On the anniversary of my 49th year of my first Notts match, what can only be described as a defensive shambles, I have just witnessed. An ironic chant towards the end of the game, by Notts supporters "You're not very good, as you only scored 4"... and Portsmouth crowd chanting towards Izzy... "You're still effing useless, as we've known you here before"... Actually both those chants were precisely to the point, it is sad to say.
I have recently been banging on about giving Luther Wildin his chance at right back. Hewitt, exposed his defensive frailties for the umpteenth time this season and offered nothing in an offensive sense either. Smith had a good first half but again faded badly in the second, as his legs have had it.
Hewiit's opposite number Ben Davies, formerly of this parish, gave an expert lesson in how to deliver a ball. Pompey's Kyle Bennet, who Notts tried to get from Donny back in September 2013, gave a lesson of good movement and perfect timing of runs.
Ratings
Loach 5 Suspect positioning for conceding the first but couldn't really do much with the others
Hewitt 2 No pride, no passion, no defensive positioning awareness...maybe even 2 is too generous ( how come he wasn't substituted?)
Milsom 5 Held up his side of the park reasonably well. No creative runs
Boyce 3 Still doubting his match fitness
Hollis 3 Didn't fit comfortably into the system, lack of footballing ability there for all to see
Smith 4.5 Good first half for his reading of the game, but heavy legged for the second. Players were just running through him in the end...lucky to avoid a straight red towards the end for bundling the guy over on half way
Thompson 5.5 Usual energy, put in a great cross which Stead contrived to miss with a powder puff header. Despite the effort, sheer lack of quality in terms of spotting an incisive pass
Noble 4 Unusual for an invisible performance..most un-Noble like.
Aborah 5 Pompey contrived to make his misjudged challenge worse than it actually was. Have watched the replay and their guy took the opportunity to fall over Stanley's outstretched leg. Nice ball skills, as one would expect...and was surprised he was pulled off. Maybe not yet match fit
Izzy 2 well, that's 150k down the swanny. The guys a fraud away from home. Half-hearted challenges for the ball, poor control when he gets the ball, chants of Portsmouth crowd spot on...
Stead 3.5 How he didn't convert Curtis's cross after their keeper dropped the ball...even I could have scored that with some power in the old neck muscles. Lives on past reputation a lot and really didn't trouble their defence at all
Not going to mark the Subs, too depressed. MC has a job on his hands and Brano needs to volunteer his resignation, for recommending players like Hewitt, who are not good enough.
Supporting Notts doesn't get any easier after 49 years. The pain of defeat still lingers