I'm also going to point out bad decision making, which I did do

If some are so adamant that this season has been such a disaster, then it would follow that rescuing it in order to make us a more attractive proposition in the summer is too late, if it's not too late for that then the season hasn't been as a big of a disaster as is being claimed, can't have it both ways.

Pointless signing a bunch of players for the sake of it this window, when we can attract better in the summer, and yes we can attract better in the summer, as we will have much more money to spend, owing to a lot of money being freed from released players, and the Blindkilde money will help, it's just logical than any club for the most part will be able to attract better in in a summer window rather than in th winter, we attracted Daly and Dali after we had finished nineth, if the club are willing to spend then players will come in the summer, regardless of what kind of season we've had.

And no our recruitment wasn't bad in the summer we didn't stand still far from it, Parker, Patten Van Domselaar, Hanson, Salmon, Leon, and Poor were all top signings for where we were and are as a club, funny how not one person was saying we'd had a bad summer recruitment wise when we were signing these players, quite the opposite in fact, but after a difficult start it was suddenly a bad window, I mean if anyone was so knowledgable about our signings and thought them bad ones, then sure wouldn't have had high expectations for the season in the first place.

Other than Hanson not hitting the heights of last season our new signings haven't even been what's gone wrong with this season, they've done pretty well, it's more some of the players who were already here have had bid drop offs in form, again easy to say now after the fact that they should have been replaced, but no one was calling for that in the summer, and we already made six first team signings, only so many are possible, unless asking the club to buy an entire new side after they had just had their best season ever

It was a bad start to the season, but we've recovered well since the Chelsea defeat, we're fifth in the form guide since then, same points won as Man Utd, so a respectable league finish shouldn't be out of the question, or shouldn't have been, now we need a lot of luck with injuries, we're also in a Cup-Quarter final, with a tough but winnable game, we had worst performance ever against Everton in the FA Cup, the transfer window has been a disaster pretty much, some of it our own fault some of it bad luck, some of it the club probably taking a calculated risk, I talk about the good and the bad things, not just come on here to have a rant when something negative happens

 

So if someone doesn’t agree with your claret and blue tinted view they are either ignorant or their view is dumb (I only wish I had your knowledge of all the players etc it’s commendable - but doesn’t make other views less important or right) - I was talking about progression, every club (and in any part of the game from Sunday league to top) gets injury’s in a season - having a squad so bare is the problem, not the 1 or 2 injury’s, but even then on the pitch we look so tactically inept and have no real pattern of play - the fundamentals of football. 

We didn’t make 6 first team signings,  DvD was effectively a swap for HH,  Patten/Hansen were already here on loan, Salmon has made 1 WSL start - so Leon (who I agree has been ok, but wrong side of 30 and no real improvement on stats from last year) and Parker who was shoe horned into the team before injury - so I would say 2 at best maybe 3 - but they replaced 13 in total (of which 6/7 played some part in last season)  - so yeah I stand by my stance we didn’t standstill let alone progress - I said this before the window shut.  We didn’t strengthen in the areas we needed - 3 wide midfielders when we needed a DM/CM and maybe a FB.

So my expectations were mainly high due to form of last year (team bond, the way the fought etc) and those coming in were to support and give us more options, and the buzz around the team (everything being pushed out by club, players, media etc). 

Most talk about the good or bad things, unfortunately there is very little or any good things this season.  A few results against poor or championship teams is nothing to write home about.  I hope we can improve our overall play and keep the form going, god knows a cup run to final would be nice - but if I were a betting man (which I’m not) I can see no more than 3 further wins in WSL and prob 7/8th place finish and a humbling defeat in the semis if we can beat Brighton (manger less as they are).

UTV

It’s easier to attract in summer on the back of a good season - we having fallen behind in that regards, summer just gone we would have been an appealing offer for players - next summer that won’t be the case.  You can dress it up as what you want, but it’s piss poor across the board - recruitment, communication, tactics, Image - everything this season screams amateur.  I stand by my quote after the first game this season, we didn’t even tread water in summer and have just gone backwards, that’s not down to bad luck - massive lack of progression..

We should be pushing the women’s game, it’s good for the club overall - there seems to be a massive disconnect with the rest of the squads.

We have a good following, always comes across in games - we/they are the ones being let down. Maybe I am over critical, as I want us to be a success and was generally excited in what we looked to be doing last season.  

Movement up top is terrible, final balls are bad and decision making piss poor - still get a goal and we can get back in this.  Just need to speed it up a bit.  So annoying

First half was meh - second half much much better, could have come away with a point and would have been fair.  Soft pen, by thems the breaks sometimes. Still need Dali to start getting back to somewhere near her best, gave the ball away far too much in attacking third when in great positions.

It’s just a big set up to wipe the floor with barcodes on Tuesday - revenge and get back on track, whilst putting them in there place 

UTV

It’s an odd one due to the group stages, straight knock out (like Barnsley example) are easy to determine the outcome - the Man Utd part is going to cause issues, either way 1 of the 3 teams will feel aggrieved - Sunderland is the easiest to upset (for FA) so fine for us paid directly to them would be my outcome if I pulled the strings - I just fear the FA will sway to favour united.

Its a stupid error, its not cheating as such just poor (regardless of my thoughts of who shoulders blame) - its not the worst thing to have happened .

She didn’t even need to come on - such a stupid thing to do. Rule is pretty clear, can’t play for more than one club in completion in a season  (from the rules posted) - will be interestesting to see our defence for it.

For me it’s on the manager (and a little on player), they HAVE to know it’s there job.

Would be funny though if United miss out, skinner is a word removed.

Going to plan so far, 3 up - 1 well worked finish, 1 well taken goal and 1 straight off the training ground.  Really want to see Mullett get a goal and play the 90, Laura B really running the show and all 4 wide players doing well.  

9 hours ago, useless said:

After the game today Carla was asked about lack of clinical edge in the final third, and she said we've just brought in someone to help with that, I'm presuming  she means a specialist goal scoring coach, I did notice a guy in the pictures from training in the week that I didn't recognize, maybe that was the new coach, hopefully makes a difference. To be fair I thought we were actually quite unlucky in front of goal today, Leitzig made some top saves as she does most games, she will probably end up at a 'top four club' or one of the top teams in Europe before long

 We had less shots than them (13-15) with both having 6 on target - that’s with us controlling most of ball (56% possession doesn’t paint the same picture).  As big chances go, both ours were great chances (Lehman and Leon) and although the keeper made good saves finishing was poor for both - other than that we huffed and puffed but generally final third ball was poor. 

They stayed in the game and really should have done better with their 4 big chances, DVD was good in those situations, but we can’t afford (if we don’t create ourselves) to give away that many clear cuts.

Overall it’s hopefully a building block, we seemed drained of confidence - which is strange, noticed a few things yesterday with body language and interactions with players that just wasn’t their last season. 

UTV

Not great, but a wins a win- felt like we tried our hardest to let them back in, hopefully get some momentum back. That being said we missed 3 top chances.

Laura B really good, Leon, Daphene and Patten also good.  Thought Dali was poor, need her back to last years standard and Corsie looked dead on her feet second half.

UTV

Lost count of the amount of times we needed to hit it long into the corners/space or hit row Z - I get the passing out and what it gives us, but we need to mix it up especially when the opposition have there tails up.  

Thought he did ok, no conincidence his supposed poor form has been against teams who low block/back 5 or ones where have hardly any possession - he needs grass and plenty of it to run into.

It makes sense - we have a good season this year, closing a stand and losing both revenue and as he said fortress VP makes no sense - we can add 10k seats but we aren’t doing transport, car park etc.  So we lose fans during 2 years, then it’s a pot mess when it’s open - I agree with this

Predictable, Slow and Sluggish.  Cant get my head around subs, timing and personnel - we needed to change the way we approached the game, not just change like for like. I would have had Laura B-B on instead on Corsie, Salmon for Leon and Mullet for Nobbs at HT.

Agree Corsie in midfield is not good, but I fear Carla will revert to squeezing in CBs over full backs when Parker is back and we will loose even attacking threat. 

Needed a bit of youthful exuberance, don’t get the reluctance to give McLoughin or Mullet some minutes. 
 

I said it early and I still believe we missed a massive opportunity to progress over the summer, not even sure we stood still.

Int break to regroup again, before we meet City - that’s going to be tough. Cup game then Brighton before the break - need to get something out of those 2 games.

31 minutes ago, Rich192 said:

Bit of shite scheduling to have the game at the same time as the men’s game. 
 

EDIT: Seems it no longer does clash for us (could’ve sworn it was originally 2pm!) but does now clash for Everton. So original point still stands. Kind of. 

lol last week it clashed as well, lucky I’m cross eyed

1 minute ago, useless said:

Was disallowed, a shame was a great team move and finish by Leon

Looked v close to me, Rach was off but I thought she checked her run just. Shame as the only time we have moved it nicely and carve them open

The only thing better than his ball for cash, was cash’s touch to take it on.

Starting to consistently perform like the player we all hope we had signed.

54 minutes ago, andym said:

First goal wasn't a ball over the top. Cash simply got done far too easily on a 1-2 and yes that meant space in behind, but our overall positioning in that situation was no different to how a multitude of teams set up. We got plenty of men back, but Luiz's decision to not close down was fatal - if anything we had too many too deep when the shot came in (not helped by Cash tripping over his own feet trying to track back, which drags Konsa out to cover the Forest player, which drags a midfielder into the box).

2nd goal Cash again gets easily beaten, but in the end its still a shit looping ball in that Konsa should be getting, but he completely misjudges. That allows Forest to recycle the ball back out, but again, we still have 8 outfield players back between the goal scorer and the goal - some not great closing down and some awful keeping costs us.

Totally agree, the first goal both our DMs (as such) dropped into CBS which meant we had no closing down on edge of box - the ball probably wasn’t even meant for that player (was over hit), it should have been walked onto by dougie or kamara.  The second Konsa was done by the bounce, 9 out of 10 he deals with that again we don’t close down. 
 

VAR plays into our hands with high line, close call will be scrutinised - yes we will get thumped once in a while, everyone bar city do.

Our problem with high line and playing out, is when teams don’t press, so we can’t bypass it - severely missing Emi B is these times, especially when they have a lead to defend.

Without Ramsey he is the best if the rest for progressing the ball, he has the ability to run it out, but seems to try to hard for me - we should switch it up and use him later in in games for a bit.

End product is horrible - makes some clever movements, but ability to pick out a player is 1 in 30 at best either that or passes it back.  Hasn’t been too bad over the last 10 odd games but certainly has not made the shirt his own as some suggest his shitness is over shadow by our better players, Alex walks back in that spot both full backs are by far the weakest links.

Just now, KAZZAM said:

We need new ideas for away from and possibly a different formation. 

Cuz it just doesn't work. 

Or just play with a bit of pace, we are sooooooo slow, when we move it we look good.  Getting Digne/Cash into god positions is a massive waste of time, neither has any end product.

3 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said:

We're pointless after 25% of the season, having conceded 16 goals in 5 games including a 6-0 home defeat, and the players are visibly out of ideas. The claim that the manager is 'currently . . . under no threat whatsoever' is not credible. 

If anything, saying she is under no threat is ignorance of women’s football, football and AFC.

For me the point should not be whether you think she is under pressure/threat of sack - She should be, if we are serious about trying to break or close the gap to top 4.  Regardless if any of us rate her, it’s a results games in both men’s and women’s that’s just the way it is.  If we are happy losing 4 on the bounce, regardless of who we play then we might as well just be done with it - I don’t mean we should only except 100% win record, but I stick my comments we haven’t progressed in the off season so may be we are just happy making up the numbers - or we have hit our ceiling in both manager and club expectations.  But that just my opinion.

I didn’t see the game yesterday, so can’t comment.