Målfest i Alan McLoughlins benefit match.
AV: Jean-Robert Tankred
Træningskampen mod naboerne Bournemouth, var ligeså klubbens gestus til Alan McLoughlin som tak for tro tjeneste hos Pompey som spiller, træner og manager.
Derfor var det fint at se mange dukke op og hylde Macca som er ganske populær hos mange en Pompeyfan stadigvæk.
6 spillere i truppen i dag, er ligeså produktet af det arbejde Macca grundlagde som træner for akademiet. Derfor billedet med Macca og spillerne herunder
Macca er ligeledes manden der sendte Irland til VM med sit afgørende mål for en del år siden, det kan du da lige se her.
Tilbage til kampen, Pompey startede overraskende med unge Alex Bass på mål, overraskende for Paul Cook har meldt ud, at Bass ikke er klar til 1.holds bold og skal lejes ud.
Pompey lagde godt ud mod Bournemouth der havde en del af deres nye spillere med i kampen, og som spillede deres første kamp på engelsk grund, efter deres tour i USA.
Det var duoen Gary Roberts og Carl Baker der var meget toneangivende i starten, det var således Roberts der enkelt satte 1-0 mål alene med keeperen, efter Baker satte ham op, men hvor Roberts satte deres back der så noget tung ud.
Gæsterne satte hurtig end udligning op da Pompey blev spillet lidt ud i højre siden inden Grabban blev sat op helt fri foran mål.
Grabban er 28 år i dag, tilbage i 2011/12 spillede han såmænd league two for Rotherham, inden han blev hentet til The Cherries og på 3 sæsoner spillede 3 forskellige rækker, League Two, League One og Championship, og det med en del mål til følge. Så det er ikke umuligt at komme op på højeste hylde, omend Grabban blot har scoret 1 mål i 21 kampe i Premier League.
Kort efter kom Pompey på 2-1, et frispark fra kanten blev ikke clearet ordentlig og et forsøg udefra blev rettet af, inden det dumpede ned foran fødderne på store Michael Smith, der stort set fra 11m pletten kunne sætte bolden let ind.
Pompey så til gengæld ikke godt ud da Bournemouth udlignede efter pausen. Bournemouth havde skiftet grundigt ud og det virkede. Pompey har 6 mand i feltet og Bournemouth har bolden ude på toppen af feltet og får lov med et enkelt træk at afslutte og score. Den må Cook ikke være tilfreds med.
Bournemouth kom på 3-2, og igen så Pompey særdeles skidt ud forsvarsmæssigt, vores højreside stod meget forkert og Bournemouthspilleren kunne enkelt gå mod baglinjen og ind i feltet og sætte en spiller op helt fri foran eget mål.
Pompey fik sat lidt pres op mod slut og en afslutning af indskiftede May blev rettet af og så kunne Pompey være tilfreds med 3-3 mod et Premier Leauge hold.
Pompeys manager Paul Cook må fundere lidt, Gary Robert har været god oppe foran, er det ham der skal spille lige bag vores ene angriber?
- Er angriberen så Smith eller Chaplin, to meget forskellige typer!
- Jack Whatmough fik god kritik, er han på vej tilbage i start XI?
- Målmandsproblemet, Bass skal ikke spille har Cook meldt ud, og amerikaneren der er på trial, var ikke god i dag!
Der er ikke lang tid til første kamp i ligaen!
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe:
«It was definitely a good game for the neutrals today,»
«Not so much for the managers though, I don’t think. We weren’t at our very best. Portsmouth made it difficult for us, as we knew they would.
«It was a good test for us at this early stage, though – there are certainly things for us to work on.
«We’ve got three weeks to go now – the countdown is on. We’re excited by the new campaign, but we have to make sure we are ready.»
“I think we saw in the game what they can bring to the team,» he continued.
«Individually they are very good players, I am excited by them: they are young and progressive.
«Jordon scored a good goal today and we saw glimpses of what he can do. I am excited to work with him over a longer period of time.»
Pompey manager Paul Cook:
“We had some glimpses of good play and some bad as well, while it was nice for all the new lads to get a game at Fratton Park.
“It can be the end of the world when you draw at Salisbury, but now we’ve drawn against a Premier League team.
“When you play a team of Bournemouth’s quality you know they’re going to hurt you with the likes of Callum Wilson and Lewis Grabban.
“But we hurt them as well and that was the particularly pleasing thing for me.
“Gary scored a great goal and is an infectious lad – if he stays injury free then I’m sure he’ll have a big impact on our season.
“We’re pleased with the squad we’ve got, although – as everyone knows – there are one or two areas that we need strengthen.”
Kommentarer fra The News:
Bass over the Yank any day. Whats going on with us and goalkeepers ?? Surely there is an experienced stopper out there who would love to play for Pompey.
Stay well Macca, and all the best for the future, hope the «C» doesn’t return. You certainly go down as one of true Pompey ‘men’ – certainly of the last 30 years.
Enjoyable game and apart from the comments below thought the trialist in the 25 shirt that came on in second half showed promise when he got the ball, if s little timid, but made some good passes.
It’s hard to understand what ashdown did wrong compared to the keeper today – not Bass, who shows promise but is still too young. I hate to criticise keepers because it’s the hardest job in the pitch, but he just didn’t look comfortable at all. At least ashdown would have had the confidence that the poor guy lacked.
Personally I preferred Hunt up top rather then Smith, he just looked and played far better. Down side to the afternoon was Konopke, no way should he be anywhere near Fratton let alone the Pompey squad. However I’m fairly optimistic that PC will end our search for a decent keeper this week, he has to surely.
Impressive first 70mins Smith led the line well. Hunt top class trier. How the coaching staff think Konpka is worth looking at I don’t know. Carl Baker is class
Bass looked the better keeper of the two today. Given we changed all 11 outfield players during the second half, it was a great display. Thought Lingazi looked like he might be worth a gamble and Whatmough looks like he is well on the road back. The squad looks strong apart from the goalkeeping position and , for me, the jury is still out ref the strength in depth of our attacking roles. However, some very good football played today.
Really hoping Gary Roberts plays as far forward as he appears to be playing in these friendlies, he’s been getting loads of assists and a few goals to boot. Last season he never really looked like scoring from open play.
Thought the first half was good. Slick passing and cohesive play. Hunt needs to be signed up. Konopke needs too find a different career and Lingazi looked disinterested. Hope PC gets a goalie soon
Træningskamp, Fratton Park, 23/7-16
Portsmouth – Bournemouth 3-3 (2-1)
5 min 1-0 Gary Roberts
24 min 1-1 Lewis Grabban
25 min 2-1 Michael Smith
70 min 2-2 Jonathan Ibe
79 min 2-3 Dan Gosling
88 min 3-3 Adam May
Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass (Konopka 46); Talbot (May 82), Whatmough (Davies 78), Burgess (Barton 78), Stevens (Haunstrup 78); Rose (Hunt 61), Doyle (c) (Close 69); Baker (Oxlade-Chamberlain 80), Roberts (Tollitt 80), Lalkovic (Linganzi 52); Smith (Main 61)
Bænken: Konopka, Bennett, Chaplin, May, Davies, Barton, Haunstrup, Hunt, Close, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tollit, Lingzani, Main
Tilskuere: 5,153 (531 away fans)