The Pompey Chimes Forum

New Forester wrote: ↑Tue Aug 06, 2019 10:17 pm Birmingham fielded just three players from their Saturday team. What did they expect? Still, the youngsters got a taste of losing. The right kind of experience?

Jack_Tinn wrote: ↑Wed Aug 07, 2019 8:27 am I was impressed with Charlie Lakin (20yo) and Dan Crowley (22yo) for Birmingham in their midfield last night.

I was pleased to see Crowley being subbed off after 55mins because I thought he was their best player and was a danger. He always had time on the ball and had his head up looking for a decisive pass. B'ham bought him this summer from Arsenal for £700k plus add ons and I think they have a player there. Crowley played for B'ham in the opening game of the season vs Brentford last Saturday

Lakin was playing on the left side of their midfield and I thought he had a good game and almost capped it towards the end with a consolation goal when he dribbled past a few players in the box. Lakin was in the match day squad and on the bench for B'ham for much of last season.

Is it that much of a surprise for B'ham to make nine changes - bringing in a few squad players for a game but still play an experienced keeper in Stockdale and in midfield in Gardner - against opposition from the league below? The way Sky were harping on about B'ham's young players you'd have thought that B'ham were trying to throw the game! Initially they hyped them up and pointed out that Bellingham was a player on the wish list of clubs like Bayern Munich and the spanish giants but once Pompey took control the narrative was about how B'ham's kids were getting a football education.

They seemed to not realise that Close is only 22 and that Harness only broke into first team football last year himself. Close, Cannon and Harrison were squad players for Pompey on Saturday just as much as Lakin was for B'ham.

Good strong performance by Pompey and good win. Harrison gave us pace and movement up front that was sorely lacking last season and he took his goals well and could have had a penalty in the first half and the keeper made a decent save to prevent him getting his hattrick in the second half. The formation change - which was effectively going to a 4-1-2-3 - with Naylor playing in front of the back four with Close and Cannon playing as a pair worked well albeit that Pompey looked a little narrow down the right hand side with Harness naturally gravitating to a central position.

Jack_Tinn wrote: ↑Wed Aug 07, 2019 8:27 am I was impressed with Charlie Lakin (20yo) and Dan Crowley (22yo) for Birmingham in their midfield last night.

I was pleased to see Crowley being subbed off after 55mins because I thought he was their best player and was a danger. He always had time on the ball and had his head up looking for a decisive pass. B'ham bought him this summer from Arsenal for £700k plus add ons and I think they have a player there. Crowley played for B'ham in the opening game of the season vs Brentford last Saturday

Lakin was playing on the left side of their midfield and I thought he had a good game and almost capped it towards the end with a consolation goal when he dribbled past a few players in the box. Lakin was in the match day squad and on the bench for B'ham for much of last season.

Is it that much of a surprise for B'ham to make nine changes - bringing in a few squad players for a game but still play an experienced keeper in Stockdale and in midfield in Gardner - against opposition from the league below? The way Sky were harping on about B'ham's young players you'd have thought that B'ham were trying to throw the game! Initially they hyped them up and pointed out that Bellingham was a player on the wish list of clubs like Bayern Munich and the spanish giants but once Pompey took control the narrative was about how B'ham's kids were getting a football education.

They seemed to not realise that Close is only 22 and that Harness only broke into first team football last year himself. Close, Cannon and Harrison were squad players for Pompey on Saturday just as much as Lakin was for B'ham.

Good strong performance by Pompey and good win. Harrison gave us pace and movement up front that was sorely lacking last season and he took his goals well and could have had a penalty in the first half and the keeper made a decent save to prevent him getting his hattrick in the second half. The formation change - which was effectively going to a 4-1-2-3 - with Naylor playing in front of the back four with Close and Cannon playing as a pair worked well albeit that Pompey looked a little narrow down the right hand side with Harness naturally gravitating to a central position.