Schalke Defeat Means Nothing
Thursday, 25th Jul 2013 12:43

There were those who expected more from our run out against German Giants Schalke 04, I was not one of them.

I mentioned in the run up to the game that with the Germans at least a week ahead of us in preparations that this would not be a game on equal footing, after all they had played several more friendlies prior to this game that we had ourselves, with our two openers being relatively easy games against sides who would be roughly at the same level as Eastleigh, with respect to Pompey's nearest local rivals in terms of league position this season.

This game was always going to be about work rate and upping the tempo and thats what it turned out to be, from what I saw of the game on the internet. Saints worked hard to get behind the ball but struggled to really create much going forward, but its workouts like this that will stand us in good stead for the forthcoming season.

There is also the little matter that Schalke are a top 4 side in one of the Stongest leagues in Europe at present and in that respect we were playing a team of better standard than ourselves in terms of competition it was like playing AFC Totton one day and then facing Arsenal a couple of days later, it was a big jump.

Mauricio Pochettino realised this and didnt change the team around at half time as he had in the first two games, but if he didnt make changes then it would have defeated the object of the game and perhaps this more than anything highlihted that although the result didnt matter the same old areas still need strengthening and we are far from having a competitve squad from 1-25, we have a decent starting 11, probably 4 - 5 more who are competent at Premier level and thats about it, too many squad players for one reason or another arent up to the task ahead, for some it may be an age thing, they arent quite ready, but for others they truly arent of the standard needed.

Hopefuilly this game will help MoPo realise this and who is and who isnt up to the job, hopefully he will also go back to the powers above dealing with transfers and relay the fact that its time we started to land a few key players, we have reached for the moon and not got the stars, we need to be looking for someone not quite so high up in the atmosphere that can take us to the verge of the top ten, not top six.

Photo: Action Images

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slynch added 13:19 - Jul 25 Chambers and Isgrove did ok for first timers. But apart from Wanyama, Punch and Shaw the senior players were terrible. And I was told Lovren was a good player - I thought he was on Schalke's side to start with. Perhaps Saints can get their money back like Forren. MP - please tell def. mid field what they're mean't to do. NC - please go and see Ms Liebherr again!
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SanMarco added 16:29 - Jul 25 Trying to watch it on the internet gave me malware called sweetpacks which took me all evening to get rid of. I am slightly concerned about the early reports on Lovren...
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slynch added 17:42 - Jul 25 SanMarco Try this, it's brill...and free... https://adblockplus.org/en/firefox
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simmo400 added 21:01 - Jul 25

Of course this is just a fitness exercise and a lot of our team ourissing but the goals were poor to say the least. I don't care what level we play a ball bouncing over your head and the keeper fluffing it is poor in pub football. The second was no better. In marked to slot home. So yes all that counts is WBA on the 17 aug but certain players have got to up their game. On a plus Luke Shaw looked taller and fitter and shone. Others wereiles away.