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Reply | Kolli
at 19:03 4 Jan 2026
Can't see how anyone can disagree with this. On today's showing, this is all true.
A confidence player. Last time he scored two (Norwich (h)), I remember him being the same - very average until he scored, then he came alive. Different player once he scores. Deserves much credit for turning the game, but, as I say, E17 has this about right imo.
Of course, with such little game time, there are mitigating circumstances, so let's hope he gets a run in the team and starts to show us all what his disciples bang on about... |
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Reply | The Barry Bannan Master Class Match Thread
at 13:00 4 Jan 2026
TWO forward passes all half. Nowhere near a definition of a "good game".
Not enough press or intensity. We are cruising, but are only one up. They look incapable of creating anything. So why does it feel inevitable that they will equalise in our sleepy 5 minutes at the start of the 2nd half... [Post edited 4 Jan 13:01]
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Reply | Esquerdinha and his usage
at 18:28 30 Dec 2025
If the club is serious about developing these kids, they should be out on loan instead of doing sporadic minutes off our bench or in the cup games.
Esquerdinha is not ready. That is clear. He is, however a talent and has "growing space". Let him grow for a season at a L2 club for the rest of the season instead of winning another Dev Squad Cup.
Same as Bennie, Sutton, Akindeleni, Smith, Wilkie, Pearman, etc., etc.
I know Sutton is off warming Morecambe's bench (is he that good???), but the rest of them (aside from Smith) are wasting their time sitting in the Dev Squad at the moment.
The club should have done it with Armstrong and they should have done it with Kolli. It worked really well with Eze, Chair and maybe Cooper, but aside from Kelman, they do not seem to have pushed too hard recently. |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 18:21 30 Dec 2025
That is my worry. We'll call it "doing the Schteve" - get some players to play every single minute and wonder why they drop off in the New Year... |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 11:48 30 Dec 2025
I get that view, but I think that there is a general understanding that we aren't really that good. This squad is still weak; some improvement in the first XI, but little strength in depth around CM, Full Back and up front with a debilitating goalkeeper situation.
My worry is that this is like Schteeve's flog 'em to death season and that those areas where we have been relatively injury free (full back and CM) may start to pick up injuries. Varane I am not worried about as Hayden is simply a better option at the moment, but we do not have another Madsen anywhere in this squad - loads of defensive midfielders, but little creativity in that position.
We're midtable and that will do. |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 22:45 29 Dec 2025
Selling in January? No way does a club plump up the cattle for a sale in the winter market. End of the sesson maybe, but not January.
If anyone does come in with £5m in January, could we even take it with our midfield options? He's been poor and could easily be replaced by Hayden, but we won't get a replacement in and our centre of midfield desperately need another option.
He can improve; Sunderland (a) last season showed that. It ison him to do that though... |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 22:08 29 Dec 2025
They were. It was a poor defence on paper and we got what wax expected.
Morgan is a good player, but no Full Back; Esquerdinha just not ready. Massive indictment on the squad that he feels that Isaac Hayden is not worth starting in front of Varane (who continues to be very, very poor), but can be used as a right back.
Morrison has been poor all season and was tonight; that pass that Vale fckd up on should have gone long. I mean our centre back (the one that can actually head the ball) had gone up top for exactly that reason. Brain Dead.
Saito needs a rest. No sugar coating it, he has been very poor all season. Just cos he smiles a lot, our fans love him no matter what.
Kone is what he is; a young fella learning at this level.
But a special mention to Harvey Vale. That was a nightmare for the ages; an utterly ridiculous performance.
Yet more proof on how much we miss Chair despite posts like" Where does he fit into this team". Anywhere guys, anywhere. |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 18:47 29 Dec 2025
Nah.
Field and Morrison CBs, Dunne RB, Esq LB
Morgan, Varane, Madsen mid 3.
Saito LW Poku RW
Kone up top. |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 18:44 29 Dec 2025
Yes. Coagulation in the midfield at least. Looks v defensive to me without Smyth, Mbengue and Burrell, that team is very light on pace...
Not confident going into this... |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 16:56 29 Dec 2025
Varane has been playing to get hooked for a ouple of mobths now. One block and two runs forard from Isaac Hayden showed what improvement he could make ib the first 10 mins on Boxing Day.
Surely that has to be the change along with Field for RND, Morrison for Cook and both wingers swapped out for Smyth and Poku.
2-1 defeat I think... |
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Reply | Baggie ball bags - Match Thread
at 16:53 29 Dec 2025
Yep. In Sky's world, this Monday, despitd being a working day is part of the weekend and so only select games can get shown.
Telling that on the QPR+ page on the Official site under how to watch on QPR+ there is a link and an offer to the NordVPN site.
I wonder why they'd do that??? |
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Thread | Post Pompey thoughts
at 09:55 27 Dec 2025
What is it with Boxing Day games? Awfil first half; we were as bad as Leicester was at our place. No shots at all, an inability to retain any form of possession and some players (Cook, RND, Saito, Varane) losing the ability to keep the ball and find a teammate. The only saving grace is that Pompey was allergic to shooting; they really should have had more than their 5 shots and surely would have scored more than their one.
Varane contined on his habit of constantly passing backwards and as soon asHayden comes on we start to push forward.
Great set piece equaluser from Jimmy and the way the teamcharged back after scoring showed we were going for it. But then, after 20 strong minutes, Stephan makes the changes I thought would happen earlier and for whatever reason we'll never know told Poku and Smyth to play deep to protect the point.
Odd as they were there for the taking.
Redemption in the 2nd half but we continue to struggle against Pompey and on Boxing Day. Good Luck to any of you going to West Ham thinking this club might even try in the Cup...
The main positive for me was the workrate. We got bullied at Fratton Park last season, but at least this season we put up a fight in the 2nd half. Overall a poor quality game and happy to get a point from it. Next. |
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Reply | Chair
at 09:43 27 Dec 2025
Aside from his first game this season, Saito has been amazingly anonymous. Not looking like good business at the moment.
How Hayden has not had a look in for the last few weeks is beyond me as in his first 5 minutes yesterday he drove the team forward with positive runs, whereas Varane continues to play backwards most time he gets the ball. Should have taken the £5m if it really was on the table during the summer.
Dembele has had a couple of good games, but was back to his ineffectual worst yesterday.
Missed Chair massively yesterday. No-one looking for the ball, no-one retaining possession and little cover for the full backs... [Post edited 27 Dec 2025 11:02]
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Reply | Chair
at 10:40 24 Dec 2025
Fair enough. Still interested in which of the four I mention you think are better than Chair though... |
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Reply | Chair
at 10:39 24 Dec 2025
Talk about twisting words to fit a narrative. Sheesh.
Let me clear things up for you. All of those comments were COMPARING those players to Chair, not me saying they are crap. Just because they are not as good as Chair does not mean that I think that they are crap.
Well happy with the way the squad is developing thanks. |
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Reply | Chair
at 14:22 23 Dec 2025
Yep, but yet to see actual EVIDENCE that any of them are "better" on a consistent basis.
Saito - generally poor since signing permanently. Still a good player, but not yet there.
Dembele - vastly improved over the last few weeks and may be signs that he is a better attacker than Chair, but can't / won't track and is a fraction of Chair facing his own goal
Poku - not seen enough
Smyth - great effort, but nah
So, whilst I agree he can't be untouchable and instead of disagreeing with me for the sake of disagreeing with me, please make a case for ANY of these players who are "competition" for Chair. I really do not think that you can do that without outright fabricating things. |
| | davman
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