After what can only be described as a poor start to 2012 from Posh they will be looking to kick start their year with a victory at London Road on Saturday.
After last weekend’s defeat to Brighton Darren Ferguson was particularly critical of his side, stating that 16th position would not be good enough for him at the end of the season: if Posh are to finish above this mid-table place they will need to become more consistent with their results and performances.
The exciting attacking brand of football, played at a high tempo that left many opponents bamboozled at the start of the season has seemingly been replaced with a slightly more defensive outlook in recent weeks.
However, with the return of key players from injury imminent – Ferguson has said that a full squad trained for him during the week – Posh will be hopeful of an important three points against Portsmouth.
The Portsmouth view
I caught up with Pompey fan James De Mellow (https://twitter.com/#!/jamesdemellow) to discuss his thoughts on Cotterill, Appleton and Portsmouth current financial predicament.
We’ll start with Steve Cotterill’s departure from the club. He seemed to be doing a steady job at Portsmouth, if not the most spectacular. Were you disappointed to see him go?
Last year he did a good job under really testing circumstances. After signing a few players in the summer, there was a feeling among a section of the support by October that we should’ve been doing better, both in terms of league position and entertainment. The support was very much split on the issue, but most didn’t mind when Forest came calling,
His replacement, Michael Appleton, appears to be doing fairly well in his first stint in management. Has he changed much and have you been impressed with his initial start?
Almost everyone’s very impressed. He’s intelligent, calm, and doesn’t seem to be pandering to some of the senior players in the dressing room. He’s given a couple of previously marginalised players a run in the team and he’s not afraid to blood youngsters. It’s just a shame that, as soon as he was appointed, it all fell apart off the field again.
Due to financial troubles of late your squad appears to be fairly thin. Is this a worry as the season progresses?
It’s going to get worse. I expect us to have to sell a couple of our best young players (Joel Ward, Henderson the goalkeeper, Jason Pearce) if more short-term funding doesn’t materialise.
We’ll stay on the financial side of things. It doesn’t appear to Portsmouth are totally out of the mire yet. How stable do you feel the club is at this present moment in time?
We’re back down in the deepest darkest depths of the mire! Convers Sports Initiatives took over the club at the end of last season. They were principally owned and funded by Vladimir Antonov. He was arrested in November amid accusations of asset stripping at his Snoras Bank in Lithuania. CSI went into administration — not the club, yet — and an administrator (the same company and individual as last time!) was appointed by Balram Chainrai, who is owed about £14m by CSI/the club for the purchase of Pompey and the loans he’s given the club since 2010.
In the new year, Joseph Cala emerged in the local press as something of a front-runner to take over the club. A couple of fan-written articles researching his record were enough to show that he had neither the funds or the business acumen to take the club on. He ‘pulled out’ of the running last Friday. The day after, it emerged that Pompey had not paid HMRC December’s tax and weren’t going to pay January’s either, a total amounting to £1.6m. HMRC issued Pompey with a winding-up petition on Tuesday and the case will be heard on 20 February.
It’s a desperate situation. The club doesn’t have the money to get to the end of the season on its own, so is reliant on Chainrai giving it another loan to protect his asset. But that will only mean a prospective owner will have to pay him more back in the end. The question seems to be a matter of when Chainrai will admit defeat and accept that he’s not going to get all his money back. He won’t get a penny if the club gets wound up. It’s desperately sad and we just don’t know what the next weeks and months will bring. Supporters groups — including the Trust — have plans for a ‘Plan B’ should the absolute worst happen. But no-one wants it to come to that.
Are you happy with your current position in the table or were expectations slightly higher at the start of the season?
The financial issues have eclipsed this, really. Before the season, I would’ve taken mid-table and being in contention for the playoffs in the Spring. Now, the club will be more attractive for an owner if it’s still in the second tier, but I just want a club to support.
Are there any Posh players you are particularly wary of?
I don’t know much about Peterborough — I missed the home game as it was midweek, but by all accounts they’re an exciting side. Hopefully it’ll be another open game.
Finally, a prediction for Saturday’s result and Portsmouth position at the end of the season?
I’ll go for a 2-1 win in adversity for Pompey and somewhere between 21st and 18th at the end of the season.
Likely Line Ups
Key Players
Peterborough United: Grant McCann – The defensive midfielder’s absence has been arguably the reason that Posh have look short of their best in recent weeks. Without McCann’s cultured left-foot and superb vision, Ferguson’s side haven’t been able to enforce themselves on the game and retain possession like they are encouraged to do. Now the Northern Ireland international is back to full fitness Posh will be hoping that he can pick up where he left off and drive the team on towards safety.
Portsmouth: Dave Kitson – The experienced striker has enjoyed an excellent career, proving himself at Premier League level for the majority of it. However, his spell at Portsmouth in recent times has seen him criticised by certain sections. He’s work-rate has been a little lacking and the attacking threat that he previously posed has appeared to have been missing. However, the wily striker will be looking to impose himself on a young Posh defence that will be looking to emulate the sort of career that Kitson has enjoyed at the top level.
Match Odds (William Hill)
Peterborough 5/4 – Draw 12/5 – Portsmouth – 21/10
My Tips: – Grant McCann first scorer @ 10/1
- David Ball anytime scorer @ 15/8
- Total first half goals = 0 @ 15/8