Comments on: Harry Redknapp’s FA Cup

By: JLay

JLay — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:39:05 +0000

Yeah, whats wrong with defense? I think it’s a matter of playing to your strengths in this case as well.

Who exactly would you suggest that they attack with?

I have tremendous respect for what they’ve accomplished, they’ve done very well the last couple years, and they’ve done it on a shoestring budget with limited talent at their disposal.

Good for you, ‘Arry.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:21:26 +0000

Defense wins championships; making a one-goal lead stand up in a cup final is an art form.
http://startingeleven.blogspot.com/2008/05/starting-eleven-football-blog-roundup_19.html

By: JenniP

JenniP — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:29:36 +0000

Portsmouth have mainly been a “defensive” team in the FA Cup because we have no strikers who can actually play in FA Cup games, Nugent has been injured most of the seasons (and doesn’t seem that good anyway), Baros just cant score, Benjani left before the majority of the cup run and Defoe who is cup tied, which leaves Kanu who isnt a particularly fast player. So that tends to leave us in a 4-5-1 with Kanu up top which stops us playing fast attacking football since we need the time for Kanu to get up the field and for people to go and support him.

Next season should be different when we get a couple more strikers in, Pompey do play attractive attacking football, but Harry Redknapp knows what to do to grind out results and if that means play ugly then we will do.

Also playing Championship teams (as we have during most of our cup run) you do have to play a slightly different game, playing the “Premier League” style will often get you knocked out against Championship as the “lower leagues” still play physical football.

By: AtlantaPompey

AtlantaPompey — Sun, 18 May 2008 21:30:37 +0000

Yes, we are a defensive team, much like what Rangers did to get to the UEFA Cup final, but with a little more scoring ability than Rangers, or maybe we were just luckier, like having an own goal in injury time against Plymouth.

The FA Cup was reduced to also ran status this year because no big teams were in it. I’m sure the PPV numbers were way down. We’ve played some great football along the way, but not in any of the FA Cup matches. Oh well. We still lifted the trophy.

Man, I’ve got a hangover…

By: wanderer_abroad

wanderer_abroad — Sun, 18 May 2008 17:27:47 +0000

Love the club and its supporters, hate the team and the manager. Its a shame that the FA cup has been reduced to being won by such a boring and hapless team (no offence pompey fans but you can’t tell me Portsmouth played inspired football at any time along their cup run!) Hopefully we can see a nice young, exciting, ENGLISH team win it next season……Aston Villa anyone?!