Gaffer: Put Gareth Evans at right-back he can be Portsmouth's James Milner

Gaffer for a Day, James Blake, aged 31 from North End, looks ahead to Pompey’s FA Cup clash with Barnsley...
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I’m not really bothered about winning this game, we need to concentrate on the league, we must get out of League One.

I believe the amount of games last season affected us, there were too many matches. I suppose this season is better as we started worse and are now on an upward curve.

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It’s a game Pompey can definitely win, we are proven at home, one of the best teams in England, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if we lost.

Winning promotion from League One is far more important than progressing in the FA Cup.

I would start with Jack Whatmough alongside Christian Burgess for this match.

Sean Raggett is not one of the most highly-rated players I have seen, he's awful to be honest, I would get him straight out and put Jack in there.

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I’ve always felt that Jack could be better than Matt Clarke if he is fit and playing every week, which hopefully he is now.

Gaffer for a Day, James Blake, wants Gareth Evans to be handed a right-back berth against Barnsley. Picture: Joe PeplerGaffer for a Day, James Blake, wants Gareth Evans to be handed a right-back berth against Barnsley. Picture: Joe Pepler
Gaffer for a Day, James Blake, wants Gareth Evans to be handed a right-back berth against Barnsley. Picture: Joe Pepler

I know he only made his comeback on Tuesday evening, but I would play him. If fit, he would be the first name on the team-sheet.

Another change would be bringing Gareth Evans in at right-back if James Bolton is injured, with Ross McCrorie presumably not yet ready.

Evans isn’t as good as Andy Cannon, so I don’t think he is going to get in the side, but I can see him performing a James Milner role at right-back.

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He can make a tackle and get up and down the wing, I feel he’d do a good job there, like a League One Milner!

I imagine Conor Chaplin will get a good reception, I still don’t know why we sold him.

He is proven now, one of the best strikers in the Championship, and always had that eye for goal. I think he’ll score on Saturday, unfortunately!

Pompey: Bass, Evans, Whatmough, Burgess, Seddon, Naylor, Close, Harness, Cannon, Curtis, Harrison.

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