On this morning Talk Sport mid morning show - Micky Quinn announced that Pompey are now down to 8 signed professional players according to an old friend of his who works on the coaching staff Will either be a very busy transfer window or they will be putting out the kids this coming season Dark Lord
Bloody hell!!!! Much as I want to see us trounce them in a way that not only removes the memories of our last two games with them, but also inflicts the heaviest ever defeat that they have been known to suffer, I don't want it to be because they only had a few kids to play with.
Hmm...looking down their Wikipedia page (yes I am bored): Ashdown has a contract until 2012: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/8898642.stm Mokoena has a contract until 2013: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Mokoena-Signs-New-Deal-1548.aspx Hreidarsson has expired: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6434504,00.html Kitson and Lawrence both have contracts: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Kitson-and-Lawrence-In-Wilson-Out-1318.aspx Mullins has a contract until 2013: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/7850798.stm Nugent is gone Ward...not sure but he would presumably stay Ciftci has gone to Turkey Ben Haim is going...and might be taking a load of cash with him Kanu and Rocha have contracts: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Pompey-Sign-Kanu-And-Rocha-1348.aspx A couple of 18 year olds: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Academy-Pair-Sign-Pro-Deals-2185.aspx So I make that 8 first team + 2 kids.
They still have eight weeks until the start of the season. Enough time to get another 12 highly paid professionals like Lawrence on his £22k a week. Just you watch!
I don't care whether they are playing their youth team against us any more than those teams who played us during the "total football" fiasco where we had to play the kids. You can only beat what's put out to face you. If Pompey have to fill in with a bunch of kids, well my heart bleeds custard.
Nugent will be gone by the 1st July and I believe the Mokena wage is much lower (less than 20k) having only negotiated it last season. Still a hefty wage bill though and yet to start the CVA.
