Gaffer for a day
Wayne Harris, aged 43, from Fareham
Iremember
MK Dons coming to us last season and being caught out trying to play out from the back in a 3-1 victory for Pompey.
Now they come here bottom of League One – and represent another winnable match.
Our fans will expect another three points, building on the last couple of games, and they’ll be right. It’s a game which should go in our favour.
I thought Rasmus Nicolaisen looked class against Southend on
Tuesday night and would like to see him start on Saturday.
He was composed, strong, dominant and appeared as though he had been playing for us for a long time.
Settling in quickly is the sign of a good player, although I’m obviously aware it was against a Southend.
I’m not sure Kenny Jackett would drop Sean Raggett to make way for Nicolaisen, he’s a favourite of his, but I would. I’d also recall Ronan Curtis to the side, having played well and scored twice in that 3-0 win at Southend in the week. That would mean the sacrificing of Ryan Williams, who is a good player and works so hard, yet doesn’t score enough and that needs improving.
I know I’m changing a winning team from Burton.
Admittedly, the second half was the best 45 minutes I have seen for a long while. I’ll really need to rack my brains to think when they played that well.
But the team can still be improved on. With Curtis coming back, he can go on the left, with Michael Jacobs moving to the right and Marcus Harness staying as the number 10.
What a performance that was from Harness at the Pirelli Stadium. Last season I thought he was a bit lazy, which is why Williams often played ahead of him on the right, but he is so talented.
There’s a real player in there, Championship quality, but we have to keep playing him to see how good he really is.
And for those asking about my dad, Barry, he is bored and missing Pompey.
Considering he has watched them for more than 60 years and now spends lots of his time indoors, you can understand why he’s down in the dumps at the moment.
MY STARTING XI
(4-2-3-1): Craig MacGillivray, Craig Johnson, Jack Whatmough, Rasmus Nicolaisen, Lee Brown, Tom Naylor, Bryn Morris, Michael Jacobs, Marcus Harness, Ronan Curtis, Ellis Harrison.