McGarvey completes 4 years at helm of Pompey
It was missed, the 'anniversary' coming just a day prior to Pompey's win over Champions Lock Stock FC at Fratton Park - but Portsmouth Manager Scott McGarvey has now clocked up FOUR years in the Fratton Park 'hot-seat'.
Taking the job of boss of the then 'Sporting Vesbians' (it didn't take long for that name to be jettisoned, and the club relocated), McGarvey was appointed on 8th January 2010. However, many would argue that the club has not progressed significantly enough - and even the boss himself agrees - he is "disappointed" that they have not made more progress up the divisions.
It looked good when McGarvey took over, with just one game remaining of Season 23. Pompey couldn't finish anywhere but 6th in Division 8:42, so he fielded the youngsters (and the team were promptly hammered), in an effort to get some more match experience into them. Things clicked the following season, as Pompey won Division 8:60 without losing a game.
Since then, maybe too many seasons to climb just one step. They got out of Division 7 at the 2nd attempt - by winning their play-off. But Pompey then spent another 2 seasons in Division 6, before again finishing as runners-up, and getting promoted via the play-offs to reach Division 5. So not bad, but not brilliant either. The stay in Division 5 was a short one, it was a close league, but Pompey finished bottom and were back in Division 6.
A mediocre season, then triumph for the next two (but you could argue this is as good as it got). Pompey were unbeaten as they won Division 6:34, and they followed this up by winning Division 5:17 the very next season. But again - the climb was brief. By a very narrow margin, in a 'tighter than a gnat's chuff' division, Pompey finished 6th, and were back down in Div 5 again - and have been there since.
Pompey blew any lingering chances of the play-off spot this season after losing (deservedly so) to the current 2nd placed team - International Select XI*. 1-2 was the final scoreline. Not only is the play-off out of sight, but the relegation places are worryingly IN sight. Pompey slip to 5th, and have two very tricky games coming up - the strong Birdsedge Bumz visit on Thursday, and then Pompey finish with a trip to Panthers FC (with the strongest squad in the division - on paper), the relegated club look re-invigorated under their new manager, even if they've been unlucky results wise.
So Division 6 football is a real possibility next season. With there no longer being a Division 8, has McGarvey actually brought Portsmouth FC any further forward? You could argue not...
(*McGarvey refused questions raised at a post-match press conference, where rumours abounded that he had ‘gotten too far ahead of himself’ & had mixed up tactic reports – resulting in a team being fielded which was actually set-up for the next match – against Birdsedge Bumz, not International Select XI - with both games being at home. “The tactics were pretty ***** anyways”. Instead, he said the visitors were "well worth their win" - and he wishes them all the best in the play-off, assuming they beat the Bumz - their only possible rivals, to 2nd spot). There is no doubt though that McGarvey felt he could’ve given the visitors ‘more of a game’, and the tactics *did* seem at odds with the way Pompey normally ‘set up’. Also, surely it would be in his favour – if, as suggested, some match time is still needed for several youngsters – to clinch the necessary points to get safety, the quicker the better? Now Pompey look over their shoulders, and still have the youngsters needing match experience – so what sort of team(s) will McGarvey field for the final two fixtures of the season?
Euro League Cup – Pompey have only had the one ‘decent’ Cup run in these 14 seasons McGarvey has been at the helm. Initially he achieved his goals. “To go a round further than the season before”. Pompey accomplished this – they had been knocked out in the 1st round in each of the 3 seasons since they were formed until he took over. His first season – round 2, second season – round 3, third season – round 4. They repeated that, before taking a step back, before their best season in the cup (31) – where they reached the last 64, before going out to a very strong Magico Parma side. But they haven’t ‘troubled the scorers since’, and round 4 has been the peak since then.
50 Xpert Dailies for Portsmouth – In the week of his 4th year anniversary, McGarvey cracked a target of his. Mindless, boring drivel it might be (oh for a return of the ones with ‘humour’ in them – or what passed for it...) – but Portsmouth have reached the milestone of 50 articles in the Xpert Daily. Of those, around 7 or 8 have been “front pagers”.
The stat (viewable in the Lobby > Xpert Daily > News stats) – shows that Pompey are in 10th place, in the list of “most news of a single team”. McGarvey commented: “It’s the only top-10 in the official Xpert 11 system that we are likely to ever threaten, that’s for sure, so I’m making the most of it!". It is thought McGarvey did have some others in the ‘paper’ before this, with his “Pompey” team – which were once in the Pro League – for about 3 or 4 seasons, but the club is now defunct and McGarvey himself has no records. Indeed the 50 XD’s stat would’ve passed him by if he had not spotted it himself, having a ‘nosey’ through the various menus.
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