Portsmouth post-match Q&A: formations, negative playing style, gaps in squad, substitutions - your questions answered after goalless draw with Shrewsbury

Certainly there was little to be cheerful about following Pompey’s lacklustre showing against Shrewsbury in Saturday’s League One opener.

The goalless Fratton Park draw attracted much criticism – and here is a selection of your questions, along with our response.

What formation do you think would get the most out of the squad we have? Personally, with the midfield we have, I’m not convinced it’s Jackett’s preferred 4-2-3-1.

(Dave Clarke, Facebook)

Certainly I think Andy Cannon, who I really like, would be a better fit as a central midfielder in a 4-4-2.

He’s not a holding midfielder, with his dribbling skills and energy he is wasted there, while he is not a number 10, there are not enough goals in him for that.

The system also does not bring the best out of John Marquis, who has not managed to match his excellent Doncaster form.

However, it’s Jackett’s favoured formation. And has also won him more than 50 per cent of his matches using it while Pompey manager.

It doesn’t matter what we as fans think, the management doesn’t listen, Mark Catlin doesn’t listen and The Eisners do not listen. The gap between the fans and the owners is growing into a chasm.

Jackett’s style is outdated, he is incapable of change, and the majority of fans are fed up and thankful we can’t actual go and watch the dross that’s being dished up.

(Roger Driden, Facebook)

The owners are sticking by the manager, clearly they believe and trust in him as he enters the final year of his contract.

They have made it abundantly clear he will remain – and insist they won’t be swayed by fan reaction.

Undoubtedly the majority of the fans are fed up and the football is often a touch watch. Shrewsbury was a big case in point, which was truly a demoralising spectacle.

Having said that, his approach is still winning Pompey games (52 per cent win ratio) and has taken the club to successive play-off semi-finals. That is seen as a massive positive by the owners.

Could start by stopping MacGillivray from smashing the ball the length of the field every time he gets it.

(Mal Ruff, Facebook)

I remember a moment in the second half against Shrewsbury when it was like watching a kids game (five-a-side age), banging the ball up to the pitch trying to score and instead collected by the opposite keeper!

Having said that, one of the reasons thrown around for MacGillivray being dropped last season was that Alex Bass could kick it further.

Well, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the distance on the Scot’s kicks on Saturday.

Have we covered the gaps in the squad left by the abilities of Burgess, McGeehan and Pitman?

(Mikey PW, Facebook)

For me, not at all.

There are just two strikers in the squad, that’s it. Hawkins and Pitman have not been replaced. Pitman was the club’s best finisher and Hawkins offered something different.

Pompey are still looking for a centre-half, which shows they agree with you about not filling the gap of Burgess.

McGeehan gave plenty, but didn’t quite hit the heights I was expecting. Jackett has Close, Naylor and a fit-again Morris for this position now so that’s looks covered.

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Despite weeks of training together, why does our squad play like they just met in the car park?

(Derek Lewry – @pompeybluelew)

Certainly the vast majority of them have been playing together for more than a year, so there should be understanding.

In fairness, Lee Brown’s understanding with Ronan Curtis down the left is one of the strongest partnerships in the team.

Saturday was poor, though. No getting away from that. Not too much cohesion on display among the players.

Why when we needed a different approach, that man in charge changes like for like on his subs. Was it not worth a change in formation?

(Hobgoblinhahn – @WILLYHAHN71)

Ellis Harrison should definitely have been brought on Saturday, however Jackett was unfortunate in that Bryn Morris collected a hip problem.

So instead he had use his final substitution on replacing a midfielder (Morris) with a midfielder (Ben Close).

Having said that, Andy Cannon and Ryan Williams do appear to be his favoured pair to bring on at the moment.

For me, the squad is still a striker light anyway. Not enough attacking options.

Some of the players looked totally fed up at the end of the game, Marquis in particular. Teams that have been coming to Fratton Park for the past 3 seasons know how Kenny Jackett’s set up, his side so it's an easy point for them now.

How is Jackett going to improve the morale of the squad and fans when he keeps on playing the same old formation, year in year out?

(Trevor Sutch, Facebook)

Everyone should have been disappointed with Saturday – players and fans – so no wonder Marquis looked fed up. It was terrible.

You say about Fratton Park being ‘an easy point’ for visiting teams, but last season no league team won at Fratton Park – and the Blues’ home record was in the top two for League One.

And while Jackett’s favoured 4-2-3-1 is predictable, his team selection definitely isn’t! So it’s not quite that easy for the visitors.

As for morale, that’s a very good point. There’s a staleness about Fratton Park at present, few supporters are excited about this season. We all need lifting.

Hopefully some signings – and wins – can begin to change all that.

This is the fourth season jacket has failed to find his No 10. Will he use one of his 3 remaining slots to actually find one this time, does he finally accept that the answer does NOT lie within the present squad ?

(Chris Barter, Facebook)

He has never quite resolved it, has he.

Evans did superbly there in 2018-19, but that was behind Oli Hawkins, who’s a striker I know his team-mates enjoyed playing off because he could bring them into play.

Having said that, Pompey are actively looking to bring in a number 10. That and a central defender are the priority during the this transfer window.

That appear to realise it’s a position which needs strengthening.

Why are we so negative? Why do we insist on playing 2 defensive midfield holding players at home and why do we always insist on defending so deep if we ever go a goal up?

(Martin Manning, Facebook)

It was an argument often thrown at Paul Cook about playing two holding midfielders at home. Although his full-backs practically played as wingers anyway (Stevens and Evans/Davies).

Jackett often describes it as a 4-3-3 with ‘point up or point down’. On occasions Naylor has played the deepest midfielder.

Totally agree about defending deep once a goal up. Continues to be a massive concern and happens time and time again – and both Jackett and Joe Gallen have acknowledged it’s an issue in the past.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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