Perhaps the most important selection call he has made as Pompey’s manager.
It just doesn’t work to go three against two, and it gets even harder when that trio includes your returning captain and two of your best players.
Before Monday’s top-of-the-table matchup with Bolton, John Mousinho has a midfield conundrum to resolve. He admits it won’t be easy to find the right answer.
Following the contenders were Captain Marlon Pack, the exceptional Alex Robertson, and Joe Morrell, who was back from suspension after putting on a consistently strong performance.
In Mousinho’s preferred 4-3-2-1 formation, there are two holding midfield berths up for grabs. The 37-year-old admits it’s a difficult decision, but one he’s glad to have.
“It’s a really good problem to have,” the Pompey manager remarked, considering the decision. This season, Joe has been among our best players, and Alex has also been among our best players.
The team captain, Marlon, returned to the game, performed admirably, and gave the impression that he had not missed a second of action.
He keeps things moving along quite nicely, so it’s a really difficult pick right in the middle of the park. In many ways, it’s good to have that option because there are other people who can also compete in the middle of the park. Although it’s an extremely challenging one, the options it provides for us enhance our ability to approach the game.
Following Marlon Pack’s knee injury at Wigan at the end of September, Robertson was moved to one of the two number six positions, and since then, his form from a deep-lying position has improved dramatically.
