Pompey boss John Mousinho discusses the EFL League One trip to Charlton Athletic along with transfer talk and injury news.
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00:00 Here with Ponfidt Moss, John Massimo. John, great form at the moment.
00:05 How's this week been in the build-up to the Chelsea game?
00:08 I think it's been a positive week as always.
00:10 The debrief after the game,
00:13 obviously, I think if you look at the result and go 4-1,
00:15 comfortable 4-0 before, obviously, we conceded the late goal,
00:18 a lot of people might think that we were really pleased with large aspects of the performance.
00:21 But to be honest, when we look back at the game,
00:23 I thought for the first half we were a long way off where we needed to be and we probably got a bit lucky to go in at half-time,
00:28 1-0 up, but I think we definitely were lucky to go in at half-time, 1-0 up.
00:31 We addressed a lot of those shortcomings and the second half performance was excellent,
00:34 but I think we need to make sure that we don't give ourselves the mountain to climb that we potentially could have given ourselves.
00:40 I thought if Reading's finishing was a bit better and Will hadn't have pulled us out of the Miro a couple of times,
00:45 then it would have been a different story.
00:46 So, fully deserved win in the end,
00:48 but I think we've got plenty to work on and that's a good place to be,
00:50 I think, when we know that we're just going to be objective with the assessment of those performances.
00:54 Still stay extremely positive going into the game at the weekend and build on all of the good things that we've done,
00:58 but make sure that we don't brush things under the carpet.
01:01 What sort of chances do Charlton provide?
01:03 Well, I think Nathan Jones has been in charge for three games now and barring the loss against Reading,
01:10 they've picked up a couple of decent results.
01:11 I think at home against a decent enough Lincoln side,
01:14 they picked up a point and then to go up to Reading and pick up a point and also score three goals probably shows you everything or tells us everything we need to know about the side.
01:21 They're a real attacking threat.
01:22 And for the most part, I think they're really well organised and I'm sure after having a week's worth of training,
01:27 they'll be even more organised now.
01:28 And Charlton have got some very, very good players.
01:31 I don't think they should be as low as they are in the league and I fully expect them to be a tough test.
01:36 And we've got to be on top of our game at the weekend just to make sure that we are at it and we can compete and go and try and win the game.
01:42 Nathan Jones is often maligned in his time at Southampton.
01:46 What's your assessment of his record as a manager and his successes?
01:49 So I think if I look back at my experience of Nathan Jones, I played against his Luton side at League One that completely stormed the league.
01:55 It was the outstanding side that season and obviously he then took that form into the Championship season,
02:01 had a really, really successful time there with Luton as well before getting the stoke job, coming back to Luton, doing brilliantly well.
02:06 And ultimately, at the end of the day, you've got a player who, sorry, a manager who at this level has had a huge amount of success, a huge amount of success at the level above.
02:14 He's been a Premier League manager just over a year ago.
02:17 So I think if you look at his career so far and the amount of success that he has had in terms of promotions, winning games, getting sides going,
02:26 then Nathan is certainly a manager that we've got to make sure we fully respect.
02:31 And he's very talented and I know he'll get his sides going.
02:33 So that would suggest you think some of the criticism he's faced in his career is a little bit harsh?
02:37 Yes, and I think whenever you go into different jobs, I think things change and there's loads that possibly isn't under the control of the head coach or the manager.
02:45 So I have no idea what went on behind the scenes or actually what went on at some of those clubs.
02:50 What I do know is whenever I've played against his sides, they've been really tough opposition and particularly the Luton side that won Ligue 1 a few years ago.
02:56 How are things shaping up for you ahead of the game in terms of injuries?
02:59 Yes, pretty well. I think Myles should be back training with us on Friday.
03:03 He's been out on the grass with Steve today, so he's a possibility to come back into the side at the weekend.
03:07 I think he's definitely going to be fit and available for selection.
03:11 Zach will hopefully train with us on Friday as well.
03:14 He won't be available for the weekend if he does, but I think if he doesn't, then he'll be training with us next week.
03:19 Again, probably too soon for the Oxford game, but the week after that, we'll be looking to have Zach back.
03:23 Apart from that, no new injury worries.
03:25 So pretty much the same squad we're going to have to select from as we did at the weekend, plus Myles.
03:30 So what was the situation with Tom Larrow?
03:32 He's seeing a specialist tomorrow, so we'll have more news on Saturday.
03:36 OK, so fingers crossed on that, but no new information?
03:39 No new information on that.
03:40 We always knew it was going to be one that we were going to come back and speak to you guys after the Charlton game,
03:43 just because of the fact that we needed a specialist to see the scan.
03:46 And I think it's just more location of the tear.
03:47 So the tear's not too severe, it's just the location of it and what complications that brings.
03:52 But is Zach coming back into the fray sometime soon, obviously a boost for you?
03:55 Massive boost.
03:56 I think Zach, whenever he's played this season, has been one of the outstanding players.
03:59 And it's not enough in terms of how much we'd like to get him out on the pitch,
04:02 but there's been a couple of things that have happened out of Zach's control, obviously, and I think everybody knows about that.
04:07 And after the Peterborough v Derby game, when I think he was probably man of the match against Derby,
04:12 he was outstanding against Peterborough.
04:14 Obviously, with what happened to not be involved against Barnes in going forward,
04:18 it was one of those things that was just a tough blow for, I think, everyone at the football club to be able to absorb.
04:23 And then Zach responded from everything that went on really, really well.
04:27 Unfortunately, he's been injured over the past few weeks, but definitely a player that we're really excited about.
04:31 We've always been very, very fond of since I took the reins at the club.
04:34 And whenever we can try and get him into the side, however we can,
04:37 I think that's been something we've looked to do.
04:39 For Zach, obviously, he's competing with Joe Rafferty, who's been absolutely outstanding and very, very solid for us since the first day as well.
04:45 So, very, very good to have that competition back and going again.
04:49 And I think Zach can also play in a couple of different positions.
04:51 He's got that flexibility.
04:52 And that for us in the run-in, particularly with what we're facing in the middle of the park, it's going to be really important.
04:56 Just on the middle of the park, I think my reading on Ben Stevenson was a bit off.
04:59 He's still a few weeks off, is that right?
05:01 Ben's still about three or four weeks off.
05:02 Yes, it's just one of those that Ben's decided to go through a course of injections as well to try and speed things up.
05:09 And hasn't really sped things up quite as much as we'd like to do.
05:12 So, absolutely nothing lost in that.
05:14 We decided we were going to try and be a bit more aggressive with things, but there's no issue, no setback.
05:20 It just hasn't quite accelerated as we would like to.
05:22 So, Ben's still a bit of time away.
05:23 And again, we've got to make sure that we do right by Ben and make sure when he is back, he's fully fit.
05:27 Transfer window's closed, but it doesn't stop names coming up by the looks of things.
05:30 Mark Leonard, another one that's come up this week.
05:33 Any insight on that?
05:34 Yes, obviously Mark is a really good young prospect, but one that I think he's contracted to Brighton and playing for Northampton.
05:42 So, yes, as far as we're concerned, in terms of recruitment as well, for me, that's way off my radar at the moment.
05:47 And also, the fact that you were at the Oxford game.
05:51 I mean, people can add two and two together.
05:53 You might be able to give another reason why you were at that Oxford game.
05:55 What's the last one?
05:56 Naturally, I think somebody sent me that tweet as well.
05:59 And genuinely, I can say the only reason I was at the Oxford game.
06:01 And for me, the main focus of what I'm trying to do at the moment is going to be opposition preparation,
06:06 particularly with the fact we don't have any Tuesday games.
06:08 So, of course, if I pop up at an Under-21s game and the likes and the Leeds 2 game, for example, it's probably to go and watch a player.
06:15 We're definitely to go and watch a player.
06:16 But last night was just all about making sure we're prepped for Oxford next week.
06:20 Cheers.