- Dec 3, 2004
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I just got back from the reserves game. We didn’t deserve to lose but got undone by some poor defending and clinical finishing on Pompey’s part added to us missing some good chances and making poor decisions in the final third. I think that it is most useful and interesting to give a brief review of how the individuals played because surely we are most interested in who, if any, could make the step up this season or in the next couple of seasons.
Here is my evaluation of individual performances;
Cesar Sanchez
He did well. There was nothing he could do about any of the goals and in fact for their second, he made two excellent saves only to be let down by our defence who couldn’t clear the ball. His distribution was more often than not through laying the ball to Rocha. He was vocal and often bossed the defence around (in Spanish) and filled the void left by the captain on the night Dervite. I would be more than happy to have him deputise for Gomes if necessary.
Adam Smith
For those who saw the end of the game, it will be no surprise that this player looks a real talent. At the start of the game, he seemed too eager to get forward and left gaping holes in his position without being in any particular rush to get back. But as the game progressed, he got better at the back and going forward he is a real threat. He has an excellent first touch, can beat two or three players while keeping close control and always has his head up going forward. He put in a tremendous cross late on from which Ghaly or Olsen should have scored. If it were not for Hutton, Gunter, Zokora and Corluka, we could be seeing this lad this season. As it is, I would like a loan spell this or next season with a view to progressing in 18 months time.
Cian Hughton
He struggled. He is very slight, as are many players his age, but he gets beaten too easily and for their right sided player got too many crosses past him. He also seems to unaware of players around him and lost his man on more than one occasion both inside and outside. At times, he did very well both offensively and defensively but I think Pompey saw him and his position as a weak spot and exploited it.
Kieran McKenna
He put in an energetic and busy performance but one the ball he seems to try too hard to carry out defence splitting or ‘wow’ pass and when one is not on, he is too ponderous in possession compared to his midfield partner Jacques Maghoma. He is very competitive and vocal (he gave Taarabt a rollicking at one point) but this can be a disadvantage. He was rightly booked for too many silly tackles and he seemed to eager to impress and stamp his authority on the game when all was needed on occasion was short, simple passing and sensible defensive positioning. Too often he got drawn in by the ball leaving the gap between midfield and defence wide open. He seems to have talent and drive but he needs to learn when to make certain challenges and when to try certain long or penetrative passes.
Dorian Dervite
He was captain and he disappointed. Before any of their goals, he lost his man from another right sided cross and seemed to have little communication or understanding with Rocha or any other defender for that matter. On the ball, he can be very good; assured, inventive and takes the initiative by bringing the ball forward confidently given his size and strength. And because of those attributes he should dominate in the air but he struggles. It is the second time I have seen him for the reserves, the first time Archibald-Henville carried him and this time Rocha did to some extent. As captain, furthermore, he did not lead.
Ricardo Rocha
If there is a clear reason why he hasn’t even been considered for the first team, it must be his aerial weaknesses. In every other area, he was very good. He is extremely cultured, rarely clears the ball into touch, passes on the floor and is always comfortable in possession. But aerially he really struggles and he will not be able to handle any Premier League attack with such a generic weakness. It is a shame and hopefully he can head back to the continent and resurrect his career.
David Hutton
Like Hughton, he is very slight and he was very quiet in this game. He didn’t help Smith out defensively enough times and offensively he rarely threatened. He looks to have sound technical skills in his touch, shooting and crossing but he lacks the strength and imposing initiative to even excel in a reserve game. Not one to be discounted but he won’t be threatening Lennon or Bentley for some time.
Jacques Maghoma
He was our best player tonight. He put in a very good ‘number eight’ performance. He helped out defensively, breaking up play, pressing the opposition all over the pitch and he was a direct threat going forward from a central position much like Jenas is when he gets going. He had a fantastic knack of shielding the ball upon receiving a pass and dropping his shoulder to get away from the opposition using skill, strength and pace. He also laid the ball off first time on many occasions to keep the attack going quickly. His final ball was sometimes lacking but he supported Taarabt in the first half as much as anyone and won important free kicks in the last third. He is alert and bright, and like Livermore, always wants the ball and keeps his head up. I would say that next season we could see him in the first team (whether we are in the top flight or not).
Adel Taarabt
What an enigma. He started the game up front on his own which surprised me. Later he was supported by Ghaly and then Olsen. He started the game upholding the negative image I have of him; extremely selfish, unwilling to pass, track back or help his team mates and believing he could take on the whole team and fire every shot into the top corner. It didn’t happen and his team mates and Allen got very annoyed with him. He was often offside and didn’t seem to realise it.
But towards the end of the first half, something changed. To be fair to him until then he had little support so Charlie Daniels moved inside. Taarabt started to pass more and look up at each occasion. He lacks pace but he more than makes up for it in his deft touch, strength and confidence (too much really). He laid the ball off well for Daniels to score and though his goal was lucky, his ability to make space for the shot merits praise. This is his greatest asset and a trait of a very good player; to make space even when you have two or three defenders on him. Allen was often heard yelling ‘Adel!! Move inside etc’ but if this boy can get his head into a team mentality and has the right coach, he is good enough to leave the reserves for good.
Hossam Ghaly
It was a typical Ghaly performance; some skill, some great effort, some petulance (rightly booked) and periods of playing all over the pitch without commanding in any one area. He played very deep at first then by the second half was up front with Taarabt. He won’t get back in the first team nor should he but he could do a good job for many other teams.
Charlie Daniels
As well as he took his goal and as well as he played with Taarabt, Smith and Maghoma at times I cannot see him making it as a winger. He doesn’t have the pace. He also struggled to assert himself on the left side and came inside on fifteen minutes or so. He took his goal excellently and at times delivered some very good crosses but also delivered some bad ones prompting Allen to tell him to ‘fizz it in’. Unlike Hutton on the right, he supported Hughton defensively and tracked his man well.
Kyle Fraser Allen (sub for Hutton)
He made a minimal impact. Unlike Daniels he has pace but needs to strengthen up a lot. Daniels is quite well built (similar to Bale) but Fraser Allen looked quite withdrawn and forlorn at times. He did put in two or three good crosses and combined well with Smith, Maghoma and Taarabt for an excellent move late on but he needs another season here before a loan move to decipher whether he can make the step up.
Alex Olsen (sub for McKenna)
I am not sure why he didn’t start in front of Taarabt but when he came on he too had little impact. He has a good first touch but he should have scored late on when Smith delivered a great cross which fizzed past the post. Allen screamed at him to ‘expect it’. He may not have Allen’s eye for goal but I have heard and read some good things about him and would not dismiss him in the slightest based on tonight.
I hope you find this interesting and informative.
Here is my evaluation of individual performances;
Cesar Sanchez
He did well. There was nothing he could do about any of the goals and in fact for their second, he made two excellent saves only to be let down by our defence who couldn’t clear the ball. His distribution was more often than not through laying the ball to Rocha. He was vocal and often bossed the defence around (in Spanish) and filled the void left by the captain on the night Dervite. I would be more than happy to have him deputise for Gomes if necessary.
Adam Smith
For those who saw the end of the game, it will be no surprise that this player looks a real talent. At the start of the game, he seemed too eager to get forward and left gaping holes in his position without being in any particular rush to get back. But as the game progressed, he got better at the back and going forward he is a real threat. He has an excellent first touch, can beat two or three players while keeping close control and always has his head up going forward. He put in a tremendous cross late on from which Ghaly or Olsen should have scored. If it were not for Hutton, Gunter, Zokora and Corluka, we could be seeing this lad this season. As it is, I would like a loan spell this or next season with a view to progressing in 18 months time.
Cian Hughton
He struggled. He is very slight, as are many players his age, but he gets beaten too easily and for their right sided player got too many crosses past him. He also seems to unaware of players around him and lost his man on more than one occasion both inside and outside. At times, he did very well both offensively and defensively but I think Pompey saw him and his position as a weak spot and exploited it.
Kieran McKenna
He put in an energetic and busy performance but one the ball he seems to try too hard to carry out defence splitting or ‘wow’ pass and when one is not on, he is too ponderous in possession compared to his midfield partner Jacques Maghoma. He is very competitive and vocal (he gave Taarabt a rollicking at one point) but this can be a disadvantage. He was rightly booked for too many silly tackles and he seemed to eager to impress and stamp his authority on the game when all was needed on occasion was short, simple passing and sensible defensive positioning. Too often he got drawn in by the ball leaving the gap between midfield and defence wide open. He seems to have talent and drive but he needs to learn when to make certain challenges and when to try certain long or penetrative passes.
Dorian Dervite
He was captain and he disappointed. Before any of their goals, he lost his man from another right sided cross and seemed to have little communication or understanding with Rocha or any other defender for that matter. On the ball, he can be very good; assured, inventive and takes the initiative by bringing the ball forward confidently given his size and strength. And because of those attributes he should dominate in the air but he struggles. It is the second time I have seen him for the reserves, the first time Archibald-Henville carried him and this time Rocha did to some extent. As captain, furthermore, he did not lead.
Ricardo Rocha
If there is a clear reason why he hasn’t even been considered for the first team, it must be his aerial weaknesses. In every other area, he was very good. He is extremely cultured, rarely clears the ball into touch, passes on the floor and is always comfortable in possession. But aerially he really struggles and he will not be able to handle any Premier League attack with such a generic weakness. It is a shame and hopefully he can head back to the continent and resurrect his career.
David Hutton
Like Hughton, he is very slight and he was very quiet in this game. He didn’t help Smith out defensively enough times and offensively he rarely threatened. He looks to have sound technical skills in his touch, shooting and crossing but he lacks the strength and imposing initiative to even excel in a reserve game. Not one to be discounted but he won’t be threatening Lennon or Bentley for some time.
Jacques Maghoma
He was our best player tonight. He put in a very good ‘number eight’ performance. He helped out defensively, breaking up play, pressing the opposition all over the pitch and he was a direct threat going forward from a central position much like Jenas is when he gets going. He had a fantastic knack of shielding the ball upon receiving a pass and dropping his shoulder to get away from the opposition using skill, strength and pace. He also laid the ball off first time on many occasions to keep the attack going quickly. His final ball was sometimes lacking but he supported Taarabt in the first half as much as anyone and won important free kicks in the last third. He is alert and bright, and like Livermore, always wants the ball and keeps his head up. I would say that next season we could see him in the first team (whether we are in the top flight or not).
Adel Taarabt
What an enigma. He started the game up front on his own which surprised me. Later he was supported by Ghaly and then Olsen. He started the game upholding the negative image I have of him; extremely selfish, unwilling to pass, track back or help his team mates and believing he could take on the whole team and fire every shot into the top corner. It didn’t happen and his team mates and Allen got very annoyed with him. He was often offside and didn’t seem to realise it.
But towards the end of the first half, something changed. To be fair to him until then he had little support so Charlie Daniels moved inside. Taarabt started to pass more and look up at each occasion. He lacks pace but he more than makes up for it in his deft touch, strength and confidence (too much really). He laid the ball off well for Daniels to score and though his goal was lucky, his ability to make space for the shot merits praise. This is his greatest asset and a trait of a very good player; to make space even when you have two or three defenders on him. Allen was often heard yelling ‘Adel!! Move inside etc’ but if this boy can get his head into a team mentality and has the right coach, he is good enough to leave the reserves for good.
Hossam Ghaly
It was a typical Ghaly performance; some skill, some great effort, some petulance (rightly booked) and periods of playing all over the pitch without commanding in any one area. He played very deep at first then by the second half was up front with Taarabt. He won’t get back in the first team nor should he but he could do a good job for many other teams.
Charlie Daniels
As well as he took his goal and as well as he played with Taarabt, Smith and Maghoma at times I cannot see him making it as a winger. He doesn’t have the pace. He also struggled to assert himself on the left side and came inside on fifteen minutes or so. He took his goal excellently and at times delivered some very good crosses but also delivered some bad ones prompting Allen to tell him to ‘fizz it in’. Unlike Hutton on the right, he supported Hughton defensively and tracked his man well.
Kyle Fraser Allen (sub for Hutton)
He made a minimal impact. Unlike Daniels he has pace but needs to strengthen up a lot. Daniels is quite well built (similar to Bale) but Fraser Allen looked quite withdrawn and forlorn at times. He did put in two or three good crosses and combined well with Smith, Maghoma and Taarabt for an excellent move late on but he needs another season here before a loan move to decipher whether he can make the step up.
Alex Olsen (sub for McKenna)
I am not sure why he didn’t start in front of Taarabt but when he came on he too had little impact. He has a good first touch but he should have scored late on when Smith delivered a great cross which fizzed past the post. Allen screamed at him to ‘expect it’. He may not have Allen’s eye for goal but I have heard and read some good things about him and would not dismiss him in the slightest based on tonight.
I hope you find this interesting and informative.