Portsmouth announce retained list for 2019-20 season

So 20 señor pros. If Lowe and Clarke are snapped up, maybe even Curtis, that leaves 17 and our three best players gone. I hope there are some new signings in the pipeline. Hoepfully there is another one like Lowe that we can get from non-League football. Need a creative midfielder, a new CB, and a mobile striker who will créate space for our attacking midfielders to run into and score goals.

 

An interesting list:

it is interesting to try and divide the list into players that could continue to improve and those that are probably at the peak of their abilities:
Near the Peak of their Abilities:
Brown ( who has been very good and consistent this season and could continue to be so), Nathan Thompson ( same as Brown but could leave).
Gareth Evans, Tom Naylor and Brett Pitman.
Could Improve:
Alex Bass*, Matt Clarke (hard to see that he could play much better at this level though), Close, Curtis, Dennis*, Haunstrup*, Lowe, May*, McGee*, Anton Walkes, and Whatmough.
Those marked * cannot improve without game opportunities.
In Between:
Christian Burgess ( has played very well in defence but over does the long ball out of defence), MacGillvray ( had a great season but, like Burgess possibly over does the long ball), Hawkins ( clearly fulfils a role and probably has a good attitude but gives the feeling perhaps a middling Div One player is his upper limit)

Unknowns:
Cannon and Morris.

All the above comments are based on reading reports and watching extended highlights although the three recent games against Sunderland were televised 'Downunder'.

Recruitment Required:
Assuming all the above remain at the club the most pressing needs are:
1) Another winner of 50-50 balls in mid field - Naylor cannot do it all! It is unknown if Cannon or Morris could fulfil this role.
2) A front man with physical presence and pace - a faster addition of Hawkins ideally with a little more hunger in the box.
3) the No 10 Position. I would like Dennis to be given a run in this role. Pitman is a clever player, with good anticipation and positional play in front of goal. However, I am not sure he consistently shows the necessary energy levels. My impression is that his work rate has improved since he was dropped and has come back into the side - which begs the question why was he not putting in as much before? In fairness it is difficult to judge the amount of off the ball running done from television viewing. I am not sure Pitman has the right attitude for captaincy.

If Thompson goes Walkes appears to be his natural replacement. Perhaps not as good but with potential to improve. I am not sure if Haunstrup would be comfortable at right back or if he is strictly a left sided player. If Thompson leaves and Haunstrup can deputise at either full back position he has a reasonable chance of game time next season, covering to injury or suspension for the two positions. If he is purely a left back I cannot see him getting game time while Brown is fit and he should leave to further his career. A pity because I believe he has potential. While not his favoured position Evans has also done well at full back in the past.

If Clarke goes his natural replacement would be a fit Whatmough playing alongside Burgess. If Casey has been offered a contract he must be thought to have 1st team potential. Walkes, Thompson ( if still with us) and Hawkins are all potential makeshift central defenders for a couple of games if necessary. The only senior player in this bunch is Thompson. The apparent concentration of effort in signing a new central defender is surprising - even if Clarke goes. I feel any further signing in this position should be a senior player. Otherwise the present young competitors for the position will become hard to hold onto.

If Lowe or Curtis leave it will leave a big gap. I do not know if it would leave another opportunity Dennis or if he is more No 10 than winger.

May ,Bass, & McGee must realistically consider leaving if the opportunity arises since they cannot improve without game time and their prospects of it appear to me to be poor.

Any recruitment must constitute an immediate upgrade in quality from the current squad. To their great credit I believe the squad has over performed in the past season but I cannot see great improvement coming from within. However, a couple of quality players may be all that is required - even if Lowe or Clarke leave.
PUP

 

An article in The news lists 25 players that have joined Pompey in the 'Eisner Era.' Of these 13 are loans
The only loan that has become permanent is Walkes.
Some loans are a necessity and there is a case for trying before you commit.
However, it makes team building difficult and perhaps it has been overdone.

 

Thompson not signing a new deal and will go, Clark as we all know is off and they have rejected bids for Jamal Lowe but more are surely to follow.

The powers that be really need to earn their pennies otherwise the team will go backwards.