Portsmouth v Boro

Andy R · 2025-10-02T12:23:36Z

After Boro stretched their unbeaten start to eight (EIGHT!) games with a goalless draw at home to high-flying Stoke City, the next challenge comes in the shape of Jose Mourinho’s John Mousinho’s Portsmouth on Saturday at Fratton Park, kick-off 3pm.What a start to Rob Edward’s reign this has been. Five wins, three draws, no defeats. The twelve goals scored make us the division’s sixth highest scorers so far and the five conceded see us as the joint best defence along with, well unsurprisingly Stoke again. We head into the final game before another International break sitting pretty atop the Championship with a slender but satisfying two point lead.Boro’s continued tightening at the back is clear for all to see. Even the unavailability of first Fry, then Lenihan, then Edmundson and Brittain have failed to shake us, though Sol Brynn certainly had to earn his corn on Tuesday night with a Man of the Match performance.The 0-0 was the first Boro blank of the season, ironically coming as Edwards switched away from his usual back five to accommodate another midfielder for the first time. That being said, is replacing Callum Brittain with Alan Browne really an attacking change? Probably not.Indeed, with so little to be genuinely concerned about, Boro fans have increasingly started to query the team’s long-term ability to score enough goals, perhaps understandably after a 0-0 with few clear cut chances created. Boro’s best chance on Tuesday night was in fact a penalty that never was for a clear foul on Tommy Conway. And Conway is an interesting factor to discuss when considering how Boro’s new look front line fits together.We should acknowledge that this is almost an all new attacking setup. For starters, there is typically one fewer forward in the line-up to accommodate that extra centre-back. Those that are selected are generally new, not just to the club but to the league, the area, the country… there is mitigation for all involved at this early stage of the season.Conway is surrounded by change but I also wonder where he fits in the longer term. A very hard working player who absolutely gives his all, shows leadership and is a very decent finisher to boot, there is a lot to like about Tommy Conway. However, he can never be the big, physical hold-it-up presence that I think suits Edwards’ system best. Nor will he be the pacey line-breaker who stretches the opposition or forces them deep. Nor is he likely to be comfortable dropping into pockets as one of the no. 10s, supplying the bullets for teammates.Conway is the front line’s chief presser for sure, and certainly reliable when a chance presents itself but, in a system which undoubtedly leans towards solidity over creativity – I won’t bore you again with xG stats but Boro are effectively 19th for creativity thus far - I don’t know if Conway has the tools to unlock defences via his physical or technical attributes.However, with others a mixture of still-bedding-in or out-of-form, Conway’s bustling presence up top is likely to continue for some time and, as long as the defence remains dominant, we only need the odd goal to keep the momentum going.Onto Portsmouth. Returning to The Championship last season for the first time since 2011/12, Pompey secured a creditable 16th place finish and have started this season in a similar vein, sitting in 17th place with two wins, two draws and three defeats to their name.Their manager may sound very similar in name to the self-titled “Special One” (his father is Portuguese) but John Mousinho is a 39 year old Londoner whose playing career took in various corners of the EFL including Brentford, Wycombe and Preston, largely as a defensive midfielder before converting to centre-back late on.Appointed in January 2023, Portsmouth is his first coaching role. Having taken the reigns with the club in 15th in League One, Mousinho guided them to a healthy 8th place finish in his first half-season, concluding the campaign with an impressive 11-game unbeaten run.That form continued into his full season in charge, ultimately securing promotion as champions. Naturally, the step up to the Championship has been testing but Mousinho goes into Saturday’s match with a very respectable 42% win percentage from his 133 games in charge.Pompey have, however, failed to win since 30th August – a 1-0 victory over his former club (as a player) Preston. Their September and early October results since have been 0-0 with south coast rivals Southampton, a 2-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, a 2-1 defeat away at Ipswich and finally a 2-2 draw with Watford on Wednesday night.The season is still young enough to use the league table as the form table but, looking at the last six form, that run has them in 19th place, scoring just five goals. Boro, meanwhile, sit second over the same period.Whoscored.com lists Portsmouth’s strengths as aerial duals and attacking set pieces, so Boro’s back line will need to be on guard and perhaps that lends itself to going with the th...

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Pedro de Espana

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 1825

October 7, 2025 1:24 pm

@presidentjump. I am sure I read that Targett was on over 100K a week when Newcastle signed him from Villa. That was after a January loan, which saw him part of the signings that saved United from relegation. So just over three years ago.

Talking wages, here is (hopefully) a link to the Championship wages this season

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/all-24-efl-championship-clubs-annual-wage-bill-ranked-from-least-to-most/

Liked by Malcolm and PresidentJump

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PresidentJump

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Joined: 1 month ago

Posts: 104

October 7, 2025 1:45 pm

@pedro Thanks Pedro.

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jarkko

Member

Joined: 5 years ago

Posts: 2953

October 7, 2025 2:57 pm

A Happy Juninho day to everyone!

It is exactly 30 years since TLF signed for Boro and samba was heard at the Riverside.

Up the Boro!

Liked by Martin Bellamy and Malcolm

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RE: Portsmouth v Boro

A Happy Juninho day to everyone! It is exactly 30 yea...

By jarkko , 2 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@pedro Thanks Pedro.

By PresidentJump , 3 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@presidentjump. I am sure I read that Targett was on ov...

By Pedro de Espana , 3 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

I was referring to Lens quote in the last sentence. C...

By exmil , 5 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

Just as an aside - just read an article in the independ...

By werdermouth , 6 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@martin-bellamy. Don’t know but I hope not! 🤔&...

By K P in Spain , 7 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@k-p-in-spain Thanks KP, interesting, but I think there...

By PresidentJump , 9 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@lenmasterman Yes, sorry of course I meant left wing...

By werdermouth , 18 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@k-p-in-spain Are we paying all of Matt Targett’s wages...

By Martin Bellamy , 18 hours ago
RE: Portsmouth v Boro

@lenmasterman. I am in full agreement with your analys...

By K P in Spain , 19 hours ago

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