🎧 Is squad depth to blame for Pilgrims loss?
"It was a sweeping statement for John Mousinho to say [Portsmouth] aren't good enough for follow ups from their performance at Plymouth.
"It's quite alarming for Portsmouth fans to hear the manager say 'we aren't good enough' or whatever the comment was. They are good enough, quite obviously, that's why they are seven points clear of the relegation zone.
"But are they good enough to have a performance like Sunday, having made two or three changes legs wise? I just don't think he feels Portsmouth are in that position at the moment."
Where did it all go wrong for Portsmouth on Wednesday night as they lost 2-1 to Plymouth?
Chris Wise and Andy Moon are joined by former Pompey midfielder Gareth Evans to discuss going from a jubilant victory over Leeds United to a disappointing loss to Plymouth Argyle in the space of four days.
Listen to the full episode and more on the Who Needs Mourinho podcast.
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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
‘People think I have disappeared': Joe Morrell raring to go after 492 days out
'It's been like snakes and ladders,' says the midfielder Joe Morrell, detailing how a hellish 16 months has proved the most difficult duel of his career. An innocuous click in his left knee, a setback in the gym while on holiday in Miami and the onset of arthrofibrosis – a condition where scar tissue builds between joints – and suddenly 492 days have passed since his last appearance, for Portsmouth in a League One match at Oxford. He had just celebrated his 100th game for the club en route to the Championship. 'People are probably quite confused and think I have disappeared. Everyone forgets about you.' Advertisement Related: 'Everything came so quick': Jordon Ibe on Liverpool, trauma and starting afresh An unwanted glimpse into retirement and time on the football scrapheap have led to some dark days during Morrell's rehabilitation, which he has done predominantly at Portsmouth, where his contract expired last summer. He rewinds to this January and crying his eyes out 12 months after the initial injury, swallowed by the sense time was slipping away as another milestone in his recovery drifted from view. September had turned into January and then it dawned he would not return last season. 'I had that feeling of knowing I was going to burst into tears,' he says. 'I had a shower, got in the car, drove around the corner from the training ground and then I had to pull over. It was just a kind of release. I care about football so much … It has been unbelievably tough.' Advertisement He discusses the mixed emotions of watching former teammates, off the high of a win, bounce into training while he struggled to walk up stairs, and pining to experience even the worst elements of being a professional. 'I had quite a bad disciplinary record – that's a stick I've been beaten with – but I've joked to some of the lads this year: 'What I'd give now to be sent off, I'd snap your hand off.' 'Portsmouth lost 6-1 at Stoke and I'm watching it thinking: 'I'd love to be on that pitch now.' It probably shows you how low I've been,' he says, able to raise a smile. He laughs at the suggestion he could return with a Zen frame of mind – 'It would be pointless … I need to play on the edge' – because he aches for pressure, purpose and, in a perverse way, flak. Advertisement 'People tweet you to say you played rubbish; I kind of miss that in a sense. My phone isn't blowing up … two and a half years ago I was playing at the World Cup and I'd come in after a match and have 200 messages.' Morrell remembers the relief of not sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury when receiving his scan results after being forced off at Oxford. 'I was almost happy,' he says of a chondral defect diagnosis. 'A bit of cartilage had snapped off and was floating around my knee.' After an operation he was non‑weight‑bearing for a month but expected to return for pre‑season last June. Then he slipped while doing plyometrics in Florida and screws attached to his cartilage came out. 'If you had told me the next time I'll be on a pitch would be July 2025 … yeah, crazy.' Related: This is Football: The Beautiful Game – in pictures Advertisement In a parallel universe, Morrell would probably have been with Wales preparing for the visit on Fridaytomorrow of Liechtenstein to Cardiff in a World Cup qualifier – but his 38th cap is on hold. He bumped into the manager, Craig Bellamy, while doing some of his rehab with Sean Connelly, the head of medical at the Football Association of Wales. 'The best moments of my career have been in a Wales shirt and I'd love to have more of them,' he says. 'I know I have to sort a club first and everything else will take care of itself. I believe the best years are ahead of me.' At 28, Morrell – who will marry his long-term partner, Ellie, at the end of the month – is adamant he has six or seven years left in the game but made the most of his enforced sabbatical. A co-owner of fan‑owned Merthyr Town, who will play in the sixth tier next season, he attended their match at Havant & Waterlooville. 'I've tried to see it as an opportunity even though some days it is tough to get out of bed because you don't have that purpose and you come home, your knee is swollen, and you don't know where the finish line is … It has been incredibly tough, and also for the people around me. You try to be the same person you always have been, to be as insular as possible and keep emotions to yourself, but it is difficult.' He recently completed his Uefa A licence with the FAW, where he studied alongside Nani, Morgan Schneiderlin and Xherdan Shaqiri. Morrell faced Shaqiri in a Euro 2020 opener in Baku but jokes the Swiss did not remember him and thought he was a coach on the course. Coaching Portsmouth's under-14s has given Morrell a raison d'être. 'My Monday and Friday nights at the academy have kind of been my Saturday afternoons because you have to prepare, deliver. There's a lot that appeals about coaching and management; it's impossible for me to be the best player in the world – I'm small, slow, not physically strong and there's a level of God-given talent you have as a player – but as a coach that's not the case.' Advertisement He does a good line in self-deprecation but Morrell is an attractive free agent. He has had interest from the US, Far East and Middle East, as well as closer to home. Being sidelined has not stifled his love for the sport. 'I'm addicted to football,' he says, explaining how he watches Major League Soccer matches on Wyscout. 'It used to frustrate me when I would ask people: 'Did you watch the game?' And they'd say: 'Nah, I was playing Call of Duty.'' Now he recognises the bigger picture. Walking his cavapoo, Fred, has given him time to reflect. 'We get sucked into thinking football is the most important thing in the world because people care about it so much, which is great, but the reality is, it's not. This has hammered that home.' He hopes the end is in sight. 'There were certainly days where I didn't think I'd be able to get in a position to play again, moments where I've had conversations with people around me: 'We might have to go down another route. Is this going to be the end of me playing?' 'People will see I have not played for a long time and, understandably, there will be question marks. The truth is I'm fit and ready to go. I feel like I can be a better player than I was before, as well as a better person. I don't think I'll feel like a footballer again until that whistle goes in the first game of the season in August and it's certainly not something I'll take for granted.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Eagles Captain Joel Ward to Leave Crystal Palace After 13 Years
Joel Ward to Depart Crystal Palace After 13 Years of Service Loyalty and Legacy in Red and Blue Joel Ward will leave Crystal Palace this summer, concluding a distinguished 13-year spell at Selhurst Park. The veteran defender, who has become synonymous with the club's identity during the Premier League era, will move on once his contract expires. Advertisement Having signed from Portsmouth in 2012, Ward quickly embedded himself into the culture and fabric of the south London side. More than just a reliable right-back, he evolved into a leader, a mainstay, and eventually club captain — embodying the values of consistency, humility and commitment. His departure brings to a close a remarkable chapter for Palace, with Ward leaving as the club's eighth-highest appearance maker, racking up 363 games across all competitions. In April 2024, he became the first Crystal Palace player to reach 300 appearances in the Premier League. From Championship Arrival to Premier League Stalwart Ward's journey with Palace began in the Championship under Dougie Freedman. It was under Ian Holloway, however, that he played a pivotal role in the club's promotion campaign in 2012-13 — a season which ended at Wembley with victory in the play-off final. His efforts that year earned him the club's Young Player of the Season award. Advertisement From there, he established himself as a Premier League regular, outlasting several managerial changes and squad overhauls. Perhaps most memorably, Ward featured in every minute of Palace's run to the FA Cup final in 2016. The Eagles ultimately fell to Manchester United after extra time, but Ward's consistency throughout the tournament stood out. Now 35, his departure signals the end of an era — not only in terms of service but the character he brought to the dressing room. He remained a dependable figure, both in defensive duties and as a cultural touchstone within the club. Emotional Farewell from Player and Club Ward's goodbye was heartfelt. Speaking to club media, he said: 'For me, it's been a huge privilege to wear this shirt, to represent this club. 'It's been an incredible journey with so many fond memories, so many incredible moments – moments that will live on in my mind for the rest of my life. 'Obviously, I came from somewhere else. But I've been a part of this club and a part of the furniture for so long that I'd like to think I'm part of the family. 'This isn't 'goodbye' – it's merely a 'see you later.'' Advertisement Club chairman Steve Parish paid glowing tribute to the departing captain: 'From the very day he joined Crystal Palace, Joel has been an incredible ambassador for this Football Club: open, friendly and professional, but also competitive, driven and uncompromising in the standards he sets. 'Simply put, over the course of 13 years' service, Joel has been an example for all Palace players who have gone before him: in his values, in his presence, and in his dedication to representing this club with pride. 'This is a great time to celebrate Joel's achievements and reflect on many great memories here with a truly treasured player and friend. Good luck, Joel, with your next adventure – and thank you.' End of an Era, Start of a Legacy Ward's influence extends well beyond statistics. His professionalism set a benchmark for younger players, and his status as club captain was earned not just through experience but through leadership, humility, and unwavering dedication to the badge. As Crystal Palace look to the future, the legacy left by Ward will remain a reference point — a reminder of what it means to represent the club with distinction.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Yahoo
Tom Daley looks back: ‘My management said if I came out, I'd lose sponsorship'
Interactive Born in Plymouth in 1994, Tom Daley is Britain's most decorated diver. He was 13 when he made history as Britain's youngest competitor at the 2008 Olympics, and the following year became a world champion. He won gold at the Tokyo Olympics with his synchronised diving partner, Matty Lee, before retiring from diving in 2024. He is married to the screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, with whom he has two sons. The documentary, Tom Daley: 1.6 Seconds, is available to stream on Discovery+ from 1 June. Advertisement I used to be obsessed with wearing tea towels. I'd make sure the fabric was completely lined-up and tucked in neatly. If it was in the slightest bit ruffled or messy, I would get upset and rip it off and try it all over again. This was the beginning of my perfectionism – and possibly the first signs that I might not be 100% straight. My mum says that as a kid, I was very sweet but I knew what I wanted. What did I want? To do the best I could at anything that I tried. That is still my mentality today. If I'm going to try something and it doesn't work out perfectly, I don't have tantrums any more, but I do get frustrated. That's the thing about being an athlete: being good is not enough – you have to be the best. It's not something you can teach, but every athlete who gets to an Olympic level has that same drive. We know our flaws before anybody else can point them out. I was seven when I started diving. I loved the water but found swimming up and down a little bit boring – diving was much more fun. I started out jumping off the side of the pool, then tried the one-metre. The first time I tried the 10-metre platform I was eight years old. I remember crawling to the edge because I was too scared to walk – the board seemed to reduce in size with every step and suddenly looked like a tightrope. I was peering off into the water, thinking: 'There's no way I can jump off this.' But once I was in the air, there was no going back. It was a surreal and euphoric moment – freefalling for 1.6 seconds. As soon as it was over, I knew I wanted to do it again. My childhood was brilliant. I was always outdoors, and we used to go for weekends away in our caravan in Newquay. I felt very safe, loved and cared for. Because I was so happy with my family, I used to hate travelling for competitions – I would get so homesick. It was terrifying to be on the other side of the planet from your parents when you're 10 years old – especially when everyone else competing was much older. I can't imagine how painful it was for my parents to hear their son crying on the end of the phone. Advertisement Related: Jeff Goldblum looks back: 'My brother was an interesting dude. When he died it was terrible, monumental' My dad Rob was my biggest cheerleader. He would work all day, pick me up from school, take me to the pool and stay all evening until I finished training. He would be there for every competition. We were a team, and it was our dream together. He was great at teaching me about perspective: if I bombed out at a competition, he would say: 'You came 30th, but you're still the 30th best in the world.' When dad died [of a brain tumour in 2011], I went to training the next morning. I carried on competing without a proper break. Maybe it's a British thing, but me and my family wouldn't speak about his passing that much. It's as if we didn't want to upset anyone, or make them feel uncomfortable. I also felt that I had to be the strong one – the person who could support my family. It was only when I met my husband Lance, and he would ask why I didn't speak about my dad, that I allowed myself the space to grieve. And it still hits me now, especially when those major milestones happen. He missed me winning my first Olympic medal, my wedding, my first son's birth. Lance and I met at a dinner in 2013. We talked and talked until we both realised how similar our lives were. He had just lost his brother; I'd lost my dad. He had just won his Oscar; I had just won an Olympic medal. It was the first time I could complain about success to somebody who knew I wasn't really complaining about success. I was complaining about how to deal with what happens on the other side – the pressure and expectations. Knowing that nothing would ever compare to that feeling again. Advertisement I met Lance in March and came out to the media nine months later. I don't think I would ever have said anything about my private life unless I had met someone like Lance. Once we fell in love, I knew I couldn't keep it a secret. It was absolutely terrifying, posting the video on YouTube, because my management at the time had not been encouraging, and told me that I was going to lose my sponsorship. It was a scary thing to do, but once it was out there I was glad. It took all of the pressure off. I could be me for the first time. In 2024, I competed at the Paris Olympics, this time with my sons in tow. Being a dad was still my priority, so I had to deal with running on low sleep. I went to bed at 8 o'clock, because I didn't know how many times I'd be up in the night. I'd wake early for training but would make sure I was home to help Lance with bedtime. I always found it incredibly difficult to leave them for competitions, and I carried a sense of guilt with me. My husband is so supportive, and he's sacrificed a lot for me. But now I've retired, it's his moment. He's like: 'It's my turn to get my career back on track!' I have been an athlete for most of my life, so it's taking time to adjust to my new reality. I am so used to being disciplined that even if I'm out for dinner on a Saturday night, and someone asks if I'd like a glass of wine, it takes me a second to realise I am actually allowed to. Food is the same. When I was about to go to the 2012 Olympics, I was told by a coach that I needed to lose weight. After that, I had some issues with eating disorders. At the time it was something that men didn't really speak about, so I kept it to myself and felt very alone. Once I was able to get the proper nutritional support and learned more about what my body needed, and how to fuel it, then my recovery started to unfold. But in truth, that feedback still affects me today. I know how I can look, and how I did feel, at my peak. Now that I'm not training six hours a day, six days a week, I am never going to be in that same form. When I look at this photo, I think about how innocent I look. The boy in the photo has no sense of what society thinks is right or wrong. I could live and be happy and free. I am so glad my parents were the kind of people who celebrated whoever I was; an Olympian diver or a boy who liked to wear tea towels around his waist.
