On comments on the News, Twitter and other places something that really annoys me is this talk about the fact that Portsmouth are unable to pay transfer fees on players, as such all the players we signed were cast offs and nobody wanted them and so they're expected to be terrible. Well, that's a complete falicy. And the reason why that's a complete falicy is because nearly every other transfer in League 2 were free transfers and did not involve a transfer fee. Therefore we were competing on a even footing (perhaps even a better footing as I imagine even with our debts, we'd have a higher wage budget than Accrington Stanley). So the issue isn't the lack of being able pay transfer fees as that's not an issue at this level but having signed terrible players. You could have all the money in the world but it would mean nothing if you sign terrible players. Here are the signings from the summer transfer window from an article in the Telegraph dated August of this year. Accrington Stanley In: Nicky Hunt (Rotherham, Free), Shay McCartan (Burnley, Free), Rob Atkinson (Fleetwood, Free), Piero Mingoia (Watford, Free), Kai Naismith (Rangers, Free), Josh Windass (Huddersfield Town, Free), Danny Webber (Sheffield United, Free), Ben Wilson (Sunderland, Free), Michael Richardson (Newcasttle, Loan), Marcus Bettinelli (Fulham, Loan). AFC Wimbledon In: Chris Arthur (Havant & Waterlooville, Free), Ashley Bayes (Basingstoke, Free), Andre Blackman (Celtic, Free), Andy Frampton (Gillingham, Free), George Francomb (Norwich, Free), Barry Fuller (Barnet, Free), Callum Kennedy (Scunthorpe, Free), Charlie Sheringham (Bournemouth, Free), Rhys Weston (KR Reykjavik, Free), (Ross Worner (Aldershot, Free), George Porter (Burnley, Loan), Michael Smith (Charlton, Loan). Bristol Rovers In: Steve Mildenhall (Millwall, Free), John-Joe O'Toole (Colchester, Undisclosed). Burton Albion In: Rene Howe (Torquay United, free), Phil Edwards (Rochdale, Free), Chris Hussey (AFC Wimbledon, Free), Alex McDonald (Burnley, Free), Adam McGurk (Tranmere, Free), Adam Reed (Sunderland, Free), Ian Sharps (Rotherham, Free), Michael Symes (Leyton Orient, Free), Richard Hinds (Yeovil, Free), Rory Delap (Stoke City, Free), Jordan Pickford (Sunderland, Loan), Mats Morch (Derby, Loan). Bury In: Nathan Cameron (Coventry, Free), Ashley Grimes (Rochdale, Free), Rob Lainton (Bolton, Free), Danny Mayor (Sheffield Wednesday, Free), Greg McDermott (Stockport, Free), Andy Procter (Preston, Free), John Rooney (Barnsley, Free), Gareth Roberts (Derby, Free), Chris Sedgwick (Hyde, Free), Reice Charles-Cook (the gunners, Free), Richard Hinds (Yeovil Town, Free), Marlon Jackson (Hereford, Free), Aidan Chippendale (Accrington Stanley, Free), Jessy Reindorf (Union Royale Namur, Free), Shaun Beeley (Fleetwood, Loan), Anton Forrester (Blackburn, Loan), Jordan Sinnott (Husserfsield, Loan), Tommy Miller (Swindon Town, Free), William Edjenguele (Coventry, Free), Marcos Navas (Recreativo Huelva, Free), Brian Jensen (Burnley, Free). Cheltenham Town In: Troy Brown (Aldershot, Free), Jamie Cureton (Exeter, Free), Terry Gornell (Rochdale, Free), Matt Richards (Shrewsbury, Free), Ashley Vincent (Port Vale, Free), Craig Braham-Barrett (Macclesfield, Loan), Brian Saah (Torquay United, Free), Ryan Innis (Crystal Palace, Loan), Craig Braham-Barrett (Macclesfield, Free), David Noble (Rotherham, Loan). Dagenham & Redbridge In: Afolabi Obafemi (Leyton Orient, Free), Rhys Murphy (Telstar, Free), Brian Saah (Torquay United, Free), Zavon Hines (Bradford City, Free). Exeter City In: David Wheeler (Staines Town, Undisclosed), Doug Bergqvist (Aldershot, Free), Sam Parkin (St Mirren, Free). Fleetwood Town In: Anton Sarcevic (Chester, Undisclosed), Richard Cresswell (Southend, Undisclosed), Steven Schumacher (Bury, Undisclosed), Matty Blair (York, Free), Leam Hogan (FC Halifax, Free), Jeff Hughes (Notts Co, Free), Stephen Jordan (Unattached, Free), Stewart Murdoch (Falkirk, Free), Mark Roberts (Stevenage, Free). Hartlepool United In: Jack Compton (Colchester, Free), Christian Burgess (Middlesbrough, Loan), Matthew Dolan (Middlesbrough, Loan), Michael Duckworth (Bradford Park Avenue, Free). Mansfield Town In: Sam Clucas (Hereford, Triubnal), Ollie Palmer (Havant & Waterlooville, Undisclosed), Calvin Andrew (Port Vale, Free), Paul Black (Tranmere, Free), Jamie Maguire (Fleetwood, Free), John McCombe (Port Vale, Free), Keiran Murtagh (Macclesfield, Free), Martin Riley (Wrexham). Morecambe In: Tony Diagne (Macclesfield, Undisclosed), Padraig Amond (Accrington, Free), Mark Hughes (Bury, Free), Alex Kenyon (Stockport, Compensation), Marcus Marshall (Bury, Free), Jack Sampson (Bolton, Free). Newport County In: Adam Chapman (Oxford United, Free), Jamie Stephens (Liverpool, Free), Harry Worley (Oxford U, Free), Chris Zebroski (Cheltenham, Free), Tom Naylor (Derby, Loan). Northampton Town In: Kevin Amankwaah (Exeter, Free), Darren Carter (Cheltenham, Free), Matt Duke (Bradford City, Free), Ian Morris (Torquay, Free), JJ Hooper (Newcastle United, Free), Gary Deegan (Hibernian, Free), Danny Emerton (Hull, Free), Matt Heath (Colchester, Non-Contract), Paul Blyth (Leicester, Loan), Matt Harrriott (Sheffield United, Free), Matt Heath (Unattached, Free). Oxford United In: Dave Kitson (Sheffield United, Free), David Hunt (Crawley, Free), Jonathan Meades (Bournemouth, Free), Tom Newey (Scunthorpe, Free), Daniel Rose (Fleetwood, Free), Josh Ruffels (Coventry, Free), Josh Shama (Reading, Free), Asa Hall (Shrewsbury, Loan), Johnny Mullins (Rotherham, Undisclosed), Ryan Williams (Fulham, Loan). Plymouth Argyle In: Lewis Alessandra (Morecambe, Free), Dominic Blizzard (Yeovil, Free), Luke McCormick (Oxford U, Free), Romuald Boco (Accrington, Free), Neal Trotman (Plymouth, Free), Hamza Bencherif (Notts Co, Free), Jamie Reckord (Wolves, Loan). Rochdale In: Bobby Grant (Blackpool, Undisclosed), Matt Done (Barnsley, Free), Bastien Hery (Sheffield Wednesday, Free), Andy Eastham (Blackpool, Free), Andy Haworth (Notts County, Free), Scott Hogan (Hyde, Free), Olly Lancashire (Aldershot), Matthew Lund (Rochdale, Free), Robbie Thomson (Celtic, Free), Peter Vicenti (Aldershot, Free), Javan Vidal (Stockport County, Free), Jack O'Connell (Blackburn Rovers, Loan), Graham Cummins (Preston, Loan). Scunthorpe United In: Terry Hawkridge, Luke Waterfall (both Gainsborough, Undisclosed), Jordan Clark (Barnsley, Free), Andy Dawson (Hull), Chris Iwelumo (Watford, Free), Matt Sparrow (Crawley, Free), Andy Welsh (Carlisle, Free), Etiënne Esajas (Unattached, Free), Sean McAllister (Cowdenbeath, Free), Deon Burton (Gillingham, Free), Sam Winnall (Wolves, Free), James Spencer (Huddersfield Town, Loan). Southend United In: Will Atkinson (Bradford City, Free), Julian Bennett (Sheffield Wednesday, Free), Conor Clifford (Leicester, Free), Ben Coker (Colchester United, Free), Craig Reid (Aldershot, Free), John White (Colchester, Free), Don Cowan (Dundee, Monthly), Adam Thompson (Watford, Loan), Cauley Woodrow (Fulham, Loan). Torquay United In: Elliot Benyon (Southend, Free), Courtney Cameron (Aston Villa, Free), Jordan Chappell (Sheffield United, Free), Ben Harding (Northampton Town, Free), Karl Hawley (Scunthorpe, Free), Krystian Pearce (Notts County, Free), Dale Tonge (Rotherham, Free), Callum Ball (Derby, Loan). Wycombe Wanderers In: Paris Cowan-Hall (Wycombe, Undisclosed), Tommy Fletcher (Cheshunt, Free), Charlie Horlock (Stevenage, Free), Jon-Paul Pittman (Oxford U, Free), Nick Arnold (Reading, Loan), Steven Craig (Partick Thistle, Free), Billy Knott (Sunderland, Loan), Charles Dunne (Wycombe, Undisclosed) . York City In: Ryan Bowman (Hereford, Undisclosed), Craig Clay (Chesterfield, Free), Wes Fletcher (Blackpool, Free), Ryan Jarvis (Torquay, Free), Lewis Montrose (Gillingham, Free), Sander Puri (St Mirren, Free), Chris Kettings (Blackpool, Loan), Richard Cresswell (Sheffield United, Free), Ben Davies (Preston North End, Loan), Ryan Brobbel (Middlesbrough, Loan), George Taft (Leicester City, Loan). Look at all those free transfers!!!!! And all but four of those teams are above us. So no, that excuse doesn't cut it, I'm sorry.
Barker has himself said that he knows for certain that a lot of the players we have were wanted by other teams in leagues 1 and 2 - they definitely weren't considered to be terrible players. He also said it wasn't "attitude". Other possible reasons put forward are: a) They are 'too nice' - they lack the killer instinct. That makes some sense as Guy made a big thing about choosing them on their 'character', so maybe he chose people who were similar to himself. I remember Jamo saying that about the Bristol City squad - and they are in freefall. b) There are no natural 'leaders' on the pitch - Barker said it today and this is borne out by the fans who attend the matches, no-one hassles or organises the rest of the team, although David Connolly does a lot of moaning. c) The players aren't match fit, Barker said today that some of them don't train every day and all he hears is moaning. d) The other thing is that Pompey has had a losing mentality for the last 5 years - 47% losses - so the problem stems from somewhere in the back-room staff. Until Barker or Coppell identifies the problem we're going to carry on like this. Expect changes in January!
Sums things up nicely, 3rd eye Whilst we don't want Joey Barton type "thugs" playing for us, we could do with a bit more spirit around the place, and a definite will to win. Players like Sonny Bradley and Simon Ferry should be showing leadership. Johnny Ertle is the captain, why isn't he more vociferous to the other players. Trevor Carson should be barking orders to his defenders. All a little too lax. Fingers crossed that Richie Barker can pull things round for us, and Steve Coppell shows his worth in the transfer market with his many connections. Time will tell.
Well they certainly seem to lack the desire to win. To be fair to Sonny Bradley he is still quite young, which also indicates inexperience. Simon Ferry did seem to be showing some leadership and bossing earlier in the season but quickly reigned that in. None of our goalies seem to be very vocal - I remember several of the players in the championship team telling Jamie Ashdown he needed to talk to them, Simon Eastwood did quite well after a few poor games but then he had Rocha bossing the back four. Sullivan and Smith were dropped easily and quickly so we don't actually know how vocal they were, Carson is okay but again doesn't say enough and organise the defence. We got spoiled with Jamo. Johnny Ertl was fine until he got that red card in the Oxford game, he hasn't been the same since then. Connolly also didn't organise the team when he wore the armband which surprised me. Barker was quite blunt today, there were no leaders on the pitch.
So are you guys telling me that if Joey Barton were to offer his services to pompey, you'd turn him down? Not that you'll ever get the opportunity. Well done on beating the Daggers btw. Also I gather you were a bit unlucky against wronghampton yesterday. Are you turning a corner at the end of the year?
Si, señor. I expect a certain level of decency from any player who represents Portsmouth FC. I'm not talking about saintly (forgive the pun) players who never get booked or commit fouls, but I want players who are mostly decent and don't try to cheat or act in a violent thuggish manner. As such, divers are out of the question. Plus, the twat intentionally took out Pedro Mendes when he was single handedly destroying Man City back in the day, so no, I wouldn't welcome him with open arms. I'd rather be less successful with more honest and upright players, than be successful with players who are either thugs or cheat or whatever. I can't answer your second question as I haven't been to the Park in a while so I can't say if we've turned a corner. Hope we have though.
Archers, I can't see Joey Barton offering to play for us at say £1,500 p.w. tops - he probably wouldn't get out of bed for less than £40,000 p.w. He should have stayed in France.
The French loved Benny Hill so as English exports go, Joey Barton was an improvement. Just because someone's been an arsehole in the past doesn't mean he can't change for the better btw. You'd never be bored with a Barton about, and the guy certainly has heart (if that's what you want to call it) but I do recognise he's not ready for League 2 yet.
According to Wiki, this is the kind of person you are talking about Archers:- Barton sparked a ten-man brawl in a friendly match against Doncaster Rovers on 25 July 2004 after "hacking" at an opposition player. Although he signed a new contract on 22 September 2004, which would keep him at City until 2007, the club considered sacking Barton in December 2004 after an incident at their In May 2005 Barton broke a 35-year-old pedestrian's leg while driving his car through Liverpool city centre at 2 am. In the summer of 2005, Barton was sent home from a pre-season tournament in Thailand after assaulting a 15-year-old Everton supporter who had provoked Barton by verbally abusing him and kicking his shin. Barton had to be restrained from attacking the boy further by teammate Richard Dunne. Barton underwent anger management therapy at the order of City manager Stuart Pearce and paid £120,000 in club fines. Barton sparked a ten-man brawl in a friendly match against Doncaster Rovers on 25 July 2004 after "hacking" at an opposition player. Although he signed a new contract on 22 September 2004, which would keep him at City until 2007, the club considered sacking Barton in December 2004 after an incident at their Christmas party. He stubbed out a lit cigar in youth player Jamie Tandy's eye, after he had caught Tandy attempting to set fire to his shirt. Barton subsequently apologised for his actions and was fined six weeks' wages (£60,000). The bloke is a total embarassment to mankind.
