AVRIM GRANT = NO CLASS

[JBH]

Just picked this quote out of one of his post match interveiws:

"We played very good football, created a lot of chances and were by far the better team," said the Portsmouth Manager.

"They did not even deserve a draw, they had only one chance and scored.

"There was also a mistake by the referee in the goal, because Zamora was offside"

Yes they played well in spells but the fact is Portsmouth had no final cutting edge, to say we didn't even deserve a draw is pathetic, after all wasn't it Fulham who despite being ravished by injuries to our first choice starting line-up, that scored the only goal of the match and in fact looked the stronger in the 2nd half, also the way that Pompey's players let their heads drop after the goal it was a good job for them that Okaka didn't score in the 1st half, because if that had caused the same reaction then FFC could have scored 3 or 4.

Avrim we know its tough at Pompey but show some respect in losing to Fulham Reserves!!

;)

[FC Silver Fox]

To be honest, if I were were the ref, I would have blown for offside and not given the goal. Zamora was in an offside position. Granted, he didn't touch the ball, but he influenced play and took out a defender and the keeper enabling Greening to tap in.

Yes, Pompey played some good football and created some chances. They dominated the midfield in the first half.  Overall, Portsmouth weren't the better team and we had far more than one chance. He has a bit of a lopsided view on that, although he is fighting for his job.

Did they deserve a draw? Maybe, but if I counted the number of times this season that we've deserved a win and got nothing....

[finnster01]

What do you expect from a former dark side? Certainly not class.

[Lighthouse]

No it was not offside under the  rules of zonal interferrring with a donkey on a weekday unless the moon is full. We have  been done plenty of times with the strange offside leave up to the linesman rule. In my day you were either off or on and that caused enough problems.

I once ran a line in my younger days and had people shouting at me. But even after snorting I was still thinking about my dinner. Linesman is a boring job especially when I should have played but everybody turned up and some wjefvj shouted 'Lighthouse will be a linesman' the shghghg so  I.....

Actually this painfull memory goes on for a bit. So leave me to it,

[Logicalman]

This offside rule is very technical and difficult to interpret correctly, as it is based on a subjective view.

In the first half Pompey had, perhaps their best chance, when , in the 11th minute, Piquione got onto a pass thru that Dindane also had a chance with, but had Dindane touched the ball it would have been ruled offside. Both players ran forward with the ball, but was Dindane, by his presence, interfering with play? Obviously to a lesser extent that BZ was when Fulham scored, but it is all very subjective in the end.
It was much cleaner when the rule was simple: If a player is offside when the ball is kicked, then he is offside, matters not whether he actually interfers with play. Done and dusted.

[Jimpav]

I would say BZ was offside as pointed out he was interfering with play.

I was surprised at how well Pompey played for such a shoe string side- they tried to play a passing game and created a lot of chances. They did ot take these though.

The ref had an absolute shocking game.

[JBH]

Pompey a shoe string side?

I don't think they are exactly that, anywaywhat ever they a Fulham team made up of squad rather than 1st choice players beat them 1 - 0.

Prehaps Avrim so go and have another massage to relax!!!!!

[Jimpav]

I stand by my comments about them being shoe string - they have been decimated by the past two transfer windows.

However I do agree that Avvram is going to be the only man In Pompey to get a happy ending this season!

[Lighthouse]

Having watched the replay highlights on the Offal I think it would be harch to call BZ off side at the goal. A defender was on the floor and the Keeper was around being level. Anyhoo the referee who was making his debut in the Prem was badly let down by his poor assistants all game. A Pompey chance in the first half was way off side but thy let it go. Hardly dare think of what would have happened had they scored.

[FFCOutpostCommander]

I can live with the comment about the lack of a call for the offsides, but the crap about "only one chance" really pixxed me off. The officials had been making a mess of calls all night on both sides so only singling out the one that hurt you sounds more like whining than an excuse? Besides, James had to stop more than a few good shots, several looking likely to go in like that header from Hughes. Their keeper was up to the job until WE put one into the back of the net, which I believe constitutes a win when the officials allow it. Always a part of the game. More over Schwarzer was the better keeper not letting anything past him. That alone would justify at least a draw. Maybe Grant was actually napping during those minutes, he did look a little too sedate on the sideline.

[Lighthouse]

I sometimes feel Roy is TOO low key sometimes in the after match interview. But he doesn't make remarks that frankly were a little insulting from Avram. Frustration must be hard for any manager but it is part of the job to suppress ones feelings. A manager of Grants experience should know the golden rule. Comment on your own side not on the officials or the opposition.

[FFCOutpostCommander]

A clear view of a swan and an ugly duckling after the match. Just read Roy's post match comments on the off and once again true class. He was very kind to Pompey and even to Grant, while pointing out that it is sometimes a cruel game and we've had more than our share of heartaches lately. I would have busted if he just once made a snide comment. I'm sure he could be very sharp if he wanted to be. Too much a gentleman I guess.

[os5889]

Hate to be picku OP but can you change Avrim to Avram, its all about the standards you see, ours are higher than Pompeys and Cottage Corner