kevinhectoring

That would be a shame as the match is being played at Wycombe 

I was with you until Fozzy took his shirt off. 

Liam Thompson

I post a gentle reference to Portsmouth’s most famous son, and you and Clint Eastwood hold me out to public ridicule on the forum. I have been a gibbering wreck for days. 
 
You seem to think I’m in the camp that believes that we have found the best starting X1 only because of injuries. I’m not. If you look at my post more carefully you’ll see I’m saying simply that it has taken us far too long to settle on a balanced and effective startling line up. I think for example that this season we’ve overused Hourihane massively, overplayed NML, mis-used Fozzie (I agree with your assessment of him of course), underplayed Barkhuizen, Ward, Fornah (maybe) and Wilson and possibly underplayed Tommo. Dropping Wildsmith was obviously just weird but let’s assume there were other things going on. I also agree with you that Nyambe is a useful and good footballer but I’m not sure - even if fit - that he should start right now.  
The costly error imo - you can debate this of course - has been to accommodate Hourihane in the starting line up. I’ll be astonished if - having seen how much better we are without him - he ever starts again. That took 38 games ! I think a lot of people will be posting about that if we don’t go up 

So my physio friend (who used to work at Leighton Orient) says these days they wouldn’t do that if it’s a soft tissue issue. She thought most likely a knock on the bone which was tender and would settle down in just a few days.  Anyway, fingers crossed - he’s become an important part of the balance we’ve found in the last 4 or 5 games

We’ve now got the best balanced side we’ve had all season imo, a side that has the ability to outplay the oppo as well as grind out results; a side that is showing the consistency we have lacked for most of the season. That’s why I agree with those who are predicting promotion.
 
I don’t think using words like ‘stumbled’ is helpful, but I think it has taken us far too long to work out how best to utilise the squad. Happy to provide more detail but if I do I fear you’ll merely criticise me for being negative. 

Wish I could oblige. 2 months ago I would have said we’d lose in the play offs. But with the side we’re selecting, and with how we’re playing, I’d now say we’d be favourites. 

Curse of the play offs.
Pinched from Sky Sports. May be old figures but 3rd seems strongest.
Promoted through Playoffs 
Position      Championship.   League One.   LeagueTwo  Total    Percentage
3rd (4th in L2)        10                     9                    13            32           50%
4th (5th in L2).         5.                    7                      5             17           21%
5th (6th in L2).         7                     5                      4            16             19.8%
6th (7th in L2).         5                     6                      5             16            19.8
 

Wish I could oblige. 2 months ago I would have said we’d lose in the play offs. But with the side we’re selecting, and with how we’re playing, I’d now say we’d be favourites. 

the most exciting way to go up is through the play offs. 

I assume you mean ‘problem for Warne’? The idea the dressing room votes for captain is comical. The manager should be in charge. It’s been a costly cop out and hopefully it does not cost us promotion. 
 

Agree it was a bad idea but let's not forget the likely alternative was Sonny Bradley.  

Yes. A typo on my behalf.  I do agree it was a mistake to allow the team to pick the captain from a management point of view.  However,  I also see the possible benefits of a leader who most want. Pros and cons.

Yes I was. I often reminense about that night and other games at the BBG by watching live football matches on the TV looking through my letterbox. 

I think there is an awful lot of '20-20 hindsight' that even then you still aren't sure about.
Could also be argued that is what a manager does. He changes horses for courses, plays people who are in form and gives players the chance but doesn't just persist with them if they aren't doing it. If we finish 2nd he's been proved right on all counts in my opinion. 
It's also inevitable that if we don't go up the inquest will begin and everyone will do what you've done and say 'Hourihane and NML played too much', and various other players didn't play enough. Possibly that he didn't get the right striker in and signed too many injury-prone players and kept going to a back 5.
Whereas if we go up then everyone will say he did what was expected and move on.
Tis the way of the world. 
Having come so far now I'd probably give him next season regardless- obviously if be Xmas we are struggling in whatever league we are in, then he'll be gone.
 

I post a gentle reference to Portsmouth’s most famous son, and you and Clint Eastwood hold me out to public ridicule on the forum. I have been a gibbering wreck for days. 
 
You seem to think I’m in the camp that believes that we have found the best starting X1 only because of injuries. I’m not. If you look at my post more carefully you’ll see I’m saying simply that it has taken us far too long to settle on a balanced and effective startling line up. I think for example that this season we’ve overused Hourihane massively, overplayed NML, mis-used Fozzie (I agree with your assessment of him of course), underplayed Barkhuizen, Ward, Fornah (maybe) and Wilson and possibly underplayed Tommo. Dropping Wildsmith was obviously just weird but let’s assume there were other things going on. I also agree with you that Nyambe is a useful and good footballer but I’m not sure - even if fit - that he should start right now.  
The costly error imo - you can debate this of course - has been to accommodate Hourihane in the starting line up. I’ll be astonished if - having seen how much better we are without him - he ever starts again. That took 38 games ! I think a lot of people will be posting about that if we don’t go up 

Are Leighton Orient one of them tribute football teams? I imagine a heavily moustached Peter Kitchen lookalike posing out on the wing.

I’d assumed he’s an obsessive roller skater 

Our best balanced side of the current ilk, that is one that sets up with a back 4 would contain the likes of Nyambe, Fozzy and Gayle upfront IMO, so I beg to differ. If you could point out my last post relating to your negativity, I'd be obliged, as in all honesty, I'm not aware of interacting with you much at all this season, a scenario that's probably served both of us quite well.

I’d assumed he’s an obsessive roller skater 

This fella has us sussed, to be fair.

Damn predictive text.

It would be anomalous if it wasn’t anonymous 

If I was DC I’d accept the hospitality and gorge myself on as much as I could manage. I’d also make sure I “accidentally” trod some ketchup (or similar) into the carpets an anomalously damage the toilets. 😀

So my physio friend (who used to work at Leighton Orient) says these days they wouldn’t do that if it’s a soft tissue issue. She thought most likely a knock on the bone which was tender and would settle down in just a few days.  Anyway, fingers crossed - he’s become an important part of the balance we’ve found in the last 4 or 5 games