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POMPEY MAULED BY CHELSEA
Monday, 18 August, 2008
Pompey don't win at Stamford Bridge and yesterday was no exception as they were battered into a 4 - 0 defeat by a rampant Chelsea.
New Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari got his tactics spot on to counter Redknapp's 4-4-2 formation; that and one of Pompey's worst performances in recent memory.
There seemed to be no passion from the Pompey players who seemed to accept defeat before the game had started.
It was such an easy stroll for last season's Champions League losing finalists that one Chelsea supporter was heard to say that the Chlesea team didn't even bother showering after the game before they put on their Armani suits.
Joe Cole opened the scoring on 12 minutes before Anelka added to the tally on 26 minutes. A Frank Lampard penalty just before half-time sent Pompey in looking shell-shocked.
There was little cheer for Pompey fans in the second half either with team failing to have a single meaningful attempt at scoring.
The rout was completed just before the final whistle when Chelsea new boy Deco sent in a 25 metre shot which James called only palm into the net.
It wasn't the defeat that hurt, it was the manner of the defeat; a truly gutless performance by both Redknapp with his tactics and the team in their inability to create anything.
MENDES JOINS RANGERS
Monday, 18 August, 2008
Pedro Mendes has joined Rangers for £3m.
The midfielder has signed a three-year deal with the Scottish Premier League side.
Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie thanked the 29-year-old for his contribution during two-and-a-half years at Pompey.
Storrie said Mendes would always be specially remembered for scoring an injury-time winner against Manchester City at Fratton Park in March 2006 that sparked Pompey's dramatic escape from relegation that season.
"We're sorry to see good players go, particularly one like Pedro," Storrie explained. "He's not one we wanted to move on, but as a club we understand that we have to balance the books and that Pedro wants to be playing regularly. Glasgow Rangers are a big club and that was an attraction to Pedro. He's a quality player and has been a great servant to the club. It was his goal that started the run that kept us in the Premier League in 2006."
Blues boss Harry Redknapp said: "I'll miss Pedro. He was a great player for me and a great person. He was probably more responsible than anyone else for keeping us up two seasons ago."
Mendes, who has two Portugal caps, won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 under Jose Mourinho.
He joined Pompey from Tottenham in January 2006 and quickly developed a reputation for scoring exceptional long-range goals, including two against Manchester City and another a week later in a 4-2 win at West Ham.
Mendes was part of Harry Redknapp's FA Cup-winning side, playing 78 minutes of the 1-0 win over Cardiff at Wembley in May.
He played 68 times in all competitions for Pompey, scoring five goals. His final appearance for the Blues was against Manchester United in the FA Community Shield at Wembley this month.
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