Deal or no deal

Tony Adams may be enjoying his honeymoon period at the moment - but he has some big decisions around the corner.

As reported in The News, 15 first-teamers' contracts are up at the end of the season.

Among them are Sol Campbell, Sean Davis and Linvoy Primus.

If Adams chooses, he has a great chance to gut the squad and remodel it in his own image.

His success will depend on who he decides to keep and, crucially, who he can get in.

There's also the major issue of Pompey cutting their costs. Adams will no doubt have his hands tied to some degree as the credit crunch continues to bite.

Here's a run-down of the players out of contract - and my take on whether they should stay.

Sol Campbell: Has he got another Premier League season in him? Will he accept being a squad player if Younes Kaboul continues his impressive emergence? His experience is crucial and should be offered a deal to stay for another year.

Sean Davis: Can't do much more to earn a new deal. Harry Redknapp tried to usher him towards the exit door without success (clash of personalities maybe?). Should be offered a new deal based on what he could still offer for the next couple of seasons.

Linvoy Primus: Fans' favourite and all-round top bloke. However, top-flight days are behind him. Should be promised a future role at the club, though.

Jerome Thomas: Has to prove his worth, simple as that. If he can shake off his injuries, then no doubt he has the talent to play in the Premier League. At this point, though - no deal.

Djimi Traore: Not even in the picture. Not even any good. No deal.

Richard Duffy: The elusive defender (trying to get an interview with him is like getting an interview with Fabio Capello) has not done enough. No deal.

Glen Little: Like Thomas, has the game for the Premier League but does he have the body? Too fragile for me - no deal.

Lauren: Knee problems mean he has lost his spark. Spell at Fratton Park has been a major disappointment and he will be happily waved on.

Richard Hughes: Reliable and a good destroyer in the midfield against the big four. Depends whether he wants to be a squad player for the duration of another contract. Should be offered a deal, though.

Hermann Hreidarsson: Effort never in doubt and a solid defender, although will be 35 next summer. Adams seems to prefer Noe Pamarot at the back. Verdict: On his way.

Nadir Belhadj: Made a massive impression with his energy, pace and enthusiasm. Has become a key member of the squad and should be rewarded with a permanent deal which ties him down to the club.

Jean-Francois Christophe: Who? On loan at Southend - and that's about his level. No deal.

Noe Pamarot: The man with the biggest thighs in football. When fit and up-to-speed is an underrated defender. Another contract should be forthcoming.

Kanu: A Pompey hero for his FA Cup goal and still the man with the best first touch at the club. His body is clearly creaking, though, and his impact will only diminish. Gone but never forgotten.

Armand Traore: How Pompey would love to keep him, but Arsene Wenger will surely not let this talented performer go. Expected to get another chance to prove himself at the Emirates. If he fails, Pompey should be ready to rescue him.

Tony Adams will be judged on what he decides will happen to the above players.
Of course, it's him - rather than this pen-wielding journalist - who neck is on the block.
Times are a changing at Pompey.

Vidic is nails

Depending on who you listen to, Pompey were either hopeless against Manchester United or back on track after the hammering at Stamford Bridge.

The truth is somewhere in between.

Harry Redknapp’s team battled hard during the 1-0 defeat and clearly showed the heart which was so embarrassingly absent at Chelsea.

Kaboul looked better, Campbell less shaky and Thomas a good free signing.

Pompey struggled up front and in midfield, but then it’s no coincidence that was where United excelled.

The usually wonderful Diarra was outshone by Scholes, who oozed class. How England need the ginger one!

Crouch and Defoe made zero impact - but then centre-backs Vidic and Ferdinand looked impregnable.

Rio is a Rolls Royce of a defender and although Vidic will not ‘murder yer’ as the United fans sang with tongue firmly in cheek, the Serbian is a menacing presence.

In layman’s terms - he’s hard as nails.

Note when the United man clashed heads with the hulking figure of big Sol it was Vidic who was up first and sprinting towards the changing rooms to get stitched up to return to the fray.

As he left the field, Campbell was on one knee, rubbing his head!

So Pompey were outclassed against the European champions - there’s no shame in that.

The way United moved and kept the ball was breathtaking.

At least we showed some mettle and that is a step in the right direction as Pompey emerge from the hardest start possible.

The coming games against Everton and Middlesbrough will prove a better yard stick.

Harry comes out fighting

Harry Redknapp’s response to the mauling at Stamford Bridge?
To come out fighting.

Our back page today has him in typical Harry mode.

Provoked and agitated by the inept display at the billionaire’s playground that is Stamford Bridge, Redknapp went on the offensive to remind everyone of his ability.

Mega-wealthy Roman Abramovich probably thinks the credit crunch is a biscuit - it’s far to say money is not too tight to mention for Luiz Felipe Scolari.

For Harry, though, the purse-strings have
been tightened. His reaction was to pore scorn on the likes of Scolari who can hand-pick his signings.

Redknapp said: ‘Any mug can go and buy loads of players for £20m or £30m.
'My missus could go and buy Kaka.
'We could all buy the best players in the world if we had an open chequebook, but it's called managing – I have to manage this football club.
'I love looking around for loans – I enjoy that side of the job and I love that part of the game. That's managing.’

Wounded by criticism of his tactics, Harry reared up on one journalist - not from The News - who had the temerity to question the choice of 4-4-2 over 4-5-1.

Harry knows he is one the best in the lower ends of the transfer market and, while he desperately wanted the money to go for Shaun Wright-Phillips and Nicky Shorey, scrapping around for loans and frees suits him.

But as our columnist, Sky Sports Ian Darke says in tomorrow’s (Wednesday) News, Pompey’s cash ran out with the shopping half done.
Peter Crouch and Younes Kaboul have arrived, but the need to balance the books has altered recruitment, hence the loan signing of Jerome Thomas from the Championship.

The revolution will have to be evolution.
Sacha Gaydamak’s pockets are not as deep as we, or Harry, had hoped.