Pre-Season Begins

Today the Pompey squad get their first taste if action as they take on League 2 side Torquay to begin their pre-season preperation. The anticipation of this game is admittedly low with only one new player taking part and no doubt some of the reserves like Mornar and Viafara will play some part so obviously the excitement won't be there unlike last season where "big name signing" Laurent Robert made his debut against Havant and Waterlooville in a 6-0 thrashing and all looked rosy.

I won't be attending any of the friendlies bar the Havant and Waterlooville fixture and of course the home game against Porto, so as like many other Pompey fans I'm restricted to see how the side get on via the radio.

Here's the full list of pre-season fixtures:

19/07/06: Torquay (A) 19:45
21/07/06: Yeovil (A) 19:45
26/07/06: Southend (A) 19:45
29/07/06: Bournemouth (A) 15:00
31/07/06: Havant and Waterlooville (A) TBA
01/08/06: Dorchester (A) 19:45
04/08/06: Oxford (A) 19:45
10/08/06: FC Porto (H) 19:45

Note that the Dorchester game will feature a Pompey XI.

In other news Nicholas Anelka has confirmed we have made an offer for him, though he'd rather join a club which is playing in Europe if possible. The local rag also reports that Manuel Fernandes should sign by the end of the week as he jetted in to Pompey today.

That is all. My thoughts of the first pre-season game will appear later today.