The Pompey Chimes Ring Again!!

As you may remember I created an all purpose Pompey thread on the last site. I decided that I would revive it here with this:

Recently, in a move that I feel is somewhat on an insult, Harry Redknapp, the most sucessful Portsmouth boss since the time of Jack Tinn (and his famous lucky spats) and Bob Jackson, has been linked with a move to Newcastle following Sam Alladice's poor start to the season.

Sam has only had 12 games in charge of the Teeside club and had won 5, drawn 2 and lost 5 and has only been in the job since May this year. He hasn't really had time to stamp his authority on the club and sort out Newcastle's problems, namely the poor defense. It is somewhat of an insult to Sam that someone else is being linked to a job that he has only recently started.

It is just fact that a sucessful manager will be linked to different jobs. This has always been true of Harry Redknapp.

Harry will not go north however. You just have to look at his career to see that. Only one club that he played for wans't a southern club and that was the Seattle Sounders in America. that other clubs were West Ham, Bounremouth twice and Brentford. As a manager Harry has only managed southern teams and has only had four managerial jobs in his career and only in one of those jobs did he do poorly. His managerial jobs were for Bournemouth, West Ham, Portsmouth twice and Southampton. What's more is that he has lived in Bournemouth most of his life so he is unlikely to be prpared to go north now.

It is just pure speculation and for that, even though I do not always agree with Harry, I am gratefull.

I could not see Redknapp leaving either he seems settled down there and has got Portsmouth playing good football and there is the promise of more to come you don't walk away from that.

It annoys me when clubs have the '' we lost, fire the manager'' attitude. Im a big fan of Big Sam, and I think given enough time, he can move Newcastle in the right direction. It would disappoint me as well to see Harry move away from a club that he has imposed his vision on, and gotten to play spectacular football. If somebody else comes in they will surely change things around and muck it all up

Given time Sam Allidice will sort Newcastle out. The problem he has is that Newcastle fans are in the same boat as England fans. Newcastle haven't won a major English trophy since the 50's but their fans still believe that they should be challenging every year and should win something every year.

In terms of pressure jobs the Newcastle job just behind the top four and England. Their fans want sucess and if they dont get it immediately they turn on the manager.

Personally I think Sam is missing a chance here, all he has to do is this, if Newcastle are a goal down at half time send out Ant and Dec to appease the crowd and if the fans are really in a bad mood Ant and Dec could come out as PJ and Duncan it would give everyone a good laugh if nothing else.

This story is from http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/Benjani-comes-to-the-rescue.3525707.jp

Benjani Comes to the Rescue

Benjani Mwaruwari has dipped into his own pocket to avert strike action for Zimbabwe.

The Pompey forward turned his talents to peacemaking after the national team threatened to pull out of a fixture in Vietnam last month.

A Zimbabwe Select side comprising of locally-based players were scheduled to participate in a four-team, week-long tournament but found themselves stranded after an agent, who had arranged the tour, walked out.

Malaysian agent Raj Perumavo insisted he had told Zimbabwe earlier they should not undertake the trip, as the sponsors had withdrawn from bankrolling the Africans at the tournament.

It left the 16-strong squad without their daily allowances and stranded in Hanoi for two days, prompting them to refuse to take to the field.

But it was left to Benjani to sort it out and pay up.

Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Henrietta Rushwaya said: "After the team got stuck in Vietnam, we had no choice but to look for the money elsewhere.

"We approached Benjani and he promptly dispatched a substantial amount of foreign currency that was needed to, at least, give the players something and avert an embarrassing situation in a foreign country."

A senior player added: "It was really embarrassing to see our leadership in a slanging match with this Raj character, with us stuck, with no allowances at all. But we told them we were not going to be taken for a ride.

"That is when we received the 250 US dollars, yet we had been promised at least 4,000 US dollars when we left for this tournament."

The players have now been told they won't be paid the balance of their promised windfall.

Because Harry Redknapp has suddenly decided that, after a few years of being one of Pompeys best players, Matt Taylor isn't good enough for the premiership anymore there will be a lot of speculation as to which club he might go to.

As the Portsmouth News describes on it website(www.portsmouth.co.uk) Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers are currently in poll position to sign the left winger:

Matt Taylor has emerged as a prime target for Rangers.

The Scottish giants are desperate for an attacking left-back and the out-of-favour 26-year-old fits the bill perfectly.

Harry Redknapp has already admitted he will listen to offers for Taylor, who has struggled to break into the first team this season.

The ex-Luton man himself has conceded he will look to leave if the situation does not improve.

And with money to spend to strengthen their assault on the Scottish Premier title, Rangers are poised to make a move.

Boss Walter Smith has made finding a left-back a priority, having struggled to fill the role this season.

First-choice Steven Smith has been sidelined by injury for the campaign so far, while stand-ins Sasa Papac and Steven Whittaker have failed to impress.

Sources in Scotland have confirmed Taylor is his preferred option.

His days at Pompey appeared to be numbered, having become a casualty of Redknapp's drive for Europe.

Previously a regular, Taylor has failed to start a league game since the 3-1 defeat at Arsenal at the start of September.

The former England under-21 international currently finds himself a permanent fixture on the Blues bench.

Now, after 203 appearances and 29 goals, Redknapp is preparing to let Taylor go but only for the right fee.

That has alerted the likes of Sunderland, Reading, Middlesbrough, Fulham and Everton. But chief executive Peter Storrie revealed he had yet to receive an approach.

He said: 'We have not had an enquiry for Matt at the moment so we will have to wait and see on that one.'

Fox Soccer Channel aired Pompy vs Ipswich today. Very entertaining , espescially on Ipswich's part, being a man down for most of the game ( undeservedly so at that ). David James was the man of the match for me. Two spectacular saves late on preserved the win. I have to admit I wanted Ipswich to even it up after the harsh sending off, but still a fun game to watch

Pompey have had yet another set back in the development of the club when a local council yet again denied them permission to build soomething benificial to the club.

First the Coucil continually refused to grant Milan Mandaric permission to develop Fratton Park, then they denied Alexandre Gaydemak permission to build his stadium near the Harbor and now they have denied Pompey permission to build thei training center at Titchfield.

The Story from www.BBC.co.uk:

Portsmouth's plans for a 55-acre training ground close to the city have been turned down by planning chiefs.

The plans, which included 11 outdoor pitches, were rejected by Fareham Borough Council's planning committee.

Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie said: "We are disappointed at the council's decision but plan to lodge an appeal as soon as possible."

The council rejected the proposals for the Titchfield site saying it was within a conservation area.

The original plans would have allowed the council access to the facilities for training purposes, as well as for the club working with 35 local schools.

Storrie said the plans would not have damaged the site.

He said: "Our plans will ensure the site remains green, while the facilities and opportunities we are offering could not otherwise be offered by the council.

"We are enhancing the wildlife and habitat walks throughout the site, opening the Grade 1 listed Tithe Barn for the first time to the community and installing a viewing area so the inside of the barn can be seen at any time."

Opposition to the plans had also come from English Heritage which pointed out the proximity of two historic properties to the site.

Latest Pompey news: we've signed Lassina Diara from Arsenal and sold Matt Taylor to Bolton.

I do not begrudge Bolton for signing Taylor or Taylor for leaving but I am dissapointed that Redknapp forced him out. What Redknapp had decided, since before the start of the season, is that Taylor isn't good enough and he has refused to play him at all, even when he had the opportunity to do so.

I do not agree with selling him and bringing in another midfielder we dont need. With the addition of Diara we now have seven players who can play central midfield, one who can play left midfield, four who can play right midfield and three who can play left back.

That's: Central-midfield:- Kranjcar, Diop, Diara, Muntari, Mendes, Davis, Hughes, Left-Midfield:- Krancjar, Right-Midfield:- Utaka, Benjani, Lauron, Johnson, Left-Back:- Hereiderson, Hughes, Pamarot.

The only reason I can see that Redknapp has signed Diara is that he subscribes to the theory that any player from Arsenal is better than anyone else in the league.

Bolton have signed a good, consistant, goal scoring left-winger who works hard in every match he is involved in and can score penalties regularly and we have signed, in his place, a midfielder who has failed to be anything other than a bit-part player at Chelsea and Arsenal and has only got his reutation from a good early career at Le Harve.

He may go on to be one of Portsmouth best players but I just do understand the logic of this transfer and I extremely dissapointed that Redknapp seems intent on getting rid of all of the best players from Pompeys recent history, starting with Gary O'Neil in the Summer (Redknapp said he regreted selling him) and now with Matt Taylor in January (and I dont not doubt Redknapp will regret selling him).

All that remains is from him to sell Linvoy Primus and all of Pompeys long-serving fan favorite players would have been forced out of the club by Redknapp.

What annoys me more is that both O'Neil and Taylor have left us for smaller or the same sized club and both have gone for a small amount when he could have gotten a few more million pounds out of them.

People who say Redknapp is great at Transfers dont realise he has no idea of the value of the squad he has, only that he knows how to bring players to a club relatively cheaply.

If the reports are to be believed, and at this point it seems more than likely that they are, then I am very dissapointed with Harry Redknapps latest peice of transfer"brilliance"

You see what he has done is to blatently ignore the rules of football and sell his best and most inform forward to a rival for the place he is aiming for in the league to bring in a man who has rarely played in the past few seasons.

This is refering to his decision to sell Benjani to Man City to bring in Jermaine Defoe.

I must admit if he had sold Nugent or Kanu I would be less upset but he has sold Benjani. Benjani who is a man who has worked tirelessly for Pompey and has been the best goal scorer at the club for this season and second best last season.

Harry Redknapp has once againb showed what a back-stabber he is. The first chanace he got he has sold on one of the most loyal and hard working members of the squad to bring in someone who could be better but might not be.

In both transfer window this season he has gone out of his way to get rid of three of the players that Pompey fans hold in the highest regards (Gary O'Neil, Matt Taylor and Benjani) and has brough in a midfield who has been average (Diop) a midfielder who is still living off a reputation he got three or more seasons ago (Diarra) and a striker who is still living on a eputation he gain three or more seasons ago (Defoe).

Personally I would prefer to have a player who I know will work hard and try his best to improve the team and progress in the league to a player who is out of form and hasn't played regular football for a few seasons.

I am not excited by this transfer at all...even though SkySports seems to think all Pompey fans will be extactic about it.

Pompey have reached the FA Cup Final.

The South Coast Giants defeated Midlanders West Bromwich Albion 1-0 to progress to their first FA Cup final since 1939 (which they won 4-1 against Wolves)

In a match that was dominated, suprisingly, by the Championship side Pompey managed to snatch a goal against the run of play in the second half and kept that lead to the final whistle, keeping their record of being the only side in England to have won every game that they have taken the lead in this season.

There was some controversy with the goal, as Milan Baros seemes to of handled the ball in the build up, but despite that WBA rarely challenged David James at all.

Pompey were noticably toothless without Benjani (who they sold) and Jermaine Defoe (who was cup-tied) but they were as solid at the back as they have been all season.

Now Pompey are headed to their first FA Cup final in (by my count) 69 years and Harry Redknapp will be managing a team at a major final for the first time in his career.

With Cardiff and Barnsley left to play the sentiments of the neutrals will once again be split between those who want the underdog to win and those who want Redknapp to win a major trophy.

I however will be cheering for Pompey all the way.

Play up Pompey! Pompey Play up!

Well done to Portsmouth, I didn't see the whole match but from what I saw it looked alright. I reckon Cardiff will make the final but as long as Pompey approach the final in the right manner then the FA cup will be thiers.

Pompey have won the FA Cup.

Defeating Cardiff in the final Portsmouth secured their first FA Cup win since 1939 and grabbed a place in the UEFA Cup next season. The match was won 1-0 by a Kanu goal in the first half, following a goalkeeping error by Peter Encleman.

This is the First time Pompey will ever have competed in Europe.

Today Pompey parted company with one of their most popular players when they sold Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes to Glasgow Rangers for £3,000,000.

Mendes wrote his name into Pompey folklore when he scored both goals, both long range shots, past the now Pompey Keeper David James in and incredible comback agaisnt Man City a couple of season ago which started the revival that allowed Pompey to stay in the Premier League.

He is also famous for scoring a goal against Man Utd from beyond that half-way line that was later dissallowed but his most famous/infamous moment in Premier League football happened during a match at Eastlands when Ben Thatcher attack him and knock him out.

What Rangers have gotten in this transfer is a holding midfielder whose contribution to a game is all in his distribution. Mendes wont be a hard tackling kind of player but will pass exceedingly well and will get Rangers midfield working. He will also look to take shots from long range but he will rarely do so if there is a better option available but when he does it is spectacular.

I a dissapointed to be losing Mendes and he has always been a great servant to my club and losing him is like losing an old friend but I wish him well at Rangers and I have little doubt that he wont be one of the stars of the SPL this season.

Mendes played today against Hearts he was different class and was voted man of the match I can't wait for Barry Ferguson to come back and let those 2 hook up in the midfield I think the 2 styles will work well with each other.

Mendes and Ferguson will be a formidable pairing to be sure. I'll be keeping an extra eye on Rangers progress this year and I'll look forward to seeing whether Mendes can establish himself as one of the SPL's best.

To be honest what Rangers have bought in Mendes is a player good enough to play in almost any top-class side in Europe (excluding the big giants like Man Utd, Barcelona, Inter Milan and the like).

And for £3,000,000 he's a steal.

I am still very upset with the transfer from a Pompey point of view but as long as he does well at Rangers I'll get over it. He did enough for my club that I wont begrudge him any success wherever he goes.

Pompey's superfan, its most recognisable supporter, John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood will be a big less noticable in the future games at Fratton Park.

from www.portsmouth.co.uk

It's Westwood heave-ho for famous supporter's bell-ringing

The familiar sound of John Westwood's bell will no longer ring out at Fratton Park because of a row over stewarding.

The super Pompey fan walked out of the club's first home game of the season against Manchester United after stewards told him to keep quiet and to stop ringing his bell so loudly as it was disturbing other fans.

The club had moved John, and his drum to the back of the stand, in order to keep the stairwell clear.

He has also been told that if he continues to stand up he could receive a lifetime ban.

He told The News: 'This whole standing issue is a control thing. They are taking the enjoyment away from fans.

'This is my life – all I want to do is support the club. These fans live and breathe Portsmouth Football Club.

'We will leave the instruments at home for a few matches and see how things go.'

Gary Double, club spokesman, said: 'We didn't ask him to leave. It was probably pressure from other fans.

'He wasn't told by our security to leave or to stop ringing the bell or to stop banging the drums.

'But everyone is told to sit down. You are not allowed to stand in the stadium.'

Now the first thing is this; what was the problem of him staying where he was?

John PFC Westwood has been going to Fratton Park for more than 30 years and he has been in the same spot for most of that and had his instruments for most of that and it's never caused problems.

Why force change for a hypothetical problem when for more than 30 years no problem has occured?

Seconds thing is this; John PFC Westwood has been one of Pompey's most loyal supporter and is a symbol of passionate, non-violent support for the club. He has only ever gotten in trouble with other clubs because they or their fans accuse him of "making too much noise" and "disturbing them".

It dissapointing that Portsmouth FC would treat one of your most loyal and passionate supporters like this.

I hope that Portsmouth FC will come to their senses and fine a solution that allows Westwood to keep going to the games with his instruments, maybe do like they used to at Wembley and have a special section for him and his friend to play their instruments and make as much noise as they like, because with him their the atmosphere will be quite subdued.

Just to let you know Mendes was mnan of the match in Rangers 4 - 2 win over Celtic he kept the midfield together and along with Kevin Thomson controlled the tempo of the game, his passing of the ball was impeccable and he rounded of an amazing perfromance with a cracking 25 yard piledriver that left Celtic keepr Boruc stranded ( if you get a chance see this goal)

The latest match wasnt aired over here. Even though I was for Everton ( Howard ), I have to say what a spectacular save by David James on the penalty. Top notch!

After a fantastic draw mid-week with Italian Giants AC Milan (a match we dominated and should have won) we beat Blackburn today 3-2.

We took the lead through Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe before Matt Derbyshire and Tugay clawed Blackburn back into the game but Sean Davis score the winner to give Tony Adams his first home win as Pompey boss.

From www.bbc.co.uk :

Portsmouth 3-2 Blackburn

Davis came off the bench to provide the game's late climax

Sean Davis's winner saw Portsmouth
edge a thrilling second half over battling Blackburn to earn Tony Adams
a first Fratton Park win as boss.

Peter Crouch hit his own post in a lively first period but easily nodded in the opener after 48 minutes.

Jermain Defoe soon slotted in Pompey's second but Blackburn hit back through substitute Matt Derbyshire's looped header and Tugay's fizzing 20-yarder.
Davis clipped in late on to leave Paul Ince's side winless in nine games.

That record means Blackburn are now on their worst league run in a decade and leaves the club sitting 19th in the table.

Former England team-mates Adams and Ince were in opposite dugouts before kick-off and, with both managers still finding their feet in their first season as Premier League bosses, the match was lent an interesting subtext.

Unsurprisingly, showing the confidence of a team that drew 2-2 with Italian giants AC Milan in the Uefa Cup on Thursday, Portsmouth hit the ground running and should have taken a fourth-minute lead.



Glen Johnson played a sharp pass through to Crouch whose throughball was met by Glen Little, but the Pompey midfielder could only shoot straight at a backpedalling Paul Robinson.

Crouch was proving an influential pivot in attack with the hosts pressing hard and Armand Traore fired a low shot just wide.

But Blackburn did carve out chances as Stephen Warnock miscued from 10 yards out with his weaker right foot before Roque Santa Cruz, after being delicately played in by Benni McCarthy, crashed a low shot just past the post from 18 yards out.

The visitors came within inches of the lead when Crouch, attempting to clear Brett Emerton's viciously inswinging corner, flicked a header on to his own post with David James stranded.

Crouch then should have scored himself shortly before half-time but headed over from six yards after Traore had chipped over a superb cross.

Pompey boss Adams sought to add a touch more composure after the interval as Niko Kranjcar was brought on for Glen Little - and it had an immediate effect.

Marauding Johnson, in outstanding form, swung over a perfect 48th-minute cross, which Crouch steered back beyond Robinson and inside the post for a simple opener.

Minutes later, Croatian midfielder Kranjcar fed Defoe, who turned sharply before bamboozling Christopher Samba and slotting easily past Robinson from 12 yards.

Yet Blackburn showed their steel by getting one back within 10 minutes as Derbyshire, on for Benni McCarthy nodded a deep, bouncing Morten Gamst Pederson cross over David James.

And by the 66th minute they were level as, to their cost, Pompey let Tugay motor forward from 50 yards out before the Turkish midfielder rifled a low shot from 20 yards out just inside James's near post.



Blackburn sensed an unlikely victory and Derbyshire again had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled out for a Samba foul on James in the build-up to the substitute's hooked finish.

Pompey were not finished, though, and midfielder Papa Bouba Diop muscled forward from deep to force a smart Robinson block.

With Blackburn unable to clear their lines from the rebound substitute Davis, on for Traore, pounced on the loose ball before advancing to deftly chip over Robinson from eight yards.

Derbyshire had a late chance to level in a frenetic finish but his reactions were not quick enough to convert Santa Cruz's cross.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portsmouth boss Tony Adams:

"We've still got some defensive things to work on. We're going through a little phase of surrendering things. This time we knocked off from a throw-in

"But at least we had the spirit to come back and win it - and on this occasion, a bit more time. I'm delighted with them again. It's a relief to get the win

"We were not very good in the first half. You can hear from my voice that I had to get into the guys a bit at half-time."

Blackburn manager Paul Ince:

"It was a poor decision from the referee [to disallow our third goal].

"He gave the foul on James but you see on the replay that he hasn't touched him and it should have been 3-2.

"They are the things that happen when you are down there. That is the sort of stuff we have to contend with at this moment in time, but we'll keep marching.

From www.skysports.com:

Celtic midfielder Scott Brown is a transfer target for Portsmouth,skysports.com understands.

Portsmouth are in the market for a new midfielder having sold Lassana Diarra to Real Madrid.

Brown is believed to be on Tony Adams' wanted list with the Pompey boss receiving rave reviews on the Scot's performances at Celtic.

The 23-year-old has established himself as key member of Gordon Strachan's side since his arrival from Hibernian in the summer of 2007 and he is a key member of the Scotland set-up.

Adams is thought to be a big admirer of Brown and believes the all-action midfielder would be perfectly suited for a move to the Premier League.
Portsmouth have money to spend from the £20million sale of Diarra and they are believed to be preparing a big-money bid as they look to tempt Celtic into selling one of their prized assets.

Will be a good signing if Portsmouth can get him. Brown is a very talented player and a real leader on the pitch.

I just wonder if Celtic will sell as they are already going to have to sell Aiden McGeady in January and I dont know if Strachan will be happy about losing 2 top quality players in the middle of the season.

Portmsouth definitley should pursue Brown as he would be a really good signing.

It's widely being reported that Tony Adams will be sacked Monday morning if he hasn't been sacked today. I hope this is wrong as Pompey have only just denied that we were looking to get rid of him an relace him with Curbishley.

Tony has been very unlucky at Pompey. We have played well under him and bad luck has gone against us as much as anything else. The fact that in something like the last 5 games were should have had at least one penalty awarded to us in each game shows how bad our luck has been.

We are just coming off a good showing from the Liverpool match and we have a fighting chance against Man City next. I dont think Tony has really been given a fair shot yet and will be dissapointed to see him go if he does.

All we really need is a turn around in luck and we'd be back up the table. One or two wins on the bounce and we'd be safely in mid-table again.

I'll have to wait and see if this is true but, as I said, it will be harsh if it is.

There is currently nothing official from the club just widespread media seculation but the fact that almost everyone seems to be reporting Adams being fired makes me worry about it.

Tony Adams has been sacked and Pompey are looking for a new manager. The Bookies favorites are Avram Grant and Alan Curbishley but outside shots at the job are David O'Leary, Slaven Bilic, Gordon Stachon and Martin Jol.

In an ideal world Martin Jol would be the perfect choice but it's not going to happen so my personal favorites would be Bilic or Grant.

From www.bbc.co.uk:



Portsmouth confirm Adams sacking

Portsmouth have lost seven of their last eight league games

Portsmouth have dismissed manager Tony Adams and first-team coach John Metgod following a run of poor results.

A club statement said it was a "difficult decision", taken after Pompey won just two out of 16 Premier League games since Adams took charge.

Adams told BBC Radio Solent he was "surprised" to be sacked.

"Results have not been good, it must be said, but we're not getting done sixes and fours and performances on the whole have been good."

Director of youth operations Paul Hart will take over as caretaker manager for the time being, but that role could be very short-term, with ex-Chelsea loss Avram Grant favourite to replace Adams, who had only been in the job since late October.

BBC Radio 5 Live's senior football reporter Ian Dennis said: "Portsmouth hope to have a new manager installed ahead of Saturday's vital home game against Manchester City.

"In the running are Avram Grant, who was director of football at Fratton Park three years ago, ex-West Ham boss Alan Curbishley and I also hear Graeme Souness has been sounded out.

"Grant is considered to be the favourite"

On Saturday, Pompey were beaten at home 3-2 by Liverpool despite leading 2-1 with only five minutes to go.

Prior to the defeat by Liverpool - their seventh loss in eight games - Adams had insisted he had the backing of the club chiefs.

Portsmouth are currently 16th in the table, one point above the relegation zone, with 14 games to play.

The club's statement added: "The owner and the board feel they have been as supportive as they can during a period when results have been poor.

"The team has played well but too many points have been dropped from winning positions.

"The priority for the club is to remain in the top flight and we feel the appointment of a new manager will give us the best opportunity to enable us to do this."

Adams was appointed at the end of October when Harry Redknapp, who guided Pompey to FA Cup glory last season, decided to take the Tottenham job.

The former Arsenal and England captain was named as Redknapp's number two in 2006, after an ill-fated spell in charge of Wycombe and coaching jobs in the Netherlands with Feyenoord and Utrecht.

At Wycombe, the Gunners legend won only 12 of his 53 games in charge, losing 20.

However, Adams' former Arsenal team-mate Nigel Winterburn feels it is wrong to solely blame the manager for poor results.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Tony will be very, very frustrated - he was a fantastic leader on the football pitch, but being a manager is a different animal.

"It is always the manager who takes the blame as he is the one who sends the players out.

"But I think you also have to look at the players. They are the ones who play for 90 minutes and if they don't perform properly, they have to take some of the responsibility as well.

"It is too easy to look only at the manager when a team goes on a poor run - we should look at the players as well.

"Portsmouth have put in some terrific performances but they just could not get a win, and individual errors have cost them dearly in several games this season."