David Norris reacts to what John Mousinho did to Sam Silvera in Portsmouth draw at Leeds United
David Norris has backed John Mousinho’s man management in dealing with potential frustration from his Portsmouth players.
An example of this came via a bold decision to take off Sam Silvera at half-time of last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Leeds United, despite the on-loan winger seeing more of the ball than most of his teammates and playing a part in Elias Sorensen’s equalising goal.
Mousinho cleared up after the game that it was not injury-related but purely tactical, citing more legs were needed down the left flank occupied by Silvera.
“I think it all comes down to his man management of it,” former Blues man Norris exclusively told Pompey News.
“From experience, it does hurt as a player getting dragged at half-time. But you don’t take it so personally when you know a manager has it in his locker to make tactical changes quite early.
“As long as he manages those situations well and players aren’t sulking or losing confidence, that’s fine.”
Portsmouth prepare for Luton Town clash
Portsmouth will take confidence from last weekend’s thriller at Leeds – on paper likely to be the most difficult fixture of the season – but now recently relegated Luton visit Fratton Park.
Mousinho kept a few players in with a smattering of rotation for Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup defeat to Millwall in PO4, as he attempts to offer minutes around the squad.
The half-time changes are becoming far more commonplace in this era, and Silvera will be aware of that fact – he started against Millwall and played 76 minutes in midweek, too.
The infamous half-time “hook” will happen to other players plenty this season, and Mousinho’s pragmatic and proactive management style will be popular with supporters.
The man management side of it has been discussed this week with regards to whether Pompey make a punt for Austrian goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid, as the head coach would have a tricky task on his hands to keep three senior stoppers happy.
In other Portsmouth news, the club introduce their new Under-18 scholar intake.
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