Tales From A Pompey Fan: The Big Rebuild, Take 2

So, without a spectacular run of results in equal proportion, it seems Pompey's season will end in a mid-table Championship position - a fantastic ending considering the turmoil that this club has been through in recent years. A recent run of six wins in a row meant that the Blues should now be safe from relegation, while earlier sequences of eleven winless games and seven winless matches mean that they equally face only an outside shot at a play-off place. But there is a lot to be hopeful for on the south coast.

Steve Cotterill has done a brilliant job, but he unfortunately needs to do it all over again this summer. When he first took the post last year, he faced a daunting and lengthy task of restructuring a collapsing club. Relegation from the Premier League, a mass exodus of players, deep in administration with a debt figure that seemed to increase week by week and no owners, he could hardly have been expected to do the job he has done. He has crafted a very good team, one of the best in the Championship thanks to the signings of Liam Lawrence and Dave Kitson, the raft of loan signings gelling instantly and the resurrections of David Nugent and Jamie Ashdown from the Pompey abyss.

All in all, he has managed to keep up a side with the smallest squad in English league football, coping with a poor financial situation to get a side playing well (at times) and grinding out results at this level. But he faces yet another daunting task this summer. At present, he will have only nine players on the books as pre-season training starts for next season. They are a decent backbone to a new side; goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, defenders Aaron Mokoena and Ricardo Rocha, midfielders Joel Ward, Liam Lawrence and Hayden Mullins, and forwards Danny Webber, Nwankwo Kanu and Dave Kitson. Add to that list outcast defender Tal Ben-Haim, but he is unlikely to appear again due to his massive wages.

Heading the list of possible departures are top scorer David Nugent and experienced left-back Hermann Hreidarsson, both out-of-contract at the end of the campaign. It's vital now that Nuge signs that contract, he still may be frustrating in front of goal but gets his share of strikes and his work-rate can never be questioned, while the 'Hermannator' would be a tremendous asset if he stays fit. Michael Brown and Richard Hughes are almost certain to leave as their contractual purgatory carries on, while promising youngster Nadir Cifti has said that he will not be signing a new contract. Young lads Marlon Pack and Tom Kilbey face uncertain futures, as do more recent academy prospects Billy Goddard, Ellis Martin, Peter Gregory and Perry Ryan. Then there is the loan brigade.

It is thanks to them in large parts that we are talking about the Championship next season and not League One. Ibrahima Sonko and Carl Dickinson have had their critics but they gave everything and came to the club at a time when it looked like we might not see out the campaign. But the influx around the Christmas period has really been a positive impact; Greg Halford, Ritchie De Laet, Jonathan Hogg and David Cotterill gave a tired squad a boost. And we may just have a chance to keep some of them on a permanent basis. The work ethic of Hogg should see Aston Villa keep hold of him, but with the others it is not so clear. Wolves may want to offload Halford if they are relegated and may not want to keep him if they stay up, Ritchie De Laet is far from first choice at Manchester United and David Cotterill may find first-team opportunities hard if Swansea are promoted. Deals are there to be done.

But we will need to acquire atleast twelve players over the summer period, which is a phenomenal amount for one transfer window. David Norris has been rumoured to be a target as will most of the out-of-contract talent available, while there is always a berth of quality players available from the outskirts of Premier League clubs ie Michael Johnson from Manchester City, Patrick Van Aanholt from Chelsea, Kyle Bartley from Arsenal, Kyle Naughton from Tottenham to name just a few. If the owners are prepared to go for it fully, the likes of Yakubu from Everton and Diomansy Kamara from Fulham? But that's what it comes down to.

Balraim Chainrai is going to have to support Steve Cotterill if Pompey are going to progress next season. We need to be able to attract the right calibre of player, and that means a transfer budget and wage budget bit enough to get them in. We realise that it is still pretty tight down at Fratton Park and we aren't expecting miracles, we just want to compete in the league. And with the team we've got, that is more than possible. We just need the squad to get us through a 46-game season.

And here, as a light comic relief at the end, is an EPIC miss. Enjoy.

NWR

Shooting For The Top: Title Glory For The Gunners?

It hasn't been a very good week for Arsene Wenger, and that will be mirrored in the hearts and minds of all Arsenal fans. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Gunners could very well be dreaming about a possible quadruple. That would of course start with an anticipated win over Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final, the day that Wenger's young guns would take their quality to the pitch and claim the first trophy of his new era at the Emirates Stadium. Then, would come the other - considerably harder - task of overcoming Barcelona, but they had the advantage of a brilliant two-one lead to take to the Nou Camp. Add in their continued progress in the FA Cup (albeit facing Leyton Orient in a fifth round replay) and their position as Manchester United's closest challengers in the Premier League, it was all looking rosy for the Gunners.

But it all went wrong. Wenger's major criticism is his lack of investment in the defense/goalkeeping areas of his young side, and those problems reared their ugly heads at Wembley. A fiesty Birmingham nullified the Arsenal threat for long periods of the game and, although they had chances to win it, the favourites threw it away when a mix-up between rookie goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and young defender Laurent Koscielny allowed Obafemi Martins the easiest opportunity to win the Brum the Carling Cup. The easiest chance of the lot to get a trophy and Wenger's boys blew it, but it was still hopeful - three competitions still on the boil.

Last night however, it went down to two. Barcelona, with the help of some extremely questionable refereeing, triumphed over Arsenal yet again to progress in the Champions League. Trying to halt the Barca tide proved impossible for a second season in a row as Lionel Messi scored twice, either side of a fine Xavi goal; even after a Sergio Busquets own goal had given them hope. That hope had been ripped away as referee Massimo Busacca sent off Robin Van Persie for a second booking after the Dutchman booted the ball away after the whistle had been blown. He claimed he hadn't heard the whistle, Wenger and Samir Nasri complained furiously, the game was ruined etc. It doesn't change the fact, unfortunately, that Arsenal are out of the Champions League for this term.

Sandwiched in between this was a routine five-nil victory over Leyton Orient in the FA Cup to set up a tricky Sixth Round tie with Manchester United, and a poor nil-nil draw with Sunderland that saw them fall behind United in the Premier League title race. So a terrible week for the Gunners, yes? Disastrous, Arsene Wenger actually finding his job under pressure and Cesc Fabregas certain to leave after such a bad run ay? Not exactly.

Dirk Kuyt seems to have given Wenger a lifeline. In grabbing a hat-trick against United in an immensely entertaining win for Liverpool on Sunday, he has blown the title race wide open. Sir Alex Ferguson's side may have gone 27 matches unbeaten this term but they have lost three of the last five league games, and that has seen the gap between them and the Gunners reduced to three points - with Arsenal having a game in hand. Say it quietly and don't back on anything yet, but Arsenal have a fantastic chance of winning the Premier League this season.

Arsenal probably just have the trickier fixtures - they must play Liverpool and Tottenham, before what promises to be a monumental game at the Emirates, Arsenal versus Manchester United on the 1st May. Remember United still have aspirations of European progression, and face possibly playing semi-final ties around this game, meaning minds may be elsewhere and legs may be tiring. I stress that this is Manchester United - they have the experience of being in these positions, and I doubt Sir Alex will prioritize so blatantly. Remember, this would be the 19th league title that would see them overturn Liverpool's record.

If Arsene Wenger can now focus his troops, get Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie fit for every game and pick up the results he would expect to get, he can push United all the way. Games against West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn, Blackpool, Stoke and Fulham need to be won and preferably convincingly - the goal difference is three goals in United's favour and the advantage would be a major one going into the latter stages of the season. But with the seemingly irrepressible Jack Wilshere and Samir Nasri in his side, they have the undoubted talent to win the Premier League this season, and end that long trophy drought in sensational fashion. Not bad for a side who lost it all to Birmingham two weeks ago ay?

NWR

Pompey 2 Scunthorpe 0: The Reaction

In my first venture to Fratton Park in almost half a season, I was eager to see what had changed since I was last treated to a Pompey home game. That time, I saw them overturn Bristol City three-one in an immensely entertaining game - John Utaka scored a fine individual effort, Aaron Mokoena restored the lead with a thumping header and Hayden Mullins sealed a good win in the dying moments. Great entertainment, and a good win for the Blues that finally lifted them out of the relegation zone after a disastrous early season run of form. So has much changed?

Well for a start, a few lads have come and gone. Goalscorer John Utaka has since been shipped back to France to earn a few pennies for us, the Nigerian was out of contract at the end of the season and an understandable sacrifice for the club to make. Also, youngster Matt Ritchie came on as a substitute that night and he has also been sacrificied; I won't be alone in being a bit disheartened by this, a promising young player being sold to Swindon Town, but it seems Cotterill didn't have his faith in the winger. Also, Michael Brown is tied by contract in football purgatory.

But it is a much stronger Pompey side that faced Scunthorpe last night. Add in the loan additions of Greg Halford, Ritchie De Laet, Jonathan Hogg and David Cotterill, plus the bonus of Hermann Hreidarsson's return from injury, and we are much more formidable prospect. David Nugent and Jamie Ashdown are easily in the best form of their Pompey careers, while Ricardo Rocha has staked his claim as our most consistent defender. Also, factor in a rollercoaster season of winning streaks and losing runs, and where does that get us?

We actually played a lot worse against Scunthorpe United than we did against Bristol City. In September, it was an open game with a lot of attacking play and a great watch. The first half against the Iron was poor - very poor from a home point of view when you consider the away side dominated and had a seemingly good goal chalked off for ... I don't know. Nwankwo Kanu was well off the pace and everyone was trying hard but nothing was coming off.

second half was much better - a pitch watering at half-time seemed to pep the field up a bit and we attacked with a bit more drive and determination. Jonathan Hogg, probably my man of the match, kept on going, while the right-sided 'dream team' of Ritchie De Laet and David Cotterill was always a dangerous outlet. It took a moment of inspiration from captain Dave Kitson to break open a stubborn Scunthorpe side; cutting in from the left wing and thundering a finish into the bottom corner. From then on, a new Pompey resolve meant they were always likely to see the game out - Aaron Mokoena's deflected drive making sure of that.

But I felt Steve Cotterill could have done things a bit differently to make the cold, cold night go a bit better, although he was missing some key men. Nwankwo Kanu is an impact sub for the Blues now - he cannot have the same domination on the pitch from the start and needs to be used sparingly to get the best out of him. Admittedly, the reason he was included was due to the absence of Liam Lawrence and player-of-the-season Joel Ward, while unsung hero Hayden Mullins only lasted twenty-two minutes as the threadbare squad is stretched to its limits. But there seems to be a new impetus in the side, and the luck has changed.

Promotion would be the most awkwardly brilliant outcome. From financial oblivion to promotion contenders is a massive leap, and one that is too much for this club this season. I would love to see the club in the play-offs - with something to play for right up until the end of the campaign would keep the lads focused and give us a key indication of what we can hope for in the future. If we can keep our good players (Nugent's contract situation hangs over this), get the services of some of our loanees on a permanent basis and factor in a few more additions, we can be optimistic when looking into the future. And it seems like a long time since that's been the case.

Play Up Pompey.

NWR