AdoptedGeordieFromPompey

Daily Mail reporting that both Toon and Chelsea have had bids accepted. So it is now down to the player to decide.

Maybe JT has an eye for a player. Don't think any of us saw this coming but clearly he's good enough to play regularly at this level. Good for him.

Comes off and runs over to give the armband to Botman, who had just given away the dumbest of dumb penalties. Think that sums his day up nicely.

It is of course a penalty. It is of course incredibly dumb from Sven but also if a ref gives it, he has to give every shirt pull in the box, not just one in injury time.

The thing I liked most tonight was he made several runs forward where it looked like he was really busting a gut. Too often he runs forward like I do and I'm overweight, 43 and have cerebral palsy. Wolt looked lively though tonight, broke up play and did the job he was asked to do. Lovely run in behind just before he was subbed off and the ball across the six-yard box was good as well. That was more than decent tonight.

That was like watching Mourinho's Inter Milan. Dangerous on the break. Rock solid at the back and gave up the flanks to block up the middle. Worked a treat.

Tough to really judge him last night. Often in games, one flank becomes the dominant and that was very much true last night. Barnes and Hall were having a field day and Gordon, Willock and Woltemarde all seemed to be predominately more left of centre than right, meaning there was often an overload on the left. This meant the ball often went through the centre/left rather than the right, can't really blame Elanga for that. His ball in for Burn's chance was inch-perfect and BDB really should've scored. Otherwise he tracked back well enough apart from two minutes in the second half when he was poor twice on the give and go. Outside of that he did fine and whilst not pulling up trees, did his work.

Thiaw clearly took the yellow on purpose there.

Back in 92/93, Pompey didn't go up to the Premier League on Goals Scored. With three games to go, we beat Peterborough 4-0. Guy Whittingham had scored a hat-trick and we were awarded a penalty late and he took it rather than the designated penalty taker, it was saved. Jim Smith went ballistic and had we scored that penalty, we likely would've been promoted. The designated penalty taker should always take the penalty if they are on the pitch unless for whatever reason, they don't fancy it.

Outstanding first 45. Might be the best quality but it is evident these players are giving everything for Howe. Elanga very dangerous.

Luke is a genuinely nice guy as well. Worked with him for years and of course - he's a Pompey mush which helps...

Every single game he puts a goal on a plate for a striker with a wonderful cross and every single game, no-one makes good contact. It's uncanny how often he does it. Should have 5-10 assists on the season.

Trippier is galloping into space high up non-stop and no-one seems to want to play him in. Must've had 10+ opportunities and only twice did they decide to even attempt to play the pass.

Looking forward to seeing and hearing JoeLINton everytime he touches the ball...

The effort and work rate is still there, his quality on the ball though has taken quite the nosedive.

Very lucky not to see a second yellow after a dumb as first yellow but played very well today.

TeamTalk - so its varacity is shall we say, in question - https://www.teamtalk.com/newcastle-united/joelinton-damaging-transfer-exit-in-works-eddie-howe-makes-position-clear-sources

I don't get why he (and Gordon) feel the need to play with chalk on their boots. Both are more effective when utilising their speed going more centrally. Elanga's best moments this season have been the red vs Burnley, his chance against Villa and his performance at USG - where he was far narrower than we are seeing him most appearances. When you have electric pace, you want that running straight at goal. He's not that skillful nor does he have a great cross on him, so he needs to look to run inwards more. Toon's pattern of play for three odd years has been Trippier/Almiron/Bruno triangles down the right flank but Elanga is never going to be effective when asked to play that role. You don't buy a player with his attributes and tell him to stay as wide as possible. In theory our front three (Gordon/Wolt/Elanga) should work like Bayern's where Kane drops deeper but the two wide men are always looking to run in behind and directly towards goal. That should play to their stengths. Asking them to play slow skillful, patent build-up doesn't seem to be working, so let them loose to do what they do best and if they cab't do that, then so be in. Square Pegs in Round Holes doesn't work long-term, see Burn, D and Left-Back.

Ramsdale is better with his feet. Pope is better as a shot stopper. Both punch the ball poorly from corners. All comes down to what you want more from a keeper - ability with the feet or stopping shots on target...

Wonder what all those who thought he should've been at the Kassam Stadium this weekend instead are thinking. One game doesn't make a season but he has shown he'll develop here and can give the team very good minutes and performances in the black and white.

I thought watching Pompey lose 4-0 yesterday was bad but this performance is running it close. Just no desire in any of the forward-thinking positions. So slow and lumbering. West Ham were always going to sit back and protect the lead - we all know what Nuno is like - so we take off our big hulk of a striker and try to play Osula in with his pace - with no space to run into. Just shocking all round.

Always thought Woltemade scanned perfectly with 'In the Navy' for a more unique chant - just need some just lyrics for the lines between yelling 'WOLTEMADE!'

Even when a player is out of form and low on confidence - if they keep showing for the ball, making the right runs, not shying away and putting in a right shift then it is hard to overly criticise. He's clearly getting to grips with a different style of play and a new team but he's not hiding, keeps making runs, tracks back relatively well and isn't sulking about things. Give the lad time. We all know there is a player there who can be a real asset. No need to pillory him before he's even started ten games here.

Should've been at Portman Road tonight instead eh...? Miley will get 20-25 starts this season and will be an important part of the side. He's shown that he has it and he'll develop plenty here rather than in the Championship getting kicked by Championship plodders.

He kept going down the outside and the full-back kept being surprised. Shows that once he shows his man he can go both ways - he'll always have a step and that is when he's at his most dangerous.