Portsmouth’s time of confusion

Friday, 07/01/2011

by S.J. Maskell, Shoot's Portsmouth blogger

Two points from twelve.

A team down to 14 available players by New Year’s Day.

No conclusion to the Brown/ Hughes contract saga. Halford back to Wolves whilst he serves a three match suspension.

Kitson’s suspension and Lawrence’s weird contract add to the difficulties.

Injury worries with Rocha, Herman and Webber still in various stages of recovery. Rumours of Utaka to Turkey, Lawrence to West Ham (both untrue), and Nugent? Well, virtually anywhere as far as I can tell.

It got to the point where Herman wrapped Nugent up like a mummy in packing tape on New Year’s Eve. Greg Halford posted the pictures from the team hotel on Twitter for all to see. Perhaps Steve should consider it as a way of maintaining a stable squad. It’s been anything but over the last four matches.

Yet I don’t think we’ve been that bad all things considered. We were unlucky to lose two points to a late penalty at Millwall after leading 1-0. We fought back with great character at Leeds from 3-1 down to 3-3. (By the way – Barnsley stewards – take a trip to Leeds. Friendly stewards keeping order without spoiling the fun).

A hammering by three goals to nil at Watford admittedly, but with a woefully depleted squad. Ending with a game we should have won but lost 2-3 against a dreadful Hull side.

It’s that old friend reality biting us again.

The biggest issues are still off the pitch.

Cotterill seems to have had great trouble contacting the owners for a proper talk about transfers. But we now have a small budget and, having secured Tom Kilby due to the generosity of Millwall waiving a extra payment clause, Steve can explore getting two more loans.

He is talking of an all-purpose defender and a defensive midfielder. After leaking nine goals in the last three games that sounds like a good idea.

Fans are still nervous though. The elusive nature of our owner and the nightmare memories of last January don’t create a feeling of security – despite all the talk of stabilising the club. It doesn’t feel very stable to us. Fans are mustering their forces and the protest group SOS Pompey has reformed.

At the moment they are holding a watching brief on events. Positive action from the owner now could allay fans’ worries.

We can only wait and see what happens this month.

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