There hasn't been much happening in the world of Pompey at the moment, but here's the latest rumours, speculation and gossip doing the rounds.
In the words of Anne Robinson, the strongest link is currently the "Alou Diarra to Portsmouth" story. The Lyon midfielder is yet another player who doesn't want to play for Alain Perrin and it's looking increasingly likely that the current Pompey manager can strike a deal with the former Pompey manager for the French midfielder. The price touted for the strong, combative player is reported to be around £4 million.
Other recent links to Pompey have been Maccabi Haifa striker Roberto Caluatti who is rated at £1.5 million but links to Freddie Ljungberg, Craig Bellamy, promising QPR winger Lee Cook, Scotland striker Gary O'Connor and Osasuna hitman Pierre Webo have all been rejected by the club.
The speculation surrounding Kanu's future at the club continues to go round in circles in what is becoming a very tiresome and irritating saga. Kanu will not settle for a one year deal but that's all that Harry Redknapp is prepared to offer in fear that his legs will go in the second year of his deal.
The Nigerian is threatening to leave Pompey if they don't meet his demands but the board and management will not budge, meaning they're just going round in circles constantly and the fans are getting annoyed by the whole story and just want it sorted.
Benjani has been linked with a move away to Marseille but this has been rubbished, and I definitely couldn't see the Zimbabwean moving after the fans have taken to him after a difficult start to his Pompey career. One player who could be on his way very shortly is Andy O'Brien, who is reportedly close to a move to Sunderland.
In other news, the fixtures for Pompey's 2007/2008 campaign are released tomorrow at 10am. Due to stupid legal reasons I'm not allowed to publish these or post them on the messageboard despite the creative suggestions of replacing team names with numerous other things.
I advise messageboard users to refrain from posting the fixture list or portions of it, though discussion of them is, of course, permitted. I will post an article with my reaction and thoughts to the fixture list once they are released and I thank you in advance for not posting the fixtures on the messageboard.
With regards to how I think our fixture list will shape up, having been at home for our last 5 seasons I believe it's about time that we were away on the opening day and there have been rumours that the club applied for an away game to start to allow more time for completion of the Milton End roof. I have a nasty feeling we will be away to Bolton on the opening day and then follow it with a home game against Chelsea.
Ideally we want a home fixture to begin with and I'd be happy with any team at Fratton Park though ideally we want a team like Boro or Wigan to begin with. An away game against the "big 4" wouldn't be as bad as some people make out as it would get that fixture out of the way at the start, rather than when we are on a run of form. We also want to avoid being away to one of the promoted sides, or sides who have appointed a new manager as they will be extremely fired up and we don't travel well anyway.
Finally, thanks to all who have currently voted in the Fratton Faithful awards. I have pushed the deadline back to Saturday as I plan something else for Friday. So, if you haven't voted yet then what are you waiting for? Click here and do it already!
In the words of Anne Robinson, the strongest link is currently the "Alou Diarra to Portsmouth" story. The Lyon midfielder is yet another player who doesn't want to play for Alain Perrin and it's looking increasingly likely that the current Pompey manager can strike a deal with the former Pompey manager for the French midfielder. The price touted for the strong, combative player is reported to be around £4 million.
Other recent links to Pompey have been Maccabi Haifa striker Roberto Caluatti who is rated at £1.5 million but links to Freddie Ljungberg, Craig Bellamy, promising QPR winger Lee Cook, Scotland striker Gary O'Connor and Osasuna hitman Pierre Webo have all been rejected by the club.
The speculation surrounding Kanu's future at the club continues to go round in circles in what is becoming a very tiresome and irritating saga. Kanu will not settle for a one year deal but that's all that Harry Redknapp is prepared to offer in fear that his legs will go in the second year of his deal.
The Nigerian is threatening to leave Pompey if they don't meet his demands but the board and management will not budge, meaning they're just going round in circles constantly and the fans are getting annoyed by the whole story and just want it sorted.
Benjani has been linked with a move away to Marseille but this has been rubbished, and I definitely couldn't see the Zimbabwean moving after the fans have taken to him after a difficult start to his Pompey career. One player who could be on his way very shortly is Andy O'Brien, who is reportedly close to a move to Sunderland.
In other news, the fixtures for Pompey's 2007/2008 campaign are released tomorrow at 10am. Due to stupid legal reasons I'm not allowed to publish these or post them on the messageboard despite the creative suggestions of replacing team names with numerous other things.
I advise messageboard users to refrain from posting the fixture list or portions of it, though discussion of them is, of course, permitted. I will post an article with my reaction and thoughts to the fixture list once they are released and I thank you in advance for not posting the fixtures on the messageboard.
With regards to how I think our fixture list will shape up, having been at home for our last 5 seasons I believe it's about time that we were away on the opening day and there have been rumours that the club applied for an away game to start to allow more time for completion of the Milton End roof. I have a nasty feeling we will be away to Bolton on the opening day and then follow it with a home game against Chelsea.
Ideally we want a home fixture to begin with and I'd be happy with any team at Fratton Park though ideally we want a team like Boro or Wigan to begin with. An away game against the "big 4" wouldn't be as bad as some people make out as it would get that fixture out of the way at the start, rather than when we are on a run of form. We also want to avoid being away to one of the promoted sides, or sides who have appointed a new manager as they will be extremely fired up and we don't travel well anyway.
Finally, thanks to all who have currently voted in the Fratton Faithful awards. I have pushed the deadline back to Saturday as I plan something else for Friday. So, if you haven't voted yet then what are you waiting for? Click here and do it already!