Adam McGurk: Portsmouth sign Burton striker on two-year deal The 26-year-old scored seven goals - including one against Portsmouth - in 41 appearances for the Brewers during their League Two title-winning season. McGurk came through Aston Villa's youth system before moving to non-league Hednesford and then Tranmere Rovers. "What attracted me was the size of the club and the large crowds that watch the games," he told the club website. The Northern Ireland under-21 international joined Burton in August 2013 and scored 19 goals in 83 games during his two years at the club. "I'm excited for the new season," he added. "I'm looking forward to getting down to work and bonding with my new team-mates." Another part of the jigsaw. Christian Burgess should be next.............
Adam Barton is set to be confirmed as Pompey’s sixth summer signing. The holding midfielder has agreed to ink a two-year deal with the Blues after leaving Coventry. The 24-year-old made 30 appearances for the League One side last season. Barton has a full Northern Ireland cap and has recovered from a serious leg injury suffered in 2012. He follows attacker Adam McGurk into Fratton Park today with defender Christian Burgess’ arrival due to be confirmed tomorrow.
Are Pompey rapidly becoming a League of Ireland side in disguise? How about a young player from South London where there is an ocean of talent waiting to be scooped up?
Oil freakin take it. We may finish top half albeit I am aiming for a play off spot to be sure , so I am.
Andy Awford has been appointed as Luton Town's new Youth Academy and Development Manager. Good luck to you Awfs, hope it all goes well for you there Pompey off to the Algarve in Portugal for pre-season training, and taking with them triallists Michael Doyle the ex Sheff Utd midfielder, and rather surprisingly to my mind, Tom Craddock the injury prone striker we released end of last season. We are still in need of a right back though. What about young Josh Passley who has been released by Fulham. I thought he looked quite promising for us on loan last season.
Shame. The last time we went to the Iberian peninsula we had an amazing away kit. Alas, this season we have a hideous home kit and a dull generic away kit.
I thought the home kit was a traditional blue, white and red. Is it the design that is awful? I agree with you that white with the red and blue flashes on the sleeve is not very inspiring Best home kit I have seen Pompey in was the Admiral one in 1979-80 with a good shade of blue. Best away kit, the salmon pink and black shorts and socks. White, yellow and all black are not very original for me and do nothing to appeal to my eye. Would love to see florescent pink and dark blue/black stripes, black shorts and black socks with the florescent pink flashes as an away kit. It would look great.
please log in to view this image Don't mind the home kit. As Ides says it is at least the traditional blue shirt, white shorts and red socks. As for the away kit - at least it's not quite as bad as the 1982 England shirt please log in to view this image
Yes, it's blue, white and red (but then, is it likely to be anything else? Although I know it has been in the past) but what is with that hideous white bit in the middle? The home shorts are okay though/
So, Pompey depart for their training centre in Portugal, but minus three of their existing players who have remained at home. Rumour has it that Andy Barcham our talented but injury prone winger is in talks with AFC Wimbledon - no loss if true, to my mind. The club are apparently negotiating with Johnny Ertl about mutually agreeing his release from his contract - sad news indeed if true. James Dunne's partner is pregnant, which may be the reason he stayed in the U.K., but who knows what is going on ? Finally, strong rumours doing the rounds that Matt Tubbs may be on his way to AFC Wimbledon, who have made an offer for him Surely Pompey wouldn't be that daft, would they ? We are being linked with Leyton Orient striker Dave Mooney (yet another player born in Eire, Ides ). He is 6'2" in height and 30 years of age - so, why didn't we keep Ryan Taylor instead of letting him join Oxford Utd on a free ? Answers on the back of a postcard please...........
There's no way that Paul Cook would get rid of last season's winner of the L2 Golden Boot. There is no truth in that rumour. Anyway Tubbsy is ok in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
I worry now about expectations being raised too high again. Awford suffered for the excellent run at the end of the 2013/14 season and people expected Pompey to be challenging for the title when the squad wasn't really strong enough, Cook might suffer from making so many signings and people expecting immediate results. I'm not going to pretend that I'm familiar enough with the players he's signed to say whether or not I think the team strong enough now for a title challenge or promotion push but having signed nine players so far - essentially a whole first team sqaud - Cook will be under more pressure to get results and get them quickly.
The rumours about Johnny Ertl and nearly true. Apparently they are not only negotiating with him to end his playing contract, they are also in talks with him about a position within the club. It's a case of watch this space.
Portsmouth have agreed a deal to bring winger Ben Tollitt to the club from non-league Skelmersdale United. Tollitt, 20, has been on trial with the League Two side and featured in a pre-season friendly against Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday. He moves to Fratton Park on a one-year deal with the option of an extension. "I'm made up. It's my first professional contract and I can't wait to get started," Tollitt told the club's official website. Tollitt had only been with Northern Premier League Skelmersdale since November after impressing against them in a Liverpool Senior Cup tie for Widnes. "We'd seen something in the lad we felt we could work with and progress," Skelmersdale manager Tommy Lawson told BBC Radio Solent. "That was the beginning really and, in that time, he progressed really quickly despite stepping up three divisions. "He's two-footed and an exciting player with that tremendous ability to get a cross away. "I think supporters down at Portsmouth are going to be watching a very exciting youngster."
Michael Poke has joined Eastleigh on loan until January http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33658098
