No defence for Pompey slump
Let’s be honest, it wasn’t unexpected.
While the capitulation at Man City was a bolt from the blue, the meek surrender to Chelsea was entirely on the cards.
Pompey’s fringe players were no match for the likes of Lampard and Drogba in a surprisingly star-studded Chelsea team.
The number of goals being shipped is worrying, though.
The base of last season’s success suddenly looks a tad shambolic.
There are reasons - and the impressive Sylvain Distin is not one of them.
The 4-4-2 formation gives the back line far less protection that the 4-5-1 employed last term.
There is less cover down the wings, while the onus is also on the full-backs to get forward this season, leaving more space in behind.
Hermann Hreidarrson doesn’t offer too much going forward but he was a rock at left-back last year.
This year, he’s second choice as the more attack-minded Nadir Belhadj and Armand Traore are preferred.
Crucially, the heart of the defence has looked shaky.
Sol Campbell has been erratic and, quite frankly, at times has looked on his last legs.
He’s creaking, so it is hoped Younes Kaboul’s youthful athleticism will come to the fore.
However, he still looks like he is struggling.
He has potential, but as any Spurs fan will tell you, he struggled to make the step up to the Premier League last year.
Pompey need him to start looking like the £5m player he is supposed to be.
At the moment, the Frenchman is hit and miss. Man City and Chelsea have exposed that as not good enough.
On the plus side, bottom-club Spurs visit Fratton Park on Sunday.
I watched Spurs lose to Aston Villa the other week and they looked awful and low on confidence.
They beat Newcastle but, let’s be honest, my Sunday League team would fancy their chances against the Toon at the moment.
Sunday’s vital. Another defeat and it becomes a habit, a win and the last two games can be put down as a blip.
Let’s ride out the storm.
While the capitulation at Man City was a bolt from the blue, the meek surrender to Chelsea was entirely on the cards.
Pompey’s fringe players were no match for the likes of Lampard and Drogba in a surprisingly star-studded Chelsea team.
The number of goals being shipped is worrying, though.
The base of last season’s success suddenly looks a tad shambolic.
There are reasons - and the impressive Sylvain Distin is not one of them.
The 4-4-2 formation gives the back line far less protection that the 4-5-1 employed last term.
There is less cover down the wings, while the onus is also on the full-backs to get forward this season, leaving more space in behind.
Hermann Hreidarrson doesn’t offer too much going forward but he was a rock at left-back last year.
This year, he’s second choice as the more attack-minded Nadir Belhadj and Armand Traore are preferred.
Crucially, the heart of the defence has looked shaky.
Sol Campbell has been erratic and, quite frankly, at times has looked on his last legs.
He’s creaking, so it is hoped Younes Kaboul’s youthful athleticism will come to the fore.
However, he still looks like he is struggling.
He has potential, but as any Spurs fan will tell you, he struggled to make the step up to the Premier League last year.
Pompey need him to start looking like the £5m player he is supposed to be.
At the moment, the Frenchman is hit and miss. Man City and Chelsea have exposed that as not good enough.
On the plus side, bottom-club Spurs visit Fratton Park on Sunday.
I watched Spurs lose to Aston Villa the other week and they looked awful and low on confidence.
They beat Newcastle but, let’s be honest, my Sunday League team would fancy their chances against the Toon at the moment.
Sunday’s vital. Another defeat and it becomes a habit, a win and the last two games can be put down as a blip.
Let’s ride out the storm.
Labels: Armand Traore, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Hermann Hresidarsson, Nadir Belhadj, Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin
