Let latest Fratton clear-out begin. Next season must finish differently
POMPEY have been here before, of course. A final-day choking act, culminating in a last-gasp slip down the League One table and preceding a major summer squad overhaul. All eerily familiar.
Except next season cannot be a transitional period, the continuation of Danny Cowley’s Blues reign depends entirely on creating a sustained promotion challenge. It’s beautifully simple.
The Fratton faithful were spared the painful sight of witnessing Wigan holding a promotion party in their presence last Tuesday night, courtesy of a remarkable secondhalf comeback.
Instead they were forced to stomach Sheffield Wednesday’s brutal dismantling of their team on Saturday, followed by joyous scenes among the vast majority of the 33,394 people present at a pulsating Hillsborough.
A 4-1 home triumph secured playoff qualification for a side inspired by the brilliance of League One imposters Barry Bannan and Lee Gregory, the duo excelling at a level far below their natural talent.
It was impossible not to emit a sigh tinged with pangs of envy at the Owls extending their campaign for a little while longer amid aspirations of an instant Championship return.
Almost 12 months earlier, a calamitous 1-0 home defeat to Accrington cost Pompey the sixth spot they clutched heading into the last round of fixtures in 2020-21.
This time around, Cowley’s first full season failed to muster a realistic play-off challenge, such was the infuriating inconsistency over the campaign.
In April, the Blues overcame Rotherham and Wigan at Fratton Park, eye-catching victories over the two clubs who on Saturday claimed automatic promotion.
Subsequently, however, they were demolished 4-1 by a Sheffield Wednesday team which rampaged through an uncharacteristically fragile defence to effectively decide the outcome of the fixture by half time.
Now here comes the Fratton Park rebuild. Again.
Last summer signalled 12 departures and 15 arrivals during a chaotic period when triallists regularly outnumbered registered players during pre-season training sessions.
Cowley has promised such an approach is not required this time around, with firm foundations already in place, largely consisting of Joe Morrell,
Connor Ogilvie,
Clark Robertson and Denver Hume. Nonetheless, if Pompey are to emulate Sheffield Wednesday in 12 months’ time, considerable recruitment is required – of which the majority must become success stories.
Playing budgets can be debated – or often the case guessed as smoke and mirrors are rolled out to deflect and distract – yet, as ever, recruitment is king. That is down to Cowley and a team which, in absolute fairness, identified some very good players over the last two windows.
Gavin Bazunu, Hayden Carter, George Hirst, Louis Thompson, Morrell, Ogilvie, Aiden O’Brien and Robertson have proven fine acquisitions, some of whom have enhanced their reputation so significantly that they are now beyond League One.
Throw in Mahlon Romeo as well, who demonstrated quality which unfortunately dipped substantially from the turn of the year, and Cowley’s transfer business must be applauded.
We now await to see which of those whose loans expire and contracts end are to remain at Fratton Park to underpin the team’s latest round of reconstruction.
Yet at least the Blues’ head coach has credit in this department, such have been the impact of eight of his signings over the last two transfer windows. How he would love all to return, but realistically that won’t happen.
Bazunu is destined for greater things and has played his last game, Carter isn’t for sale and is of Championship calibre, while Hirst has dramatically transformed a fading career since finally being handed a first-team run in November and could now be out of reach.
Carter and Hirst, of course, may come back to Fratton Park on loan, yet, as ever, that hinges on their parent clubs’ plans and the players themselves, factors often overlooked during supporter clamour for their returns.
Some players will depart with sadness, others with relish, but Cowley cannot afford to experience that familiar final-day feeling for a third time. NEIL ALLEN reports...