View: John Mousinho must axe 50% Portsmouth ace v Sheffield United
John Mousinho should axe Josh Murphy when Portsmouth host Sheffield United at Fratton Park on Saturday (28 September).
Pompey have had a difficult few months. Having stormed to the EFL League One title last season and dominated most matches, Mousinho’s side have struggled to make the step up to the EFL Championship.
After six matches played they remain without a win and have lost their last three on the bounce.
In fairness to Portsmouth, they have had an incredibly tough start to the season, having already played four of the Championship’s current top six teams.
And things don’t get any easier, with Sheffield United – who currently sit fifth in the table – set to visit Fratton Park next weekend.
Portsmouth remain without a competitive win since April. Therefore, supporters will be desperate for three points, and will no doubt feel as though their first Championship win in over a decade is long overdue.
As a result, if Mousinho wants to deliver those three points to the club’s supporters, he should consider taking Murphy out of the firing line when the Blades come to town.
Murphy signed for Pompey from Oxford United in the summer. Due to an injury picked up in pre-season, the forward missed the club’s first four Championship matches.
However, he has since returned and started Portsmouth’s defeats against West Brom (15 September) and Burnley (21 September).
While Mousinho would have no doubt been keen to get Murphy back, the 29-year-old hasn’t exactly performed well in either of his first two appearances for Portsmouth.
John Mousinho to axe Josh Murphy in Portsmouth v Sheffield United?
In the 3-0 defeat to West Brom at Fratton Park, the winger picked up a booking, while completing just 63 per cent of his passes and failing to provide an accurate cross from five attempts (Sofascore).
In addition, the one long ball he played was also inaccurate, while he succeded with just 50 per cent of his dribble attempts and won just 50 per cent of his ground duels.
He also gave possession away 15 times while losing the one aerial duel he contested. However, this was his first competitive appearance of the season. Therefore, fans will have been keen to give him some time.
However, Murphy was arguably just as poor in the 2-1 defeat to Burnley at Turf Moor. That afternoon he once again got booked and gave possession away 15 times.
Although some of his stats improved, with the Englishman providing one accurate cross from four attempts and completing two successful dribbles while completing 71 per cent of his passes – with one of those key – he was also dribbled past three times.
Murphy will no doubt need some time to settle in. However, Mousinho’s side are desperate for a win.
As a result, in a game as big as the Sheffield United one, the Portsmouth boss might be wise to take his summer signing out of the firing line and reintroduce him in more favourable circumstances.
In other Portsmouth news, Mousinho will surely be sweating over the fitness of one player after the defeat against Burnley.
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