STEVE: WHO'S GOING DOWN

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Pompey Sound Podcasts 31 min 2 speakers 8 chapters transcribed

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What insights does Steve Bone have about Pompey's recent performance?

Duncan Barkes 0:00

We welcome Steve Bone to the Pompey Sound microphone. Steve, are you well? And what is running through your fine mind at this minute in time about Pompey?

Steve Bone 0:10

I am well. Thank you very much. Thank you for having me on again. And yeah, looking forward to the Sheffield United game, which I'm sure we will do together. during this chat and reflecting a little bit on Preston which I actually thought was one of the least disappointing defeats of the season actually there's a few people getting worked up about it as they do about any defeat Which is fair enough, people are allowed to get worked up about us losing, but I thought in the grand scheme of things, the run we've had recently, it was only our second defeat in 10 league games, that's not bad, that's not a terrible record. We didn't get hammered, we didn't get made to look silly, we only lost 1-0 and I think for large parts of the game we were the better team.

Steve Bone 1:01

And our fans made more noise than their fans as well. I know that doesn't get you any points, but it's still worth mentioning. Obviously the problem was we didn't work the keeper. We didn't look a threat where it mattered, which is a worry. I think that's another indication of how much we miss Colby when he's not playing.

How does Steve analyze the squad registered for the season?

Steve Bone 1:24

But on the whole, I wasn't, you know, it was a game I kind of half expected us to lose. I think I might have predicted a one-all draw on here last week. So I wasn't a million miles off. But, you know, you can cope with those away defeats as long as you keep getting it right at home. We've got some home games to come. We've also got some winnable away games actually to come. Mm-hmm. So yeah, looking back, not too disappointed. Looking forward, cautiously optimistic about the next couple of games while keeping one eye as ever on who's coming out of the treatment room and who's going into it. And also whether the pitch will be OK after rain, rain and more rain.

Duncan Barkes 2:07

We'll come back to the pitch, we must, because there's a story floating around today that they're keeping an eye on it. So we'll come back to that. Can I next ask a complex question? And that is your reaction to the, I think it's 23-man squad that Pompey have registered, because there were one or two surprises there. But overall, what do you think?

What are the implications of injuries on the team's performance?

Steve Bone 2:34

Yeah, I think it was pretty much as expected. I don't think there was anyone in it that we thought would never be anywhere near it. There's a couple of people in it who are currently injured, but what has surprised some is that there's a couple of people who aren't in it, who are still at the club and are currently injured. And it sounds like, from the explanations we've had from John Massino and Richard Hughes since, that is simply a case of keeping their options open. So we've got 23 registered at the moment. If there's somebody in the squad who suddenly becomes available again, Harvey Blair, I think, is one example that's been given. If he suddenly became available for this Saturday or next Saturday or whatever, he can be very quickly registered, added to the 23, and he can play, no problems.

Steve Bone 3:29

I think what they're trying to do is, if it turns out that a couple of those who are not in the squad prove to be injured more long-term, then there's a space there for them to bring in a free agent or so on. So it kind of seems the sensible way to go, really. I don't think there's anyone who's not registered who you would think, well, why on earth isn't he registered? You know, injury seems to be the only reason they haven't registered people. So I think they've been quite clever there. They've given themselves a little bit of breathing space, really.

What factors contribute to the high number of injuries in football?

Steve Bone 4:07

And I think a couple of those injured will come back within two or three weeks or a bit more. And then they're available. Then you add them to the 25. and then they're available to you for the rest of the season. Obviously, you've got the under-21s in addition to the 25-pound squad. You know, you look through it and there's been a cover for most positions. The one position that is still a worry is centre-forward, isn't it?