Saturday, July 05, 2008

The off-season: Portsmouth


It's been a long time since I did an analysis on a Premier League team. Since the last time there have been many changes and a lot more transfers. I won't be going back to revisit my past analysis despite the movement.

After winning the FA Cup, Portsmouth will be needing to maintain this form otherwise they will be going backwards. This will be dependent on who Redknapp brings in.

GK: David James, Jamie Ashdown

Having the best English goalkeeper, Portsmouth doesn't need to bring in an extra goalkeeper and Ashdown is adequate enough as back-up.

RB: Glen Johnson, Lauren

With Johnson rediscovering his form, there is no need to reinforce in this area.

LB: Hermann Hreidarsson, Djimi Traore

With Traore seeming to go, hopefully Redknapp can keep Aubey to keep two left-backs.

CB: Linvoy Primus, Sylvain Distin, Noe Pamarot, Martin Cranie, Sol Campbell

Distin & Campbell are great and tough to budge, so Redknapp might want to consider getting some young back-ups since Primus and Pamarot are ageing whilst Redknapp doesn't seem to have faith in Cranie. However he won't be doing it this summer.

WG: John Utaka, Glen Little, Franck Songo'o, Sulley Muntari, Niko Krancjar

With Songo'o effectively out of the picture, I still think Redknapp will like to bring another winger. Muntari's best position is in left central midfield rather than an out-right winger. Bringing in Little reinforces the right side.

CM: Lassana Diarra, Papa Bouba Diop, Richard Hughes, Sean Davis, Pedro Mendes, Antonio Mvuemba

The best area for Portsmouth, so much so that many of the players will leave. Only Diarra and Bouba Diop are certain to stay. I think Hughes is the most likely to leave and Davis won't be far behind.

FW: Nwankwo Kanu, David Nugent, Jermaine Defoe, Ben Sahar

By bringing in Sahar, I think Nugent can effectively say goodbye to his career at Portsmouth. I don't know why Redknapp bought him in the first place. I think the leap was too far for the one-cap wonder but he's still young enough to recover.

Summary:

In: 1 x Left-back, 1 x Winger, 1 x Forward
Out: Traore, Songo'o, Hughes, Davis, Nugent

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