LINVOY GETS NEW DEAL
Thursday, 8 May, 2008

Linvoy Primus, Pompey's forgotten hero, has signed a new deal that will keep him at Fratton Park for another year.
Peter Storrie said that was a reward for his dedication to Pompey since signing from Reading eight years ago.
The popular defender has missed the whole of this season since he underwent surgery last May but is hopeful of returning to action for the usual round of pre-season friendlies.
Linvoy's current deal expires this summer and a new contract would automatically have been triggered if he had made a certain number of appearances this season. That didn't happen but Storrie said that he deserved to play for Pompey again.
Primus said, "I was at the training ground last week when Peter Storrie pulled me to one side and siad that the club wanted to offer me another year. He said he had spoken with the owner and Harry Redknapp and although they recognised I had not fulfilled what this season's contract required, they felt I deserved a new contract for next season. I'm so happy. I'm so pleased to have been given another year, so my first words are 'Thank you'."

JAMES FIT FOR FINAL
Thursday, 8 May, 2008

David James has overcome a calf injury to declare himself fit for the FA Cup Final.
The England international was given the all-clear following a scan on the injury this morning, freeing him up for the match against Cardiff City on May 17. James, 37, has missed Portsmouth's past two league matches after suffering the injury during his team's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on April 20. That raised fears that the veteran, who was shortlisted for this season's PFA player of the year awards, would miss out against the Welsh side.
"I had a scan today and it's clear so I would describe myself as fit. But we'll see what the gaffer says," he said.
It seems unlikely that Harry Redknapp would risk James in Sunday's clash with Fulham which, although vital to the London club, means little for Portsmouth's Premier League campaign. But James insists he is raring to play at Fratton Park after seeing his side slip to successive defeats in his absence.
"I want to play, of course, I wanted to play against Blackburn and Middlesbrough, and if it wasn't for the medical team I would have done, but that's what they're paid to do," the England international said. "It was deeply frustrating not playing but then at the same time I'm part of a team, and if it's deemed right that I don't play and the gaffer decides he doesn't want me to play - much as I'll dislike him for the whole match - then fine."
He added, "It's actually the first league matches I've missed for five years. Now I've been given the all-clear I'll crack on and hopefully I can persuade the gaffer to play on Sunday, if not I'll focus on the cup final next Saturday."

NEW AWAY KIT REVEALED
Wednesday, 7 May, 2008

Pompey have revealed their new away kit for next season.
It was previewed in spectacular fashion yesterday when a helicopter flew across Portsmouth trailing a 56 metre high flag showing the new white shirt.
The kit goes on sale to the public from tomorrow with the shirt costing £39.99.
Pompey will be wearing the new kit for the first time when they take on Fulham for the final league game of the season on Sunday.
The new shirt also has a redesigned badge and reflects the iconic symbol of the City of Portsmouth crest with a gold eight pointed star and crescent on an azure blue shield.
Over the years the badge worn on the shirts has seen a white five pointed star and crescent on a blue shield, a yellow eight pointed star and crescent as well as the city's coat of arms and the anchor and sword design.

COULD DO BETTER (AGAIN)
Tuesday, 6 May, 2008

It was a case of disappointment rather than anger for Harry Redknapp.
The Blues boss had just watched Pompey lose 2-0 to Middlesbrough at The Riverside Stadium – their third successive Premier League defeat.
Redknapp believes it would be wrong to shout at his side when you consider how they have performed all season, especially away from home.
But he was still at upset at the way Pompey conceded two sloppy goals after dominating the early proceedings.
And he wants them to improve for the final league clash against relegation-threatened Fulham next Sunday.
"We started the game well and had three or four good chances,” said Redknapp. "We looked like we were going to murder them really and then we just stopped playing. We conceded two goals from set plays when we didn’t pick up. Everybody’s got their men to pick up, they know who they’re supposed to be picking up. But they got two free headers and we got beaten - we didn’t do the basics. It was disappointing because for the first 15 or 20 minutes I thought there was three points for us. At Manchester City we started well and then all of a sudden found ourselves behind. We’re better than that and we have to do better than that. Fulham are going to come scrapping for their lives next week which is all we need just before a cup final although maybe it’s just what we need, maybe it’ll wake them up. We’ve just got to pick ourselves up. It’s been a fantastic away record, there are not many teams who have done better. We’ve been fantastic away from home, we’ve been fantastic all over the place this season. I don’t get angry because I think they’ve been fantastic but we didn’t really play very well."
Redknapp played a 4-4-2 formation at Middlesbrough with Milan Baros partnering Jermain Defoe up front.
But he admitted that maybe it is not their best system when they play away from Fratton Park.
He said, "I played 4-4-2 but I’m not sure if it suits us to be honest. Look how well we’ve been doing playing 4-5-1 away from home."