In recent times

It’s fair to say that the past year or so on the South Coast (though relatively calm compared to bitter rivals Southampton it must be said) have been fairly turbulent, and that is putting it mildly. The aura around the club this time last year couldn’t have been in more direct contrast to the present; an FA Cup win, a top-class Manager and the promise of a new stadium seemed to indicate that after a fairly topsy-turvy history generally, this old institution seemed set to establish themselves as a major force in the new age.

How wrong can you be?

Since then that Manager (and his successor) have gone. The stadium plans have been put on hold indefinitely and their defence of the cup ended embarrassingly at home to Swansea City in the fourth round. What has also gone since then are an array of top class players; Johnson, Diarra, Defoe, Muntari and Crouch being the five main examples, though try as they might they are still stuck with David Nugent.

After Harry Redknapp’s departure to Spurs, Portsmouth struggled badly in the league under Tony Adams. He left in late February, with Paul Hart taking over on a supposedly temporary basis being assisted by Brian Kidd. Hart managed to stave off relegation, and has since been rewarded with a ‘permanent’ two-year contract as Manager.

The club’s owner Alexandre Gaydamak declared his intention to sell the club at the end of last season. A takeover deal was agreed in late May with the man who brokered the Sheikover at Manchester City last year, Dr Sulimain Al-Fahim, who by getting involved with two clubs in such a short space of time is doing a more than passable impression of being the Middle-East’s answer to Robert Maxwell.

However this deal has seemingly yet to reach a conclusion four months on, and it has left Portsmouth in a state of limbo. Players are exiting (with more apparently to join them out the door), but there is little scope for bringing in replacements, with two loan deals for foreigners I’ve never heard of and veteran Steve Finnan being the only new boys. You have to fear that if this takeover falls through and more players depart from what is already a threadbare squad amid rumours of huge financial strife, Portsmouth may be living the dream the Peter Ridsdale at Leeds United way. It’s not that a fully-fit Portsmouth XI is that bad, it potentially is perfectly adequate, but the lack of cover is perilous as the season takes its toll on the team.

The Manager

Paul Hart isn’t exactly the most illustrious Manager in the Premiership currently. For a man who started out in Management twenty years ago at Chesterfield, his job opportunities at first team level have been sparse to say the least. After getting the sack at Saltergate, he moved into Youth Team work at Forest, Leeds then Forest again, where he was promoted to the position of first-team manager in 2001.

He enjoyed what was relatively unexpected success at the City Ground. In the face of crippling financial restrictions he took the team to the Division One play-offs in 2003, where they lost out to Sheffield United. From there the turd almost instantly turned, and Hart was replaced late on in the following season by the well spoken Joe Kinnear.

Brief unsuccessful spells at Barnsley and Rushden and Diamonds followed before he returned to Youth Team work at Portsmouth, from which he has been promoted to the first-eam position he currently holds, though a cynical argument is that he is there simply because no-one else wants the job. One thing is for certain though, any Manager, never mind a manager who has managed just over a dozen top-flight matches, would have his work cut out managing Pompey at the moment. If Pompey are still in the Premiership next May, then you can only label him as a minor miracle worker.

Key man

If Paul Hart can rightfully bemoan that his team is weak in all areas outfield, then he should be simultaneously thanking whatever God he believes in for a Goalkeeper with the experience and quality (odd blunder aside) of David James. You get the feeling that a lot of shots will be hit at Pompey’s goal next season, and you get a stronger feeling that James will deal with the vast majority of them.

But it’s not just his shot-stopping that makes him stand out. His gigantic frame and obvious supreme levels of fitness make him excellent at dominating for balls that are launched from deeper positions to in and around his goal. His communication is excellent, and he appears to have significantly improved his mentality in games, as the lapses in concentration that would lead to bloopers have become fewer and further between since he arrived at Fratton Park three years ago.

Blues may not have too much trouble getting through Portsmouth, but they may have significant problems getting past James if he plays well. If he plays well this season, Portsmouth can survive. If his form fluctuates then they surely cannot.

Possible line-up

James

Finnan–Kaboul–Distin–Belhadj

Utaka–Van Den Borre–Mullins–Diop–Krancjar

Nugent

Tactical comments

I predict that Portsmouth will look to keep things tight and remain solid, and to do this will play three defensive minded midfielders in the middle to break up play. Then will then look to use the passing skills of new signing Van Den Borre (providing he has received the thus far elusive international clearance to play) to launch counter attacks with the pace of Utaka and Nugent in particular to be utilized.

Patience will be needed as they try and negate play, but I am convinced that they will tire towards the end if we keep toying with them. If we keep our discipline and shape and keep the ball well they should have no reason to really harm us. However if we become naive and frustrated their experience may come into play more and more and they may use that to sucker punch us.

Last time out

Birmingham City 0-2 Portsmouth-24/11/2007

A dire game in what were positively bewildering times. This is where Eric Black’s spell as caretaker manager in the aftermath of the Steve Bruce era started and finished. David Gold hinted pre-match that Black had a chance of landing the job full-time, but 90 minutes of tripe later he was convinced otherwise.

The teamsheet Black put in perhaps could be best described as a footballing suicide note. With one out-and-out striker selected up front (Mikael Forssell) against what was then a very strong Portsmouth defence we were always likely to struggle going forward, though in fairness Forssell had our one chance early on when he forced James into a smart save. However it was Eric’s selection of Goalkeeper which was to backfire so blatantly. He handed Ghana international Richard Kingson his league debut between the sticks, and was repaid thirty-four minutes later when he somehow let a daisy-tickling shot from Sulley Muntari to squirm under him and into the net.

After that, despite having a fair amount of possession, Blues never looked like getting back into it, as Portsmouth seemed content to soak up pitiful pressure put upon them. They put us out of our misery eight minutes from time with a wonderful goal from a direct free-kick by Nico Krancjar. That, as they say, was that. Unfortunately 22,089 were forced to watch it.

Blues: Kingson, Kelly, Djourou, Ridgewell, Schmitz, de Ridder, Muamba, Nafti, McSheffrey, Kapo, Forssell

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka, Davis, Diop, Muntari, Krancjar, Benjani

Prediction

After being frustrated by first the Pompey style of play, then by David James, Blues will eventually find a way through and grab a tight win.

Blues 1-0 Portsmouth

Referee

Lee Probert-his last game was our appalling 0-0 draw at Charlton in April, though there was nothing appalling to remember about his performance, indicating he had quite a good game. Let’s hope he has a decent performance tomorrow.