 Saturday, 5th Feb 2011 09:23 by Mick McDermott As the club dodges bullets off the field, on the field the squad must try to ignore the controversy and bring back 3 points from Pompey.
Portsmouth vs. Derby CountySaturday 5th February 2011Fratton Park - PortsmouthPortsmouth v Rams - Historical P 48 W 12 D 12 L 24 F 66 A 12
Last game at Fratton Park 19/1/2007 Portsmouth 3 - 1 Derby County ; Nyatanga
Current Form Portsmouth 20/24 P 28 W 8 D 7 L 13 F 38 A 35 Leading scorers Lawrence (7lg1cp)
Derby 16/24 Derby P 28 W 10 D 4 L 14 F 419 A 40 Leading scorers Bueno (4), Cywka (4)
The Rams Forgive me or being cynical but how many times have we heard variations of this? "I am personally disappointed that I was not able to deliver - in this transfer window - a couple of attacking options, we will have to get that business done on when the emergency window opens." That was Tom Glick on BBC Radio Derby and it was in response to a burgeoning protest against the perceived mismanagement of the club. There seems to be two or three camps depending on who you blame. Tom Glick & GSE and a lack of investment in the club is one camp. Though people are grateful for all of the hard work in straightening up the finances, they can see that the team is desperately short of talent on the field. When we had Fielding and Kuqi, the team played well and many thought we'd turned the corner. Take those away and then sell our leading scorer and suddenly all of the confidence goes out of the team. This was obvious before the transfer window so the lack of any movement inwards other than the uninsipiring name of Ben Davies. Then came the panic as the window was about to close which only looked half hearted and Tom Glick's words just sound like excuses. Other fans blame Clough and his team. They see Clough's insistence on playing 4-2-3-1 with Porter up front and his inability to see that Porter is not up playing that role as a lack of tactical nous. They see him playing other players out of position - and then blaming them when they fail - as unprofessional. Then there are those who blame both. Whoever is responsible for the slump it's a miserable time to be a supporter. The renewals will be going out soon and more and more fans are saying they've had enough. Me among them. It needs some really dramatic upswing on the pitch more than promises of summer signings to get the fans back on board. And frankly at the moment I can't see either.
Possible team Bywater Brayford Barker Addison Roberts Green B.Davies Savage Bueno Cywka Porter SUBS - Deeney, Pringle, S.Davies, Doyle, Pearson, Buxton, Bailey
Current Rams Squad No. Position Player 1 Keeper Stephen Bywater 2 Defender John Brayford 3 Defender Gareth Roberts 4 Midfield Paul Green 5 Defender Shaun Barker (vice-captain) 6 Defender Dean Leacock 7 Striker Steve Davies 8 Midfield Robbie Savage 11 Midfield Stephen Pearson 12 Striker Chris Porter 13 Keeper Saul Deeney 14 Defender Russell Anderson 15 Midfield David Martin 16 Midfield James Bailey 17 Defender Jake Buxton 18 Midfield Ben Pringle 19 Striker Tomasz Cywka 20 Defender Miles Addison 23 Striker Conor Doyle 25 Defender Mark O'Brien 26 Striker Callum Ball 27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid) 28 Midfield Ben Davies 30 Keeper Ross Atkins 35 Midfield Jeff Hendrick 36 Defender Kallum Keane 37 Midfield Ryan Connolly 38 Midfield Medi Abalimba 39 Defender Mitchell Hanson
Portsmouth Pompey has not won for eleven games including defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup. Thee latest defeat came at the hands of QPR - and Boss Steve Coterill is adamant that his side had the better of the game and only a howler by Keeper Jamie Ashdown let Rangers into the game: "It was a howler by Jamie." "He's been superb for us this season, so there's absolutely no blame being attributed to him for that mistake." He was critical of his defenders for the second goal saying; "We lost a man and missed a header in the box. We don't normally do that." He seems to have changed his mind as the week as gone on and in the preview for the game in the Portsmouth Star he states; "I've told Jamie to keep his head up. There wasn't a lot he could do because the ball zipped up off the turf and ended up in the back of the net." "But we go again and train ready for Saturday's game against Derby. It can't come quickly enough. The wins will come if we carry on playing like that." Which seems to leave the fans unimpressed as one wag on the message board says: "well SC you talk the talk, let’s see if the players can play the game." Sounds like another unpopular manager.
Current Pompey Squad No. Position Player 1 Keeper Jamie Ashdown 2 Defender Greg Halford (on loan from Wolves) 3 Defender Carl Dickinson (on loan from Stoke City) 4 Midfield Aaron Mokoena (captain) 5 Defender Ritchie De Laet (on loan from Man Utd) 6 Defender Hermann Hreiðarsson 7 Midfield Liam Lawrence (vice-captain) 8 Midfield Hayden Mullins 9 Striker Danny Webber 10 Striker David Nugent 14 Midfield Jonathan Hogg (on loan from Aston Villa) 18 Striker Dave Kitson 20 Defender Joel Ward 24 Striker Nadir Çiftçi 25 Defender Ibrahima Sonko (on loan from Stoke City) 27 Striker Nwankwo Kanu 33 Defender Ricardo Rocha 36 Midfield Tom Kilbey 37 Keeper Darryl Flahavan
What the bookies think Pompey is favourites at almost evens (21/20) while we are at 5/2 along with the draw. Given how long it is since Pompey won, that's a damning indictment in itself. Dave Kitson is at 5/1 for first scorer while Kanu and Nugent are at 6/1. Chris Porter and Cywka re at 7/1 for us while Alberto Bueno is at 8/1. Given that Cywka is likely to be on the bench, that's also another damning indictment.
Information for travelling fans Driving It's a long drive to the South coast for this one. Take the M1 South to the M25 then follow M25 to the M27. The M27 takes you to Portsmouth eventually becoming the A27. Take the A2030 turn for Fratton / Southsea and the ground is on your left. Don't take the M275 into Portsmouth itself. Parking There's plenty of street parking near the ground if you arrive early enough. There are a couple of car parks in the general vicinity but note they only allow home fans in the large ground car park. Drinking There are several pubs in the area and the natives tend to be friendly. The Good Companion pub about 5 minutes away seems to be popular along with the Brewers Arms. On footballground.com they say a marquee has been erected near the away end that sells food and drink.
Mick's Prediction Though we played well we lost to a poor Ipswich side. This is clearly a struggling Pompey side so the must relish having us turn up and be expecting to get three points. We need to get a result as we're in free fall. Many fans who are thinking of not renewing will find that decision a whole lot easier if we get relegated. I can't see where the goals are coming from and have no confidence in the keeper. Another defeat seems to be on the cards.
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