Leeds vs Pompey

[TrueBlueBlood]

My cousin is a Leeds fan who lives in Gosport, he keeps an eye on the blues too. This is what he thinks of our preparation. He said:-
"Leeds played teams like Valencia, who we beat 2-1.
Pompey played reams like Bognor and Gosport, is that really the correct level to prepare for?
Leeds are putting in bids for players in the region of 20million.
Pompey are getting freebies and the odd 300k player."
He then went on to say that a 5-0 opening day drubbing for Pompey looks to be fair looking at how both teams have prepped. I found it hard to argue, what do other blues fans think of his statements?

[Blue Walter]

I suppose the difference in the two clubs is what their aims are for the coming season are. Leeds are a big club, even by Championship standards, who aim is to return to the Premiership. Pompey, on the other hand, aim is to stay in the Championship. Leeds have parachute payments which enable them to bring in the best players available whereas we shop in the lower end. Pompey haven't been able to play any home friendlies due to ground works so we're unable to play higher placed teams. So I would think a 5-0 drubbing is what we can expect, except it is going to turn out as a 2-1 win for Pompey.

[TrueBlueBlood]

A 2-1 win for Pompey would truly be a dream start! I can then ram his statement down his throat!
I think it is a bit of a free hit. Away at Elland road to a team that just missed out on promo....along with us losing our best forward to heart surgery. It doesn't get much harder. But then I think of our 1st game away trip to Shefield Wednesday where we came away with a 3-3....so who knows. I can't wait tbh.

[TrueBlueBlood]

Showed him this post. He says that it is more who we used for preparation that gives him hope of us getting a dicking from his Leeds.
He mentioned Sunderland having a game against Marseille....
Even Oxford won 2-0 against Scum (we really need to finish above Oxford)
He reckons we prepped as if we are in L2 by using local non-league clubs and went no higher than L1.
I get what he is saying. But as replied above, with Fratton Park being re-layed, it's hard to sort out decent games against more testing opponents.
Not sure if the likes of Sunderland and Leeds played these high end teams home or away though....
Maybe next season we can get some real tests in before the season starts. Charlton are always a bogey team for us no matter what div they are in to be fair!

[Pompey55]

My cousin is a Leeds fan who lives in Gosport, he keeps an eye on the blues too. This is what he thinks of our preparation. He said:-
"Leeds played teams like Valencia, who we beat 2-1.
Pompey played reams like Bognor and Gosport, is that really the correct level to prepare for?
Leeds are putting in bids for players in the region of 20million.
Pompey are getting freebies and the odd 300k player."
He then went on to say that a 5-0 opening day drubbing for Pompey looks to be fair looking at how both teams have prepped. I found it hard to argue, what do other blues fans think of his statements?

You can spend millions when you get millions for players like Gray
The games against local non-league teams goes back years and is in many way a source of funds for those clubs whilst letting people who can't afford full price tickets etc see the club and often meet the players
I can see a loss but a drubbing no the defence is one of our stronger areas if Norris doesn't have another mare and preseason means very little remember we had a bad one last year

[Portchesterblue2]

Showed him this post. He says that it is more who we used for preparation that gives him hope of us getting a dicking from his Leeds.
He mentioned Sunderland having a game against Marseille....
Even Oxford won 2-0 against Scum (we really need to finish above Oxford)
He reckons we prepped as if we are in L2 by using local non-league clubs and went no higher than L1.
I get what he is saying. But as replied above, with Fratton Park being re-layed, it's hard to sort out decent games against more testing opponents.
Not sure if the likes of Sunderland and Leeds played these high end teams home or away though....
Maybe next season we can get some real tests in before the season starts. Charlton are always a bogey team for us no matter what div they are in to be fair!

Ask him what league Leeds are in ?? then ask him what league we are in ??
yeah your millions on players is working out so far isnt it

[Blue Walter]

Showed him this post. He says that it is more who we used for preparation that gives him hope of us getting a dicking from his Leeds.
He mentioned Sunderland having a game against Marseille....
Even Oxford won 2-0 against Scum (we really need to finish above Oxford)
He reckons we prepped as if we are in L2 by using local non-league clubs and went no higher than L1.
I get what he is saying. But as replied above, with Fratton Park being re-layed, it's hard to sort out decent games against more testing opponents.
Not sure if the likes of Sunderland and Leeds played these high end teams home or away though....
Maybe next season we can get some real tests in before the season starts. Charlton are always a bogey team for us no matter what div they are in to be fair!

Ask him what league Leeds are in ?? then ask him what league we are in ??
yeah your millions on players is working out so far isnt it

You are right about spending millions on players doesn't necessarily mean success but it does give you a much better chance. Leeds supporters will be looking for a return to the top table this season whilst we will hoping to avoid a quick return to the trough.

[Mickemo]

I watched the extended highlights of Leeds vs Valencia and they looked really good going forwards. I think if they play anything like that on Saturday we will be on the wrong end of a hiding. That said if JM sets us up to be difficult to play against and not try to play open expansive football then maybe we can nullify their forward play & snatch a point.

[New Forester]

Are we on Sky?

[New Forester]

Yes. Sky412

Just checked!

[Pompey55]

Are we on Sky?

Every game in every league at the weekend is on Sky in one form or the other

[Pompey55]

I watched the extended highlights of Leeds vs Valencia and they looked really good going forwards. I think if they play anything like that on Saturday we will be on the wrong end of a hiding. That said if JM sets us up to be difficult to play against and not try to play open expansive football then maybe we can nullify their forward play & snatch a point.

I really can't recall us consistently playing open expansive football much last season in games like this we pretty much shut up shop and used Lane and in particular Kamara on the break
Then later in the games used Yengi's pace up front and Saydee's brute force as substitutes which often succeeded in unsettling teams as they tired
The problem we have is the often underestimated work Bishop puts in pressing the defence which we may miss now

[Sam_Brown]

I’m happy football is back but I’m pessimistic about the opening game. A decent showing is all I ask.

[Mickemo]

I watched the extended highlights of Leeds vs Valencia and they looked really good going forwards. I think if they play anything like that on Saturday we will be on the wrong end of a hiding. That said if JM sets us up to be difficult to play against and not try to play open expansive football then maybe we can nullify their forward play & snatch a point.

I really can't recall us consistently playing open expansive football much last season in games like this we pretty much shut up shop and used Lane and in particular Kamara on the break
Then later in the games used Yengi's pace up front and Saydee's brute force as substitutes which often succeeded in unsettling teams as they tired
The problem we have is the often underestimated work Bishop puts in pressing the defence which we may miss now

I don’t disagree - our strength last season was were tough to beat however we *generally controlled matches possession wise and subsequently spent more time attacking then defending which is a key factor in being tough to beat. (*Against the better teams the games were more even as you’d expect).

I strongly doubt we will be controlling the match on Saturday however IF when in possession we attack in numbers with overlapping fullbacks (or play with a high press) we will come unstuck. Derby match at home being a good example, look at how both goals were conceded.

I’d be very happy with a 0-0 draw.

[Pompey1984+1]

Having not seen us win a league game for ages, I've now not seen us lose a league game for ages.... And I'm going Saturday.

I suspect the counters will be restarting - either way it will be an enjoyable day.