Championship League So Far...

[pompeydave]

Obviously you have won your opening game, been outplayed in the 2nd and probably could/should have got something at B/burn.
What's your thoughts on the championship?
At Pompey we got a 3-3 draw at Leeds, 0-0 at home to ten man Luton and a 2-2 draw at Boro today.
Looking at our opening three games we maybe could/should have 9 points!
Having been a goal up in both our away fixtures going into 90th min and played an hour against 10 man Luton at fratton park.
My observations are not really 'rocket science'!
The championship is way quicker and the last 10mins I've seen Pompey flagging having put so much into the first 80mins.
You cannot make mistakes, they are punished and it seems more fouls are let go.
What about you guys, what's your light bulb moments?

 

[Scotchegg]

I wasn't there today, but it seems like a point would have been fair, and we were seconds away from securing a point at Cov. So we could have been looking at 5 points instead of 3, but hard to be too disappointed.

Seen enough to suggest that Oxford and Portsmouth have more than enough to stay up this season, but also enough to show that it's going to be a battle in every game.

 

[pompeydave]

Certainly I believe better teams went up from league 1 last year.
The rest of the league will now look and realise it has closed up some at the bottom.
I think 3 or 4 teams are still a cut above.
Leeds, Burnley, Boro and Watford.
Sunderland look good too.
Pompeys next two games, yes you guessed it. Sunderland at home and Burnley away!
Life doesn't get easier!

 

[Steve Gilbert]

My observation of the championship so far Dave is that it is a better standard than League 1.

I hope that helps.

 

[MarkG]

I left the game thinking that basically we have to get results against the clubs that don’t have EPL parachute payments.

Three from nine not a disaster.

But then met a Luton fan in the pub at Preston who says even with the parachute payments it’s not granted you will be up the top.

But I think we need to look at the Pompey and Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth and Derby as teams we want to take points from. Then see where we are.

 

[pompeydave]

My observation of the championship so far Dave is that it is a better standard than League 1.

I hope that helps.

But you're fun at parties Steve!

 

[Steve Gilbert]

But you're fun at parties Steve!

Sorry Dave, you asked what our thoughts were on the Championship. I gave you my thoughts.

 

[BristolOx]

The game is allowed to flow a lot more it seems. Giving the ball away needlessly feels a lot more severe than it did a few months ago.
We’ve got the fight in us to do okay but if morale starts dropping then I could see it being quite difficult.
More to come from both teams I imagine so still positive and hopeful

 

[pompeydave]

The game is allowed to flow a lot more it seems. Giving the ball away needlessly feels a lot more severe than it did a few months ago.
We’ve got the fight in us to do okay but if morale starts dropping then I could see it being quite difficult.
More to come from both teams I imagine so still positive and hopeful

Yeah I agree about being punished for giving ball away.
Both Leeds and boro punished us in last min to get draws.
I don't know about oxford but just like last season we have serious injuries again.
6 first team players were out today including 4 starters for defence in Shaughnessy, Poole, McIntyre and Jacobs
Attack missed Bishop and Yengi although the latter made the subs bench today and saw action for last 10.
Squad depth.looks like it may play more of a issue in this league. You need good players beyond first 11. Last year we got away with it playing teams like Burton but we won't in this league.

 

[Village-Yellow]

My biggest concern is the loss of belief/morale if we continue to play like we do and not pick up points.

Bloody proud of our boys so far.. work ethic, determination, energy.

But, we need to become more robust to eke out points from these sort of games.

A huge learning curve, but so far we are showing we have every possibility of earning a place at this level next season.

 

[SSO]

Yeah I agree about being punished for giving ball away.
Both Leeds and boro punished us in last min to get draws.
I don't know about oxford but just like last season we have serious injuries again.
6 first team players were out today including 4 starters for defence in Shaughnessy, Poole, McIntyre and Jacobs
Attack missed Bishop and Yengi although the latter made the subs bench today and saw action for last 10.
Squad depth.looks like it may play more of a issue in this league. You need good players beyond first 11. Last year we got away with it playing teams like Burton but we won't in this league.

Yeah it is tougher. Not been to a game this season yet due to holidays but watched the Coventry game on TV. Despite the signings we have predominantly used the same players that got us promoted. Our squad is so much better than last season. Looking at the 2 away games the only thing that needs improving is when to introduce substitutes. It's not a criticism of the manager but maybe recognising when players are playing on the edge of their limits.

Both last week and this week our opponents got the drop on us by making substitutions before us. Both managers more experienced than ours and had good players to bring on. But Des has a way of playing that makes us somewhat difficult to beat. A bit of fine tuning and the integration of the new players and we will be fine. Unfortunately missing the captain and our best player today which reflects why bookies shoved us out half a point before kick off but we should be OK. We will not be one of the worst 3 sides in this division this season.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

I think Mark G is being cheeky when typing “Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle’” but it is driving me mad. They always say this on Sky!

Portsmouth got an excellent point at Boro and haven’t won or lost yet. Think they’ve got another trek up North to Turf Moor soon and tough home games coming up at home to Sunderland and West Brom.

In my view the Champ is quicker and more athletic and if you turn the ball over you get punished. The quick transitions are a different level to L1.

Fitness levels at Oxford need to be higher and John Mousinho may be saying those same things too.

 

[Malc]

I think Mark G is being cheeky when typing “Wayne Rooney’s Plymouth Argyle’” but it is driving me mad. They always say this on Sky!

Totally agree. We are better than Sky.
Plymouth Argyle are a proud team and rightly so. So drop that thick heads name immediatly!

 

[Essexyellows]

Obviously you have won your opening game, been outplayed in the 2nd and probably could/should have got something at B/burn.
What's your thoughts on the championship?
At Pompey we got a 3-3 draw at Leeds, 0-0 at home to ten man Luton and a 2-2 draw at Boro today.
Looking at our opening three games we maybe could/should have 9 points!
Having been a goal up in both our away fixtures going into 90th min and played an hour against 10 man Luton at fratton park.
My observations are not really 'rocket science'!
The championship is way quicker and the last 10mins I've seen Pompey flagging having put so much into the first 80mins.
You cannot make mistakes, they are punished and it seems more fouls are let go.
What about you guys, what's your light bulb moments?

Those two bits.

Other teams seem far more used to 90 minutes plus of pace and then, when we flag and make mistakes - punished.