Utaka on the brink of failure

So England saw off Belarus and (whisper it) are finally looking the business.

David James produced an assured display in Minsk, which was good to see after some shaky moments so far this season.

Other than that Pompey players were largely bypassed for the game - Jermain Defoe and Glen Johnson didn't get a look in, while Peter Crouch came off the bench for a brief cameo.

International week now over, it's time to look forward to Aston Villa - and the eternal enigma that is John Utaka.

According to the winger, he's ready to step up to the plate in what will be a true test at Villa Park (see back page of The News)

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but when has the Nigerian ever stepped up to the plate for Pompey.

Apart from his blistering start to last season, the winger's faded badly.

It's clear to most Pompey fans - and to Harry Redknapp as well, I'm sure - that Utaka lacks the mental toughness to succeed in the relentness, high-profile Premier League.

His days at Fratton Park appear numbered.

Villa are a team on the rise and in Ashley Young they have a potent winger.
Will Utaka be trusted to cover Glen Johnson down the right? I doubt it.

Glen Little should get the nod for his industry and endeavour.

No offence to Little, but that says it all about Utaka's future.

The £7m man is second choice to an injury-prone journeyman (albeit a decent one).

Even Harry Redknapp, a master in the transfer market, can't get them all right. That's the nature of the business.

Just like the hapless David Nugent, Utaka is close to being a certified flop.

Bigger fish to fry

Pompey 10-man injury crisis is nice for headlines.

But Harry Redknapp won’t be losing much sleep over it.

Put it this way, there won’t be many 10-men injury lists for a Premier League game or an FA Cup game.

With the UEFA Cup now part of the club’s fixture list, the Carling Cup has slipped further down the pecking order.

You want proof - even David Nugent was lined up to play tonight (Wednesday) before he found his (familiar) way to the treatment table.

Some of these players’ knocks can be translated as rested.

Jermain Defoe will be fine for Sunday, while Lassana Diarra has a knock below the knee, not ligament damage as Harry mischieviously suggested.

These are two examples of Harry ‘rotating’ his sqaud.

The Carling Cup is basically second string versus second string (or youth team if you are Arsenal).

It’s now a chance for recuperating stars or youthful promise.

For many - eg Sol Campbell - it means a rest day.

For Pompey, this should be seen as a sign of our success.

It should be thrilling for fans to realise that, at the present time, we have bigger fish to fry.

Nugent heads for the exit

If David Nugent hasn’t got the message already, then he did this morning.
If he’d read our back page today he would have learned of his omission from the 23-man UEFA Cup squad.
He certainly hadn’t been told of his axing before last night’s reserve game, that’s for sure.
The whole scenario reveals how low down the pecking order this one-time England player is.
Firstly, the fact the club have not bothered to tell him shows not only a lack of respect, but little regard for a player who did, let’s not forget, cost Pompey £6m.
More pragmatically, it means Nugent will not be UEFA Cup-tied come January - when Pompey will almost certainly try to off-load him again.
It’s hard not feel sympathy for the player, whatever his on-field merits are.
A big-money signing, he has not been given a fair crack of the whip.
Harry Redknapp didn’t fancy him from the word go, which begs the question why did he buy him?
Whatever the answer to that question, the suspicision is Nugent is out of his depth in the top half of the Premier League.
I hope he proves me wrong because he is honest and willing.
But he seems to lack the composure to cut it at the top.
It is obvious to all, except maybe the player himself, that his Fratton Park fate has already been sealed.

A different kind of Traore

Anyone who’s had the fortune to be at a number of Harry Redknapp’s press conferences in the past year knows one thing - he loves Arsene Wenger’s Gunners.

It’s not because Harry was an Arsenal fan in his youth.

It’s simply because he marvels at the pace, power and potential of the Arsenal side.

Even the king of the transfer market wonders where Wenger finds his rough diamonds.

One player, in particular, stands out for Redknapp - Armand Traore.

There was a rumour he was related to his new team-mate Djimi.

But one look at them on the pitch (and a check on the internet) destroys that myth.

Armand is classy - David Nugent couldn't believe how quick he was in training - and so obviously a product of the Arsenal youth system.

Djimi doesn’t even resemble a footballer, let alone his cousin.

And while you get the impression Harry would have driven Djimi up to Hull himself to ensure he signed for the Tigers (he turned them down), he is Armand’s biggest fan.

The new signing will be a massive boost after the disappointment of being forced to sell Pedro Mendes.

And in time you suspect Traore will prove to be a better bit of business than paying millions for Nicky Shorey.

It suits both parties. Traore continues his development and Pompey have a genuine talent at their disposal for a season.

Mr Wenger, we thank you.