HorsforthRam

I don’t know is the honest answer. I would just rather have him on the wing, that’s all 🤷🏽‍♂️

Warne has said on numerous occasions that we can’t waste a half of football. I think this will be key against Wycombe. Tempo. They will slow everything down, throws, free kicks, injuries etc. we are awful when we fall into that trap (Northampton). So we need to play the game at speed. That starts with Wildsmith imo.

Only thing I’d add to this is that NML gives the ball away in dangerous positions when he isn’t on the wing. He can’t hold the ball when running back to our goal to receive it. His touch often lets him down. He also runs square across the pitch and telegraphs passes leaving us on the back foot if the ball is intercepted. Safest place for him and the team is on the wing. Even if that means 30 mins against a tired defence

I definitely think we need 4 wins for autos. Bolton are at home to Portsmouth and it will be like a cup final for them and I expect them to win. I really don’t think that’s the game they slip up in. A lot of pressure on us for the Wycombe game. And then a quick turnaround for Orient at home. The Wycombe game will have many (including me) thinking about the Northampton game. We really need to turn up!

Agree with most of that. It would have been natural or understandable for us to sit back with 15 to go. However, that mentality seems to have been instilled at half time and like you, I thought Pompey were there for the taking. Even with our approach, it would feel a lot more comfortable if, now and again, we had control of the football for brief spells. As it was, we tried to counter too quickly and turnover was too quick (a big beef of mine 😂) I do t expect we’ll change much over the course of the next 4 games. Warne’s big call will come when Bradley is available again

To the ap fella… we scored two good goals. Their equaliser was a fabulous strike but the fella hand balled it on the touchline. We frustrated them in large parts. The penalty wasn’t a penalty. The striker hit it in front of Smith but couldn’t get in front of him. He went into the back of Smith. Their “open” goal. Seen those type of chances missed all the time. Wasn’t as easy as you make out. Wildsmith saving with his legs… you’d expect a save from that angle. The bloke should have pulled it back. Lastly, when we were on top first half, NML breaking through with an overloaded on our left… mangy fox stops play 😂😂 I said to my lad, if I was a neutral watching that game, I’d never have thought Pompey were gonna score that second half but being a Ram, it’s always feels nerve wracking watching the opposition have so much ball even if it’s just in front of us. I think for some posters, that sort of skews the view of the game in that they feel we were some how lucky to get a point

Thompson and Collins in each others way before the shot

Sit back that much and something may always fall for the opposition

I think our best defence is to attack. Please don’t try and sit back

Offside

Away end looks great; not seen so many flags before

If CBT is not covering back, then he needs to get the ball quickly on the counter. I don’t mean a constant long ball he’s fighting for. Move it quickly into a few yards of space in front of him

Not seen NML successfully deployed in the middle yet

A point or three at Pompey tomorrow or our rivals will start to believe again

I guess it’s the uneasy feeling that we never make it easy

Get anything at Portsmouth and I’m confident of autos. Otherwise, we could be level with Bolton going into the Wycombe game. Really hoping the Northampton defeat doesn’t come back to bite us

I doubt the same tactics will work on Tuesday night if we’re open in the middle and allow the opposition so much ball. Pompey have more in attack and I fear those little passes into the box rather than crosses. Maybe we should go 3 in the middle …

Smith at RB, Elder at LB. Smith did a great job there before

If we beat Blackpool, I think it will give us the impetus and belief to finish 2nd. A draw or loss, it’ll be the playoffs. Scrape into the final and maybe the big Wembley pitch will help us to promotion

Listening to PW after the game, I wonder if he’d be classed as a “moaner” on this forum?

Check the Warne interview post match. I’m sure he said we won’t see him again this season

Bradley walked off without complaining 🤷🏽‍♂️

Wildsmith distribution is generally poor and slow. Until we are chasing the game, then he releases the ball quickly. A few occasions yesterday, he had a simple wide pass on to Wilson or Ward and he chose to just hoof it long and we lost possession. Yes, he’s a definitely gained us points this season (and lost them) but I find his slowing down of the game until everyone is in position (including the opposition) infuriating at times.

Warne sees it as 12 halves of football; to me that means utilising his squad so they “gas out”. Problem we have to overcome is the number of injuries in key areas that might not make that possible

Metaphorically, we did