How's the new gaffer doing?
Not bad, not bad. We're always keen to get behind our staff, sometimes blindly and in the face of what is widely perceived to be terrible form (see: Tony Adams, Paul Hart). Avram's doing a fairly good job with thoroughly limited resources and under constant and repetitive press speculation about what is actually going on behind the scenes.
How will the manager play it?
We set up almost identically at the moment (injuries and lack of quality playing staff dictates as much) so expect Boateng and O'Hara to do their best to link up with Dindane up top and some stern defending from Kaboul - a player who's really coming into his own right now; thriving off the pressure it would appear.
Likely team news?
Well, it looks like Papa Bouba Diop is back after getting ten minutes or so at Sunderland last weekend, so I'm thinking he'll figure down the middle in some way, if not from the start. Ex-Anfield full back Steve Finnan has stayed fit for a few games now, so you'll be seeing him more than likely.
Players we need to watch?
Kevin Prince Boateng has been going from strength to strength, linking play nicely and most importantly getting in some quality positions. Jamie O'Hara, despite being on loan from that two-bit North London club, is playing with so much heart and passion for the cause, it's difficult not to love him. Kanu will no doubt pop on for a while and make it difficult for the Liverpool defence to steal the ball back and in Dindane we've got an increasing nuisance of a striker. Nuisance to the opposition that is. Well, most of the time.
Weaknesses?
I can't say Tal Ben-Haim ever fills me with a great deal of confidence when defending set pieces or whilst he's on the ball. Despite what I've said above, Aruna Dindane does have a wee habit of fluffing his lines when it matters most too. He's trying his hardest to get over that though.
If you were giving the pre-match teamtalk what would you say?
"Listen lads, everyone up and down the country knows you're playing some great football every week. You're playing your socks off for scant reward and now it looks like some luck is going our way, just go out there give me more of the same." Then I'd give them all a hug and promise them they're actually getting paid that week.
Who do you rate on our side?
If I said "Reina, Carragher, Gerrard and Torres" it would be a little predictable, eh? I mean, obviously you've got a cracking base of a team there, but there's are two players who I've enjoyed watching for Liverpool that maybe don't get as much credit as your Anglo-Spaniard spine: Yossi Benayoun and David N'Gog. The former works incredibly hard and occasionally pulls some treats out of his bag, the latter seems to be coming of age rapidly and is going from a bit of a questionable replacement for Torres to a genuinely decent option. Arguing about how to pronounce his surname is just a bonus.
What kind of reception will Glen Johnson get?
A very warm reception. He was voted player of the season last time around for a reason and I don't think anybody begrudges his move to Merseyside. We like to feel we made him a bit down at Fratton Park. I certainly believe without his spell in our FA Cup winning side and the Premier League season that accompanied it, he'd not be looking at a starting place in England's World Cup side for South Africa next year.
What do Pompey fans want for Christmas?
Answers. We want to know what the hell is going on with our beloved club and why on earth our players aren't being paid on time. We want to know if come January we're going to be bringing in players or selling up again. We want at least a hint if Ali Al-Faraj actually has any money or if he's another total chancer like Al-Fahim was. Any kind of stability would be welcomed around about now; I know things aren't exactly a barrel of laughs for you lot at the moment either. Maybe we can spend the day at Fratton Park sobbing. Actually on second thoughts, let's just get drunk and sing Christmas Carols.
What's the score going to be?
2-2. Dindane, Boateng. Torres (2). Everyone will say concentrate on two dropped points for you and ignore the fact that we got a decent result against a much better side.
