What a very good year for Pompey

Ive lost count of the number of times Ive been asked if Im worried about the Pompey fire-sale. When I say its a myth and point out the facts that we’ve only sold one player, for a fantastic profit, and he was always going to leave anyway, it always seems to bring surprise. When I point out the few other potential sales are underperforming players potentially being sold for great profit, it brings even greater surprise/disappointment. Its not as though Jermain Defoe is anything to shed tears about. Maybe if he had achieved half of Alan Bileys impact, or that of Hateley, Whittingham, Walshie,Toddy or the Yak to name but a few. No, Jermain has a long way to go to be remembered with anything like the same affection, and if we can turn a profit, then rather than negative news, surely this is another demonstration of the astute way in which Portsmouth Club has been run in 2008. The year we won back the FA Cup. The year in which in many England matches we had more players representing than any other club. The year we received £14 million for 1 midfielder then £20 million for the other. The year we qualified for Europe for the first time ever. The year we beat Man Utd at Old Trafford to prevent them winning the treble. The year the media tried to put a negative spin on everything we did cos they didn’t like the fact that we looked capable of toppling the big 4 monopoly. Maybe the Pompey rocket of progress may be shifting to a lower gear, but I see no reason why 2009 cant be as beautiful for Pompey fans as that very good year of 2008. What a very good year.
Heres to a Happy New Year for Pompey fans everywhere.

Pompey 0 Newcastle 3 - the inquest.

Pompey have been threatening to capitulate to this sort of defeat for a while. The only surprise was that it was to Newcastle, though in truth it could have been to any Championship-standard side. Maybe earlier in the season it would have been a shock to know that we would to lose 3 0 at home, but not now.
Since Captain Pugface deserted us it seems we’ve been all at sea. Is it because our able seamen are now led by the Cabin boy, or is this doing Tony Adams a major disservice and actually the problem lies with a few rebellious insubordinates?
Or maybe it is just a continuation of how things would have been under the deserter, after the early season 4-0 defeats to Chelsea and the 6 0 Man City drubbing.
Certainly something needs to change. Having installed Adams as the Captain of this ship, there is little choice but to give him a fair crack of the whip. That being the case, it has to be the players that change, a galling prospect given the promise we all felt in these players after last season and the potential they had of further great things, maybe even a champions league place. Now there seems to be little prospect that the side will stay together to fulfil its full potential. But if they dont want to stay and play then flog 'em, I say. Flog 'em.

Ex Pompey great Muntari firing them in for Inter

Its great to see Muntari continue to be a massive success after his move to Inter Milan, scoring another goal last weekend. Absolute top player. Together with Diarra and Kranjcar last season, I honestly felt Pompey had a midfield that matched if not bettered anyone else in the country, a claim which at the time sounded extremely biased, though I think time will prove otherwise (and not forgetting the massive achievement of Pompey's FA Cup win to justify that claim). If we had had Defoe and Crouch upfront all last season to augment that fantastic midfield (and defence), who knows where we might have finished. Certainly finishing 8th was a major underachievement.

Maybe Muntari leaving was the catalyst for Harry to leave; certainly Id have been disappointed to have to sell him, though Ive always wondered whether Muntari leaving was more down to his desire to be in Italy rather than Pompey cashing him in, as we didnt exactly get top dollar for him. Playing for Mourinho and sitting pretty at the top of Serie A, Muntari wont have too many regrets just yet.