REDKNAPP SIGNS NEW DEAL
Monday, 29 October, 2007

Harry Redknapp has made a big impact since his arrival at Fratton Park and has been rewarded for his efforts with a new deal that will see him at Fratton Park until 2011.
The 60-year-old returned to the club at the end of 2005 and are currently sitting seventh in the Premier League.
"Since returning to Fratton Park I have had nothing but the utmost support from the owner Sacha Gaydamak and chief executive Peter Storrie," he said. "The club is moving in the right direction. It's a great place to be and I can only see that getting better."
Chief executive Peter Storrie added: "Obviously it's a great coup for us to have one of the best managers in the business pledging his long-term future to the club. Harry has done a great job, first rescuing the club from the jaws of relegation and then building a team now strong enough to challenge for a European place."
They'll have to do better than they did on Saturday against a depleted West Ham side if they have European aspirations. Indeed, if West Ham's Nobby Solano had had his scoring head on Pompey would have suffered their first home defeat of the season. But the Blues could have nicked all three pojts at the end if scoring sensation Benjani hadn't dithered over the late penalty award. As it was, a draw was probably the right result for what was a pretty dour game in front of Pompey's biggest, if somewhat subdued, crowd of the season.

SONGO'O TO BE AN EAGLE
Monday, 29 October, 2007

Neil Warnock has wasted little time in getting his Selhurst Park revolution underway by bringing Pompey winger Franck Songo’o to the club on a one-month loan deal. Warnock took over from Peter Taylor as Palace boss earlier in October and Songo'o becomes his first acquisition at the club.
The 20-year-old Frenchman has so far had a quiet spell at Fratton Park since joining from Barcelona’s youth ranks in the summer of 2005, making just three substitute appearances, and is now keen to prove his worth in The Championship.
“I want to show people what I can do here and help the players,” he told the club’s official website.
"I can play on the right and the left. I like to run at defenders, I’m tricky, quick and like to put in crosses. It’s going to be tough to get into the team but I hope to get some games. There is a lot of quality here."
Songo’o also admitted that if his spell in South London proves to be successful, it could be extended. “If everything goes well, I could be here a bit longer,” he added.
Songo’o, who has also had loan spells at both Bournemouth and Preston, goes straight into the squad for Palace’s game with Watford this evening.

NEW TRAINING FACILTY AT TITCHFIELD
Thursday, 18 October, 2007

Pompey are hoping for a decision on their proposed new training ground at Titchfield in December. The planning committee at Fareham Borough Council will meet towrds the end of the year to discuss Pompey's plans and hopefully make a decision to give the go-ahead.
The club submitted an initial application in February of this year but were asked to withdraw it by the council so they could provide further information to the planning department and hold further discussions with local residents. The club have since submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment. Letters of support from local residents, community associations, the FA and Premier League were also submitted along with the application.
Peter Storrie said, "Hopefully we will get permission in December and then we can push on in the new year. If we get the go-ahead it will be another exciting step forward for the club.
The new facility will include 11 outdoor pitches - 7 full size, two three-quarter size and two mini pitches - and an indoor pitch which will be used the club's academy as well as local schools.

SKY'S FESTIVE FUN
Tuesday, 16 October, 2007

Pompey's home game against Arsenal on Boxing Day scheduled for a 3:00pm kick-off has been moved back to 7:45pm to accommodate the intrusion of Sky Sports' cameras. I guess this will allow more time for you all to set up your new 50" Full HD television that you treated yourself to as a Christmas present. It does, however, show scant regard for those wishing to travel to the game and then home again afterwards.
"A train, sir? At this time on a Boxing Day evening, sir? I can see you're a jester, sir, and have maybe partaken of a few too many festive drinks"

Pompey's good start to the season has prompted Sky to stick thier cameras in again and screw up the travelling fans' plans with the game at Villa Park on Saturday, 8 December now kicking of at 12:45pm instead of 3:00pm.
Other games re-scheduled for your televisual delectation are the home games against West Ham United on Saturday, 27 October, kick-off 5:15pm (Setanta) and Manchester City on Sunday, 11 November, kick-off 4:00pm (Sky).
Pompey have featured four times already on Sky this season - Bolton, Arsenal, Liverpool and Fulham - and it seems they just can't get enough of Pompey's exciting, attacking style of football (I bet they're sorry they didn't take the Reading game though).

HUGHES BANNED
Friday, 12 October, 2007

Portsmouth midfielder Richard Hughes has been handed a three-match ban for a deliberate head-butt. Hughes was given a straight red card after clashing with Birmingham City defender David Howland in a reserves match on Wednesday night.
Due to the violent nature of the sending-off offence, the ban will cover first-team games. Hughes has made only one league start this season but has played a full part in Pompey's two Carling Cup victories. Hughes will miss the 4th round Carling Cup tie against Blackburn.
Earlier this season, the Scotland International was the victim of an apparent headbutt by Cristiano Ronaldo during Portsmouth's 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Fratton Park.
On that occasion, Ronaldo was sent off and subsequently served a three-match suspension.

DEFENSIVE DUO DOUBTFUL
Friday, 12 October, 2007

Linvoy Primus has suffered a significant blow in his hopes of a return to first team action. Although he has played in the last four reserves games he has revealed that he still suffering some discomfort after matches. He underwent surgery to his knee during the summer.
Speaking to The News, physio Gary Sadler said, "It's a real setback, Linvoy was doing so well. While he is playing there is no discomfort, that's not the problem - it's just afterwards that he's been feeling it.
He explains it as feeling edgy and not normal and says he cannot get any power in his left leg. It's actually a different area of the knee so it's not the old problem, fortunately that seems to have been corrected. It would actually have been more of a setback if the old injury had recurred."

Sol Campbell is also suffering from an achilles injury that could keep him out of the England line-up when they take on Estonia at Wembley tomorrow. The absence from the England team means that he will have more time to recover and will hopefully be fit enough for the Wigan game. However, with the injury to England captain John Terry, Campbell could still feature.
David James is also expected to sit out the match against Estonia as the ginger clown McClaren prefers to stick with the error-prone Spurs keeper Paul Robinson.

Kanu, too, is hopeful of returning to action following his treatment for a dodgy knee. In his last outing for Pompey he scored the winner in the 1 - 0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

HARRY SAYS NO TO KALLON
Thursday, 11 October, 2007

Harry Redknapp has confirmed he will not be offering Mohamed Kallon a deal at Portsmouth as he is no better than his current strikers.
The 27-year-old Sierra Leone international hitman, who was released by AS Monaco in the summer, joined the club for a trial recently. And, while Redknapp acknowledged that Kallon is a good player, he felt that the strikers already available to him were on a par and opted not to take him on.
He said: "He's a good player, but we've got Benji, Kanu and Nugent at the moment and they're all doing well and scoring goals for us.
"For someone to come in he's got to be better than them, he's got to improve us or give us something different.
"So we won't be following that one up and he's gone. I'm pleased with the strikers we've got already."

Meanwhile a first-half header from Djimi Traore handed a strong Pompey reserve side a 1-0 win against Birmingham reserves at West Leigh Park.
David Nugent again featured along with Pedro Mendes, Lauren and Matthew Taylor, while skipper Richard Hughes was shown a red card for retaliating at Blues' man David Howland following a late tackle.

WIGAN AWAY - IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Wednesday, 10 October, 2007

For those of you that are travelling up to the JJB Stadium on Saturday, 20 October on the free coaches provided by Portsmouth Football Club please be aware of the following:

WIN CARLING CUP TICKETS
Wednesday, 10 October, 2007

Carling are giving away four free tickets for Portsmouth’s Carling Cup 4th round fixture against Blackburn Rovers at Fratton Park.
For your chance to win, simply visit www.carlingcup.co.uk and choose which match you’d like to see. Carling will also be giving away free tickets for every subsequent round of the Carling Cup so keep an eye on the website for your chance to win more tickets!
Also, don't forget to tell all your mates about it. After all, the more of you who enter the more chance you've got of winning! We know you'll drink to that!
All fixtures are to be played week commencing 29th October 2007. Final date for receipt of entries is 9am on Wednesday 24th October 2007.

For those of you not fortunate enough to win tickets, ie, the majority of us, they will go on sale priced £25 for adults, £15 for the old and infirm and just £5 for nippers.

REDKNAPP CONFIDENT
Friday, 5 October, 2007

Harry Redknapp is confident that Pompey can keep their winning ways with a victory at Craven Cottage on Sunday. The game is being shown live on Sky Sports 1 with kick-off at 4:10pm.
Fulham, although flirting with the relegation zone at the moment have played some tough games and came away from Stamford Bridge last weekend with a creditable point. Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez played Carlos Bocanegra and Aaron Hughes in the centre of defence and, barring injuries, looks likely to go with that central pairing again.
Fulham have been shipping goals at home, having conceded 9 so far this season at Craven Cottage. But with former Pompey player Diomansy Kamara up front there is always a chance that they will score a few.
Redknapp said, "Fulham have been leaking a few goals, but they're capable of scoring goals too. But we're strong and in good form. We're looking confident. It's a good time to go there."
Redknapp is waiting to see if Kanu has recovered sufficiently from a knee injury after he missed last weekend's 7 - 4 goal-fest against the Reading Rumblestickmen. Benjani suffered a tight hamstring after the victory but has trained again and looks sharp.

CARLING CUP DATE
Friday, 5 October, 2007

Pompey's fourth round Carling Cup tie with Blackburn Rovers will be played on Wednesday, 31 October. Pompey traditionally play their evening home games on a Tuesday but this tie has been moved to allow Rovers time to recover from their Premier League match at White Hart Lane on the Sunday.
Ticket deatils will follow shortly.

CRAINIE OFF ON LOAN
Friday, 5 October, 2007

Queens Park Rangers are lining up a loan move for Portsmouth defender Martin Cranie.
Caretaker Rangers boss Mick Harford is actively scouring the transfer market as he looks to bolster the squad at Loftus Road.
Harford has made defensive reinforcements his top priority and he has sounded out Portsmouth over Cranie's availability.
The England Under 21 international is down the pecking order at Fratton Park following his summer arrival from scumpton.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp is believed to be willing to loan out Cranie so that he can get much-needed first team action under his belt.
Harford is keen to tie up a deal for Cranie before the weekend so that he is available Monday's home clash with Norwich.

ONE FOR THE FUTURE
Friday, 5 October, 2007

Millwall youth star Tom Kibley has joined Portsmouth's Academy for an undisclosed fee.
Kibley made his debut just last month for Millwall in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, coming on in the 42nd minute in the 3-2 defeat against Swansea.
And, after having a previous bid turned down, Portsmouth have finally been successful in luring the youngster away from The Den.
Lions boss Willie Donachie had slammed Portsmouth for their previous approach, saying young players would never be able to show their true potential at big clubs when competing against such big names.
Donachie even banned scouts from the club's training ground in a bid to keep Millwall's young stars at the club.
But that has not stopped Kibley making the move to the top flight. The 16-year-old midfielder will leave the Den for Fratton Park just four-months into his two-year scholarship contract.