'Comes with the territory' - Portsmouth fans' decision to criticise John Mousinho at QPR justified
Pompey boss John Mousinho faced the wrath of the fans following Saturday’s 6-1 defeat at QPR
John Mousinho can have no complaints after he came under fire by angry Pompey fans at QPR on Saturday.
That’s the verdict of The News’ Neil Allen, who believes the Blues boss, along with the players, was rightly criticised by supporters following his side’s 6-1 hammering at the hands of the Rs.
However, he stressed Mousinho - who guided the club out of League One in 2023/24 - shouldn’t be the only one facing rebuke as Pompey continue to flirt dangerously with the serious prospect of a return to League One after just two years in the Championship. Indeed, according to our chief sports writer, owners Tornante, sporting director Rich Hughes and head of recruitment Brad Wall also deserve to come under the the spotlight as the Blues’ second-tier status looks increasingly feeble with just eight games remaining.
Pompey’s tactical error v QPR
The Blues will need to produce a lot more than the display they manufactured at Loftus Road if they are to keep their place in the Championship next year.
They found themselves three goals down inside 29 minutes. And while John Swift offered them a route back into the game just before the break, the visitors crumbled yet again in the second half as the Fratton Park side registered their fifth defeat in six appearances to sit one place and one point above the relegation zone.
Mousinho’s decision to play midfielder Ebou Adams as a No10 and attacking midfielder Swift in a deep-lying role contributed to the Blues’ downfall, with neither player able to play to their strengths.
That’s one of a number of tactical decisions that have baffled fans in recent weeks as the scramble to find a winning formula continues.
And it’s for that reason why Allen believes Mousinho can’t avoid the wrath of the fans, who are becoming increasingly disgruntled with what they are seeing from the team.
Comes with the territory
Speaking about the reaction that greeted Mousinho and the players when they went to thank the fans for their support in west London, Allen told Pompey Talk: ‘He made a mistake, didn't he?
‘He made a mistake with Ebou Adams as the No10, Swift and Pack as a dynamic, 65-year-old combined-aged centre of the midfield.
‘Pack's worked very well with Ebou Adams (in recent weeks), Adams' energy and he gets up and down the pitch, doesn't he, brilliantly!
‘Swift's best performances for Pompey this season have been as the No10. That's his best position, he's spoken about this before.
‘And, suddenly, he (Mousinho) goes to QPR, Swift's back in the team, great, brilliant, where is he? Oh, no, a few minutes in, he's playing deep with Marlon Pack, with Ebou Adams as a No10.
‘I just do not get that. I don't understand that. Pompey are overloaded with No10s and suddenly Ebou Adams is put up there.
‘And there's been a few of those recently. Obviously, Mousinho switched the wingers in the previous game against Derby. He put Brown in the No10 role, which didn't work, against Swansea. So the manager, the head coach, is rightly going to be criticised as well.
‘He will acknowledge that. So, yeah, he's going to be under fire, the owners will come under fire, Rich Hughes will come under fire, Brad Wall will come under fire.
‘Sorry chaps, that's what you get if your side’s struggling, looking like they're going to go back to League One. That comes with the territory. That's how it is.’