Joakim Ellingsen

[Steen]

--- In pfcab@yahoogroups.com, tonyhardy532@... wrote:
>
> Anyone at Bournemouth tonight?
> Dogfish
>
Views of 'PorchyCastle' on another board:
FT 0-1 Pompey (Wilson pen)

Thought we looked OK to be fair – I expected us to struggle. Goal came from a penalty after what looked like a Pompey player was being obstructed in the box.

We appeared to play a 4-1-4-1 system with Hughes as the holding midfielder, Nugent playing as a central striker and Ciftci and Smith wide.

Smith looked dangerous, quick and skillful at this level and had a rasping 25 yard shot well saved by Jalal in the first half.

We looked in control and passed the ball well in the first half with Marlon Pack looking comfortable and tidy in midfield. Wilson looked very composed at centre back and played the ball out of defence. Brown stormed around got booked for a poor challenge and then was the victim of 2 retaliatory lunges. Mullins was ordinary at centre back, but out of position to be fair to him.

Negative points; we visibly tired in the 2nd half, the older players in particular Mullins, Hughes and Brown looked jaded and leggy as the 2nd half went on, this allowed Bournemouth to look the more threatening in the 2nd half with Ashdown asked to make a couple of good saves.

Matt Ritchie struggled against Liam Feeney, a quick, skillful right winger who gave him problems all night. Ward looked OK at right back but wasn't commanding.

We didn't create lot during the game which is worrying, but Smith looks like he'll be very valuable next season and seems the only player we have who can conjur up something from nothing - he looks sharp and hungry.

Ciftci was dreadful. He lacks pace has a poor first touch and for a biggish guy was knocked off the ball easily. Cotterill obviously thought the same and took him off, to be replaced by first year trainee Peter Gregory.

It was the subs bench that provided the most concern; we only had 3 subs in Gregory, Kilbey and a third who I didn't recognise and who the PA announcer failed to introduce (might have been Perry Ryan).

We obviously are short but where on earth are Mokoena, Utaka, Boateng? We're paying their wages so they should be there playing in my opinion.

What I can only guess at is that all 3 players have made it clear they don't want to play for PFC and want a move immediately – or they are deliberately not being played to prevent injury which could stop a sale to another club (remember Diarra's prolonged absence before his sale to Real Madrid?).

As we all know the squad is very thin. We appeared to have a starting 11 tonight and then 3 trainees as subs. Sonko and Jordan didn't play – Cotterill maybe resting them for Fulham on Sat.

All in all a case of 'job done' for Cotterill. We weren't embarrassed and played some neat, passing football in periods which bodes well, despite clearly being tired from the USA Tour debacle. As we ll know we need a squad and not just a first 11 but hopefully that will be sorted out soon, once we know what is happening with the court case result next Tuesday.

Oh and finally and least importantly we played in the white and burgundy away strip yet again (have Kappa not sent blue shirts, white shorts and red socks yet?).
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Steen Houman mener corporal punishment er den største