Away Match Day Thread +++ 25/03/2018 PORTSMOUTH v OUFC +++

[uptheus]

Why did the ref book McGee, and was it him he actually booked e.g. has he officially confirmed this?

And why did he tell our players that he’d booked Thompson for that incident, and if he did why didn’t he walk too?

Oh, and hopefully that’s the last time we see Mowatt in an Oxford shirt, not only because of that incident, but because he’s s**t and doesn’t offer the team anything.

 

[Oldham]

Ledson, Mowatt and Brannagan were poor today. Ledson needs to show composure on the ball, but he’s erratic. Mowatt just offers nothing, e.g. no pace, no real trickery and Brannagan just doesn’t seem as effective playing the deeper role.

We are poor all over the place, strikers, wingers, fullback and working relationships in midfield don’t work.

Mass exodus in the summer needed.

Just hope we can scrap over the line and stay as a league 1 team.

I think once Lego got booked it took the spark out of his game. He knew he could not go steaming into tackles and it affected his performance. Maybe after a few games Robbo would have known this and subbed him? Agree with a poster above that Henry was our best player and he looked pretty p!ssed off at being taken off.

 

[Gary Baldi]

Why did the ref book McGee, and was it him he actually booked e.g. has he officially confirmed this?

And why did he tell our players that he’d booked Thompson for that incident, and if he did why didn’t he walk too?

Oh, and hopefully that’s the last time we see Mowatt in an Oxford shirt, not only because of that incident, but because he’s s**t and doesn’t offer the team anything.

On the coverage, it looked like he booked Naismith. Whatever he did, it was unclear at the time and remains to be so. Not good for an official in any sport. It happens, but it seems have had a material impact on the result. For the 2nd away game in a row.

 

[Corporate_Clive]

The ref isn't as much to blame though is he? If someone strikes out at someone, like Mowatt did, then he has to go. How many times have you seen a player get a second yellow for unsporting conduct? Not often I'd imagine.

Also part of the not play for us again comment was based on the fact that he is now banned for 3 games, we only have another 6 after that. He has been a disappointment this season (one of many), won't be here next and wouldn't be in our best team now, Rothwell is far superior and should be playing every week from now to the end of the season. I don't see anything to be gained from Mowatt taking a spot in the team.

I understand Rothwell is suffering from very troublesome hamstring and I dont think we can rely on him.

 

[Corporate_Clive]

Yes - but defending and scoring are pretty major elements of the game.
We have some good players in central midfield, but are weak defensively and weak upfront.
If a golfer is good with his irons, but a poor driver and putter he will not often score well.
I didn't see this game that we dominated. The possession stats are marginally in our favour, but shots on and off target significantly in their favour.
I think that overall it was reasonably encouraging, in that if we play that way for the rest of the season we should get the odd ball bounce go our way and get the couple of wins we need. But we are due to play four of the top five sides - three away - so we are not 'there' yet. Which, at Easter time, is a bit disconcerting.
Reassuring afterwards to hear Robinson so passionate. I never bought into Pep's bizarre management speak (And nor, I think, did the players).

I 100% agree Sir.

 

[Corporate_Clive]

Enjoyed that interview.

After that performance my concerns for the remainder of the season are diminishing, regardless of what happens against Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury.

I am not so sure. Vs. Posh Evans admitted he got his formation wrong. I think we were fortunate to get the 3 pts. I think it could be an interesting few games.

 

[Oldham]

Well I’m aboard the good ship “Robbo”. I’ve rated him for a fair while and from what I saw yesterday he showed more passion in that 90 mins than most of our coaching/backroom staff have all season.

 

[Corporate_Clive]

Barring injury,Thomas and Obika must have a clause in there contract,that stipulates at least one of them must be selected to start in every game-this must be why we keep playing them upfront,in a formation that week after week fails to deliver goals and points.
One thought would be to drop them both and start with Rothwell,Napa,Henry,they all have the ability to run with the ball towards the opposing defence and create chances in and around the box.

I dont agree. I rate Thomas and I am confident he will come good for remainder of the season. He has been out of the team and needs to get his sharpness back. I say we start him and we back him.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

I was at Fratton Park and couldn’t believe Henry was subbed off - he was our best player!

A terrible decision - however to concede a goal from Portsmouth’s first ball into the box from
a corner after 4 mins was scandalous. Under pressure Pompey, without a home win in 2018, were handed
a big boost. Could Eastwood have come for the ball?

We’re pretty with the ball and easy on the eye but the lack of quality up front Is worrying.
Both full backs concern me too - I just hope we can scramble a couple of wins.

 

[Upthecowboys]

Dumbfounded by the criticism Mowatt is getting for his reaction to the penalty miss.

In the ideal world he should not have reacted in the way he did, but when you have an oppo player in your face just after a penalty miss how do you expect him to react?

Pompey player was an absolute disgrace, Mowatt's only mistake was not properly punching him.

Can only assume those criticising have never actually played football at any level themselves.

 

[bazzer9461]

I dont agree. I rate Thomas and I am confident he will come good for remainder of the season. He has been out of the team and needs to get his sharpness back. I say we start him and we back him.

No
Doubt it tbh I would drop him now, his performance yesterday was non existant

 

[Joey]

Dumbfounded by the criticism Mowatt is getting for his reaction to the penalty miss.

In the ideal world he should not have reacted in the way he did, but when you have an oppo player in your face just after a penalty miss how do you expect him to react?

Pompey player was an absolute disgrace, Mowatt's only mistake was not properly punching him.

Can only assume those criticising have never actually played football at any level themselves.

I'd expect him to ignore it or give some verbals back. He's an adult and it shouldn't be that hard to do. How often would you be willing to excuse what Mowatt did? If we had a player sent off every game because they lashed out at someone who wound them up would that be ok?

No arguments that Thompson acted disgracefully but he "won" that moment by getting a reaction which probably cost us the game.

 

[RATC]

I was at Fratton Park and couldn’t believe Henry was subbed off - he was our best player!

A terrible decision - however to concede a goal from Portsmouth’s first ball into the box from
a corner after 4 mins was scandalous. Under pressure Pompey, without a home win in 2018, were handed
a big boost. Could Eastwood have come for the ball?

We’re pretty with the ball and easy on the eye but the lack of quality up front Is worrying.
Both full backs concern me too - I just hope we can scramble a couple of wins.

To be Fair although we did concede from the corner i felt Dickie was unfairly impeded. The pompey centre back was practically strangling him, for the ref to not give a foul for that but then give a foul for Dickie clashing with a player as he was going up for a header Is laughable.

That being said, the marking needed to be better, Ledson on nobody, Mousinho looses his man who scores and maybe Eastwood could've done better it came to the back post but they flooded bodies into that area so it would've been difficult for him to get through to the ball.who knows though his presence could've thrown the pompey man off if he tried to collect. That Barnsley rumor has really affected his game by looks of it.

As for Henry. I am dumbfounded with people saying he isn't good enough. Best player in the team. Next season it has to be built around him,ledson and Brannagan.

 

[HeyMcAleny]

Mowatt's response was wrong but he is a human being and in the heat of the moment he reacted badly to intense provocation.

Impressed at how perfect so many of our fans are who have never done something they instantly regretted.

Puzzled also that so many demand passion from our players but can't forgive Mowatt for slapping an ex Swindon player celebrating in his face after he's missed a penalty.

Mowatt in the Oxford Mail today said it's his worst 60 seconds in football and I can only imagine how utterly dreadful he must have felt walking off that pitch.

It's a painful lesson the lad has had to learn.

 

[Oldham]

I can understand why Mowatt did what he did but at the same time he still shouldn’t have done it. He was under a lot of pressure before the t**t goaded him and that just tipped him over the edge. I think in that sort of situation anyone with an ounce of aggression in them would have done the same, most would have probably punched him properly tbh

 

[Grumpy Git]

Thompson went down looking for a sending off. He was lightly slapped, but made out as if he'd been punched by Anthony Joshua....
The lying on the ground face down with his leg going up and down, pathetic.
He is an ex-scummer and was a dirty little s**t during the game at the county ground

 

[horseman]

I can understand why Mowatt did what he did but at the same time he still shouldn’t have done it. He was under a lot of pressure before the t**t goaded him and that just tipped him over the edge. I think in that sort of situation anyone with an ounce of aggression in them would have done the same, most would have probably punched him properly tbh

i thought he had really clobbered him, it was so hard it took 3 seconds for the cun* to go down. .if he had actual punched him then judging by that he would have been in intensive care.

 

[bazzer9461]

If we was a Pompey player I would be utterly embarrassed at that t**t’s shenanigans.

 

[horseman]

There is no excuse for not at least attacking the 2nd ball in your 6 yard box absolutely shocking defending.
Hard to judge from tv but when we were allowed so much space in the midfield was there any actual movement up front? the number of times we got to the edge of their box in space but still did not shoot was baffling, you cannot just walk through teams..
The better sides will not give the luxury of so much freedom in midfield and with being very lightweight up front (and that's being kind) the defence really needs organising and fast...you cannot continue to keep making basic errors back there.

 

[Anthomic]

Mowatt slapped Thomson with not much more than the tips of his fingers but Thompson went down as if he had been shot through the head with a cannon. He was obviously trying to get Mowatt sent off and should have got a red card for that alone.
A lot of talk about Thomas! Was he playing?