CHAMPIONS OF ASIA
Monday, 30 July, 2007

Pompey managed to hold off Liverpool and gain some revenge in a penalty shoot-out in the final of the Barclays Premier Asia Trophy. The Blues fired home 4 spot kicks to Liverpool's 2 meaning the south coast's ONLY Premier League brought back the silverware. The game itself had ended goalless and things did not bode well when one of Pompey's new signings, John Utaka, fired wide with the first penalty. David James made two crucial penalty saves from Torres and Benayoun before Kranjcar netted the final spot kick.

Harry Redknapp said, "We showed a lot of character to come back after missing the first penalty. The rest of the players put their penalties in and, once again, our goalkeeper was magnificent."

REDKNAPP DELIGHTED WITH DOUBLE SIGNINGS
Thursday, 12 July, 2007

Harry Redknapp is said to be delighted with the double signing of David Nugent and John Utaka. The pair were revealed at yesterday's press conference. Both players signed four year deals with Pompey.

Redknapp said, "I'm delighted to have both of them. David Nugent has scored goals in the Championship and right through his career. A lot of people think it's a gamble taking a player who hasn't played in the Premier League. But look at Dean Ashton. When he was at Crewe people wondered if he could step up a level. But he did. You don't know until someone gets their chance. But my gut feeling is that David Nugent can do it. I feel a natural goalscorer like him can score goals anywhere. I looked at him for a while and every time I watched him I liked what I saw."

Talking of Utaka, he said, "Utaka is quick, strong and skillful - a real handful. ^[1] I watched him play for Rennes and Nigeria several times. He's an exciting signing because he's got pace and runs at people. He's versatile. He can play up front in a pair or on his own - or out wide."

[1] I'm not sure what Harry's referring to here. Maybe he's seen him in the showers.

PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE NEW PLAYERS
Wednesday, 11 July, 2007

A press conference will announce the long-awaited arrival of two new players at Fratton Park. As expected, the players in question are Preston North End's David Nugent and Nigerian international John Utaka from Rennes.

The press conference will be held at 5:00pm.

Nugent will make the step up to the Premier League after a fee of £6 million was agreed with Preston. Utaka's fee is thought to be in the same price range. Both players had their medicals at Fratton Park this morning and both are expected to travel to the exotic climes of Devon with the rest of the team for the pre-season friendly against Yeovil on Saturday.

Redknapp has been tracking the Rennes attacker for some time, having watched him on several occasions last season. Rennes have been aware of Utaka's desire to leave for the Premier League and a deal now appears to have been agreed.

With Redknapp having been desperate to add to his front-line, the
acquisitions of Nugent and Utaka will give the club a greater threat
in the coming season.

ASHDOWN TO MISS OUT ON DEVON TRIP
Wednesday, 11 July, 2007

Jamie Ashdown will miss out on Pompey's pre-season trip to Devon as the poor love has a sore back. He picked up the injury in training on Tuesday. Youngster Nick Jordan will be making the trip instead as cover for David James.

St Linvoy will also be staying at home as he is still recovering from knee surgery. Gary O'Neil will, however, be making the trip down to the west country. He has recovered from an ankle operation at the end of last season and resumed training yesterday.

Physio Gary Sadler said, "Jamie Ashdown's having treatment. We should soon have a clearer picture about the extent of the injury. Linvoy is increasing his rehabilitation work and has started jogging. He's staying behind too. But Gary O'Neil has returned to training and is feeling okay. We're taking it day-to-day. He's gone to Devon."

FORMER POMPEY PLAYER PASSES AWAY
Tuesday, 10 July, 2007

Former Pompey great Phil Gunter has lost a battle against stomach cancer. He was 75.

He signed for Pompey from Portsmouth Boys in 1949 and made his full debut for Pompey in a 3 - 1 win over Newcastle in 1951. He helped Pompey to finish fourth in the First Division. As a right back he was considered to be one of the most promising players of his time. He played 357 times for Pompey in a 13 year period before moving on to Aldershot in 1964.

After his retirement from football he became a teacher where he carried on this profession when he moved to Australia, but he always kept his interest in Pompey and was pleased when they made it into the Premier League.

NUGENT ON HIS WAY?
Tuesday, 10 July, 2007

According to the Lancashire Evening Post Dave Nugent is expected to complete his move to Portsmouth after agreeing personal terms at Fratton Park. The 22-year-old Preston North End striker is understood to have signed a four-year contract with Pompey and the deal will be finalised after a medical on Wednesday morning. Nugent, who flew down to the South Coast for a second round of talks with manager Harry Redknapp on Monday, made a surprise appearance at Preston's Springfield training ground today. But he was forced to stand on the sidelines and watch his team mates continuing their pre-season build up.

NEW DATE FOR MAN UTD GAME
Monday, 9 July, 2007

Pompey's first home match of the forthcoming season has now been moved from Tuesday 14th August to Wednesday 15th August. Kick-off will be at 7:45pm. This has been done by 'club agreement'.

It is thought that United wanted their game moved back 24 hours because those wonderful people at Sky Sports have decided that the English Premier League champions of last season should have their first game moved to the Sunday to accomodate the televisual extravaganza.

Pompey won't escape the glare of the Sky cameras either, with the home games against Bolton (18/08/07 - 12:45pm ko), Liverpool (15/09/07 - 12:45pm ko), and Man City (11/11/07 - 4:00pm ko) all being televised as well as the away clash with Arsenal (02/09/07 - 1:30pm ko) and Fulham (7/10/07 - 4:10pm ko), with the home game against West Ham (27/10/07 - 5:15pm ko) being shown live by new boys Setanta.

POMPEY'S NEW KIT
Monday, 9 July, 2007

Details of Pompey's new kit for the 2007/2008 season have been released. The kit, manufactured by New Zealand firm Canterbury, goes on sale on 19th July 2007.

MAKE YOUR MIND UP, KANU TOLD
Friday, 6 July, 2007

Time is running out for Pompey's striker Kanu to sign a new contract. His current contract expired at the end of June and he has been offered a one year deal with a second year on offer if he plays a certain number of games.

Redknapp is hoping to get in two new strikers, Preston's David Nugent and John Utaka from Rennes, so this would limit Kanu's options if it were to happen.

Redknapp said, "I don't know what's going to happen with Kanu. The thing with the big man is that if I get two strikers in, suddenly things look different. Suddenly he's got to make his mind up. So if Kanu doesn't take the offer in the next week or so, it might not be there. That's the problem for him."

Redknapp continued, "I like the big fella. He did really well for us last season. But we'll have to wait and see what happens."

TODOROV JOINS CHARLTON
Thursday, 5 July, 2007

Svetoslav Todorov has joined Championship side Charlton Athletic on a free transfer after he declined Pompey's offer of aone year appearance-based deal.

Peter Storrie, speaking on the club's snazzy new website, said, "We made Toddy a very good offer which meant he could have earned very good money if he had been playing. But he wanted all the money guaranteed and we weren't prepared to do that. He's decided he wants to move on, and we wish him well. He had a very good career here."

Of his departure, Todorov himself said, "Leaving Pompey was a big decision for me, but I'm looking forward to playing for Charlton."

It was Todorov's 26 goals that helped push Pompey into the land of milk and honey that is the Premier League. But a cruciate ligament injury kept him out of the side for almost two years and although he spent a spell last season at fellow Premier League side Wigan Athletic he was unable to get regular first team games at Pompey on his return.

MVUEMBA SIGNS 3 YEAR DEAL
Wednesday, 4 July, 2007

Arnold Mvuemba has become Pompey's fifth summer signing, making the move to Fratton Park permanent after last season's loan spell. The midfielder has signed from French club Rennes for an 'undisclosed fee' thought to be in region of £2.5 million.

Speking on the club's flashy new website he said, "When Harry Redknapp said he wanted me back, I said 'Yes' straight away. Now I've signed for three years and I'm very, very happy to be here."

He added, "I've come here to play and the team finish as high up the table as possible. I'm looking forward to playing with people like Sol Campbell and David James again. There have been some very, very good players signed too, like Sylvain Distin, who is a really strong defender."

He made his debut coming on as a substitute against Blackburn at Ewood Park last season but made his first full start against Reading at the Madjeski a week later. He scored a cracking goal at Watford after coming on as a substitute.

Pompey youngster Marc Wilson has also signed a contract that will keep the Republic of Ireland midfielder at Fratton Park until 2009.

TWO YOUNGSTERS IN
Wednesday, 4 July, 2007

Portsmouth have signed teenagers Paris Cowan-Hall and Callum Reynolds from Blue Square Premier Division side Rushden and Diamonds. Last season Cowan-Hall had two trials at Chelsea and also a week-long spell at Manchester United but Pompey have made their move, paying undisclosed compensation to the non-league club for the 16-year-old striker and his 17-year-old team-mate. “We offered a two-year scholarship to Paris last season which he decided to decline. This then left him free to sign for another club subject to compensation being payable,” said Rushden and Diamonds club secretary Matt Wild. “After much hype surrounding the player we agreed terms with Portsmouth this week leaving the player free to sign for them.”

DEFOE IN NEXT AS TODOROV OFF?
Monday, 2 July, 2007

Harry Redknapp looks likely to make an £8 million bid for Tottenham's Jermain Defoe within the next few days. The move is sparked by Manchester City's bid of £12 million for Middlesbore's Yakubu. Harry had said that he would be interested in bringing 'The Yak' back to Fratton Park but baulked at Middlesbore's asking price, offering only (only?) £8 million for the striker.

Defoe's future at White Hart Lane is in doubt after they brought in £16.5 million striker Darren Bent from relegated Charlton. Defoe may fancy the move to Fratton as it would give him a better chance of first-team football and enhance his England prospects.

Harry is also reported to be interested in signing another of his old-boys, Freddie Kanoute, but the Seville striker is waiting to see if there are any better offers before making a move.

Svetoslav Todorov looks set to leave Fratton Park as he was unable to secure a new deal at Pompey. Both Derby and Leicester are reported as being interseted in signing the player whose goals propelled Pompey into the top flight.