Who will be staying? Who will be leaving? Who will be brought in? Danny Hollands (he of the long throw and occasional hat-trick) - Awfs has confirmed that talks will go on with him and his agent to try and secure a deal. DH has already said that he'd like to stay.
Hard to say who will come in...but I think we need a bit of muscle in midfiled....like the guy Diagouraga, a central defender and a 10 goal a season striker. Leaving....again hard....hope Jed stays but who knows...so I'll go for a staying list that includes him as beloiw....those left out are purely opinion on what I've seen...hard with some as not seen enough of them playing Carson & Smith....not 100% on Cars....but do rate him....he needs to be louder N'Gala East Devera Connolly (DC still under contract I think) Holmes Shorey Bird Webster Harris Taylor Whatmough Wallace Hollands Fogden Ertl Chorley Ferry Racon
Just seen this tweet from Phil Smith phil smith ‏@smudgeegghead 1h 18 seasons done and dusted time for a rest!! Looks like he's hanging up his gloves.
Unsure Wallace - highest scoring player this season, depends on what he wants and whether he's prepared to stick around for another season N'Gala - featured quite frequently under Awford but I just think we've got players of similar standard on longer contracts and with young players coming through he wont be needed. Smith - not really featured at all. Might be kept as back up but maybe not, maybe he wont want to stay. Harris - young forward, I feel he has potential but he's only played once for us this season so he could be deemed surplus. Agyemang - getting on in years, lost his spot to a younger player in Taylor who plays a similar role, might be considered expendible or might choose to leave if he doesn't want to play second fiddle. Renewed contracts Shorey - I think we'll try to keep him to keep an experianced left-back at the club while we gradually introduce Butler Webster - good young defender who's played a key role in Awford's plans, obvious. Bird - showed enough at Cambridge to be given his shot. In Hollands - out of contract at Charlton, impressed on loan, definite signing Carson - I think he's out of contract at Bury so if that's the case we'll go for him. Ashdown - out of contract at Leeds, might take a pay cut to return. Dependent on wage demands and Carson and Smith's decisions. Out Racon - fallen out of favor, bound to be on his way out Moutouakil - not featured in a long time and is certainly going to be released Jervis - barely featured, cant see him staying Painter - out too long due to injury. Connolly - getting old, looking to step into management, dont think he'd be a good influence if he stuck around
I'm not at all convinced by these Connolly 'bad influence' rumours, they all surfaced with Guy's demise and Barker's appointment, funnily enough he was gone within a few days of pledging his future to Pompey. I've heard other rumours as well, such as - one of the reasons Connolly didn't get the manager's job was because the board weren't impressed with him not speaking up over Whittingham's faults as manager and - Connolly offered to rip up his contract to be the caretaker manager after Guy but the board said no because they needed him to play. One of the things that the players themselves have said is that while Guy was there "the dressing room was too nice" I'm not suggesting he was perfect but there is nothing there to indicate a poisoned atmosphere. He is still contracted with us for another year, it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks.
I don't know, none of us do, but I trust Awfs to get it right when it comes to managing egos and personality.
My point was, the last thing Awford needs to do as he looks towards a positive future and to stamp his own mark on the club is to deal with a disruptive influence, and if there is any chance that Connolly would be a disruptive influence we would be better served getting rid of him. Regardless, I think we would be better served for the future putting our faith in younger players who have proven themselves at this level - like Ryan Taylor who had a similar goals-to-game ratio to Connolly this season - or those with potential - like Bird showed at Cambridge - who will be around longer and will be able to play more games per season.
This is who the club have appointed at the moment. Awfs has yet to decide who to appoint as his Assistant and who will take over from him as Director of the Academy. Football team operations Manager: Andy Awford First Team Coach: Alan McLoughlin First Team Coach: Paul Hardyman Chief Scout: Martin Hinshelwood Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach: Louis Langdown Head of Performance Analysis: Mark Thomas Player Recruitment Consultant: Darren Simmons Kit Manager: Kev McCormack Club Ambassador: Alan Knight MBE Read more at http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/club/personnel/index.aspx#OxytS6BDKJrGYetX.99
I agree with your points, but at the same time I've no concerns about AA being able to deal with anyone and anything that comes his way. He could always play the bad cop to Guy's good cop. He has certainly got a temper - a few of the players have commented on that, but I think he knows when to use it and when not to, (like any good teacher I suppose). Funny you should mention Ryan Taylor, he was one of Steve Coppell's few purchases at Bristol City. He didn't get on well there and the fans were glad to see the back of him, but Awfs seems to know how to use his strengths and get the best out of him, getting him to emulate Benjani was a master-stroke. Similarly Ryan Bird who did brilliantly at Cambridge but looked like a headless chicken playing for us, either the set up was wrong or he wasn't getting the right service. I also think he will know how best to use the youngsters - ala Jack Whatmough. He also had a new Academy player on the bench yesterday, Ben Close, a midfielder who we've been told "wait until you see him...." I can't remember the time I felt so confident in a Manager.
I have confidence that Awford will prove effective in the role - he's certainly shown enough as caretaker to earn that trust - but he's still a young manager so you'd want him to have as smooth a first season as possible, which is, again, why I'd favor removing any potential disruptive influences early. He does seem a better man-manager than Guy or Barker so maybe it wouldn't be an issue anyway, but there you go. I do get the right kind of vibes from Andy, and I would love to be sitting here four/five years down the line and be able to say he's been one of our greatest ever managers but I'm reluctant to get too carried away in praising him until he has at least one season under his belt and we've performed well enough to earn that praise.
Are you thinking of Jamo as a goalkeeping coach, Lapras ? If so, fully agree. If we can't get him, then it has got to be offered to Dave Coles, who did a good job previously.
Can you believe we had 4 goalkeeping coaches last season? I did read one of Jamo's articles in the Guardian where he said he didn't want to be a goalie coach as it was so limited - but he'd probably be happy to coach first team or a similar role. Otherwise, yes, let's get Dave Coles - Jamo reckoned he was the best of all his coaches.
I would love Jamo to become keeper coach here and maybe one day manager. Perhaps it is limited, but it could be something he does while training for his UEFA Manager Licences.
I am very wary of getting in past heroes just because they are past heroes. If David Coles is available and is prepared to come back for a third stint as goalkeeping then it's a no-brainier. As for assistant manager, it likely to be someone from outside of the club that no one on here has thought of.
Look here for free transfers http://www.thepfa.com/transferlist How about this for an "Out of Contract XI" GK - Swan Jahal (30) last season - Leyton Orient (L1) 2 apps Prev 5 - 150 apps for Bournemouth in L1 & L2 RB - James O'Connor (29) last season - Bristol City (L1) 3 apps 2012-13 - Derby (Ch) 22aps Prev - Doncaster (Ch & L1) 212 apps CB - Peter Clarke (32) last season - Huddersfield (Ch) 26 apps Prev - Huddersfield (Ch & L1) 166 apps CB - Gabriel Zakvani (27) last season - Kallonis (Greek Super League) 15 apps & Peterborough (L1) 15 apps Prev 5 seasons - Peterborough (Ch & L1) 165 apps LB - Joseph Heath (25) last season - Chester (BSP) 23 apps Prev 2 seasons - Hereford (L2 & BSP) 37 apps RM - Andrew Haworth (25) last season - Notts Co (L1 2 apps, Tamworth (BSP) 11 apps 2012-13 - Rochdale 7 apps, Falkirk 12 apps Prev - under 'Ronnie' Barker at Bury CM - Nathan Turner (21) last season - Chester (BSP) 25 apps 2012-13 - Chester (BSN) 19 apps, Leeds U21 14 apps CM - Keith Southern (33) last season - Huddersfield (CH) 10 apps 2012-13 - Huddersfield (CH) 29 apps Prev - Blackpool (Prem & Ch) 126 apps LM - Christopher Palmer (30) last season - Oxford City (BSN) 8 apps, Tamworth (BSP) 5 apps Prev 5 seasons - 125 apps for Burton, Gillingham and Walsall in L1 & L2 CF - Matthew Paterson (24) last season - Aldershot (BSP) 25 apps, Havant & Waterlooville (BSS) 9 apps Prev 5 seasons - 102 apps for various clubs; CH 11, L1 24, L2 52, BSP 1, Sc1 14 CF - Calvin Andrew (27) last season Mansfield (L2) 23 apps and York (L2) 22 apps Prev 5 seasons - 107 apps for various clubs; CH 56, L1 29, L2 22 Any-one there that you think AA should take a look at?
