Why it's time for Portsmouth critics to reassess views of Sean Raggett

It was neither original nor witty. In fact, it was tiresome and mundane; but there was Shrek’s Donkey in the replies to Sean Raggett’s weekend post-match interview, following his extra-time winner at Ipswich.

The inference was clear, and the fact someone had tried to raise a cheap laugh that way only served to reinforce the point the Pompey defender was making.

‘It’s really strange, I see a lot of negativity towards this team online and I find it really odd,’ Raggett said, before touching on the individual flak that flies his way.

‘I don’t let the negativity bother me, personally. Sometimes I struggle to understand that, but you just try to block it out.

‘You don’t try to look into it too much and you let everyone have their opinions.’

For the record, the 26-year-old has been the embodiment of a low-maintenance player, since arriving on loan from Norwich 16 months ago.

So the fact Raggett, unprompted, decided to go on the front foot over the criticism he and Pompey players have received this season was both intriguing and revealing.

This wasn’t the former non-league man ‘slamming’ supporters. This was no furious tirade or angry broadside.

The observations were more quizzical. Raggett genuinely couldn’t fathom the reasons for the ferocity of some of the flak.

A stat was then forwarded by the man from Gillingham, as he stated his team’s form has been the best in League One over the past year.

Seeing as fact-checking is all the rage at the moment, these kind of grand assertions can’t be assumed as truth without being investigated.

But it turns out he’s right.

Over a 12-month period Pompey’s form is unsurpassed by any League One rival, with their 59-point return three more than that attained by Peterborough and four more than Sunderland.

Now, even in a spell where we’ve seen a curtailed season that’s a pretty impressive stat, and one which outside League One observers may struggle to equate with the amount of anger from some Blues fans in recent times.

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It’s one which resonates when we turn our attentions to the kind of vitriol which sees donkey gifs thrown mockingly in Raggett’s direction.

Because, the Pompey defender has been doing his homework; as was seen when he pointed to his appearance record over that year-long period.

It turned out Raggett was right again, when his next grand claim he hadn't missed a league game in nearly a year was investigated by the fact-check police.

The former non-league man has started every league fixture since missing the 2-2 draw against Peterborough on December 7. In fact, the only game he’s sat out in all competitions

is the EFL Trophy trip to Southend last month.

So, hold on a minute, Pompey have had the best form in League One for a year – and Raggett has played every game?

But none of this tells us what our eyes can see, comes the cry from the anti-Raggett brigade. And this is when we get to the crux of the issue.

The former Dover man doesn’t look like a professional footballer, does he? He doesn’t move like a pro. In fact, he doesn’t play like one.

The unorthodox and sometimes ungainly movements aren’t what our Premier League-programmed eyes have come to appreciate. We’ve all seen the slapstick defending. Isn’t

Raggett just a defensive accident waiting to happen?

Perhaps on the evidence of the comic clips it would appear so. But those pesky stats keep getting in the way.

Because, actually, the numbers show the ex-Rotherham man to be one of the premier League One defenders since he donned a Pompey shirt.

According to Wyscout, the football analysis platform used widely throughout the game, Raggett really is the archetypal defender who defends.

Last season, Raggett finished sixth in League One when it came to the total number of aerial duels. Of his 304 aerial encounters he had an impressive 70 per cent win rate.

Furthermore, 44 percent of that number came in his own penalty area with 68 per cent success - the third highest of any League One defender.

But things haven’t looked so clever this season have they? Well, actually Raggett is fourth in the division so far this season.

It’s a place he can improve on when it comes to blocks with only Rochdale’s Eoghan O’Connell and Gillingham’s Zech Medley bettering his 12.

Likewise, Raggett’s interceptions aren’t too shabby either with 62 so far this term, leaving him 16th of any League One defender.

Of that number, 15 have arrived when it really matters in his own box - 12th highest overall.

You may not find him featuring too highly when it comes to long passes and dribbles out of defence, but if it’s the key components of keeping the opposition out under the

microscope, Raggett's work simply stacks up.

You could forgive our gap-toothed centre-half for being a little irked at being painted as an accident waiting to happen, and wanting to fight his corner.

Yet, he’s not indignant when he could rightly be so; just a little shrug-your-shoulders bemused.

The point has been made this week, and it’s one we know is valid - our hearts are often in our mouths when Raggett goes about his sometimes awkward work.

Yet, the deeper detail shows us why Kenny Jackett has been quick to call the form being produced by Pompey unfashionable defender ‘outstanding’.

So, just like we did with the likes of Linvoy Primus and Darren Moore down the years, maybe it’s time for us onlookers to reprogramme our footballing pre-conceptions of what

makes a good defender once more.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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