The Pompey Exodus Continues

By Brian Lofrumento | 1st January 2009

The Pompey Exodus Continues | read this item

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Jermain Defoe

With the transfer window now open, fans around the league will be praying for reinforcements and key additions to their squads. Down on the south coast, Portsmouth fans are all keeping their eyes on Tony Adams and his talented Portsmouth side. I’ll admit, in preseason I said that this Portsmouth team was the team to watch, but a Pompey exodus is well under way, and that has greatly changed the side’s fortunes.

Before the season even started, Portsmouth lost influential midfielder Sulley Muntari to Inter Milan. Pedro Mendes followed Muntari out of Fratton Park as he landed in Scotland (Rangers). Just a week ago, Portsmouth lost yet another key midfielder – Lassana Diarra. Diarra was arguably Portsmouth’s best player this season, with Jermain Defoe a close second. Just today Defoe announced his intentions to leave Fratton Park. Hermann Hreidarsson echoed those sentiments today as he also announced he has plans to leave the south coast club.

So where does this leave Portsmouth? Not in the best of situations. With Harry Redknapp gone, Lassana Diarra now a Real Madrid player, Jermain Defoe no longer pouring in with goals, and Peter Crouch without a clear cut strike partner, Portsmouth need to use January to strengthen – not weaken. Defoe will be hard to replace, but it’s up to Tony Adams to either get the best out of David Nugent or create a system that leaves Crouch as the lone striker.

I’m afraid to say it, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Portsmouth fall into the relegation battle. Only three points above the bottom three, a poor run of form will really exacerbate Portsmouth’s problems and throw their season into turmoil. For Portsmouth’s sake, I hope that doesn’t happen.

Are Portsmouth good enough to stay up? Who should they sign? Discuss this and more in the forums.