Now we are officially relegated, and assuming we get a new owner soon, I thought it might be an idea to assess the first team squad and see which ones we think will be sold and which ones we might hang on to. I'd prefer no WUM's but its bound to happen sooner or later. Current Squad: Goalkeepers - Jamie Ashdown, Stephen Henderson Henderson will be sold. No doubt about it. We might keep Ashdown but he has put in some good performances recently so there might be interest in him. Defenders - Tal Ben Haim, Ricardo Rocha, Jason Pearce, Greg Halford, Aaron Mokoena, Sam Magri, Adam Webster. Tal Ben Haim and Mokoena must be off-loaded. Rocha I'd like to keep but he'll probably go. Pearce and Halford will probably be sold. Magri might go to if Liverpool or whoever come in for him again, so out of all of them the only player I can definitely see us keeping hold of Webster. Midifielders - Joel Ward, David Norris, Liam Lawrence, Hayden Mullins, Kelvin Etuhu I cant see us keeping hold of any of them. Lawrence and Norris's wage bills will be too high and they are likely to attract interest from a few Championship clubs, someone will come in for Ward and, though I'd like to keep hold of him and would hope he wouldn't want to go, our hand may be forced. Etuhu we wont be able to afford in League 1 and Mullins we might keep hold of but, then again, Reading might want to keep him. Forwards - Eric Husklepp, David Kitson, Luke Varney, Marko Futacs, Benjani, Kanu, Ashley Harris. There will be interest for Kitson and Varney base on their reputations as good Championship players. Husklepp will attract interest from abroad if not from other English clubs. Benjani wont have his contract renewed and Kanu's likely to be off to the middle-east. I hope we can keep hold of Futacs and Harris but Harris might be snapped up based on his potential and Futacs has performed quite well this season so them may attract interest as well. So out of the current squad, in the most positive frame of mind I can produce, I can only see up keeping hold of Ashdown, Magri, Webster, Ward, Harris and Futacs. Which means that Appleton will likely have to rely next season on loans from teams higher up in the league - like West Brom - and whatever youth players might be on the fringes - like Lewis Tallack, Lewis Stockford and Jed Wallace.
Jed Wallace had a shot cleared off the line for Farnborough in their relegation 6 pointer against Havant today.
According to the News: Stephen Henderson will make his move to West Ham perminant as soon as the transfer window opens. Jason Pearce will be moving to Leeds. Erik Husklepp has been linked with a move to Brann in Norway. Ipswich are going to launch a fresh bid for Joel Ward. Tal Ben Haim will be leaving to an "interested club", though Pini Zahivi has yet to say who they are. And Trevor Birch is planning a firesale of at least the established first team in an attempt to raise the money needed to see Pompey make it to next season. He says there are five or six players attracting interest but he doesn't want to name them yet.
Pearce's move to Leeds confirmed today. http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/pompey/pompey-past/pearce-completes-leeds-move-1-3809973
According to the News we've been linked with Izale McLeod and according to Wikipedia McLeod has said on his twitter account that he's signed a 1 year contract with us.
32 goals in 70 games for Barnet. Not a bad haul considering he's been playing for them for the past 2 seasons in which they've finished 22nd last season and will finish 22nd or 23rd after today.
He'd be a good signing if its true, mind you, I didn't expect us to be signing anyone this summer so it was a surprise to see us even being linked with anyone. On another note, Varney and Norris are being linked with a move to Leeds and five or six clubs are battling it out for Ward.
Hi Leeds fan in peace!! I know we have signed pearce and I know he is quality, but we have been linked with a few of your other players that I dont know much about, was wondering if you could help. good luck next season I hope you come straight back up.
McLeod is on the bench for Barnet at Burton. Barnet being held at Burton. If it stays like that Barnet will be down to the conference as Hereford are 3-0 up against Torquay
No chance mate, not in your position. Leeds (or anyone else) are not going to pay "up front" if you insisted on such. It's all part and parcel of the situation your in. Good luck next season, I think you'll rather enjoy it!
We have released five players from the youth team. Striker Carl Walshe, defender Lewis Tallack, midfield Lewis Stockford, goalkeeper Matt Gledhill and midfielder James Jennings. Walshe was signed from Home Farm in 2009 while Tallack, Stockford, Gledhill and Jennings had all come through the academy.
