Harry Darling

[Blackpooljack]

If we dont go up this season will be gone to the Prem. Absolute quality

 

[LeonWasTheDog's]

If we dont go up this season will be gone to the Prem. Absolute quality

He's going to the Prem then. Anyone who thinks "the process" is getting us up this year is a headcase. I'm not a super miserable git normally, but I don't see how we're turning things around to compete. Quite the opposite, I expect were more likely to be looking down than up.

Bookmark this and I hope I'm proven utterly wrong!

 

[Raynor94]

Don't you just love a hope I'm wrong post, 3 weeks before a ball is kicked in anger

 

[Dr. Winston]

Don't you just love a hope I'm wrong post, 3 weeks before a ball is kicked in anger

Especially when most people who "hope they're wrong" absolutely don't.

 

[Fireboy]

Don't you just love a hope I'm wrong post, 3 weeks before a ball is kicked in anger

Especially when most people who "hope they're wrong" absolutely don't.

Sad innit Doc

 

[JackSomething]

Don't you just love a hope I'm wrong post, 3 weeks before a ball is kicked in anger

Especially when most people who "hope they're wrong" absolutely don't.

We've had plenty of those over the years, many of whom aren't missed by me. Can't remember Leon ever being one of them though to be fair.

 

[Risc]

Especially when most people who "hope they're wrong" absolutely don't.

We've had plenty of those over the years, many of whom aren't missed by me. Can't remember Leon ever being one of them though to be fair.

Nah Leon seems a sound poster. I got to be honest I felt the same during the game yesterday, but after a few hours reflection I remember we lost to the likes of Neath back in the day and got promoted under Martinez in league one.

The wing back positions worry me though, they worried me last year, and I don't think we have strengthened anywhere near enough this year (yet). Harness is meant to be coming in as RWB, with Pompey fans claiming he was awful when played there for them, Sorinola didn't look to have any sort of pace to me and needs to cut inside to get a cross in, and Ogbeta, who for me is the most dangerous of them all, is persona non grata.

 

[Dr. Winston]

The one thing we are lacking is pace, and have done for a number of seasons. It's one of the things that baffled me most about Cooper's dismissal of Peterson.

We have to move the ball faster, and need players capable of keeping up with us doing that.

 

[Risc]

The one thing we are lacking is pace, and have done for a number of seasons. It's one of the things that baffled me most about Cooper's dismissal of Peterson.

We have to move the ball faster, and need players capable of keeping up with us doing that.

Completely agree. Obafemi the only one with genuine pace in what I would consider Martin's starting XI as it stands.

Can only go by clips of Harness, but I think he will be in the same mould as Sorinola, decent with ball at his feet, the odd trick, but no explosive speed to beat a man at this level. Basing my opinion on one friendly as it stands so of course plenty of time for that to change, but I do find it concerning.

 

[Fireboy]

We've had plenty of those over the years, many of whom aren't missed by me. Can't remember Leon ever being one of them though to be fair.

Nah Leon seems a sound poster. I got to be honest I felt the same during the game yesterday, but after a few hours reflection I remember we lost to the likes of Neath back in the day and got promoted under Martinez in league one.

The wing back positions worry me though, they worried me last year, and I don't think we have strengthened anywhere near enough this year (yet). Harness is meant to be coming in as RWB, with Pompey fans claiming he was awful when played there for them, Sorinola didn't look to have any sort of pace to me and needs to cut inside to get a cross in, and Ogbeta, who for me is the most dangerous of them all, is persona non grata.

Perhaps Ogbeta is in the same mould as piroe and obafemi was last season? RM sorted those two out and look how far they developed.

Touch wood ogbeta will come good, as alot of people have said, he looked good last night.

 

[Uxy]

Pre-season is no guide at all. We'll find out more in 30 minutes against Rotherham about our players than we will in the pre-season games.

Going to be interesting to see how Darling steps up in level. Footballing defenders are pretty rare in L1 and below, so standing out there is one thing, but less so in the Championship.

 

[CurtessECarr]

Pre-season is no guide at all. We'll find out more in 30 minutes against Rotherham about our players than we will in the pre-season games.

Going to be interesting to see how Darling steps up in level. Footballing defenders are pretty rare in L1 and below, so standing out there is one thing, but less so in the Championship.

Agree here. First time I've seen him in our shirt and looks decent. Let's see how he develops throughout the season before we put him on a pedestal. There was apparently Prem league interest in him but he ended up here. Why was that?

 

[JackSomething]

We've only brought in 1 loan player so far this summer and he's from a foreign club, so plenty of scope still to bring in some young talent (and hopefully pace).

I'm not sure if we're moving away from loans under new management, or we're waiting for PL teams to complete their preseason friendlies and make decisions on which players are available for loan. Hopefully it's the latter and we've got a list of Ethan Laird type possible loans to come in.

 

[bakajack]

We've only brought in 1 loan player so far this summer and he's from a foreign club, so plenty of scope still to bring in some young talent (and hopefully pace).

I'm not sure if we're moving away from loans under new management, or we're waiting for PL teams to complete their preseason friendlies and make decisions on which players are available for loan. Hopefully it's the latter and we've got a list of Ethan Laird type possible loans to come in.

I would have half considered asking for Laird back for a season but after the way United tucked us up last season I would stay away from any of their players.

 

[JackSomething]

We've only brought in 1 loan player so far this summer and he's from a foreign club, so plenty of scope still to bring in some young talent (and hopefully pace).

I'm not sure if we're moving away from loans under new management, or we're waiting for PL teams to complete their preseason friendlies and make decisions on which players are available for loan. Hopefully it's the latter and we've got a list of Ethan Laird type possible loans to come in.

I would have half considered asking for Laird back for a season but after the way United tucked us up last season I would stay away from any of their players.

I can understand that, but hopefully seeing how that decision backfired on them massively (21 games for Laird here, 6 at Bournemouth) will make us more appealing to them as a destination for their young players. Given the talent they likely have in their youth teams, I'm happy to give them another chance, although a discount on loan fees/wages would be nice.