lookupsport

I’m not one to knock the team I support especially early on in the season, but I feel the need to vent my frustration over Pompey’s lack lustre performance yesterday.

Yes, Chelsea were good and yes they have World Class players in all positions on the pitch, but they backed this up with energy enthusiasm and a will to win. Pompey showed none of that. They looked beaten before they started, and played with the look of a team who were ready to succumb to the inevitable. They had exactly the same look about them when they played in the Community Shield final the week before, when they were lucky to get to penalties - the penalty takers showed the same confidence and determination as the team had all match and ended up missing 3 out of 4.

As a fan that doesn’t get too many games, I look forward to the occasions when they are on the TV, but more often than not I witness the level of performance that was there for all to see yesterday. Lack lustre, no drive, no enthusiasm for the game and the feeeling that they had lost before the ref blew to start the match. It could be noted that normally they get onto TV when they are playing one of the top 4 sides admittedly, and they cannot be expected to win. However, they can be expected to be play with some sort of pride.

Newcastle do not have a better squad than Pompey, but they showed more hunger for the game in the first 5 minutes than Pompey did for the entire match. Yes, they rode their luck, but even if they had lost, they could have held their heads high knowing they gave 100%. I wonder how many of the Blue Army can say the same?

As a spectator, you want to see your team win of course, although you know they won’t win every game. But when they lose you want to know they gave everything, and it is the most frustrating thing in the world to see them lay down and die.

Pompey don’t have a great start to the season with Man United next on the list and Everton away, and so could find themselves at the bottom of the table at the end of August. No need to panic though unless they turn in another 2 performances like yesterday’s, in which case they have major problems.

Come on Harry - get into them this week and fire them up for all our sakes. It doesn’t matter if you play 4 or 5 across the middle as long as they put some effort in and earn their wages.