After losing to Blackpool, Edward's side lost 3-0 at Hull City, ending the January campaign at the cost of two consecutive defeats slipping to the brink of the relegation zone.

Since the manager gave the team a major operation in the winter window, being a Portsmouth fan has to have a very strong psychological capacity, such as after changing from 41212 to the 4321 Christmas tree, Heidward has grandly introduced his 3511, three central defenders and five defenders, Margery dragged the central defender, Mustafi right central defender, Rudiger left central defender, Mendy and Meunier on both sides. Drinkwater, N'Golo Kante and Pierce were three midfielders, with Riyad Mahrez up front and Icardi up front. From the moment they saw the starting lineup, Portsmouth fans were going to take medicine again, fans think that the ceiling of three central defenders and three midfielders is not to concede goals, but this thing offensive tactics are casual, do you expect two children Mahrez and Icardi to score? Maybe they proved themselves in the first game, but it turned out to be a flash in the pan, and Mahrez was fine, but Icardinago nibbled on the turf more than the fans stood up to watch the game.

On social media, Portsmouth fans began to complain about the first-half season striker duo of Lawrence and Lukwani, who felt the team should continue to play the same way they played last year – defending and counter-attacking rather than simply pursuing attack. Alli and Riyad Mahrez have been able to replace those who have departed from the technical prowess they have shown in a few games.

And the focus of the fans, the first is Icardi, they feel that this guy from Barcelona is not suitable for English football, on the one hand, the fast pace and fierce confrontation in the game, Beryllium always behaves slowly; Second, his contribution to the team on the defensive end is so low that fans miss Vardy, who is also on the bench, more than him.

"There is no Law on the Protection of Minors on the pitch"

After two consecutive defeats, the team is full of such news, the lack of confrontation ability is not only Icardi's problem, the team's attacking line has such a problem, it is too soft, there is no absolute hardness!

Local media ran a remark from a Portsmouth legend the team had never heard of, who called on Hydward to go to the hospital for a brainwashing operation.

"He doesn't have a plan B, and he continues to use it when his plan A doesn't work, it's too stubborn!"

'Margery is a very good player, but if you look at his defence on Saturday, it's a mess, he [Hydeward] has a responsibility for organisation and you have a hard time putting anybody in a line like that. Look at Margery's team-mates, Mustafi, who has only one appearance at Everton, and Rudiger is even more remarkable, he hasn't even made a single appearance! ”

"Enyeama, look at these two conceded goals, he didn't even make a save?"

"The opponent conceded seven goals with 10 shots on target, this is the so-called savior of the Pompey Army, we are about to be relegated, let's go for a brainwashing operation!"

How much was praised at the beginning, but now how fierce the scolding is.

Edward's pressure is enormous, as are his players, and the team's bad form and bad luck don't seem to end with the end of January.

One thing the legend was right, he was stubborn, and on February 2 at home to Brighton, the controversial Mauro Icardi and centre-back duo continued to feature in the starting line-up, while De Alli returned from a two-match ban.

First, their main central defender was sent to the hospital with a flu before the game, and the three central defenders were temporarily changed, resulting in the entire defense line being in a state of dislocation, and everyone in the new players could not find the north. Second, Brighton's top scorer and top attacker did not start, resulting in a lack of pressure on both the flanks and in the middle. They are faced with a new pie feeding line after Ali sits on the ball monitor!

But even so, Portsmouth, who attacked aggressively, still did not knock on the door of "Seagulls" Brighton in the first half of the game, and Hydward was still a three-centre-back combination in this game, but Mahrez was promoted to the front line, and the team changed from 3511 to 352.

Pompey's goals were still lackluster, and Hydward found at half-time that 352 seemed to have added a striker, but there were too many wingmen to pass and cover, and too few points could be finished, and Icardi often needed Mahrez and Ali to single out the opponent's entire defence due to his lack of fulcrum ability.

Hydward clenched his fists, a little distressed and powerless, his heart, those media reporters couldn't hurt him in the slightest, but the feeling of holding a good deck of cards but not being able to play was suffocating and powerless, which caused him great pressure.

He firmly believes that the team is not incapable, but the players are distraught, have lost confidence and courage, and no matter how good they are on the training ground, they will look completely different on the field.

He remembered Mourinho's words at the dinner table: "You bring a lot of young people, which is good, but you can't be young in the goalkeeper position." ”

"Young people have a lot of talent, but their ability to handle pressure is low."

In fact, it's not just a goalkeeper position!

Following the advice of Mu Bird, Heidward abandoned Pickford and signed Enyeyama from Lille instead, and it turned out to be the same, among the new signings, in the face of the pressure of the loss, the only one who can maintain normal and not nervous and relaxed.

Edward's formation changed ten sets in three games, and each player's positional responsibilities were adjusted more than twice, but it seems that his usual unfavorable tactical adjustments have also lost their power.

In the second half, the team's central midfielder Pierce was also substituted early due to a recurrence of an old injury, and Portsmouth, who were exhausted after that, did not organise any decent attack at all, and the roasted seagulls escaped at Fayton Park.

In the end, thanks to Enyeama's excellent performance and two own goals from his own defenders, Portsmouth drew 0-0 at home to Brighton, leaving Pompeo just two points clear of the relegation zone at the end of the same round.

The more you can't win, the harder it is to win, and watching the standings, an invisible pressure envelops the entire Pompey team deeper and deeper.

Hydward smiled as usual and hugged everyone in the game, but it seemed that everyone was not in high spirits, and everyone hung their heads because the invincible home team could not save their performance.

"Boss, I don't want a striker partner, you make me very awkward, can the team play a single striker system?"

Icardi didn't let go of Hydward's hand, grimacing.

Hydward didn't give an inch: "Hey, Icardi, your confrontation is not too bad, you need teammates to help you take on a fair part of the pressure. ”

'No, I can get out of the fight, they just need to create chances for me, I need them to pass out, give it to me, give it to the penalty area! Boss, the team can't go on like this, I've got to score! "Icardi also has no intention of compromising!

“……”

The two men just stirred up in front of all the cameras and fans, Mauro didn't look good, he refused to hug the manager and walked back to the dressing room alone.

Media cameras frantically filmed everything that was happening on the pitch, and it was rare for players and managers to get into a fight directly over their position and formation.

Left, who was left alone on the court, Heidward straightened his suit, showed no expression, and walked slowly to the locker room.

Where did the Pompey legion, which could score goals with a ball on his heel, go?