That's not to say Harry Redknapp sat idely by: former Newcastle and Sheffield Wednesday keeper Pavel Srnicek has signed from Seria A's Brescia - bringing the number of keepers at Fratton Park to five. Perhaps now Yoshi Kawaguchi will consider whether his future lies at Portsmouth.
Jason Roberts, the former Wolves and Bristol Rovers forward, has also signed on loan as cover up-front from WBA, rejecting a move to link up with Marc Burchill at Wigan Athletic. I understand that FA rules mean that we were unable to sign Ian Harte on loan from Leeds, due to FA regulations (we have already loaned two players from English clubs). Peter Storrie commented: "It was a simple misinterpretation by both Harry and Peter Reid of some fairly confusing rules. We are sorry to have lost out on Ian but the rules as they are, there is nothing we can do."
Doh! At this point I do have to comment on the PFA's Mick McGuire's commented that loaning players to sides in the same league is dangerous because they could score or give away goals in matches affectin their own team. Would they really risk making obvious blunders and take the chance of a match-fixing rap? And, if they were to score for the team they were on loan to, er, isn't that the reason they were signed in the first place?
Harry Redknapp is also facing an FA rap for comments made to offical Lee Mason at Wolves on Saturday - the last thing he needed after the Amdy Faye/Andy Henry saga is still unresolved. Still, a whole host of new signings have already been made this season, and Pompey are still undefeated so far, so we should remain in good spirits for the visit to Highbury - that will be the ultimate test as to how well we will fare this term!