chicago_shearer

If we lose I think a reaction will be more to with how we lose. If we go out and try to win then it's not the end of the world, if we try to defend a 0-0 and lose then I think questions will be asked. I'm sure Allardyce will have the players up for this game, his approach is the key issue for me because I think this game is a game we can and should win. I think if we lose, there will be intense criticism regardless of how we played. That is true regardless of the opposition, but especially against a local rival with a relatively poor team. All this criticism about Sam's tactics is going way over the top. I doubt very much that Sam told the players before the Reading or Derby match 'OK lads, remember, we want a nil-nil here'. What I'm sure they were told is to show discipline and organization - something they failed at. What Sam's Bolton consistently managed to do was dictate the way a game is played. Even when they played direct, "negative" football you very rarely saw them with the sort of errant passing, lack of discipline and general cluelessness that we displayed against Pompey. I've yet to feel as though we are "holding back" in the games we've lost, because it never looked as though we had control enough of midfield to sit back and defend. I'd like to be at the point where negative tactics were costing us points, because at the moment we have the bigger problem of poor individual performances.

exactly! i assume allardyce is against passing game. That is the big unexplained mystery. Why can't we pass?

Sam is absolutely right when he talks about shape and discipline. Playing poorly is one thing. But conceding 3 in 11 minutes is just amateurish. The first was unavoidable, but the other two were down to a lack of professionalism.

Portsmouth don't have a better squad than us. They might have a better system too. But I'd swap several of our lot for theirs at the moment, especially the midfielders.

1. Why can't we pass like other teams at this level? 2. Why does everyone but the manager and the players see that Owen and Martins are 5ft tall and incapable of dealing with long balls? 3. Pompey have a better squad. Good team. Doesn't excuse how poor we were though.

Carl Cort with the goal.

This season, Cesc. But Michael Essien is an amazing player and a very close second.

Good appointment for them really. Better than Megson, and he's in the Premier League.

Miserable git. Blatter has told them that it won't affect their entry into future international competitions. Would it kill them to just cooperate in the interests of a better Olympics?

Just curious - who do they have doing the commentary on the UK broadcast? No clue, listening to the cringe-worthy Fox team. "Hey Tony, you know what Big Ben is? AHAHAHA" If you thought the likes of Lawrenson and Platt were asinine, just try listening to the guys on Fox. Just comical. It is a shame though that the first game outside the US was the football equivalent of Villa v. Wigan because it can be entertaining in an over-the-top American sort of way.

Just curious - who do they have doing the commentary on the UK broadcast?

All these people that thought he was too arrogant but somehow tolerated Alex Ferguson for all these years. I liked Jose and would love him to get the England job. Exactly the sort of personality to deal with it IMO. Great manager.

A draw is usually a good result away from home and would have been today. Doesn't mean you should play for one though. The next fixture is Pompey at home - one of only two sides (by my count) that have a better record away than at home. Think they will come to SJP playing for a point?

Good results like beating Spurs are almost meaningless when you can perform against the worst sides in the league. Reading are very, very poor. No excuses for this.

This away form really needs fixing.

http://bluechampions.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/New_Chelsea_away.JPG http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scoreangels/images/don02.jpg http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/writers/world_soccer/07/06/abramovich/p1_abramovich_0706.jpg And I'm sure that Bolton or Reading or someone have cheerleaders.

When you are playing against slow or average defenders (Dawson) then you should play Owen & Martins together. But against better teams or away you need someone like Viduka to hold up the ball and for set pieces.

Sam looks very pleased.

Really impressed with Faye. Quality defending.

This is it for Jol I reckon. Sacked by Wednesday.

Harsh on the Duke, but Owen & Martins should be first choice. Especially at home.

MILNER GETTTTTTTT INNNNN

Joey Barton coming on. Good sub.

I realize that Jol potentially getting sacked is the big journo angle with this fixture, but this Setanta coverage has been focused 100% on Spurs. The performance of the team they are playing hasn't got a mention.

Hoping to see Barton in the second half. With Jenas and Zokora playing as badly as they are, we shouldn't be depending on these long balls.