Merson: Luxury or Liability?
By Mister (Not so) Happy September 14 2003
There is no doubting that Paul Merson is a quality player. However, with the current manager and players around him, is he a luxury or a liability to the team?
There is no doubting that Paul Merson is a quality player. However, with the current manager and players around him, is he a luxury or a liability to the team?
Is Paul Merson a luxury or a liability? One thing is for certain, Merson is a quality player which he has proved time and time again over the course of his career.
We also know he is a proven performer on the first division stage as he was the driving force behind Portsmouth’s successful promotion campaign. However, after the initial excitement that was witnessed after the incredible victory over neighbours Albion on the opening day, what on earth has gone wrong? We have yet to win another league match against largely very poor opposition.
Expectation levels soared out of control after we took the Baggies to the cleaners. Merson was absolutely immense that day. He scored 2 phenomenal goals and set up another for Corica. It was an incredible performance from a true quality player. Yet, we followed this up with an abject display against Coventry whereby Merson did very little. We played pretty football during the first 45 minutes but after the break, totally fell apart and were extremely lucky to leave Highfield Road with a point.
The next week it was much the same as we put in a feeble performance against our friends from the Britannia. Merson managed to salvage a point but overall it was yet another feeble performance with our passing game showing signs of weakness where posession was too easily conceded. Apart from his goal, Merson seemed to be one of a few that gave the ball away far too cheaply.
We then followed this up with a bank holiday defeat against Crewe. Many neutrals claimed it was a fantastic game. I do not subscribe to this theory. For the first 20 minutes we looked a very good outfit until Crewe took control and showed us how to play the passing game properly. That is, with attacking intentions and movement off the ball as opposed to moving the ball sideways and backwards thus creating little in front of goal. Whilst Crewe played football in our half, so did we, which isn’t much good when you want to win a game. Again, Merson offered little and seemed to be a weakness as our midfield was totally over ran.
Onwards we go to the Cardiff match. For the first half we looked a half decent outfit and then Cardiff totally played us off the park after the break. Although the game wasn’t helped by two sendings off, this cannot excuse the way the team fell to pieces. Again, a no show from Merson.
Then, we have the utter rubbish that was served up yesterday against one of the poorest sides I have seen at Bescot. The passing, movement, defending and passion was non existent. The question is what on earth has gone wrong.
1.Is the midfield too lightweight with Merson?
2.Would we be better off with a battler as opposed to a flair player who doesn’t track back?
3.Has Colin Lee got it totally wrong with his tactics?
4.Does Colin Lee know how to get the best out of Merson?
5.Does Merson need better players to enable him to perform?
6.Has Colin Lee just lost the plot?
Without wanting to get too hysterical, we have failed to win against 5 teams that we would have expected to finish above in the league. We just have not looked like an attacking outfit and do not look like scoring. And to cap it all off we keep conceding stupid goals to throw points away.
When Merson is on form he can be a major tonic in the dressing room. If though, as now, when the chips are down and he becomes depressed and moody, is Merson more of a negative than a positive influence.
Lots of questions I’m afraid but no answers. I await your theories on the message board.
We also know he is a proven performer on the first division stage as he was the driving force behind Portsmouth’s successful promotion campaign. However, after the initial excitement that was witnessed after the incredible victory over neighbours Albion on the opening day, what on earth has gone wrong? We have yet to win another league match against largely very poor opposition.
Expectation levels soared out of control after we took the Baggies to the cleaners. Merson was absolutely immense that day. He scored 2 phenomenal goals and set up another for Corica. It was an incredible performance from a true quality player. Yet, we followed this up with an abject display against Coventry whereby Merson did very little. We played pretty football during the first 45 minutes but after the break, totally fell apart and were extremely lucky to leave Highfield Road with a point.
The next week it was much the same as we put in a feeble performance against our friends from the Britannia. Merson managed to salvage a point but overall it was yet another feeble performance with our passing game showing signs of weakness where posession was too easily conceded. Apart from his goal, Merson seemed to be one of a few that gave the ball away far too cheaply.
We then followed this up with a bank holiday defeat against Crewe. Many neutrals claimed it was a fantastic game. I do not subscribe to this theory. For the first 20 minutes we looked a very good outfit until Crewe took control and showed us how to play the passing game properly. That is, with attacking intentions and movement off the ball as opposed to moving the ball sideways and backwards thus creating little in front of goal. Whilst Crewe played football in our half, so did we, which isn’t much good when you want to win a game. Again, Merson offered little and seemed to be a weakness as our midfield was totally over ran.
Onwards we go to the Cardiff match. For the first half we looked a half decent outfit and then Cardiff totally played us off the park after the break. Although the game wasn’t helped by two sendings off, this cannot excuse the way the team fell to pieces. Again, a no show from Merson.
Then, we have the utter rubbish that was served up yesterday against one of the poorest sides I have seen at Bescot. The passing, movement, defending and passion was non existent. The question is what on earth has gone wrong.
1.Is the midfield too lightweight with Merson?
2.Would we be better off with a battler as opposed to a flair player who doesn’t track back?
3.Has Colin Lee got it totally wrong with his tactics?
4.Does Colin Lee know how to get the best out of Merson?
5.Does Merson need better players to enable him to perform?
6.Has Colin Lee just lost the plot?
Without wanting to get too hysterical, we have failed to win against 5 teams that we would have expected to finish above in the league. We just have not looked like an attacking outfit and do not look like scoring. And to cap it all off we keep conceding stupid goals to throw points away.
When Merson is on form he can be a major tonic in the dressing room. If though, as now, when the chips are down and he becomes depressed and moody, is Merson more of a negative than a positive influence.
Lots of questions I’m afraid but no answers. I await your theories on the message board.
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