 Thursday, 15th Aug 2013 21:56 by Tayler Willson This League Two journey may have got off on the wrong foot, but this is a new start, it's a new beginning for Portsmouth Football Club. New players, new owners and new opponents - it's nothing like we've ever witnessed (errr I have... - old git Ed). Despite the slow and ultimately winless start to the campaign, I'm not too despondent. Before the bookmakers loaded a Mbesumba-sized weight on the club's shoulders by making them favourite for promotion, I was ready (and hoping) for a steady, controversy-free rebuilding season, ready for the promotion push the following year. However, the bookies have raised fans' expectations to a level that, after a not too impressive pre-season and with a lot of gelling to do, is unjust and a tad ambitious. Yes, we've sold a large amount of season tickets. Yes, we've been there and done we've that. But a club does not get promoted solely on reputation, as everybody (apart from the bookies) knows. Thus far, albeit only two league games in, there are players that have impressed me and players that haven't so much. Andy Barcham, Joe Devera and Sonny Bradley have caught my eye, with highly-rated Romain Padovani also filling the suspended Ertl's boots well. On the other hand, young left-back Daniel Butler has been force fed a lorry load of abuse on Twitter from 'fans', following the opening game against Oxford and the Capital One Cup game against Bournemouth, for his part in two of the goals conceded. Now, don't get me wrong, they were mistakes and these must be eradicated, but it's clear that Butler, at the tender age of 18, is a class act that we must keep hold of. The Isle-of-Wight born defender was by far our most consistent performer in pre-season, with an exceptionally mature, and man-of-the-match, display in the 3-0 loss to Charlton. In the past, Portsmouth has been rash with their youth. Talents like Marlon Pack and Matt Ritchie have got away, following poor treatment and before being given time to grow as a player - We used to expect too much, too soon. Naturally, Whittingham gave Butler a week off from the starting eleven nagainst Accrington Stanley, and rightly so. Not necessarily because of his form, but because of the boy's confidence. What Butler has received is bound to have affected him and to withdraw him from the firing line, for now, was a wise and obvious move. Sadly, the defender isn't the only player to receive criticism for his early season performances. Astonishingly, sought-after Jed Wallace has also been the target for 'fans' on Twitter. Honestly, I struggle to comprehend how and why Wallace is being targeted. The England U19 International was arguably our best player during the second half of last season and after three uneventful, not poor, games this season, he is also a victim. Again, like Butler, Wallace's class is obvious. The 19-year-old reportedly snubbed offers from Premier League Stoke City and south coast neighbours Brighton. The lad's commitment and desire for first team football surely has to be admired at the very least, doesn't it?
Wallace, who was a daily 'tweeter', admitted he was having a break from the social networking site following the comments directed at him. As fans and owners, we should not criticise, we should encourage. This is only me of course, but I'd imagine Butler's faults weren't deliberate and Wallace's quiet performances weren't planned. Let's stop being ridiculous, outweigh the internet 'trolls' and get behind our team. Hopefully we can show the four travelling Morecambe fans - I expect a f ew more to turn up on the day - how to really play football. The views of Tayler Willson are his own
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