Pompey defeat the anti-football
Beautiful game 2 Anti-football 1.
Fratton Park
October 5, 2008
Everyone who likes their football played a certain was will have welcomed Pompey's win over Stoke City on Sunday.
Now I have nothing against Tony Pulis' side. Football is a game of different styles, it adds to its drama.
That doesn't mean you have to like it.
Stoke's aerial bombardments compared to Pompey's pacy pass-and-move approach is like comparing Slipknot to Frank Sinatra.
One is rough and direct, the other smooth and pure (sort of... we'll ignore Ol' Blue Eyes' alleged mafia connections).
Anyway, you get my drift.
For lovers of football played at its most skilful, the likes of Stoke and the old Wimbledon side will always be the enemy.
In 1988, Liverpool's defeat to the Dons in the FA Cup was a travesty, when the ugly game won out.
Twenty years on and Pompey struck a (lower profile) blow for the beautiful game.
Peter Crouch's scissor-kick was majestic, while Jermain Defoe was again clinical.
And after the exploits in Portugal, Pompey's verve and athleticism was a pleasant surprise, although you get the feeling Nadir Belhadj could still be playing such is his energy.
Stoke's main weapon, Rory Delap's throw-in missiles, were effective. That cannot be disputed.
Pompey could not deal with them and conceded an equaliser as a result through Fratton Park reject Ricardo Fuller.
Thankfully, for Blues fans - and those of us who like their football played close to ground level - Harry Redknapp's side had too much class at their disposal.
Fratton Park
October 5, 2008
Everyone who likes their football played a certain was will have welcomed Pompey's win over Stoke City on Sunday.
Now I have nothing against Tony Pulis' side. Football is a game of different styles, it adds to its drama.
That doesn't mean you have to like it.
Stoke's aerial bombardments compared to Pompey's pacy pass-and-move approach is like comparing Slipknot to Frank Sinatra.
One is rough and direct, the other smooth and pure (sort of... we'll ignore Ol' Blue Eyes' alleged mafia connections).
Anyway, you get my drift.
For lovers of football played at its most skilful, the likes of Stoke and the old Wimbledon side will always be the enemy.
In 1988, Liverpool's defeat to the Dons in the FA Cup was a travesty, when the ugly game won out.
Twenty years on and Pompey struck a (lower profile) blow for the beautiful game.
Peter Crouch's scissor-kick was majestic, while Jermain Defoe was again clinical.
And after the exploits in Portugal, Pompey's verve and athleticism was a pleasant surprise, although you get the feeling Nadir Belhadj could still be playing such is his energy.
Stoke's main weapon, Rory Delap's throw-in missiles, were effective. That cannot be disputed.
Pompey could not deal with them and conceded an equaliser as a result through Fratton Park reject Ricardo Fuller.
Thankfully, for Blues fans - and those of us who like their football played close to ground level - Harry Redknapp's side had too much class at their disposal.
Labels: Frank SInatra, Fratton Park, Harry Redknapp, Jermain Defoe, Liverpool, Nadir Belhadj, Peter Crouch, Pompey, Ricardo Fuller, Rory Delap, Slipknot, Stoke City, Tony Pulis, Wimbledon
