Millwall had huge centre backs but they were unsettled when we went to two up front. Goodrham’s goal came about because he had some space and time due to their defence being occupied by Goodwin and Harris
Ex-Player Thread Josh Murphy
- Thread starter Malc
- Start date
But it’s fairly rare for anyone to even try to go two up top and be long and physical, some of these big centre backs are like the big blokes at the gym who just lift weights, they look tough but as no one has ever tried to fight them they have no practical experience, a tubby MMA fighter who has that experience kills them.
It worked yesterday against one of the supposed more physical teams in the league, they didn’t know what to do because they don’t play against it now.
Not saying we should do it all the time, nor for entire games but to just stay one up top all game, every game when we have started to look like we have no goal threat is the path to relegation, we have to be innovative to stay up this season, we just don’t have the firepower to trouble most teams in this league by playing 4-2-3-1 all game, every game.
I will be disappointed if we don’t give Goodwin and two up top more of a chance in games now, if Goodwin goes out on loan and we bring some light weight forward in, thus removing a more physical approach from our armoury.
It might not be trendy or popular among the hipster coaching community to play with two up top or a big target man but if we get relegated because we care more about that than actual success for this football club then I will be pissed off, we need to look after ourselves first and foremost.
I’d love two up top. And no I’m not Greg Wallace.
Millwall's CBs were actually comparatively small - 6'0'' and 6'1''. Tough, but short by Championship standards. So yeah, going more direct with two up top earlier might have worked yesterday.
I don't think it would have worked on Tuesday against 6'7'' Harry Souttar, who mopped up just about everything in the air. And Boro and Watford had big CBs too.
Might just work against Plymouth though in the "Can we get Wayne Rooney fired" game. According to Wiki, their CBs are tiny!
BBC on his brother Jacob
You can always tell when Emlyn Begley is on duty on the BBC website!
Not the most exclusive club to be in, about 30 something clubs have won something since Newcastle have, ignoring the Fairs cup as it was weird, their last proper trophy was the FA Cup in 55.
But then Sw*ndon would be in that club. Lets keep them out of it
gingerox
Level: Andy Crosby
(122 Apps, 13 Gls)
Clean sweep of Goal of the Season, Players' Player, and Supporters' Player at the Pompey end of season awards.
Fair play to him, he's been worth every penny and more that they've paid. Probably deserves to be in the league Team of the Season too.
Fair play to him, he's been worth every penny and more that they've paid. Probably deserves to be in the league Team of the Season too.
werthersoriginal
Level: James Constable
(280 Apps, 106 Gls)
Remember those dicks who said he was injury-prone or would only play when his contract was nearly up?
‘He wants a three year contract and we are only willing to offer him two, so let’s pay £1m + wages for Dembele and get Matt Phillips in on big wages too’ is the definition of a false economy.
If I was running a club the first thing I’d do is get our best player who just almost single-handedly won us promotion signed up again, but that’s just me…
greatunclekip
Level: Steve Basham
(189 Apps, 51 Gls)
I’m not saying it was entirely the clubs fault, as I don’t think Josh was particularly set on staying, but when you have a player who is that completely fundamental to the way you play, you do all you possibly can to keep him.
What you don’t do is then pay a fortune on bringing in players who are nothing like him in style of play.
Suspect that Pompeys survival will make that extra year worth every penny….
What you don’t do is then pay a fortune on bringing in players who are nothing like him in style of play.
Suspect that Pompeys survival will make that extra year worth every penny….
Steve Gilbert
Level: Paul Moody
(197 Apps, 75 Gls)
Do you know who got player of the season at Preston this season and Millwall?
Very rare Kip, but for once I am in total agreement.
Pompey have Des Buckingham to thank here.We didn’t see the best of Murphy under Karl Robinson because he was injured. Manning didn’t really want to know. Des brought him back and slowly he became integral to our promotion push. Some players need a kick up the a**e to get the best out of them some players need an arm round them and a run in the team.Murphy was the latter.
We should have matched the extra year because he was happy under Des. What probably swayed it was Moose who would know him well.
The most concerning thing is that Placheta, Dembele,Phillips or Mills are nowhere near him as an attacking threat
werthersoriginal
Level: James Constable
(280 Apps, 106 Gls)
We've actually done very well considering we've been playing with our 'reserve wingers' all season.
Belgium Yellow
Level: John Aldridge
(141 Apps, 90 Gls)
I think he was set on moving to Portsmouth for family reasons. Agree with the wider sentiment though.
Vancouver Yellow
Level: Chris Maguire
(79 Apps, 22 Gls)
He was never staying here imo, wasted breath mourning his exit at this point. But agree that our recruitment to replace him failed quite miserably.
WBA fans seemed to really rate Phillips when he joined us and many were surprised he came here. I find that quite bizarre after his performances this season, not to say he’s been awful - he’s had his moments and is clearly a very experienced player at this level, but he’s been massively disappointing and is not championship level.
WBA fans seemed to really rate Phillips when he joined us and many were surprised he came here. I find that quite bizarre after his performances this season, not to say he’s been awful - he’s had his moments and is clearly a very experienced player at this level, but he’s been massively disappointing and is not championship level.
- Year of First Game
- 1995
If Murphy had stayed, our whole season would be different. He could have fired us into the top half. His family could have moved down to the South Coast anyway and the commuting or separation could have affected his form. He could have got badly injured in August and been out for half the season. Des could've left the club anyway (poached or sacked) and he could have not played as well for the new manager. We will never know.
As a fanbase, we certainly bear some responsibility for him leaving: the abuse he got from the stands and online clearly influenced his girlfriend's decision making, even if it didn't Josh's. In my mind, his play off final goals only just made up for him insisting on taking that penalty at Hillsborough!
As a fanbase, we certainly bear some responsibility for him leaving: the abuse he got from the stands and online clearly influenced his girlfriend's decision making, even if it didn't Josh's. In my mind, his play off final goals only just made up for him insisting on taking that penalty at Hillsborough!
Foley
Level: Colin Harrington
(260 Apps, 30 Gls)
And TBF those who totally ridiculed KR for suggesting that he could be the best player in L1
Foley
Level: Colin Harrington
(260 Apps, 30 Gls)
He received a lot of abuse until he finally started turning it on.
Many suggested he was a waste of money.
Even when we were looking to offer him a hew contract, I reckon there was quite a split on here ( his injury record etc)
He has done fantastically well and good luck to him.
Mythbuster3000
Level: Jamie Brooks
(53 Apps, 13 Gls)
- Year of First Game
- 1994
I miss him at the club. I hope he goes to Southampton, just to see the Pompey fans!
- Year of First Game
- 1995
This was typical Karl though: shooting his mouth off and putting extra pressure on a player who had enough pressure on him anyway.
To be fair Murphy was injured/out for a chunk of his time here and did turn it on at the end of his contract. I remember saying he would not be here this season as he would either not play or play well and move on, that happened. The only thing people really got wrong was the scale of the turnaround and that we actually benefitted from it, so it worked out for both of us in the end. Even Karl got something right, he was the best player in the division, although he was long gone by then.
chromeyellow
Level: Dave Langan
(136 Apps, 3 Gls)
He's got 13 assists in the Championship - joint top.
chromeyellow
Level: Dave Langan
(136 Apps, 3 Gls)
He's also scored 7 goals- more than any of our players.
Stranger
Level: Chris Maguire
(79 Apps, 22 Gls)
Not sure how that's relevant, seeing as this is the Josh Murphy thread
Foley
Level: Colin Harrington
(260 Apps, 30 Gls)
Maybe. My only point was that people wee suggesting that he was sh1te and injury prone and no way could he be the best player in L1. He has turned out to be one of the best players in.the Championship
Vancouver Yellow
Level: Chris Maguire
(79 Apps, 22 Gls)
Bet Norwich wished they hadn’t palmed him off in the summer! What a shite season they’ve had considering they probably have the best striker in the division, or one of at least.
Norwich have scored the second most goals in the division. It's quite an achievement from them to do that, and still finish in the bottom half.
They're just about the only club in the division outside of Leeds who wouldn't have solved any of what ails them by signing Josh Murphy!
