Beck off Milan, Harry's lurking!

Sports desk: 'Was he serious or is Harry having a laugh?'

Reporter in Braga: 'He meant it.

Sports desk: 'Really? It's Beckham we're talking about and he is in talks with Milan.'

Reporter: 'Harry was serious - he really thought about putting in a bid for him.'

(Still unbelieving) Sports desk: 'Okay, I suppose we'll have to play it reasonably straight.'

And so went the conversation for a little while longer until The News sports desk were half-convinced they weren't the victim of an embarrassing wind-up.

The result is our back page today.

The Sun, somewhat understandably, had a little fun with it but they, too, played it reasonably straight.

Harry Redknapp was serious - he thought about bidding for David Beckham.

He hasn't a chance, of course. the world's most recognisable footballer is half-way to the San Siro to play for AC Milan in a loan deal.

It's easy to view the whole thing as another Harry joke. And let's be honest, the tongue must have been firmly in cheek for at least some of the press conference.

A little bit of fantasy, maybe, but then we thought that when Redknapp went after Sol Campbell and look what happened there.

Granted, big Sol cut a troubled figure at the time and didn't have a high-maintenance former Spice Girl on his arm (just imagine Posh Spice walking down Commercial Road!).

Football-wise, though, how Harry - a born self-publicist - would have loved to have talked Beckham into coming to Fratton Park. He'd give it a go, for sure.

He also knows if Campbell was a long shot, getting Becks to even consider coming to Fratton Park is mission impossible.

Redknapp's comments leave him open to ridicule.

But it's a credit to him and the progress Pompey are making that he was only half-joking.

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.

Is Davis on his way out of Pompey?

So the question is: How much do Pompey want to keep Sean Davis?

The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season, but according to the player the club has yet to make any moves to tie him up on a new deal.

In interviews Pompey boss Harry Redknapp regularly appears reluctant to talk up the midfielder, prompting speculation of a personality clash.

There is also no doubt that pre-season Pompey were keen to get rid of him in order to balance the books.

Celtic came in, but Davis didn't fancy a move to Scotland.

In the end, Pedro Mendes was sacrificed to appease the bank manager.

Davis has responded this season by playing well, providing a quality foil for the more wide-ranging skills of Lassana Diarra.

It's clear he wants to stay - but the silence from the Pompey hierarchy is deafening.

Davis told The News:

'I don't want to go anywhere else but at the moment I have no idea where my
future will be.

'The ball's in their court, it's always been in their court.'

The former Fulham man appears underrated by the Pompey management, although fans are quickly on to the messageboards to laud his contribution.

Is he easily replaceable or should he be tied down?

I think his on-field displays deserve a new contract, but you get the feeling Pompey - for whatever reason - would be happy to see the midfielder leave Fratton Park.

AC Milan will define glorious Pompey era

Can it get any better than this?
I think not.

Pompey will play AC Milan at Fratton Park in the biggest game in the club’s history.

No-one can quite believe it - the Rossoneri at Pompey.

It’s the best outcome possible from the never-ending UEFA Cup draw and it will define this current glorious era at Fratton Park.

Ronaldinho, Kaka, Maldini, Nesta, Pato etc will descend on Portsea Island.
And, quite frankly, It’s a dream come true.

Here’s what’s in store:
Oct 23: Braga (away)
Nov 27: AC Milan (home)
Dec 4: Wolfsburg (away)
Dec 17: Heerenveen (home)

Who would have thought when Pompey beat Bradford to stay in the Championship in 1998 that 10 years later the Blues would be playing the San Siro giants?

Who would have thought when the team beat Barnsley to (once again) stay in the Championship in 2001 that seven years later we’d been preparing to take on the seven-times European champions?

Who would have thought that when we were heading for Premier League relegation just three years ago The Great Escape would lead to Pompey mixing it with one of the biggest clubs in world football?

Well, not me.

Any Pompey fan who said they did are lying.
On the south coast, we are currently basking in the warm afterglow of the greatest cup draw they will ever have witnessed.

There is a knot of excitement in my stomach at what lies in store.

If there is a tinge of (churlish) disappointment, it’s that Pompey will not run out at the San Siro.

But, having said that, watching Ronaldinho and Kaka’s playing at Fratton Park will be a treat.
A vociferous Pompey reaction awaits them.

A home tie also gives us the best chance of a result.

Dream on I hear you say.
Well, we did that a year ago and look’s what happened since.

Pompey defeat the anti-football

Beautiful game 2 Anti-football 1.
Fratton Park
October 5, 2008

Everyone who likes their football played a certain was will have welcomed Pompey's win over Stoke City on Sunday.

Now I have nothing against Tony Pulis' side. Football is a game of different styles, it adds to its drama.
That doesn't mean you have to like it.

Stoke's aerial bombardments compared to Pompey's pacy pass-and-move approach is like comparing Slipknot to Frank Sinatra.

One is rough and direct, the other smooth and pure (sort of... we'll ignore Ol' Blue Eyes' alleged mafia connections).

Anyway, you get my drift.

For lovers of football played at its most skilful, the likes of Stoke and the old Wimbledon side will always be the enemy.

In 1988, Liverpool's defeat to the Dons in the FA Cup was a travesty, when the ugly game won out.

Twenty years on and Pompey struck a (lower profile) blow for the beautiful game.

Peter Crouch's scissor-kick was majestic, while Jermain Defoe was again clinical.

And after the exploits in Portugal, Pompey's verve and athleticism was a pleasant surprise, although you get the feeling Nadir Belhadj could still be playing such is his energy.

Stoke's main weapon, Rory Delap's throw-in missiles, were effective. That cannot be disputed.
Pompey could not deal with them and conceded an equaliser as a result through Fratton Park reject Ricardo Fuller.

Thankfully, for Blues fans - and those of us who like their football played close to ground level - Harry Redknapp's side had too much class at their disposal.

Sol refuses to rise to Spurs abuse

Sol Campbell is one of football’s genuinely interesting people.

He’s interesting because, to many, he’s a mystery.

An imposing, physical presence at centre-back, he is also more sensitive and thoughtful than the average footballer.

The youngest of 12 children, Campbell is an introvert - some have preferred self-absorbed - who has received bad press for his unwillingness to enjoy the celebrity culture.

His half-time walk-out at Arsenal pointed to inner demons or at the very least a crisis of confidence.

He doesn’t fit the stereotype. He doesn’t go out on the town with the latest Big Brother reject and he loves fashion (he helped design Pompey’s FA Cup suit).

That makes him an easy target - especially for Spurs, the club he turned his back on to join their biggest rivals Arsenal in 2001.

It was an incredible Bosman move which saw him become a figure of hate.

He could not have expected anything less, although it was a move he, in principle, had a right to make.

He was, and is, an ambitious individual. Look at the interviews he gave when Pompey were building the current side and he was crystal clear the club’s ambition had to match his own.

Emerging from Fratton Park after the Spurs victory on Sunday he refused to talk to our writers.
Unlike a lot of modern players, in Campbell’s case this was pretty unusual.

He is intensely private, but he’s also a considerate and thoughtful interviewee.

On the pre-FA Cup final press-day frenzy, he was the model pro.

Along with David James, he made his way down the queue of TV, radio and newspaper hacks with a smile, making sure everyone had what they needed ahead of the big match.

Glen Johnson and Sulley Muntari refused everybody. They could learn a lot from the Pompey skipper.

Being the character he is, Spurs’ racist and homophobic taunts will not have simply been shrugged off by Campbell.

Its ferocity will have reminded him of the abuse he got when he left White Hart Lane all those years ago.

The irony is, those dishing out this personal attack support a club with strong Jewish links, the most discriminated of all minorities. Go figure.

But Campbell stood tall amid the filthy verbals and led Pompey to a comfortable victory. He willl have relished that.

I suspect, though, the abuse does not simply bounce off Campbell. He will have thought about it deeply.

It’s not the first time he’s heard it, of course, but it will have hurt. He had made his point in the best way - on the field.

With the win secure, having to talk about why the opposition fans chanted he had HIV probably did not appeal.

I think he can be forgiven for that.