[mikey393]

We really need to be getting a win here if possible.

They've only scored 4 goals this season but won 2 games.

We really need to be putting them under pressure from the kick off.

The defence is looking pretty solid now but the worrying factor is where are the goals coming from.

I suspect we'll play 4-2-3-1 with Saydee starting up top holding the ball up & laying off to the midfieders & wingers.

Heart says 3-1 Pompey Head says 1-1.

[Slagger]

Bit of a bogey team for Pompey aren’t they? Can’t remember the last time we won at theirs.

[DeepBlue]

Bit of a bogey team for Pompey aren’t they? Can’t remember the last time we won at theirs.

We've beaten them more often than they have beaten us over the years (25 v 21), but wins up there are few and far between.

[Pedalo_menders]

Excited to pick up where we left off from the last game. We are improving game on game. Anything can happen!

[Sharpe*]

Cold, windy, rainy night in Stoke.

Lovely!

6-0 Pompey.

[Smellybelly]

I feel the manager is starting to find his settled team for this season. 
Midfield and centre backs are now picking themselves. 
Expecting Connor to come back in at left back and the rest to be unchanged

[TareeDawg]

I feel the manager is starting to find his settled team for this season. 
Midfield and centre backs are now picking themselves. 
Expecting Connor to come back in at left back and the rest to be unchanged

With sufficient pressure the goals will come, albeit from any number of different sources. Even though Saydee isn't a natural striker, he is a creative player, and his sheer physique puts him in the team. With Shockers we seem to have a very good defensive line-up. We just need to start putting serious points on the board.

[Cowespompey]

Excited to pick up where we left off from the last game. We are improving game on game. Anything can happen!

Anything can happen apart from Pompey scoring some goals as we don’t have enough fit genuine strikers

[dsmg]

Smellybelly- you reckon he’ll drop Farrell after one game?
Taree - Shockers hasn’t played last few games

[Gerry Hatrick]

The big dilemma for Mous is whether to push Poole to three games in a week or rest him. Not a problem if Shockers was available but presently it would mean Towler coming in. Safety first with long-term view or roll the dice in the search for clean sheets and points?

[Smellybelly]

Smellybelly- you reckon he’ll drop Farrell after one game?
Taree - Shockers hasn’t played last few games

Yeah I think he'll be eased into championship life, he's a longer term project as opposed to a quick fix. 

Not sure a Wednesday night in Stoke is ideal for your 2nd game in this country.

[DeepBlue]

I feel the manager is starting to find his settled team for this season. 
Midfield and centre backs are now picking themselves. 
Expecting Connor to come back in at left back and the rest to be unchanged

With sufficient pressure the goals will come, albeit from any number of different sources. Even though Saydee isn't a natural striker, he is a creative player, and his sheer physique puts him in the team. With Shockers we seem to have a very good defensive line-up. We just need to start putting serious points on the board.

It's going to be an interesting battle between MacIntyre & Shaughnessy for who plays alongside Poole. It's early days for MacIntyre but I'd say he is the better footballer and has more championship class whereas Shaughnessy is solid and offers more threat from corners, and has always played well for us so doesn't really deserve to be dropped.

[dsmg]

A dilemma to be sure. Ogilvie and Shockers will be unlucky if left out but that is what having a good squad is all about. Anyone heard any news injury wise. We really need Yengi back or get Sorensen firing. He did pretty well on his debut with an excellent goal but hasn't had much of a sniff since then.

[Kingo]

He hasn't played there for us, but I think Shockers is equally comfortable as a defensive midfielder. Which might be useful sometimes.

[TitchfieldBlue]

They are a better team than us and an established championship side.

They'll beat us. 

3 1 to Stoke

[firqdays]

An uplifting suggestion of an away win then !

[dsmg]

I despair for humanity, not only due to warmongering dictators, the Israeli-Arab conflict, plague, disease and natural disasters but also because of the sheer boring persistence of some people on message boards. There must be a better way of getting your kicks. Amen

[mikey393]

If shockers is fit how about playing with 3 at the back as some have suggested.

Play 3-5-2 with wing backs. Saydee & O'Mahoney/Sorenson up front?

Or 3-5-1-1 for a bit more safety.

When defending leave one attacker on the half way line as an outlet.

[FiftyYearsOn]

Sadly, Shockers is not fit and sounds like he won't be in the near future from what JM was saying. He might go for experience at left back perhaps.

[PompeyBlue15]

I think Poole would have been rested tonight had shaugnessy not got injured Saturday. But I feel he may be forced into playing him again tonight.

[Prickles]

Both sides well up for this I reckon, a Desmond

[Cunninglinguist]

Stoke city fans all bricking it, practically to a man. They really don’t seem to have any optimism about it at all.

[DeepBlue]

I'm pretty confident we will look the better team, but will we be able to put the ball into the net ?

[Hammie]

I'm pretty confident we will look the better team, but will we be able to put the ball into the net ?

that is the issue. might eventually get one and then get a few as the pressure comes off.
some new players yet to score their first.

[DeepBlue]

I'm pretty confident we will look the better team, but will we be able to put the ball into the net ?

I'm a bit less confident at the moment !  Shocking performance so far.