Opposition View: Portsmouth (A)
Chris gets behind enemy lines and chats to Freddie from PO4cast...
The September international break always feels an intrusive one. The season has just got going, the window has shut, and you finally have your squad together and then you immediately have to take a break from league action for a fortnight.
This year’s felt especially inconvenient as Albion had started the season so well that we would have loved for the games to keep on coming.
But what of our opponents this weekend, newly promoted Portsmouth? How have they adapted to life back in the Championship?
We asked Freddie from the PO4cast to give us the lowdown on the South Coast side.
How do you feel your season has started?
I feel like Pompey has had a mixed start. Getting three draws in the first four games is excellent considering The Blues have had to play Middlesbrough and Leeds away, as well as a Luton side recently relegated from the Premier League. Having WBA, Burnley and Sheffield United in the next three games makes it even harder. The results have been good, but there are some gaps tactically which have worried me, with some players finding it challenging to play against the top tier of the Championship. That has been exacerbated by a horrendous run of injuries, with Pompey playing a makeshift back four and Colby Bishop being sidelined following a heart scare.
What do you believe the club should be aiming to achieve this season?
The majority of Pompey fans I've spoken to believe that staying in the Championship is an achievement in itself, and everything else is a bonus. Some think the club should be aiming higher but considering Pompey haven't been in the league for over a decade and the financial gap compared to other teams, surviving relegation this season and maintaining themselves as a Championship side should be the goal.
If you compared yourselves to the other two promoted clubs who do you think is best prepared for life in the Championship?
I think Pompey and Oxford are on a par with each other. Both sides appear to have recruited well and have excellent managers with good tactical profiles. They are adaptable teams that can play on the counter attack and press high while also controlling the game depending on the opponent. Derby County seem a bit more one dimensional to me - largely playing on the counter attack and dropping deep - but have some good players in the squad.
What have you made of your summer business?
Pompey have had to restock the cupboards. A lot of depth players left the club and director of football Rich Hughes has brought in 15 players with a mix of free transfers, loans and players for fees. The club has been focused on largely buying younger players with potential who can step into the side, while also bringing in some Championship experience and a higher age profile where appropriate. It's incredibly balanced. The only downside is I feel like, at the moment, the side missed an X factor signing. They missed out on Alex Robertson after Cardiff offered better personal terms, and they were priced out of signing Abu Kamara when he moved to Hull City for a reported £4.5m. There's definitely talent there though and if everyone is fit, Pompey have a deep squad to choose from.
Who is the Pompey player you are most excited about this season?
In terms of new signings which excite me, there are a few names. Josh Murphy hasn't played yet after being sidelined with an ankle injury, but was the best player in League One for six months last season - quick, direct, technical and a goal threat from the wing. Abdoulaye Kamara could be an amazing gem, a box-to-box centre midfielder signed from Borussia Dortmund for roughly £1m. he has high potential and was one of the few players to impress in the 3-1 defeat to Sunderland. Out of the current players, Marlon Pack is the most exciting player for me. He has an excellent range of passing, is defensively reliable and can control a midfield. He's the club's best player in my opinion.
What do you believe your weak point is?
It's tricky to look at Pompey's first four games as there are so many factors behind the results. On the one hand, they have rarely looked out of place in the Championship despite the horrific injury record and could have snatched a win from one of the first three games. On the other hand, there are clear issues. The back four has had problems but Mousinho has been forced to only play his 4th choice CB on occasion and a RB at CB is not ideal. This should fix itself when more players are fit, but Pompey have struggled in the final third creatively. Pompey have only created 3.3 xG so far (4th lowest in the league). They've taken their chances but through large parts of matches, the final ball and the execution of passes hasn't been there. This has resulted in the midfield getting overrun on occasion, as the front four have lost possession or waste chances. Colby Bishop, who scored over 20 goals last season, being sidelined doesn't help.
Three out of your first five games moved for TV coverage (same as us) what are you making of the schedule the new TV deal has brought?
The new TV schedule will inevitably make things more difficult for match-going fans and some will inevitably not be able to make certain matches. For example, it'll be difficult to get to Stoke City away on a Wednesday night and make it home without driving. Changing kick off times to 12.30 has also made some northern away games difficult to attend, with Leeds away being a recent example. The schedule is good for boosting the revenue for the league, but ultimately, it puts match-going fans at too much of a disadvantage.
Thoughts on your manager?
John Mousinho is an excellent manager. He's gone from being on the coaching staff at Oxford to winning League One with Pompey last season where they only lost five games all season (the fifth being after they secured the title, and everyone was partying all week). He's calm, measured, gets the most out of his players, and is adaptable tactically - being able to control games through short passing while also playing on the break against certain opposition. The fans back him 100 per cent.
Where do you believe you’ll finish?
19th
What do you predict your formation and starting XI will be on Sunday?
4-2-3-1 formation - line up is dependent on players returning from injury which is tricky.
From the outside looking in, what are your thoughts on Albion at present?
WBA look like a very good side that should be aiming for the top six. Josh Maja is an excellent goal threat and is very technical, Jed Wallace is excellent (former Pompey) and other players like Diangana, Mowatt and Ajayi are strong Championship players. I really like the signing of Mikey Johnston, who could develop into an excellent player. I like Carlos Corberan as a manager. The side is difficult for Pompey to come up against, but there are some weak points in defence which Pompey can exploit.
What is your score prediction for this weekend?
1-1 draw - goals from Jed Wallace and Callum Lang
Written by:
Chris Hall
@CJHall83