[Albion] What I Learned Tonight

[Pavilionaire]

It is good to see players playing with a smile on their face. There is a squad of players there all buying into Potter's style, and the transition seems to be almost complete.

Lack of a striker could hold us back but everyone seems so comfortable on the ball now. Cutting edge up top could catapult this lot into the top half of the table.

 

[West Upper Seagull]

Ali J has shown tonight once again that he knows where the back of the net is - it does make you wonder whether we could really see the best of him if he was given a decent run in the first team !

 

[Silverhatch]

Gyokeres played outright CF. The most difficult position on the pitch (for us and most sides outside the elite). He had 2/3 good on target strikes at goal, scored one and played in AliJ for his thunderbolt. All in a scratch side at just 22. **** me we are a tough crowd.

 

[W3 BHA]

I learned (again) what a happy, thoroughly bloody nice chap Ali J is............and that he seemed to have something akin to an Irish lilt when interviewed!

 

[dangull]

Potter may have learned to take this Cup a bit more seriously, even if one reason is just for keeping the fans happy.

 

[Stat Brother]

What I learned last night:-

In the Potterverse if you're young you start at right back.

 

[*Gullsworth*]

I learned we are slowly building a half decent squad. But even more important we are a class & a half above Pompey & boy it still feels good beating those #TWATS.

 

[KoreanSeagull]

How can you slate Steele after that? Kept a cleen sheet, managed an outstanding save and his kicks weren't bad at all.

His confidence grew throughout the match and I'll take him as a back up keeper.

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[Lush]

I was surprised by Stephens. Fast quick forward passing. It’s not just the youngsters that Potter is improving.

 

[Lush]

I also learned that even the fringe players and the new players are loving life at the Albion. So many smiles. Seems to be an excellent positive atmosphere at the club.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

How can you slate Steele after that? Kept a cleen sheet, managed an outstanding save and his kicks weren't bad at all.

His confidence grew throughout the match and I'll take him as a back up keeper.

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I thought his distribution was excellent.
Really didn't expect that from him.. mainly based on what I saw on Sunderland til I die tbf

 

[Silverhatch]

League One is a level below the Championship and a chasm below the Premier League (for Pompey last night anyway).

But we did play well.

 

[warsaw]

We are perfecting the tippytappyacross theback strategy. Pompey tried to press us very high and each time we waltzed straight through them into acres of space. Yes I know it was only Pompey and doing it against ManCity might be risky, but the benefits outweigh the risks for Potter

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[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Agree re Molumby and Veltman, also thought Gyokeres worked hard up there, couple of decent efforts and well taken goal.

Jahanbaksh was class. I accept against League 1 opposition but looked quality.

Steele had 1 save to make and it was absolutely top drawer. Good distribution, what on that performance makes you doubt him?

Lack of command of area. A lot of flapping around in the first half. His history is a good reflex keeper who makes great saves but makes mistakes and very brittle confidence. Saw all that last night.

re: Jahanbaksh and Bernardo... both started badly (it was a cross not a shot) but then grew in confidence and agree later in the game Jahanbaksh was on fire... that's what's so frustrating!

 

[Weststander]

We are perfecting the tippytappyacross theback strategy. Pompey tried to press us very high and each time we waltzed straight through them into acres of space. Yes I know it was only Pompey and doing it against ManCity might be risky, but the benefits outweigh the risks for Potter

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Pompey’s ‘Bielsa tactics’ game plan was obvious, ten wound-up outfield players in our faces, sprinting to harry us into hoped for mistakes.

But I thought we handled it well, this included getting the ball forward quickly from the traps Pompey thought they were setting. Giving us an advantage in numbers in counter attacks

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Lack of command of area. A lot of flapping around in the first half. His history is a good reflex keeper who makes great saves but makes mistakes and very brittle confidence. Saw all that last night.

re: Jahanbaksh and Bernardo... both started badly (it was a cross not a shot) but then grew in confidence and agree later in the game Jahanbaksh was on fire... that's what's so frustrating!

Agree regards Steele. Great shot stopper but all over the shop with set pieces.

Ali J had a great game considering how little he has played since lockdown. It’s unsurprising that it took him a 10 minutes or so to get going. TBH, you could say the same for most of the team.


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[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Two other things....

Absolutely agree it was lovely to enjoy a match without fretting and I did think we dominated the match.

Potter has a history of having a striker who causes mayhem, lays off, but doesn't score a huge number of goals. He had someone like that at Ostersunds (ghoddos?). Wonder if that's what he's looking for from Gyokeres....

 

[GT49er]

Gyokeres played outright CF. The most difficult position on the pitch (for us and most sides outside the elite). He had 2/3 good on target strikes at goal, scored one and played in AliJ for his thunderbolt. All in a scratch side at just 22. **** me we are a tough crowd.

This. He wasn't afraid to shoot - and shoot on target - two or three times he forced the GK to make a decent save Plus a goal and an assist. We've seen matches where the whole team hasn't matched those stats! Some unnecessarily harsh comments floating around.
Agree that probably a Championship loan is the best plan for now, especially if he's going to get slated here!
As said above, tough crowd!

 

[Barnet Seagull]

I thought the old(er) heads in midfield showed their quality. Propper, Stephens, Gross all consistently a class above.
We know why Potter doesn't fancy Bernado at left back. Decision making and positioning is suspect.
Mac Allister is a classy No.10 but doesn't quite fit the system, yet.
AliJ showed why he isn't fully trusted in the first XI yet. I think a run of starting games and we could see him shine as he took a while to get up to speed.

There is a lot of depth in the squad. IF we went down this year, we could lose a number of our first team and we would still be very competitive

We beat Pompey 4-0 with a fully rotated squad. We've come a long long way...

 

[southstandandy]

Agree regards Steele. Great shot stopper but all over the shop with set pieces.

Ali J had a great game considering how little he has played since lockdown. It’s unsurprising that it took him a 10 minutes or so to get going. TBH, you could say the same for most of the team.


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Have to say that was my take on it too. No denying his ability to make a save but I thought everytime a cross came in he was nowhere near it or didn't know whether to come or go. Would still prefer a better back up in my view.

Best thing generally last night for me was that often when the '2nd string' plays you feel only 2 or 3 players could improve or adapt to the main 1st team group but the vast majority who played last night all made me feel that they could adequately add and support the first 11 and I would have no problem with them being bench players or starting games when needed. The strength in depth we now have is as strong as it has ever been in my view with the exception of the forward department. As with most on here would like one more striker to give us a another option and would be happy for Gyokeres to be our 4th striker.

All round a positive performace last night, although the quality of the opposition has to be taken into account.