Fratton swoops - the runners and riders

Pompey insist no more stars will leave Fratton Park.

If that's true - and my optimistic side has chosen to believe it - then fans can now focus their attention on new arrivals.

Midfield is clearly a priority, with the heart of the FA Cup winning team - Mendes, Muntari and Diarra - having been ripped out.

Sean Davis, Richard Hughes and Papa Bouba Diop are honest enough, but additions are needed.

The January transfer window rumour mill is up and running.

So here's my take on the names that have been linked with Pompey so far.

Gary O'Neil
Has the club in his heart and wants to come. Would bring a degree of stability to the right-hand side as well having the ability to play in the middle, his preferred position.
Industrious and a good passer, a deal would be a no-lose situation.
Some say his return would be a step backwards for the club, but the majority of fans would welcome him back with open arms.
Middlesbrough don't want to sell him but if they can get Jimmy Bullard in, they may be willing to let O'Neil have his way.

Joey Barton
Good player, poor man. While he hasn't recaptured anything like the form that earned him an England cap, at his best he is a highly dynamic box-to-box player.
The major trouble has come off the pitch - a prison sentence for common assault and affray, assaulting a team-mate, stubbing out a cigar in a team-mate's eye, assaulting a 15-year-old Everton fan to give you a flavour.
Tony Adams clearly empathises with the midfielder's plight and he's had a spell at the Pompey boss' Sporting Chance clinic.
The question is: do Pompey want a person like this representing their club? My verdict: A resounding no.

Edu
High-quality midfielder who enjoyed a prosperous spell at Arsenal. Good touch and good passer and at 30 is the finished product.
Would definitely add experience and, having played 100 times for the Gunners, knows what the Premiership is all about.
As an old team-mate, Adams should know his game inside out.
Edu's had injuries at Valencia, though, and the biggest concern would be whether he still presents a vibrant midfield option or whether he is simply a star on the wane?

Edin Dzeko
Bosnian striker (above) tore Pompey to pieces in their recent Uefa Cup group match against Wolfsburg (he scored in a 3-2 win).
The News' correspondents in Germany report a strong striker who is clever with it and possess a good touch. Physically, at 6ft 3in, he could cope with the Premier League easily and has been a true star in the Bundesliga.
Pompey would have to stump up around £5m, although Wolfsburg would be highly reluctant to sell. At just 22, he is clearly a rising star in the game. Would be a terrific signing.

Manuel Fernandes
A familiar face for Pompey fans after his loan spell in 2006. Was highly rated upon his arrival from Benfica and showed glimpses of true class. Had two loan spells at Everton, although his second was disappointing. He was half-owned by an agency - similar to Carlos Tevez - although I believe Valencia have now paid them off, they are out of the equation. Nevertheless, the Spanish side would want a healthy return unless a loan deal can be arranged. A bit hit and miss so any deal would be a gamble.

Marvin Elliott
Bristol City have strenuously denied having any contact from Pompey about the midfielder who has impressed for the Robins, albeit in the Championship. Wolves are also sniffing around and, if he went for him, Adams would be gambling the former Millwall man can make the step up to the top flight.
His performance in the FA Cup third-round tie at Fratton Park suggest he could - and all eyes will be on him in the replay on Tuesday night. At the right price, could be worth a punt.

Benjani
A true cult hero at Fratton Park. During his time at Pompey, Fratton Park stuck with him despite a barren start. They appreciated his whole-hearted effort and took him to their hearts.
Their patience was rewarded and Benji started to add goals to his industry. Genuine bloke who was never looking for a move away, he would be a popular buy.
The very least you get is a player only to happy to put in a shift (Jermain Defoe take note).
Surely there's no future for him at Man City, who are looking to add Craig Bellamy and Roque Santa Cruz to their ranks. Crucially, Benji can play the lone striker role, which Adams is increasingly fond of.

Javier Saviola
The only one on the list that could be laughed off. Currently at Real Madrid, the ex-Barcelona man would represent an audacious coup. But then I remember when I laughed off Sol Campbell coming to the Park...

Johnson deal a coup for Pompey

At last, some news to lift the gloom that has engulfed Pompey in recent weeks.

England full-back Glen Johnson has signed a new four-and-a-half year deal to stay at Fratton Park.

Cynics will (with some justification) argue contracts mean little in modern-day football.

But by my reckoning, Johnson's deal is a real coup for Tony Adams.

Even at this early stage in the month, I would suggest it's the best bit of business he's likely to do in the transfer window.

Pompey fans have seen Johnson mature and develop into a true international-class full-back. The errors that littered his Chelsea days have gradually been ironed out at Fratton Park.

If he keeps up his progress, the England right-back spot is his for the taking.

To be honest, I thought his head would be turned by the transfer vultures.

When reports of him being sighted at Liverpool's training ground surfaced it seemed sadly believable.

However, those stories were whole-heartedly rubbished and, perhaps aware of the difficulties he encountered the last time he joined a top-four club, he's decided to stay put.

He knows he'll be a fixture in the team and he knows the spotlight will not be so intense, allowing him to continue his impressive development. He is just 24 after all.

While Jermain Defoe chased the cash, Johnson's decision should be celebrated.

Fans constantly demand loyalty and commitment.

This time, for a change, they've got it.

Time to bring O'Neil home

It's a bold - and reassuring - statement.

Pompey executive chairman Peter Storrie has told The News Jermain Defoe will be the last big-name Pompey player to leave in the January transfer window.

Glen Johnson, Peter Crouch, Sylvain Distin, David James - going nowhere.

Raising the spirits of wounded Pompey fans, he also said new signings are on their way, two by the end of the next week.

It's nailed on that one of those will be Gary O'Neil, and it's a prospect that has split opinion.

On one hand, supporters believe it's a backward step. The other side reckon a dedicated, hard-working player like O'Neil is worth 10 Defoes.

Let's be frank. O'Neil's not in the same class as Lassana Diarra or Sulley Muntari.

But he would improve the current midfield, adding a touch of creativity to the industry and muscle of Papa Bouba Diop, Sean Davis and Richard Hughes.

The biggest thing you'd get with O'Neil, though, is heart at a time when Pompey risk having it ripped out.

Having come through the ranks he cares for the club, wants to return and wouldn't spend his spare time on the phone to his agent.

O'Neil's as genuine as they come and Pompey runs through his veins.

At a time of unsettling overhaul and a manager finding his way at the top level, the return of O'Neil is a no-brainer.

It's a no-lose situation - and Fratton Park would welcome him back with open arms.

Why Defoe's not Jermain man

Sadly, the least surprising transfer in Pompey's recent history looks done and dusted.

From the minute Harry Redknapp hurriedly headed for Spurs, Jermain Defoe's interest in Pompey vanished.

Clearly, he feels no love for the club who rescued him from the White Hart Lane subs' bench and catapulted him back into the England set-up.

Clearly, his loyalty lies with Redknapp and, more galling for Pompey fans, himself.

We all appreciate a professional player's career is short.
But they are privileged and, therefore, commitment is the minimum fans expect. And rightly so.

The minute a route back to Spurs looked on, Defoe stamped his feet, shrugged his shoulders and showed a complete lack of respect to Pompey.

When one of your best players acts that way it leaves a bitter taste. Pompey now join Charlton and West Ham in being burned by the striker.

The manner of Redknapp's departure and his pursuit of Defoe since then lacked class.

Maybe they deserve each other.