Why Kenny Jackett won't be leaving, will Portsmouth sign a striker and what's going wrong this season - your Blues questions answered after Rochdale draw

Why does Kenny Jackett after three seasons without promotion stick with the same formation? We’ve become too predictable and teams in our league have found us out.

Hugh Skilling

Hi Hugh, it’s interesting how much stock is being placed on Pompey’s formation at the moment, which is natural I guess given the start to the season.

For me, it’s not particularly the formation which is problematic. The greater issue, certainly at Rochdale, was the tempo at which the side played for much of the game and the pace of their passing.

Pompey were too lethargic and slow to get the attacking bodies up with an isolated John Marquis in the first half, who then became increasingly frustrated.

When Pompey are attacking, say down the right with Marcus Harness, Ronan Curtis and Andy Cannon should’ve been in support of Marquis and getting into the box, but that didn’t happen.

The central midfielder pair of Bryn Morris and Tom Naylor are also inclined to sit, and the lack of instinct to be progressive and play through the thirds also contributed to a stilted first hour or so.

When Pompey upped their tempo they dominated. For my money, if they’d started in that fashion there’s no way Rochdale would’ve held out - and there’s the small matter of your striker taking the chances when they arrive!

I think you can ask questions about being predictable in terms of philosophy, patterns of play and maybe getting the right personnel in the formation - with the number 10 key and some more midfield dynamism. That is probably the bigger issue than playing 4-2-3-1 for me, and I guess is a big part of what you’re getting at.

Why doesn't Jackett resign and destroy another club like he's destroying this club? Not once before we've had this much hatred to our manager, we're usually loyal and passionate about our manager but Jackett is defensive, plays hoofball, makes stupid decisions and only makes one decent signing a season to then destroy that players confidence.

Connor Gilchrist

Why don’t you say what you mean Connor! I’m not sure you’re going to get your wish of Jackett resigning, though, because he has a contract.

Also, I think it unlikely he’ll be getting the sack - and here’s why.

Jackett has the best part of a year left on his contract and the figure mooted to to pay up that deal, and I guess his staff, is £500,000.

For a club who have stated they’re losing £700,000 a month because of the coronavirus pandemic, it doesn’t make sense in the current climate to sack the manager even if they wanted to.

Pompey have publicly stated they believe in staying loyal to their manager, but the economic factors can’t be ignored, too.

Likewise, if Jackett went who would the club to get to replace him? Eddie Howe is pure fantasy and even names like Lee Johnson and Paul Cook are out of Pompey’s league. You hear Danny Cowley mentioned, but his brand of football is very much the kind supporters are agitating against!

I know there’s a view at the club that if Jackett was replaced fans would be underwhelmed with his successor, from what’s available to them.

If supporters are allowed in against Wigan as a test event, how many do you think will go as I suspect they will turn nasty on Jackett if we’re not leading at half-time.

Shawn Woodward

Hello Shawn, and thanks for your support as a loyal News follower on our Facebook page!

I’m sure if the test event is given the go-ahead the full 1,000 spaces which are due to be made available will be taken up.

There’s no timescale being put on being given a green or red light on that this week, and there’s the small matter of how the second wave of Covid-19 will impact things.

I think you hit on a valid point about it turning nasty, however.

I do feel, in a slightly perverse way, Pompey have been lucky the season has started behind closed doors on the football side of things.

There’s no doubt in my mind there would’ve been a huge potential for things to turn ugly at a full Fratton, off the back of last season’s disappointment.

You could imagine what it would’ve been like on the opening day if fans were present for a 0-0 draw with Shrewsbury, for example.

I can reveal there were even some jokey boos from the press box after that game, in recognition that would’ve certainly been the case if the masses were present!

Have Pompey got enough about them in midfield to really challenge for the title? To me it lacks presence and a player who will dominate in that area. What do you think?

Sean Newman via email

Thanks for your question, Sean. It’s a point I touched on in the answer on formations but it’s worth expanding on it.

I think it’s become noticeable so far this season that the partnership of Tom Naylor and Bryn Morris is one which is defensively minded.

We haven’t seen one of that pair break forward quickly enough, and it’s questionable whether those kind of instincts are foremost in their make-up.

That and passing the ball forward with purpose was conspicuous by its absence at Rochdale.

I’m sure Ben Close will be thinking he has the game and range of passing to dovetail with either of those men more effectively, and whether he comes in against Wigan is an area of focus now.

I know it’s been 20 months since he left, but have Pompey really haven’t had the kind of complete midfielder which could make the difference since Ben Thompson returned to Millwall.

I sense that is the kind of player you're picturing when you talk about someone to dominate in that area.

Will we get in another striker? Seems like we are desperate for someone else up front who'll offer something different.

Dan Burns via email

That is a very good question, Dan, and the honest answer at this moment is it isn’t clear.

There’s been a lot of noise across the summer about adding a young, pacy striker to the ranks and I think the lack of speed among the striking options isn’t lost on Jackett.

Pompey’s number one priority, however, is still a defender - ideally a left-sided centre-half.

There’s one space in the squad for a player over 21 at present, although Pompey will hope to get a player or two out to give a little more flexibility.

Will a player like Paul Downing or even a James Bolton depart to free up some more space - and crucially some leeway in the £2.5m budget?

Pompey first need there to be interest to do so. As Jackett says you don’t sell players - clubs buy them.

My thought is a striker of note could be dependent on others moving out. If that doesn’t happen, Jackett may have to turn to a young, cheap untried rookie from a Premier League or Championship under-23 squad.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage.

You can subscribe here to get the latest updates from Fratton Park, transfer news and expert analysis from our team of Pompey writers.

Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism on your behalf for our city.