Effort
In the few years I've been watching Portsmouth, I like to think I've learnt a few things about the fans and their expectations. And one thing I have certainly picked us is that even if you're not the most technically able footballer, all that will be forgiven if you just try. Players like Dave Waterman and Lee Bradbury certainly weren't going to execute fifteen keepy-uppies before thrashing a thirty yarder into the top corner, but they wore their heart on their sleeve and weren't afraid to stick their heads, limbs, and indeed any other part of their bodies where they might get hurt.
On the other side of the coin, you've got the players who obviously ARE talented but - crime of crimes - just don't care. I'll be brutally honest here - I'm talking about Yakubu. To a lesser extent, I'm talking about Patrik Berger who hasn't had a good game since Boxing Day, but mainly Yakubu. As much as I hate to draw a link with our friends down the M27, I feel I have to on this situation. I never understood how they could get on James Beattie's back towards the end of his time at Southampton; how he could get abuse and be disliked by their fans despite the fact he was one of their best assets, their top goalscorer and had played for his country.
But now, I can see exactly where they were coming from. Yakubu is one of our best assets, our top goalscorer and has played for his country. But the fact of the matter is that he simply doesn't give a toss. Whether we've already drawn up a deal with Newcastle or whether he simply thinks he's bigger than Portsmouth Football Club, the fact of the matter is that the man needs to go. Look at the likes of Skopelitis and Kamara - running their lungs out every minute they were on the pitch, constantly hassling and trying to win the ball. And then there's Yak, jogging at half pace on the touchline near the dugout, not wanting to get too involved. For a £10m player, his performances in the last few months have been worthy of Bognor Regis.
The result
Whether or not some of us care to admit it now, there was a real belief we could get something at Highbury today. We might all feel a bit silly upon reflection - well, I don't, I thought we'd lose anyway - but there was talk of a minor upset. Injuries and suspensions for Arsenal, a midweek game that went to extra time, their thoughts turning to a Champions League tie in midweek. Could this be our chance to snatch something?
Er, no. They were just too good. I think a lot of people - and judging from comments in the media, some of the players themselves - had started to believe that maybe this was our chance to pull off something unlikely. And of course once you start thinking like that, it's never going to happen. Arsenal had that touch of class and experience that we were completely lacking and were able to comfortably put the game to bed. We had a decent penalty shout and hit the bar, but other than that the result was beyond doubt. It WAS a 3-0, and perhaps could've even been more, such was Arsenal's domination.
Maybe we need a game like this every so often to remind ourselves that, however over-enthusiastic we might get after a good performance at somewhere like Old Trafford, we've still got an awful lot of work to do and it's certainly going to be a long time before we can compete at places like Highbury. But having said that, in the Premier League you need to be able to compete regardless of the opposition and regardless of how long you've been in the league - otherwise you go down.
The fans
As much as I hate to see it happening all around me, today seems to have been a huge turning point for a lot of people. The patience has finally snapped; it's the straw that has broken the camel's back. I'm still desperately holding on to my optimistic views that, with the month of April approaching with slightly easier games, Zajec will pull something out of the hat and show us what he's made of. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren't going to give him that chance now. And why should they. Our current form is nothing short of wank and we're playing an uninspiring negative game home and away which is failing to yield the results we so desperately need.
And at the heart of it all is poor old Chalkias. Rightly or wrongly, the guy has been thrown in at the deep end and, in my opinion, is feeling the brunt of the opinion that should be being aimed at Zajec. Because Zajec brought him in and persists in playing him, he is being seen as the manager's favourite. The fans singing "one Shaka Hislop" after the third goal were not making a comment about Shaka's ability of Chalky's perceived inability; it's as much a comment about the managerial situation and the complete mess we're in. What those sort of chants are really saying - at the core of it all - is that a player has been thrown in who has been judged by the majority to not be up to the task. It's the Premier League and there's no time to bed in or adjust. Why are the management making these sort of choices?
Since Zajec come in, most of the complaints have been kept to the pubs and messageboards. But now we're in the dangerous situation where the grievances are being aired in the stands, and people want to know what is going on with their club. Once you get open mutiny amongst the fans, it's bad news. When people start booing at Fratton Park it's not as much a cause for concern - amongst 20,000 home fans you're guaranteed to get a few tossers - but when those who travel to away games and invest their time and money to watch their team around the country start to angrily voice their opinions, it's time to get worried.
It was all summed up by the nigh-on silence of the travelling contigent in the second half; there's just nothing to shout about. Or perhaps it's just because where I was sitting in the West Stand Lower, the view was so ridiculously bad that no-one could see the match to shout about what was going on.
The positives
Few and far between. Skopelitis played well again, picking up from where he left off against Manchester United. He's a right over-exciteable bundle of energy and seems to be all over the midfield, not afraid to dive into tackles and also good at doing the simple thing well. He looks like £1m well spent, although needs to add a little bit more to his game going forward. What's more, he provided one of the few laughs of the afternoon when the PA announcer made a complete hash of pronouncing his name.
Stefanovic was vastly improved from his poor game last Saturday; far more solid and more like the Dejan we know. O'Neil once again looked impressive and threw in a few clever little skills to top it all off. LuaLua was also particularly rampant down the wing in the first half, even if he did trail off towards the end - to be expected I guess since he hasn't played much lately - but it's nice to see him getting back to form and terrorising defences. Even if it was only second rate players like Cygan and Senderos.
Other than that I really can't think of anything that gave me reason to be cheerful.
The answers
Some people seem to think Zajec should leave, but I don't think that would help. There's nine games left this season and three managers in one campaign is just plain suicide. It's too late to make a difference anyhow, I would argue, especially with the transfer window firmly in place.
At the end of the day I don't think anyone expected us to get anything from Manchester United or Arsenal, as nice as it would have been. I'm not denying I'm incredibly frustrated or disappointed with our performance, but in the cold light of day we have to admit that anything from those two trips would've been a great bonus. Survival will not be secured by getting something at these places; survival will be secured in April. Of course we're now looking over our shoulders as those around us start to pick up results, but April is the big month on the calendar.
Six games. Three at home, three away - Fulham, Charlton, Birmingham, Liverpool, Southampton, Manchester City. With my optimistic hat on I can see us clawing the points we need and FINALLY getting over the line for another season of Premiership football. Which, with the (supposed) new stadium on the way, is absolutely essential. But Jesus Christ, I can't wait for this season to be over. Things have gone from bad to worse and we really are starting to make a complete and utter balls up of a situation that was already difficult enough.