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'If It's Football, It's Vital'

Grant reflects on Liverpool victory

It has been said that Avram Grant 'might not be a good manager' but he was a 'lucky manager' - to be honest I thought LUCK had absolutely nothing to do with our win over Liverpool, which we completely deserved, and if anything, with continued changes to the side - proving he is not frightened to do this - he showed that he IS actually a good manager, right?

Well, this is what the man thought of this 2-0 win...

Grant was asked, well actually told, that this could prove a 'hugely significant victory' to which he just replied that we deserved it, we had played well against Chelski and got nothing, but were the better side against the bin dippers and fully deserved this 3pts - which we did, without a doubt!

He refused to single out any one player for praise, instead saying that we 'played as a team' and 'played well as a team', which we did!

See Grant's thoughts on the above and more, including thoughts on 'not being surprised' by this win when others might have and keeping Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard quiet, in this sky sports video below...



WHY does sky sports, like the BBC - well at least last week - continue to have 'director of football' as the caption for Avram Grant?

Michael Brown
Michael Brown was handed the sky sports man of the match and he pretty much said what Grant had previously: 'we've been playing well in general. It was a fantastic result for us.

'It's a matter of getting some points and three points is fantastic against a strong Liverpool team with a lot of talent. It's an enjoyable day for us.'

I would agree with Brown being the man of the match to be honest, Tony and me both said that he had a very good game.

It was as much what he did 'off the ball' as much as what he did on it. He organised the midfield very well and led by example, also instead of diving in all the time he pulled out of some challenges at the right moment, when perhaps in the past he might not have?

Towards the end of Hart's reign I thought he went off the boil a bit, and at the start of Grant's this carried on, but it looked like he 'could' be back to his best for us - more showing like this and we will not go far wrong. To be fair he DID also offer us a good outlet coming forward, along with offering the defence a good shield.

A few final thoughts
I travelled up on the day via train, with two of my oldest friends Greenie - a Liverpool fan, and Fry - Sheff Wednesday fan, so a neutral, and of course Richie - who a lot of you know! It was a long, cold, hunger filled day but one that I really enjoyed. I would have enjoyed getting to the pub, and being there for longer, if I could have but we will do this before Arsenal, right guys?

I ALWAYS had full confidence that we would win this game, yep I know I often do, but it was almost 100% nailed on for me that we would win, and we did - it also won me a few quid! I got odds of 5/1 for us to win, so I was having some of that...

To be honest, Manyoo aside, we had not looked a decent side in his opening few games, but from the 2nd half against Sunderland, Chelski - 1st half aside - and now Liverpool we have started to look like that united side again, which we were before, with us playing some good football once again.

My belief, whilst it slightly wavered admittedly a couple of weeks back, is now fully back on us to stay up. Lets just hope that further of the field issues do not drain this again, but the greatest escape ever is well and truly on, avoiding defeat at West Ham - although going for the win is what I think we should do - would leave this even more in my mind.

PLAY UP POMPEY!


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Writer: pompeyrug Mail feedback, articles or suggestions

Date:Sunday December 20 2009

Time: 9:39AM

Your Comments

Epic win. So pleased for Avram.
FootyFans
Lets hope we can keep up our good record against West Ham on Boxing Day. Could Primus not play just one more game?! Good win yesterday and will have my eyes glued on Chelsea - West Ham today, if they lose the pressure will be on them on Boxing Day. PUP!
moley2
happy xmas to you and richie, we must meet up in the new year
plymouth graham
i admit defeat in my own pessimism. i had us down for a 2-0 loss and a penalty to pool. neither happened. went to watch it on my gf family new 48 inch LED tv - so so good! we played really well. i though going one up front wouldnt work and as much as i didnt like piqs attitude he looks like he gives a s... now - maybe avram had words! whatever - this is where i think we were RIGHT to sack paul, he did well and got the team to play good football but never got the result. avram played ugly football and wasnt getting results but now his regime is coming into action. if we had got a draw with chelsea then that would have shut up a few pundits. as predicted though, beating pool was "because they didnt play well and rafs getting the sack" rather than "we played them off the park and slowly closing that once enormous 8-9 gap at the bottom". lets hope for a chelsea smashing result here - then west ham will be bottom. shame about wolves but i think burnley will soon be joining us at the bottom!!! hopefully wolves wont run away with it. im 5050 on whether we will go down. my heart says stay up but at the moment my head says were going down - but only just. a few more good (unpredictable) results and consistently beating the teams around us and we could be mid table. 5 points cover 20-12th. lets hav' em!!! PUPPPU!
pompey--pessimist
p-p keep the faith. As you say 5 points 12-20th - a couple of wins on the trot and the pressure will be on the other teams.
PFCblue
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