Goalkeepers
Dean Kiely
Jamie Ashdown
Names linked: Charles Itandje, David James
Currently we only have two professional goalkeepers at the club. I believe Kiely will still be the first choice by the start of the season whilst Ashdown is good backup, although he still has a bit to learn yet. But what if they both get injured? That is a possibility as Everton fans will tell you having had Westerveld on emergency loan last season (it must have been some emergency!) Harry probably won't like the idea of drafting in a youth goalkeeper and might sign another, though Itandje has said he wants to stay with Lens and David James has been linked in the tabloids although isn't any better than Deano and is of a similar age anyway. A third 'keeper would certainly be handy to have around though.
Full Backs
Matthew Taylor
Glen Johnson
Brian Priske
Richard Duffy
Andy Griffin
Names linked: None
I have put Priske in the list seeing as he hasn't been officially released yet, though it is almost certain he will be off. That leaves us with Johnson, Griffin and Duffy to play right back. Obviously, Johnson is going to be first choice with Griffin as backup, however I think he might be one to go if Harry believes Duffy is ready for Premiership football. He's had some good reviews up at Coventry and Micky Adams also rates him highly so if Harry does the same, he could find himself playing against Chelsea some time soon and Griffin will be surplus to requirements. We only have one left back which worries me a bit, because if Taylor gets injured the only cover we have is Dejan who can play left back if needed so I certainly wouldn't rule out at least one more left sided player coming in.
Centre Backs
Dejan Stefanovic
Linvoy Primus
Noe Pamarot
Andy O'Brien
Names linked: Sol Campbell, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Curtis Davies
Dejan and Linvoy's names are in bold for the sheer fact that both have signed new contracts and will no doubt be in Harry's plans for next season. I have my doubts about both being in the starting eleven but I have no doubt whatsoever that both can do a job there if needed, especially Primus who always seems to prosper against the big name strikers in this division, it's just his lack of pace that worries me. I think Pamarot will stay just because he hasn't been here long and he might still have something to offer us. However it wouldn't suprise me at all to see O'Brien leave in the summer, mainly due to the fact he was signed by Alain Perrin and he also the fact he is very average, albeit steady.
I would love to see Sol Campbell and Curtis Davies as the clubs central defensive partnership this season. A mixture of youth and experience, pace and power, aerial ability and tackling etc. Davies could learn a lot from Campbell, who I still think is a very good defender despite his wayward performances last season, although he was excellent in the Champions League final. Having one of the best defenders of the last decade in Tony Adams at the club might also persuade Davies to join us. Hopefully Harry can pull this off, just please don't buy Boumsong!
Midfielders
Gary O'Neil
Pedro Mendes
Sean Davis
Richard Hughes
John Viafara
Frank Songo'o
Names linked: Stilian Petrov, Alexei Smertin, Achille Emana
The first concern here is the lack of a left sided midfielder, unless Matty Taylor will be pushed upfield with Stefanovic filling in at left back, but I don't see that happening so it's essential we get a left sided player in, possibly Petrov if he is comfortable playing there. I also hope Gary O'Neil will be moved to centre midfield which is his best position by his own admission, if he did do this then either Mendes or Davis would have to sit on the bench but that is one area where we would have strength in depth, especially as injuries are bound to occur and Hughes can also do a decent no-nonsense job there if needed. If Gary did play centre then that would give us another problem as we'd practically be naked down the wings as the closest we had to a replacement for Steve Stone last season was Wayne Routledge, and he hardly ever played.
I don't see why we would need Smertin or Emana (though we have apparently dropped our interest in him) as both are defensive midfield players and we already have a couple at the club. We all know Harry loves his wingers so expect to see a couple brought in sometime soon. Viafara and Songo'o will no doubt be off, for the same reason as O'Brien if he leaves. Saying that, would you really miss any of them?
Strikers
Lomana Lua Lua
Svetoslav Todorov
Benjani Mwaruwari
James Keene
Ivica Mornar
Names linked: Henri Camara, Emile Heskey, Jermaine Defoe, Marlon Harewood
We have three decent strikers on that list although I doubt that Toddy, Lua Lua or Benjani will score 15 goals a season like Yakubu did and we still need to replace him. Defoe could probably get us 15 with regular football although I can't see him coming here, there is a rumour going round saying that Camara will be signing for us tommorow too. He's not exactly young anymore however there's still a couple of good seasons left in him, we shall see if this rumour has any truth to it. The Harewood rumour was just paper talk and I really hope we don't get Heskey, I can't see anything positive about that move at all. Keene has been told by Redknapp that he can leave and I still can't believe Mornar is still here! He'll be gone shortly.... probably....
Our squad, minus a couple of players who still ply their trade in the reserves currently totals at 22 which is thin enough as it is. Counting just the names in bold and we only have 11 who I and many other Pompey fans would consider good enough for regular first team football (or at least Harry would anyway in regards to players like Stefanovic).
The main priority is that we bring in a couple of decent wingers as we currently have none who are likely to stay, unless Lua Lua will play there. I still think we need a 15 goal a season striker and at least one more top quality centre back before we can consider ourselves out of the "relegation candidates" bracket. We still have plenty of time to sign these players though, so once again I re-iterate there is no reason to panic! Let's just see what Harry can do...