Portsmouth boss' honest insight into dressing room talks as side bid to fire campaign at QPR and Cardiff City
John Mousinho has lifted the lid on the honest discussions with his players he believes can get Pompey’s Championship campaign up and running.
And the Blues boss is confident he is on the ‘same wavelength’ as his men when it comes to the faults they need to put right to deliver results this term.
Pompey are still searching for their maiden success this season, with it now the longest winless opening to a season since the war.
That doesn’t tell the tale of a remarkably difficult start to their return to the second tier after a 12-year absence, with an opening many are viewing as the toughest in recent Championship history.
Pompey have held their own against a string of fancied contenders, with positives to take from the majority of their displays.
That all changed last week at Stoke City, however, with a 6-1 capitulation at the bet365 Stadium few saw coming.
That led to some honest words in the wake of that insipid showing, with an improved performance in the 1-1 draw with Oxford United at Fratton Park last weekend.
Mousinho has given an insight into his relationship with his players, with the 38-year-old taking heart from the accountability his squad own for their actions.
The head coach feels that has to be reciprocated on his part, with that common ground then allowing Pompey to move forward positively.
Mousinho said: ‘When we pick apart the things we want to pick apart, my question to the lads was: if you disagree with anything I’m saying then by all means disagree, because there’s no point in me going on about things if you don’t feel the same way as I do.
‘For the majority of the time, I think probably 99 per cent of the time, whenever I’ve spoken to the lads in a positive or negative way about any performance I’ve always felt there was a lot of understanding from the group
‘Everyone has been on the same wavelength.
‘Even when you lose 6-1 you need everyone on the same wavelength, everyone needs to understand what the issues are - and I need to understand anything I’m missing.
‘So players need to tell me and players have to make sure they are forthcoming
‘They need to say: this is the reason this happened, I disagree, I don’t think I could’ve done that or done this.
‘I feel if we get to the stage where we’re doing that we’re in a decent spot.’