Saturday 10 September 2011

Nailing the Boleyn Hoodoo

Mark Noble
Well it was close - far too close - but we won at home for the first time in 6 months and the hope has to be that we will now feel more at home the next time we run out at the Boleyn. Critics will rightly say that to ship three goals at home to Portsmouth is unsatisfactory, especially when we had a one man advantage for a chunk of the game, but a win is a win and we are developing a rather nice habit of scoring 4 goals in a game! If we keep doing that, we will win a lot more games than we lose or draw!

I haven't seen the game or the goals as yet but the defence has to be a worry. OK one of the Pompey goals was a penalty and another was apparently a bit flukey, but the reports I have read suggest that Green came to our rescue a few times. We all know Noble isn't a holding midfielder so perhaps he remains a weak link in the team, even though he netted his penalty.

One player who is certainly proving his critics wrong is Carlton Cole, who scored yet again. His confidence must be sky high at the moment and, just as importantly, opposing defenders will be terrified of the prospect of coming up against him. The team selection was conservative given all the new faces, with only Lansbury getting a start. Not sure what Collison will make of that if he was fit. He acquitted himself well for Wales against England on Tuesday but he isn't good enough to start for West Ham, even after the defection of Parker. He might be knocking on Doctor Evil's door on Monday!

A win is a win and we are sitting pretty in fourth spot in the table, with Leicester 5 points adrift of us. But problems remain to be sorted!

13 comments:

Stani said...

Where are the Cole haters?! It was a brilliantly taken header HF.

And you gotta see Noble's tackle!...challenge, I mean.

fred149 said...

Well sorry stani but Noble didnt have bad game and was also involved in two other goals and as for the penalty in the last minute well it shouldnt have been given for two reasons. reasons are: shouldnt of been 5 mins injury time and two the final whistle shouldve blown for 5 mins injury time anyway before the pen

Stani said...

Hahaa Fred, stop it. I agree he did some good things in the game but the guy is a liability. When he does the odd good thing, all his backers forget. We cannot carry on with him making blunders like he did today. No doubt he will continue to hide in a team that has 10 other good players who'll cover his back. But for how long?

As for his foul...you can make excuses, but the fact is he did it. Plus, refs can add time on for substitutions and goal celebrations. There were 4 subs and 7 goals. That's not considering time added on for injuries of course. It was a legitimate penalty.

fred149 said...

He isnt a liablity if the rest of the midfield help like they are meant to when noble and the defense are outnumbered

Kareem said...

Noble is not a holding midfielder...he passed really well, he made the cross that led to Lansbury's goal..I thought he was pretty good today..he should play in center mid, but have someone like Diop hold the line. He's good enough to play.

Anonymous said...

Stani,as much as HF is blinkered against Parker you are blinkered against Noble,the bloke creates 2 goals,scores a penalty & still you give him grief...give it a rest.

As far as Noble is concerned,for you the glass is always going to be half empty instead of half full,try and think of something positive to say for a change.

We are seen to be the "Fancy Dans" of this division & everyone is going to come to our manor with a different game plan (Pompey's was trying to kick the f*ck out of us) & it didn't work as they had Lawrence sent off but Noble put in a shift & a half today & was my MOM.

Jonny Hammer

Anonymous said...

22:06 Fred I can put up with your constant bad grammar and spelling but I will not have you spelling defence in the American vernacular - that sir is unforgivable!

Anonymous said...

02:00 who was the official MOM?

Anonymous said...

Unlike you C0cks on this blog - I actually went to the game... Noble had a great game. He scored a penalty and was involved in two of the other goals. He is certainly playing for his place and I for one couldn't ask any more of him.

Stani said...

Jonny,
Say something positive? Did you miss where I said 'he did some good things in the game'? And you say I am blinkered?

Noble was your man of the match above Cole and Landsbury? I think you have just lost all credibility in relation to your point there.

And many of the points HF makes about Parker are correct. It's just he goes on about it a bit.

Anonymous said...

a bit? you're as mad as he is

fred149 said...

Ok Jonny, we noble played well but man of the match is a bit over the top but i do stand by the fact a holding midfielder cannot be held responsible for goals let in if he and the back 4 are outnumbered

Stani said...

If Noble had legs (not a lot more mobile, even just a bit more) and stopped making stupid 'I'm trying to please the crowd' challenges, I'd have him in my team no problem. Unfortunately, the first problem is one that cannot be addressed and the second is one that will take time, something he no longer has.