Gaffer: Portsmouth are in a bad place on and off the pitch. Where's the ambition?

Gaffer for a Day, Andrew Stillwell, aged 42 from Hilsea, delivers his assessment of Pompey’s 2-1 defeat at Doncaster...
Kenny Jackett watches on as Pompey lose 2-1 at Doncaster on Tuesday night. Picture: Daniel Chesterton/phcimages.comKenny Jackett watches on as Pompey lose 2-1 at Doncaster on Tuesday night. Picture: Daniel Chesterton/phcimages.com
Kenny Jackett watches on as Pompey lose 2-1 at Doncaster on Tuesday night. Picture: Daniel Chesterton/phcimages.com

I can feel your anger and sense your pain.

It’s pretty damning when, four years into his reign, Kenny Jackett doesn’t know his best team, his best formation or how to get his side to play in a certain way.

It’s poor recruitment, poor management and poor leadership across the entire club.

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We are at a stage where there needs to be a change – and if results aid that change then that’s probably acceptable to me and the majority of the fans.

ThePompeyForu has been running a vote since after Saturday’s game and, of the 82 to have responded, 76 want the manager sacked.

I realise it’s a really small cross section, but fans want him gone. Change is needed.

Where will Pompey finish?

We’ve also got Sunderland and Ipswich this month, the pressure is building to get points.

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I’ve already ruled out the automatic spots, that happened after the defeat at Bristol Rovers. Promotion is long gone.

A change of manager might rescue the play-offs. Historically we haven’t done well under Kenny Jackett for them anyway.

I think it’s currently 60/40 in favour of us making the play-offs. If we lose to Sunderland, we’ll come seventh or eighth.

And the owners?

I remember the Portsmouth Guildhall presentation by the Eisners. I have to say these are the most unambitious owners we’ve had this century.

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That goes for recruitment, management, absolutely everything. The club is in a really bad place on and off the field.

The owners have minimal interest in taking the club forward and big questions have to be asked about their ambition for Pompey.

I realise they pledged not to spend big, I understand that covid had severe financial implications, but there has also been minimal ambition from them

We are heading towards a dangerous place. Do they really think everyone is going to renew their season tickets with this manager in place?

As for the game, anyone worthy of man of the match?

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Tom Naylor was the best of a bad bunch, he actually showed a bit of passion and got around the park.

The rest of them had no energy, no drive and I don’t know where it’s coming from. Is it from the manager or being out of contract soon, who knows?

I wouldn’t vote for Naylor as my player of the season, though. I think he’s a bang average midfielder.

Craig MacGillivray has been Pompey’s best player this season and has to stay. In the current climate, I can’t see us getting anyone better.

Craig MacGillivray 7

Jack Whatmough 6

Rasmus Nicolaisen 6

Sean Raggett 6

Haji Mnoga 5

Charlie Daniels 5

Tom Naylor 6

Harvey White 6

Marcus Harness 6

Ronan Curtis 6

Ellis Harrison 5

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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