I still think a big problem is our service and delivery to our strikers.
I agree, but it's a difficult area and players don't always click immediately, they need to understand each other's games. Powell was fortunate in that he overhauled the squad and they clicked from day one.
We are fortunate that not many of the squad have gone on international duty so they can work on different things together.
Haven’t read any posts apart from afkas initial. For me, the only improvement on the team so far has been Apter. Carey and bell have looked decent so far but not a massive upgrade imo. I’m not writing the others off but the jury is undeniably out. Something tells me the best singing of the lot could be Bree!
Happy with the investment the board have shown so for at this early stage I’ll give it 7/10
The best signing we've made in 2025, was the new contract for Lloyd Jones back in January. I'm not sure any of the new players are as important as he is to this team.
The talk on here before the window opened was mainly about us operating with a bottom 6 transfer budget. We actually ended up with a top 6 net transfer budget. Couldn’t have asked for anything more from the owners. It’s now up to the players to deliver.
In terms of transfer fees yes, but that's not the whole story. We could have used our budget to sign free or cheaper transfers, but with higher wages and signing on fees.
I'm sure our wages budget will be bottom 6, maybe bottom 4.
Surely the free or cheaper transfers are free or cheaper for a reason though? Chucking money at wages doesn't mean they're better than those for a fee
Free players are often player who run their contract down. Like Small. Or indeed Bell and Carey.
Cheaper players could be because of their age. Keiffer Moore was cheaper than Charlie Kelman for example, but would be on way higher wages than we could pay. Or they might have a release clause. Wrexham (again) got Ryan Hardie for a bargain £700k, but I bet his wages are good.
Free transfer players, who are any good, often command a signing on fee, which can be up to £1m-£4m. Also, wages of £15k a week (probably a lot of Charlton players) compared to £40k of say an experienced Championship striker, works out as a difference of over £4m over a 3 year deal. Free transfers can be a lot more expensive.
I think the board did more than any of us expected this window. Easy to say we need a goalscorer but we were never going to spend the £10-15m required on a proven championship goalscorer. Godden has had decent returns in the championship before.
None of our strikers have missed a guilt edged chance as far as I can remember, they need service.
I'd go 8.5/10 increasing to 9 or 9.5 if we aren't in the bottom 3 come May.
If we stay up it’s an automatic 10/10. Before the window opened we were comfortably favourites to finish 23rd and almost every other fanbase had us to go down so surely the fact that has changed now shows we’ve considerably strengthened even if a few players haven’t got up to speed yet
If we stay up it’s an automatic 10/10. Before the window opened we were comfortably favourites to finish 23rd and almost every other fanbase had us to go down so surely the fact that has changed now shows we’ve considerably strengthened even if a few players haven’t got up to speed yet
The last 2/3 windows we've fished in the pond of Champ journeymen and L1 acheivers. It got us up and although our points don't reflect performances, we are competitive at this level, more so when we field a fit and integrated squad.
However we need to diversify in next 2+ windows for potential marquee signings and long shot punts. Abroad?
The last 2/3 windows we've fished in the pond of Champ journeymen and L1 acheivers. It got us up and although our points don't reflect performances, we are competitive at this level, more so when we field a fit and integrated squad.
However we need to diversify in next 2+ windows for potential marquee signings and long shot punts. Abroad?
Think Abroad will come next summer if we stay up. I completely understand focusing on domestic players in the first window back at this level , a lot less risk involved.
A fanciful suggestion but I wonder if we could convince Christian Erikson to sign til January? Currently not picked for Denmark because he doesn’t have a club. And much like Jorge Costa, will want to play to qualify for a World Cup swansong.
He presumably has a base in London from his time at Brentford and Spurs. He’d be perfect in the 10 role to bring a bit of guile and composure, making chances for Kelman and co.
Would he take a salary hit to gamble on that WC place?
A fanciful suggestion but I wonder if we could convince Christian Erikson to sign til January? Currently not picked for Denmark because he doesn’t have a club. And much like Jorge Costa, will want to play to qualify for a World Cup swansong.
He presumably has a base in London from his time at Brentford and Spurs. He’d be perfect in the 10 role to bring a bit of guile and composure, making chances for Kelman and co.
Would he take a salary hit to gamble on that WC place?
Is he a NJ player? As much as I would love someone of his quality. Still reminisce about Di Canio's time with us. Was anyone else at Pompey away when Sheringham was tearing us a new one and could have been 5-0 up? Paulo came on with 20 minutes to go, turned the game and we won 2-1.
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We are fortunate that not many of the squad have gone on international duty so they can work on different things together.
None of our strikers have missed a guilt edged chance as far as I can remember, they need service.
I'd go 8.5/10 increasing to 9 or 9.5 if we aren't in the bottom 3 come May.
However we need to diversify in next 2+ windows for potential marquee signings and long shot punts. Abroad?
Currently not picked for Denmark because he doesn’t have a club. And much like Jorge Costa, will want to play to qualify for a World Cup swansong.
He’d be perfect in the 10 role to bring a bit of guile and composure, making chances for Kelman and co.
Still reminisce about Di Canio's time with us.
Was anyone else at Pompey away when Sheringham was tearing us a new one and could have been 5-0 up?
Paulo came on with 20 minutes to go, turned the game and we won 2-1.