March 18th 2005
Newcastle-online caught up with Phil, the Editor of a Portsmouth fans
site Pompey
Web to get his views on tomorrow's match between the two sides
at Fratton Park, Amdy Faye, Yakubu, Harry & Jim, NUFC and many
other things. This is what he had to say...
Q: Under Harry & Jim, I looked at Portsmouth and thought;
'now there is a club going places'. They played good football, were
strong at home and had a decent first-team - one of the better sides
in the Premiership I thought who could beat anyone on their day. Then
Milan Mandaric started to tinker. Is he mad or was he right to get
rid of the pair? What are your thoughts on the whole episode?
I think a lot of people misunderstood the situation at the time. The
spat between Mandaric and Redknapp goes back to the summer when there
was a falling out between the two, allegedly over Jim Smith. Publicly
they had kissed and made up but underneath it all it rumbled on and
there was an uneasy truce between them. Things took a turn for the
worse when Mandaric appointed Zajec as Director of Football. It seemed
that from that moment that Redknapp would do everything he could to
get out of Fratton Park and so it eventually proved. I think Pompey
fans could have had a bit more sympathy for Redknapp if he hadn't
gone 20 miles west along the south coast with an almost indecent haste.
Many in Portsmouth feel that Redknapp did that out of spite. I am
of that opinion too.
Q: Harry & Jim - heroes or villains?
Definitely villains. You can include kevin Bond in there for his departure
too.
Q: Since the pair left, Pompey's form hasn't been great. You look
a shadow of the side that beat Man Utd 2-0 at Fratton Park. What has
went wrong? What's the difference from then, to now?
I think it's a combination of things. The departure of Redknapp upset
the players to a certain degree but at the end of Redknapp's tenure
we were on the slide. With a reluctant Zajec taking charge we did
manage a couple of away wins but since then we have played some of
the top sides away from home (Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea) and weren't
really expecting anything from those games. There has been much made
of Zajec's insistence on playing a 4-5-1 formation but I don't feel
that it's just that. I know every team can say it but we have had
a bad run of injuries which has disrupted things. The absence of Steve
Stone through injury was telling.
Q: Velimir Zajec, what's his role exactly?
Good question. Next.
Q: Who would you like as Portsmouth manager?
Jose Morinho? There doesn't seem to be wealth of decent managers queuing
up for the job. I don't see why Mandaric doesn't give the job to Joe
Jordan. He seems to have the players on his side. One thing is certain
though; Velemir Zajec will NOT be Pompey's manager.
Q: There was a slight rumour that Sir Bobby Robson could be
interested, would he do?
I think he's lost the plot now and should retire gracefully.
Q: Yakubu has been interesting Graeme Souness and if rumours
are to be believed, he will become a United player in the Summer.
Many, myself included, are unsure of him. Is he overrated? What qualities
does he have? What weaknesses does he have? Do you think he will join
Newcastle?
Yakubu has the ability to become a world class player; he just needs
the right players around him. I have no doubt that he will not be
a Pompey player by the start of the next season. I don't think he
has any weaknesses. He has pace and strength and a great eye for goal
but he is still learning his trade. I can see him doing well at Newcastle,
especially linking up with Amdy Faye again.
Q: Lua Lua and Griffin are former Toon lads, how are they
doing? Good signings or bad ones?
Lua Lua has been a revelation. He certainly has some tricks but he
does tend to 'over egg the pudding' sometimes. When he plays up front
with Yakubu you just know that something will happen that will result
in a goal. Andy Griffin has been out injured recently and we certainly
missed him at right-back. He has put in some sterling performances
for us. I didn't realise just how good he can be.
Q: Amdy Faye has done well since his move. Have Newcastle
signed a good player or a dud? What were your thoughts when Souness
snapped him up?
Amdy Faye can be a very good player when he can be bothered. If he
loses interest during a game he will be totally anonymous. I was disappointed
that we lost him at the time we did because we also lost Nigel Quashie
to that lot up the road from us. They were the heart of the midfield
and to have that ripped out half way through the season is not good.
Q: What formation do Pompey play and what style - attacking,
defensive?
Under Zajec we seem to have playing an ultra-defensive 4-5-1 system
both home and away which hasn't really worked. He leaves Yakubu isolated
up front and he's not the sort of player that can do it all on his
own.
Q: What are Portsmouth's key strengths and weaknesses?
Our strengths are probably our defence and the fans at home; they
really are like a 12th man. Weaknesses? Probably goalkeeping. I know
Shaka is a former NUFC player and played well for them but he is getting
on a bit now. Costas Chalkias, our new Greek keeper, is a bit of a
calamitous clown and if he plays then you could be in for a real treat.
Q: Which NUFC players (if any), would you have playing for Pompey?
Amdy Faye :) and Laurent Robert on his good days.
Q: Who will be the key men for both sides in our upcoming
match?
I think the key men will be the strikers for both sides, whoever they
are. There will be goals in this match
Q: Which one Newcastle player do you fear the most and why?
Alan Shearer. Even though he has connections with them up the road
he is still a true footballing hero.
Q: What are your impressions of Newcastle United and it's
supporters?
A big club with great fans but they should be doing better. Middle
of the table is not good enough for a club with Newcastle's undoubted
talented players. Maybe the European sideshow has distracted them
from their real mission. Unless they can succeed in Europe this season
then they can say goodbye to it for next.
Q: Your favourite NUFC Vs Pompey match?
Probably the game at Fratton Park in the 1991/92 season in the old
second division. We were both awful back in those days but from then
we have both gone on to better things.
Q: And the worst?
It has to be the game at St James' last season. We were truly awful
that day.
Q: Finally, do you have a prediction for the match?
I think it will be a tough one to call. Newcastle have had some good
results recently but then you haven't played an away league match
for seven weeks. Pompey's home form, though not so good lately, I
feel will return and see us narrowly scrape a victory by the odd goal. |
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