Neil Allen and Pepe Lacey assess Pompey's 2-1 defeat at Preston
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00:00Hello there and welcome to the latest video on the Portsmouth News website. I'm joined
00:06by Neil Allen. Neil, it's great to chat to you again. It's been a couple of years in
00:09the making, but we're back. You're in the car with me going up to Preston. In terms
00:17of a chat between me and you. We've had enough of each other going all the way to Preston
00:21and back after watching that, haven't we really? Yeah, it was a long day. Unfortunately, we
00:25do have to start with that. That's not how I want to reintroduce our chats together by
00:31talking about a defeat, but unfortunately we have to. The manner of the defeat, 75 minutes,
00:37Pompey played well, didn't they? And it's sort of overlooked by the result, but Pompey
00:42did fall to defeat, their 13th of the season. It was quite sloppy that final 15 minutes,
00:48wasn't it? And it's not what people wanted to go into the international break with.
00:54Yeah, I said this after the game that obviously it's very disappointing that Pompey have lost
00:59successive games. It keeps them involved in the relegation battle, doesn't it? Without
01:07any question. It's been a disappointing week following the wonderful high of Leeds, wasn't
01:13it really? But they weren't bad at all at Preston. And I think it slightly gets masked
01:19because it's defeat, therefore they must be awful. They weren't. I mean, Plymouth,
01:24you can say that it wasn't a good performance. It was very, very poor performance. Lack of
01:29creativity, couldn't break down a side sitting in, not good enough, didn't deserve anything
01:33from the game. However, Preston, they deserve the point. And if you don't believe me, look
01:40at the fact that their manager brought on four players at halftime. That doesn't happen
01:47often, if ever. I think we're talking about, have we ever seen that before? Four players
01:51brought on at halftime? I can't, can't think of an occasion. That is actually a compliment
01:57to how Pompey played first half. If Pompey had been awful first half, they wouldn't have
02:02run four subs. But again, you can criticize Pompey's first half display. In fact, that
02:08for their possession and the fact that Preston weren't closing them down whatsoever and giving
02:14them time in the ball space, they didn't create enough, did they Pompey first half?
02:19Second half, Preston were better, but it's still a very, very even game. Smith had one
02:24save to make, Les, keeper had a couple. It was just very even game. So I wouldn't lump
02:30that into, oh yes, another defeat like Plymouth. It wasn't like that whatsoever. However, as
02:35you rightly point out, the last five, six, seven minutes, uh, it was poor and John Massino
02:44was, was fuming afterwards. Absolutely fuming. Uh, one of the, one of the angriest we've
02:49ever seen him. Uh, but that wasn't about the display of rule. Again, that was for the final
02:55five minutes when Pompey had equalized or after Pompey had equalized. So yeah, it, it,
03:00it wasn't as bad as perhaps it's painted out, even though it was obviously a disappointing
03:05defeat. Yeah. I wanted to touch on that John Massino fury. Cause he came out, you were
03:09still in the press for making a way down when he started to come out to do the press. And
03:13then he started doing the interview with BBC radio. So he was just, he was so angry. And
03:20then you obviously spoke to him in the press room afterwards and you got some great lines
03:25just about how angry he was. I've never seen him really like that. You've said you've never
03:29really seen him like that. Are we seeing a new type of John Massino here?
03:35He's just been very frustrated. He says it keeps telling him time and time again to
03:39be clever, be cute, make fouls, stop teams breaking and things like that. And then,
03:44and he says he keeps drilling out to the players and they're not listening and they're not doing
03:48it again. And the same thing happened. And the player was allowed a few touches,
03:51not the ball over the top and they score. And it was, it was an awful goal overall.
03:55So yeah, he was exasperated. Wasn't it a good word? Yeah, really, really. He's very pragmatic
04:02normally and very fair and honest about performances. It's not often you sort of say,
04:08I don't agree with that. Some managers used to spin it. I remember one manager after Pompey had
04:13lost to York told me York's a tough place to go. They got relegated that year into non-league,
04:21so don't give us that rubbish. Try to fob it off. Give us a spin. John Massino is very,
04:26very straight. And if he's angry, he's angry. But as he, again, he was angry over the end of the
04:33game, not the entire game. Overall, he thought Pompey were okay. He was satisfied with the
04:38performance. But it's disappointing. Can Pompey use that drilling by John Massino?
04:47Because Cohen Bramwell I spoke to after the game, he said there were some tough words spoken
04:53in that dressing room. Obviously, we're going into the international breaks. Pompey can reset
04:58in a way. But those words between the group after the game, can they use that for the final
05:05eight games in a way to sort of spur them on? They shouldn't be spurring on really, should they?
05:10The fact they beat Leeds and with 10 points above the relegation zone, that should be enough to
05:14know a couple of wins away, isn't it? But it's down to the players to have a chat. John Massino,
05:20again, trying to drive that message across to them. And they need to improve it.
05:26I don't buy, again, I don't buy into this stuff. I keep seeing on social media how that's it,
05:30Pompey destined to go down. Every side below Pompey would love to be in Pompey's position
05:37at this moment in time. All of them. Because Pompey have the points on the board. I know
05:42Diaby have won three in a row, but there's still four points, aren't they, off Pompey.
05:46So they would want the points that Pompey have got. They want the position that Pompey have got.
05:51Pompey being 17th, I can't comprehend why people would say Pompey 17th means they're
05:56going to get relegated. Why? Because this is what everyone wants at the moment in time,
06:01the club's down there. It's down to Pompey, of course, from this moment,
06:05for the remaining eight games to get the points to keep them up. But they're in such a
06:10a strong position at the moment. They really are. And they were the previous two games when they
06:15lost to Plymouth and then to Preston. This is the position they want. Obviously, ideally,
06:22they want to be top of the league, but let's be realistic. And there's not enough realism. Let's
06:26be realistic that Pompey are in a very good position. It's in their hands to stay up at this
06:32moment in time, in their hands. And again, I had a debate with a chap on Twitter the other day who
06:36told me that Pompey have got a difficult running. They haven't got a difficult running on paper,
06:40not whatsoever. Pompey had a really difficult start to the season, Leeds away, Middlesbrough
06:45away, all that lot. The running, the only top, the only team in the top eight they've got to play is
06:51Coventry. So I would say that's a favourable running. I don't want to play Leeds, Burnley
06:56or Sheffield United in the last eight games. So again, that's in Pompey's benefit. They just have
07:03to get those two wins. I would say two wins, get those two wins. It's getting nervy and I understand
07:10why it's getting nervy. But again, it's just all reactionary, isn't it? Pompey staying up after
07:17Leeds, John Massino's wonderful after Leeds, seven days later, Pompey going down, John Massino's out
07:23the door, that was their second. And I know I'm sort of exaggerating a little bit, but I have seen
07:27those views on social media over the last seven days. They are out there. I've replied to several
07:33of them. So if you would look at social media on X, you'll see my messages. I've replied to some of
07:37them. Those views are out there. Some people want John Massino sacked. I'm sure they wouldn't say
07:42that after Leeds, but that's how it goes at the moment. But everyone is correct to be a bit
07:48a bit cautious at the moment because Pompey have had a great opportunity to build on that
07:53Fantastic. And they haven't. And rightly, people are getting a bit twitchy. Nothing wrong with that,
07:58but you have to be realistic and think they're still in a period of strength, position of strength.
08:04They've got to capitalise on that. What a different seven days, mates. Like you mentioned, Pompey could
08:08have extended that gap to the relegation zone, back in it. And then you almost took the words
08:14right out of my mouth. It's in Pompey's hands. They crucially play Blackburn at home, who are
08:20well out of form at the moment, haven't won under Valerian Ishmael, Derby as well at home,
08:24Hull on the final day. So, okay, there are a few away games, tough away games like Coventry,
08:29you mentioned, but they're playing teams around them at home, which their home form two defeats
08:35in 13. That's vital. And that's what you want. You want to play your relegation rivals at home.
08:42So that's why I can't comprehend why it's supposedly a difficult running on paper. It might
08:46prove to be a disastrous running, Pompey get relegated. But I can't look into the future and
08:51how Chris will. All I can say is in the here and now, Pompey are in a very strong position
08:56to avoid relegation. And that's why I don't understand people saying, right, I said,
09:00they're going to go down now. They're not. They might do. They're not going to win these games,
09:05but at the moment they're in a good position. And then again, I reiterate all the clubs down
09:11there below Pompey would love to be in Pompey's position at this moment in time.
09:15Crucially, now we've gone into the international break. So the season has sort of been put on hold
09:20just a little bit. Pompey can reset for the final eight games. It also means there could
09:25be potential returnees from the sidelines. You mentioned, well, John Massino mentioned last week
09:32that when you look at the two week break, I think when Pompey do return, Conor Shotless, he is on
09:37week five, week six of his injury, six to eight week setback. So that's crucial. Jordan Williams
09:43could be earmarked for return against Blackburn, same as Christian Sadie. And then you also look
09:48at Rob Atkinson. He'd be quite far into his, into his recovery as well. That's, that's massive for
09:55Pompey going into the final eight games, having those, well, Conor Shotless and Rob Atkinson,
09:59especially being so close to returning. Yeah. Probably could even stay up before those two
10:05come back conceivably. Again, I'll keep saying two wins. So Blackburn, you look at Blackburn's
10:12last three games, they've lost against Stoke, Derby and Cardiff. Pompey relegation. They've
10:18been handing out three points for everyone. Good old generous Blackburn. We know that's only the
10:23case when they come to Thrafton Park, don't we? But yeah. And again, that's a favourable game,
10:28isn't it? Yeah. Isn't it a favourable game? I'd rather play them than Leeds or
10:34Sheffield United or Burnley in the next game. So yeah. Yeah. It's, but as I say,
10:45they can stay up before they come back from injury. Let's hope they do actually.
10:50Williams is coming back. Right back's not a problem at the moment, is it? They've got enough
10:54cover at right back. There's a problem. Sadie's been in and out. So yeah, they got some, in terms
10:59of two centre defenders, they're big players to come back, especially if Pompey do need them,
11:04God forbid. If Pompey do need them in the final few games of the season, which they'll probably
11:08be around for, well, like that could be the difference, couldn't it? But we're all keeping
11:13our fingers crossed that that won't be the case. Yeah. There was one player who you wrote a story
11:19about yesterday and it's come under a little bit of stick from Pompey fans, especially after the
11:24performance against Preston is Kassini Yenge. You wrote a great story about him yesterday.
11:31I just want to know, has he struggled in the Championship this season with the step up or
11:39what's the difference between the Kassini Yenge of Ligue 1 and the Kassini Yenge that we've seen
11:44this season? Yeah, as I wrote, Sunday marked a year anniversary of Peterborough.
11:49Yenge scored that fantastic goal. I think it convinced everyone that Pompey were going up.
11:54Really great day, wasn't it? Really iconic day. John Massino named it as one of his favourite
11:59games of the season. So it was wonderful. And then who would think a year on, Yenge has made
12:0618 appearances and scored twice in a year since then. He's had various, he's had three different
12:14injury spells to the same injury. He's missed 27 games, he's missed four months.
12:20And when he has played, he's looked well off it, sluggish, which is going to be a factor if you
12:26have been injured for a while, you don't come straight back in. But he hasn't impressed
12:30whatsoever in the Championship, has he? And Saturday again, he was sluggish, off the pace,
12:36really. But we know he's a talent. We saw last year, I keep saying this, there were endless
12:43arguments about he should play ahead of Bishop, which some of us didn't agree with. But Yenge
12:48put himself in that position because he was playing well, scoring goals off the bench.
12:53It was a real deliberation for the manager, wasn't it? Or the head coach, who to play,
12:57Yenge or Bishop? I don't agree with playing both of them together. I don't think it works,
13:01as we saw on Saturday. And suddenly, he's just completely off it, isn't he? He really is. It's
13:06really disappointing. And it's a big end of the season. He's got a lot to prove, a lot in terms
13:11of, can he play in the Championship in terms of his pomp and future with his contract up at the
13:15end of the season? For me, I would take up the option. I think that makes perfect business sense
13:22as well, because then you are securing your asset if you do want to move him on. But also, there's
13:27a talent there. He's got an ability there, isn't it? So, can Pompey get him going again, injury-free,
13:34getting that momentum once more? That's what they need, because we know he's a player.
13:39We remember Peter Brewer and the games around that time and before that time.
13:43So, he's not suddenly disappeared and become an appalling player. And going on the international
13:50duty in Australia could do him good. A couple of games, they've got Indonesia and China.
13:55So, he's in training as well with the international team. So, that might benefit him coming back,
14:00because he's just been nowhere, nowhere near it this season.
14:04Yeah. Well, hopefully, he can get a couple of goals on international break too.
14:09But not injured this time, please.
14:10Not injured, yeah, please. Fingers crossed. No more injuries for Pompey. Well, Neil, thank you
14:15for joining me. It's been a pleasure speaking to you, as always. And you can catch us in the next
14:20video.