Why wing-backs against MK Dons didn't work, getting outplayed by bottom-of-the-table and forwards struggling for consistency - your Portsmouth questions answered

1. Marcus Harness, Ronan Curtis and Michael Jacobs were all substituted during Saturday's game, with none them particularly good. Why are our attacking players so inconsistent? The previous week Harness looked a world-beater. I just don't get it.

(David Lake via [email protected])

That's a good question, David.

Often, mercurial players at this level, like those three, blow hot and cold and struggle for cast-iron consistency. One day they're unstoppable, the next they struggle.

But because none of Pompey's flair players performed particularly well then perhaps the issue was magnified on Saturday.

For all of Harness' class and quality, he must now perform on a weekly basis in order to maximise his potential.

When thinking of, say, Jamal Lowe the season before he left, he might have had off-days. But even then he still had threatening moments.

For successive seasons now, Curtis has suffered an indifferent start.

Perhaps he takes a good few matches to find his groove. Let's not forget, he'd been playing regularly for Derry in the League of Ireland when he hit the ground running following his arrival in 2018.

In addition, getting dropped 12 months ago seemed to do him the world of good.

Curtis has now been called up to the Republic of Ireland squad and being among Premier League players like Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick and Conor Hourihane may help him refocus and give him a reminder of the levels required to make it at the highest level.

Moreover, Curtis never looks all that comfortable on the right flank. He is far better on the left where he can either cut inside and get shots off or go on the outside and stand up crosses.

Jacobs was superb at Burton and it's easy to forget it was only his third start against MK Dons after not having a proper pre-season campaign.

He could also do with a settled position, having arrived as the answer to the problem number-10 role but finds himself out wide.

All in all, though, it was pretty harsh that Ryan Williams was dropped.

Yes, he needs to improve his end product but was lively in both games against Burton and Southend. He could feel aggrieved, no doubt.

2. So much is being said about formations in recent days. Is Kenny Jackett finally realising there are other tactics out there rather than 4-2-3-1? Not that a change in formation helped us any against MK Dons in the second half.

(Phil, Southsea)

One criticism of Jackett has been his 4-2-3-1 formation is too rigid and substitutes are often like for like when a change in system is instead required.

Before Southend, Jackett had rarely deterred from his tried-and-tested formation.

In his first season at the helm, I remember he played wing-backs against Rotherham quite early on.

However, that was more because he didn't want to drop Jack Whatmough or Christian Burgess after Matt Clarke had returned from injury.

We'll get more onto why wing-backs didn't work against MK Dons in the next question, but it is heartening to see different systems used.

And, of course, Jackett's been operating with a 4-4-2 formation in the past two league games.

It's not the traditional 4-4-2 you think of, though. With two deep-lying midfielders, I'd say it's more of a 4-4-1-1, with Marcus Harness just playing off Ellis lone-striker Harrison.

3. If the team currently bottom of the table plays us off the park at Fratton Park, what are other teams doing to do against us?

(Elliott, Fareham)

There were quite a few fans bemoaning that Pompey were outplayed by the basement side after the final whistle. The victory did little to win over any of Jackett’s detractors.

But if you look at all five of MK Dons' league games this season, they've dominated possession in each.

In a 1-1 draw with leaders Ipswich, they had 66 per cent of the ball. Against second-placed Lincoln, they had 68 per cent but still lost 2-1.

MK will likely continue to monopolise possession against the majority, if not all, of the teams they face this season.

In truth, they're probably in a false league position with the ilk of players they have. Scott Fraser, who ran the show, is one of the shrewdest signings of the summer.

Ryan Williams even tipped MK Dons as the dark horses to be in the promotion mix this season, which is interesting.

What was most concerning was how Pompey scarcely looked like hurting the Dons on the counter-attack in the second half.

Bar Ellis Harrison's chance, the Blues hardly threatening going forward.

In 2018-19, Pompey often had less possession than their opponents but always looked dangerous on the break.

For me, going to a wing-back formation with the personnel who featured didn't quite work.

Lee Brown and Callum Johnson are more traditional full-backs who defend first and foremost.

As a result, the formation went to a 5-3-2 rather than 3-4-1-2 as intended.

The opposition wasn't much at Southend, but the athleticism and power of Haji Mnoga and Cam Pring – a former winger in his own right – in the wide roles meant they offered more attacking-wise.

Moreover, Tom Naylor and Bryn Morris are both deep-lying midfielders who're asked to do the dirty work and stick their foot in. Shielding the rearguard again invited more pressure.

Had a composed passer like Ben Close or a dribbler in Andy Cannon been in there, it'd have helped Pompey gain more of a foothold.

If the Blues continue to be dominated by teams at home then it will be become a concern.

But should it be a one-off performance then the defensive grit shown could mean this is one of those games people pinpoint if promotion is achieved.

4. What did you make of Rasmus Nicolaisen's performance? Is it me, or did he look a bit dodgy at times?

(Ben, Drayton)

The Dane was certainly given a warm welcome when he clattered into Craig MacGillivray only minutes into his League One debut!

It's always tough for a defender coming on from the bench, no matter what stage the game is at.

He did look a little shaky at the start of the second half but soon settled down. His aerial ability did impress, with one header from a corner getting plenty of distance to clear the danger.

Now it'll be interesting to see if he can win a starting spot against Doncaster.

Nicolaisen's certainly made it clear he's been frustrated by his lack of minutes since arriving and hasn't come to sit on the bench when speaking to the media pre-match.

Sean Raggett made quite a few decent blocks in both halves, coming across to snuff out the danger.

But for all such good moments, his skewed clearance led to Bryn Morris' foul on Louis Thompson for the MK Dons penalty.

Then there was the moment in the second period when the ex-Norwich almost turned into his own net.

5. Do we really need two holding midfielders playing alongside each other? In the 2nd half we had a back three plus Naylor and Morris and sat deep. Morris is a good player but I see him to play instead of Naylor when he's not available. I think playing Close/Cannon instead puts us on the front foot more?

Paul Mellon via Facebook

It was something touched on earlier, with Pompey going to a back five and then having both Naylor and Morris sitting deep, which probably invited more pressure.

The Blues' engine room has indeed been scrutinised this season, with Morris, in particular, coming in for some flak from supporters.

The reason why Jackett’s been playing two deep-lying midfielders is so his full-backs can have more of a licence to push forward and join in with the wingers.

After all, the Pompey boss believes his side is a crossing team and are at their best when getting the ball out wide.

But Ben Close does bring the ability to pick up the ball from deep and play constructive passes. Andy Cannon, meanwhile, is regarded as one of the best dribblers at the club and often tries to burst forward.

The Blues are so keen on Ben Thompson because he’s capable of doing all three of those.