A surprisingly near full Fratton Park greeted a handful of fans from Group E whipping boys Heerenveen.
The mood of the locals buoyant. Tempered only by recent questionable performances plus news that fan favourite Diarra had achieved his objectives with the announcement that Real Madrid [now that’s a big club Harry] was likely to be his new home in the New Year.
A much changed Pompey saw James, Distin, Campbell, Johnson, Diarra, Kranjcar and Defoe being replaced by Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Pamerot, Wilson, Mvuemba, Hughes and Kanu and despite only being deployed against the questionable quality of Heerenveen, Pompey looked much the better for it.
A rare start for Ashdown who looked composed and lacking the nerves that appear to have dominated many of James' recent appearances. Ashdown rode his luck once or twice but kept a clean sheet and distributed the ball with much more variety than James. Mixing traditional but accurate long ball punts with long over arm throws and simple 5 yard passes to the defense.
Ashdown may not be the shop stopper extraordinaire that James is, but might be the better keeper when you take into account all aspects of his game. Certainly we shouldn’t dread the thought of James leaving or retiring. Even if Ashdown were to let in the odd goal that James would have kept out, you know he’d make up for it in other areas.
Hughes was given the Captain’s armband and shone as bright as the Fratton Park lights. Bossing the midfield, perhaps not with the authority and mobility of Diarra, but with the passion of a player who genuinely looked like he was pleased to be playing. Knocking little one-twos with those around him and when it got a little tight making himself available and demanding the ball as only a Captain can.
Hollywood Wilson came in at right back and did himself proud. Untested largely, but authoritative. No frills, just good solid work and for the first time in many a game, quality balls repeatedly finding the head of Crouch from the right wing. Free kicks too. Wilson looked very comfortable and is certainly not lacking in confidence as he ensured central defence was in line and ready to activate the off side trap.
Of course there was no need for Wilson to worry about Belhadj, who for the most of the time was gracing midfield before chasing back and relieving the Heerenveen attackers of the ball. Quite how Belhadj has managed not to give away a half dozen penalties this season is beyond his many admirers. Every tackle he makes, crunching affairs. More what you’d expect from muscle man Pamerot, not the Algerian twinkle toes.
Pamerot and Hreidarsson did a good job in central defence, both superb athletes although Herman looked a little wooden due presumably to lack of match practice. Pamerot getting forward more often than usual and between them may have been exposed by more superior opponents, but on the night couldn’t be faulted.
Midfield was solid if uninspired. Hughes the anchor man with the excellent Diop shrugging aside Dutch tackles one minute and then just to keep the crowd warm, shooting high and wide the next. Diop in particular suffers inappropriate bad press at Pompey. Yes he falls over with all the regularity of badly assembled wardrobe and occasionally makes a pass that has the crowd laughing with disbelief. But he is unique. There is no other player in the division that can dribble and smash their way past 3 or 4 players in midfield as if they didn’t exist. Even better in this respect than the soon to depart Diarra.
Mvuemba fresh from an awful cross field ball on Sunday that started the rot against Newcastle, showed real steal. Starting on the right and working hard to keep Kanu and Crouch supplied with neat outside of the boot balls. As Mvuemba has shown on 4 or 5 occasions since originally joining on loan, he is a quality player and I wouldn’t be surprised or disappointed to see him become a regular once the superstar pack has been reshuffled.
On the left Traore has us all wishing we’d never got old and fat. The guy is a superb athlete and somehow manages to embarrass opponents week after week. As if some greater power had pressed a button marked ‘Next Generation Footballer’ and out popped Traore, complete with a goatee come blunt razor excuse for a beard.
Such was Traore’s speed on the night that even Belhadj gave up trying to link up. No doubt reminded by Adams that defenders are principally meant to defend.
Kanu and Crouch formed an unlikely partnership upfront. Crouch missing a number of great chances, a mixture of high and low balls that should have made the back of the net.
Had the whole game passed without a goal then perhaps we’d be feeling less charitable but given Crouch scored two goals leading up to half time, who, save an unloved cynic could complain.
The first a lovely header from a Hollywood Wilson cross. Then minutes later the second, a tap in following what can only be described as a sublime run by Kanu. That takes Crouch onto 11 for the season and 2 clear of Defoe.
It’s times like this as a Pompey supporter that you really do have to pinch yourselves. Forget Diarra, Merson and Sherringham. Kanu is the most skilful player ever to grace Fratton Park. Redknapp was right, heaven knows how good he must have been as young player at Inter Milan and Ajax. Not forgetting that whilst at Inter he had major heart surgery. So let’s not complain about how fast he runs, just be amazed that he can run at all.
On the night a good solid performance capped by a late goal by myPompey favourite Hreidarsson. Hermann no doubt delighted to be recalled and then score, took the time to add a little somersault come cartwheel to remind us all how good a player he really is.
Heerenveen played some neat football and hit the post early on and should have converted at least one other chance. Clearly not of the same standard as the rest of the group but nonetheless had a couple of players worthy of bigger things. Not as if that can be said of their right back who was subbed at half time. Whether that was through injury or surrender at the hands of Traore, you decide.
Portsmouth: Ashdown, Wilson, Pamarot, Hreidarsson, Belhadj, Mvuemba, Diop (Davis 84), Hughes, Armand Traore (Little 63), Crouch, Kanu.
Subs Not Used: James, Defoe, Distin, Kranjcar.
Goals: Crouch 40, 42, Hreidarsson 90.
Heerenveen: Vandenbussche, Popov, Breuer (Smarason 30), Dingsdag, Bak Nielsen, Vayrynen, Grindheim (Janmaat 84), Svec, Beerens (Elyounossi 46), Sibon, Henrique.
Subs Not Used: Zeinstra, Kopic, Jong-a-Pin, Deekman.
Booked: Vayrynen.
Att: 19,612.
Ref: Richard Havrilla (Slovakia).