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Weakened team like hell it was
Pompey win away at West Ham, thats a statement that most fans were not expecting to hear before last Saturdays win against Manchester City, after West Ham's FA Cup game we were expecting a weakened team, and yes to a certain extent it wasn't as strong as it could of been but the team that West Ham played today would been a match for the kind of team we were fielding even 3 weeks ago, yes they are the same group of players but with one difference, todays team has belief.
West Brom and Birmingham fans can complain all they like but this result wasnt due to a weakened team it was due to a team hitting form at the right time, and with the Pompey run in looking the easiest of the relegation battlers our form has come at the right time.
Yes we are still 19th, but we are now level on points with Birmingham and only 3 points behind West Brom.
Could the great escape be on? Well I dont hear a fat lady yet.
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West Ham played their strongest team on Wesnesday against Bolton, there were six changes today from Wednesdays team. Of course it was a weakened team.
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While I agree Grant it was on paper a weaker team than the one played against Bolton, it was the same back 4, a strike pair with more goals than all of our strikers combined and with Sheringham with 11 starts and 5 subs and Zamora with 12 starts and 12 sub starts hardly consists a emergency backup pairing, and any strike force with Sheringham deserves respect.
The starting midfield wasnt as you say the strongest, but Reo-Coker gets frequent starts, Daily doesnt but is a very experienced old head. Ok Katan and Clarke are fringe players but their replacements at half time werent, they were part of West Ham's "strongest" team.
The only position that was actually really weaker was the goalkeeper and that was due to injury.
Where as Pompey had a team that until last week was misfiring everywhere, leaking goals and just not scoring them, a half of that team only joined in January and havent really settled yet and quite a few players still arent used to Premiership football. The bookies agreed with me and still rated West Ham favourites even with their "weakened" team, which is one on paper should of still ripped poor Pompey apart.
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I'm glad WH had to play extra time on Wed night us on Saturday now a quater final on Monday night. The planets alligned for arry. Weaker team for sure but they had to. WH don't have a great squad and we exploited that.
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I SAY *** OFF POMPEY POMPEY *** OFF, YOU ARE GOING DOWN SAY YOU ARE GOING DOWN CHERIO CHERIO CHERIO CHERIO CHERIO
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Hmmm wouldnt be a Birmingham or West Brom support would you Martin?
Yes its a possible we will go down, but at the moment of the 3 teams who's fate is still in their own hands we are the only one with a run of form at the moment, ok our original 8 point deficit hampered us but we are now level with Birmingham and only 3 points away from West Brom. Ok the games next week arent good for any of us, but our run in is easier than the teams around us. So technically we have the best chance of staying up. It would be easier for us if our goal difference wasnt so awful, if we hadnt lost 5-0 to Birmingham then things would look better.
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Weakened team like hell it was !!!! Of course it was ..........
What you seem to forget is that we had an FA Cup game vs a very strong and demanding Bolton team on wednesday !!!
Our midfield was made up of a left-back (Clarke), striker (Katan), centre-half (Dailly) plus NRC. How many games have Clarke, Katan and Dailly between them this season ? How many times have they played together ?
Teddy and BZ have only being used as substitutes since Christmas.
It was very clear that the 5 players that will play vs Man city tonight were not going to put themselves into a situation that might result in them missing the 1/4 final.
Just because you have won 2 games on the spin does not make you world beaters all of a sudden. Keep your feet on the ground please.
Having said that you did play well .............. hope you stay up.
Fingers crossed that Birmingham go down (I will not forget the Birmingham fans on the day we were relegated at St Andrews both during and after the game. I will also not firget some of the c*ap that the Brum fans posted onto their site(s) and Boltons ....... nor will I forget Steve Bruce stating that he would like to be the manager of a team that got West Ham relegated !!!!!)