A make-or-break summer for Pompey

Pompey wrapped up their home season with an overdue flourish on Monday night.

With the pressure off and fans calling for Paul Hart to ditch his 4-5-1 defensive stance, the Blues delivered by way of a 3-1 win.

The season is being dissected by everyone - not least the sports desk at The News.

And thoughts are inevitable turning to next season.

This is the most crucial summer in Pompey's recent history.

They limped to safety and, from the minute AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi broke Fratton Park hearts with that last-minute equaliser, the season's been a major disappointment.

The club's financial situation is worrying and there are a number of players soon to be out of contract.

Big decisions must be made.

Of course, the biggest is at the very top. Will Sacha Gaydamak be able to rid himself of the club without losing too much money.

New owners will mean a new direction, a new approach. Executive chairman Peter Storrie says a deal will be in place by early July. Fine, but decisive leadership is required in the meantime.

Who, for example, will be manager. Paul Hart is favourite and, despite having to persuade wife Vicky before accepting any offer, one suspects the prospect of a proper crack at the Premier League would be too hard to resist.

Up until the Sunderland win, his methods had been a means to an end, but now the Blues are safe he deserves congratulations.

He will know next season more is required. Fans will expect a regular diet of more attacking, expansive football.

Hart is a decent fooball man who has the respect of the players, an authoritarian with a sharp eye for talent.

And he will represent the cheap option.

But if the club can't afford proven top-flight managerial stock like, say, Alan Curbishley or attract the best of the next generation like, say, Swansea's Roberto Martinez, then he will be the go-to man.

But that then prompts the question - which players will he be able to attract to the club?

Sol Campbell, Sean Davis, Armand Traore, Jermaine Pennant, Kanu could all have left the club. Glen Johnson and Sylvain Distin may have been sold.
He'll need to rebuild on meagre resources.

Is he the right man to do that?
One thing's sure: it would be a gamble - and not a very popular one.

Hart would have to win over disgruntled supporters.
After digging Pompey out of a hole, he may feel he's earned the chance.

Fans' flak is Hart-less

There seems to be a debate raging at the moment.

You're either pro-Paul Hart, happy to support his pragmatic approach to Premier League survival.

Or you anti-Hart, reeling away in disgust at his perceived negative and dour style of play.

Can I take this opportunity to appeal to the haters.
Stop and think. Please.

Think of Pompey as a Premier League club, arguably the greatest league in the world.

If you are filled with a warm, fuzzy feeling of pride then revel in it - and then explain why you are criticising the man who looks set to keep Pompey there.

38% in The News' recent web poll slammed Hart's defensive-minded tactics after the defeat to Champions League semi-finalists Arsenal.

Now I know Pompey lost (albeit creating chances). I know they've played some incredibly unexciting football since Hart took over. And I know the Newcastle game almost made me turn over to Ashes to Ashes it was that bad.

But Hart's getting the job done.

If you want pretty football at the moment but matches against Peterborough next season then fair enough. Look where 'total' football got Southampton.

Personally, right know, I'd settle for mind-numbing, sterile matches in the knowledge we're going to welcome Manchester United to Fratton Park next season.

Vitally, it goes further than just matters on the pitch. Relegation would impact massively on the future of the club.

With big debts, a chunky wage bill, no new ground in sight and an owner who's keen to sell, it doesn't take a genius to work out that without the Premier League money Pompey would be crippled.

Look at clubs of similar size to Pompey who have just exited the Championship. The spiral of decline has been brutal for Charlton, Norwich and Saints.

Then have a look just above those three you'll see more examples of clubs struggling out of the big league. Step forward Derby, Nottingham Forest, Coventry and Barnsley.

If relegated, it's very likely things would get worse for Pompey long before they got better.

Now whether Paul Hart is the man to take Pompey forward is another debate.

But right now the future of the club is at stake.

That's why Hart is happy to stick one up front, put workhorses in midfield and eke out the points Pompey need to stay up.

I'm with him all the way.

Pompey's relegation scrap: the verdict

Let's not count our chickens, but it appears a no-thrills approach has done the trick at Pompey.

The secret to Paul Hart's success so far at Pompey seems to be that there is no secret.

The re-introduction of basic, no-nonsense defending has laid the platform for Pompey's upturn in form, culminating in the three points at home to Everton.

It's not over by a long shot, of course, and there will a few ups and downs along the way.

But the Blues look like a team up for the challenge of staying in the division and, importantly, believing they have the skill and organisation in place to do so.

Here I look at the bottom nine teams and assess their chances of avoiding the drop.

Bolton
A good run-in against many of the bottom sides coupled with a tough, uncompromising approach should see them survive. In Matt Taylor they have a player - as Pompey fans will know - capable of chipping in with goals. And in Kevin Davies they have a forward who, while not prolific, is well-versed at unsettling Premier League defences.
Verdict: Safe

Hull City
Goals have dried up and the charismatic but crocked Jimmy Bullard could prove to be a huge waste of money. They are finding it tougher the longer the season goes on as the demands of the top flight take its toll. A tricky run-in won't help and I can see panic setting in as they edge nearer the drop zone. Luckily for them, a sensational first half of the season should see them survive.
Verdict: Safe - but only just

Sunderland
Ricky Sbragia's honeymoon period is now over and it's clearly going to be a nerve-shredding finale for them. They are organised and gritty, and their clash against Hull on April 18 could be a defining moment. Kenwyne Jones and Djibril Cisse hold the key. This dynamic, but erratic, duo must chip with a few goals to keep the Championship at bay.
Verdict: Safe

Blackburn
Rovers have a hideous run-in with trips to Anfield, Eastlands and Stamford Bridge lying in wait. However, there are also winnable games in the final furlong for Sam Allardyce's men. Big Sam has already made them a tough unit to play against and with his nous, I can see the Wanderers scrambling enough points together to clamber to safety.
Verdict: Safe

West Brom
Many have admired Tony Mowbray for sticking to his principles, but this inflexibility has cost them. Pretty football aplenty, but the Albion have always lacked real quality in the final third. No goals has meant no wins, and that means one thing - relegation.
Verdict: Down - no question

Stoke City
Home form has been a revelation. Their style is not to everyone's taste - not that the Potters will give two hoots about that. The signing of James Beattie has proved as shrewd as Dave Kitson's was disastrous and the former Saint should rack up enough goals to see Stoke home. Keeping them up will be Tony Pulis' crowning moment as a manager - and that's what I expect to happen.
Verdict: Safe

Middlesbrough
The Premier Leaguye is not a good place to learn how to be a manager. Just ask Tony Adams and Paul Ince. Boro, though, have afforded Gareth Southgate the time he required. The trouble is, it hasn't worked. Big-money striker Afonso Alves has proved a huge flop and the reliance on youth has backfired. Capable of decent approach play but a lack of a goalscorer will mean goodbye to the Premier League.
Verdict: Down

Newcastle
If ever a club deserve to go down, it's the Magpies. Bad buys, bad appointments and general bad decisions mean the club is in disarray. The owner managed to get rid of the one shining light in Kevin Keegan and brought in one who, sadly, is sidelined by a heart op. Caretaker boss Chris Hughton is clearly not up to the task and the defence is leaking goals for fun. Amid all this chaos, knitting together an under-performing team looks a tough ask - especially when they've got Arsenal, Chelsea and Luverpool to come.
Verdict: Down - a 'big' club bites the dust

Pompey
The calibre, motivation and experince of the likes of David James, Sol Campbell and Peter Crouch is beginning to come to the fore. Given a framework by boss Hart, the team have responded well. Next up are Hull and it's vital the form is carried on. The mood is good, which is more than can be said for some of their rivals, and the Blues have the tools at their disaposal to move away from danger.
Verdict: Safe

Hurt Adams opens his heart

If one thing's certain after the stories of the past two days, it's that Tony Adams cares deeply about Pompey.

After his initial insistence he wouldn't give phone interviews, a beleaguered Adams - no doubt stung by recent criticism - returned The News' calls this week.

And from the conversations that ensued, two things were clear.

Firstly, that he thought Pompey's financial predicament - ie they have little spare cash - had been explained long ago.

It hadn't and Adams revealed he had been informed his budget had been cut a week before Christmas. There was more than a pang of envy when he said: 'The fact is I have not been given the financial support like Harry Redknapp.'

Secondly, the former Arsenal man is hurting, having endured a torrent of abuse from fans following the Fulham defeat. Adams tried his best to reason with Pompey supporters only to be shouted down and told in uncertain terms he was not welcome at Fratton Park.

He said: 'For me, it's unusual and that's why it hurt. It was only a couple of guys angry at me, but it didn't stop me feeling bad.'

There is no doubt the Pompey boss' tactical decisions have been dicey and his bemused press conferences only add to the impression of a man lost in the job.

But this gushing display of honesty - broke exclusively in The News - could prove a turning point, if not on the field then at least in how people view him as a human being.

Our messageboards have generally been more supportive of Adams since the story broke, with fans criticising their own for the vitriol thrown the manager's way.

Perhaps fans will now see him as someone to trust their club with rather than an undecipherable shield of optimism which he has presented so far.

He needs to be himself and let people know when he's upset or angry.

Say it how it is. Fans can relate to that and will give him time, which he so blatantly need.

Let's hope it's not too late for a man who's finally come out of his shell.

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.

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.

Farewell Lassana - it was great while it lasted

It was a deal which suited both parties.

Lassana Diarra got the first-team football he craved and Pompey - a club looking to escape years of mediocrity - got the services of a genuine world-class talent.

Both knew it was only a temporary arrangement, but everyone was happy with it.

Harry Redknapp knew he has a player to take his team to unprecedented heights and fans licked their lips at the prospect of seeing a special player at Fratton Park.

It's why, with his departure to Real Madrid imminent, there'll be no recriminations, no bitter parting shots.

Admittedly, there were grumblings of discontent when Diarra openly admitted Pompey were a stepping stone to greater things.

But a degree of perspective prevailed and in the end the player was even praised for his honesty.

The absence of badge-kissing antics and declarations of undying love were understood.

The message was clear. Here was a player on his way to the very top.

Diarra was grateful for a stage to display his talents: Pompey were happy to provide the platform.

The club can look back with justifiable pride at the way they boosted the midfielder's ascent.

In truth, though, the benefits were two-way.
With Diarra at the hub of Redknapp's team, Pompey won the FA Cup and qualified for Europe, their best season for half-a-century.

And then there's the small matter of an expected profit of around £16m in just a year - a remarkable turnaround.

It's enough cash, one hopes, to ease the club's financial worries and assist Tony Adams in the transfer market. We'll see how that materialises.

It will be sad to bid farewell to one of the finest footballers to grace Fratton Park.

But I doubt whether sentiment is at the top of Diarra's priorities.
In his defence, he has always given Pompey his all and leaves us with once-in-a-lifetime memories.

With Real Madrid sniffing, we'll forgive him his suspiciously slow recovery from an ankle injury.

The Frenchman is ruthlessly ambitious and he's got his dream.

Pompey have been used - and haven't we loved it.

Stadium saga rolls on

If there's one word which strikes a nerve at Pompey, it's stadium.

In particular, a new one.

While The News' sportsdesk's reporting of the club's football team can cause arguments and the occasional snub, nothing provokes such blind panic as criticism of Pompey's plans for a new ground.

The club believe they should get zero negativity in their pursuit of a new home on Horsea Island (above).

Most people back it (certainly more than the previous unrealistic grandiose plan to plonk a 35,000-seater stadium next to the dockyard).

But the job of a newspaper is to report the facts and the full spectrum of opinion.

Local papers are not the club's newsletter and Pompey must realise this.

Reacting with an impetuous statement on their website every time something is written they don't agree with smacks of self-importance and some sort of Big Brother (George Orwell not Jade Goody) regime.

The worse thing, and the club know this, is fans buy it.

Blind faith is common in our tribal game - just listen to the cringeworthy 606.

The News website has been swamped with fans lambasting the paper. Unbelievable.

The same people who turn to us for breaking news on transfers and all things Pompey, suddenly now think we are bare-face liars.

Their contempt for the paper doesn't stop them hogging our messageboards.

We know we can't win because we are stuck between the fans and the club, both of whom want to be told everything's rosy all of the time.

It's not, of course (it has to be pointed out this is not the club's first stadium plan!). That's not real life, that's blind faith.

But then when did reality ever come into football.

Tearful Redknapp's Pompey goodbye

Harry Redknapp received the freedom of the city after being booed at the Portsmouth Guildhall ceremony.

Thankfully, this ugly minority were soon silenced by audience members (and some incredibly vigorous stewards).

Just two days after his defection to Spurs and the wounds are still very raw, despite Tony Adams' appointment.
Feelings and emotions are running high.

I don't think too many people begrudge Harry his chance at Spurs.
We on the south coast will be eternally grateful for putting our tight-knit football club on the map.

It's Harry's verbal indiscretions we have a problem with.
Fine when he's on your side, but infuriating when he's not.

His claims the move was good for Pompey and his reference to them as a good 'little club' are just patronising.

Likeable and mischievous he may be, but classy he is definitely not.

But then we knew that anyway, of course. His move down the road will always be a stain on the incredible job he did at Pompey.

Like that hasty act, Redknapp continues to shoot himself in the foot because for all the self-proclaiming and self-preserving nonsense Harry spouts, he really did care about Pompey.

At the civic ceremony, a tearful Redknapp was genuinely touch at the outpouring of thanks he received from the city.

And while he repeated it until it lost its meaning, Pompey people really are his type of people.

Take away the exaggerated cockney wide-boy that appears on TV, and his affinity with Pompey will always be there.

It's just a shame one of the greatest figures in Pompey's history taints it with thoughtless media soundbites.

Here's a snippet from his goodbye interview in The News.

I'll leave it to you to decide how genuine it is.
That, for all his greatness, has always been Harry's problem.

'I think walking away from Portsmouth has to be the hardest thing I've ever done.

'It was unbelievably hard to decide to move. I haven't really slept since I did.

'It was a difficult decision. On Saturday night I said I definitely wasn't going to go.

'I didn't want to leave. I love it here and I enjoy the life here.
These are nice people and this is a great city.

Villa Park v Harry part two?

So the question is: Who was the moron aiming at?

Was it the linesman at Villa Park? In which case the moron got his/her man.

Or was it Harry Redknapp? In which case the moron's shot is as bad as his/her level of decency.

One suspects it's the latter because there's something in the Pompey boss' appearance at Aston Villa which seems to stir the morons in that part of Birmingham.

Last season's continual taunting of the Pompey boss - supposedly over the nature of the police raid on his house - drew an exaggerated and uncharacteristic celebration from Harry.

So what has Redknapp done to upset the Villa crowd.

Is it his cockney barrow boy manner, the aforementioned police raid (Harry's since won compensation for that) or is simply that for two years running Pompey have been more than equal to the Villans.

Whatever it is, there seems to be a personality clash between the two.

Whoever the intended target was for the 50p piece, the moron who threw it must be rooted out and banned from football games for life.

It's the obvious answer - and the right one.

And yes, in case you missed it, whoever cut open the linesman's head is a moron.

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.

We're not for sale... sort of

If Pompey’s statement following the News of the World’s ‘For Sale’ story seemed like it contradicted itself, that’s probably because it did.

We aren’t for sale, went the statement, but if someone’s got the cash it’s all yours.

The club insist the ever-elusive Sacha Gaydamak is not actively looking to sell.

But, like any businessmen, if a healthy profit is on the horizon he wont need asking twice.

In denying the stories Pompey have - wittingly or unwittingly - revealed what a lot of Premier League clubs are thinking.

The likes of Everton and are all casting an eye to billionaires worldwide, praying an oil-rich Arab fancies a new hobby.

They aren’t the only ones either.

If things continue at the same pace, you’ll need a wealthy sheikh just to stand still.

As our columnist Alan McLoughlin said in his column yesterday (Monday), Pompey’s problem is they don’t come ready-made.

Unlike City, they don’t have a new stadium or training ground. That’s 100m quid before you start on the team.

As usual, Harry Redknapp cut through the boardroom waffle.

He said: ‘I don’t know if the owner wants to sell, but every club in the country has a price on its head.

‘When people talk about debts you have to realise that is the economic situation in football.

‘All clubs are in debt, but we have fantastic assets here on the pitch.’

The last bit is a worry. A few injuries here and a misjudged sacking there (it happens!) and suddenly those on-field assets look a bit flimsy.

At the risk of repeating what many Pompey fans have been saying for years, a new stadium and training ground is a must if Pompey want to hold their position in the top flight long term.

But like most fans, I’ll only believe it once the bricks and mortar are in place.

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.

Pompey crumble to City slickers

Ouch! That one hurt.

Humiliating and embarrassing. Losing is one thing but capitulating to a 6-0 defeat is another.

Robinho, Stephen Ireland and Elano tore Pompey apart.

But the manner of the drubbing at Man City came out of nowhere.

After the euphoria of the UEFA Cup win on Thursday, Pompey just weren't up for it.

The News columnist Alan McLoughlin was shellshocked in today's (Monday) paper.

The former Pompey stalwart was almost lost for words, which for anyone who knows Macca is quite something.

I spoke to him as he was enduring the miserable drive down the M6.

It will have been a similar story for a host of Pompey fans.

Harry Redknapp's tactics were wrong but, crucially, the players' attitude was also wrong.

A bit of complacency, a bit of tiredness, a lack of desire in the face of a vibrant City - they are all guilty, all apart from Lassana Diarra who was the best of a bad bunch by all accounts.

What I would pay to be a fly on the wall when the team sit down to watch the video nasty.

One reason the match was such a shock was because that sort of thing doesn't happen to Pompey these days.

We are the FA Cup winners, a team with internationals, a team on the up.

For that reason, in the cold light of day, most fans will put it down as a freak result.

They will, though, demand a response. Firstly, against Chelsea in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

More importantly, Pompey must show how much this performance hurt them.

The best way is to take their anger on beleagured Spurs next weekend in front of their own fans.

That's the least we all expect.