Portsmouth 2009/10 preview.

Sky Sports

Uncertainty has made for a miserable summer on the South Coast. With Sulaiman Al Fahim's proposed takeover of Portsmouth still in the balance, the general feeling has spiralled from initial excitement to genuine worry. James Dall considers the implications of the protracted saga ahead of the 2009/10 season, and fears the worst. Way back in May, news of Al Fahim's interest in succeeding current owner Alexandre Gaydamak emerged. I distinctly remember a friend of mine, a Pompey supporter, telephoning me in a giddy manner, high on Arabian fever. It is not unreasonable to react so impulsively - we have all seen what has occurred at Manchester City. Money means signings. Signings please fans.But the process began to drag. Drag horridly. Cue June when I was tasked with writing the club's 'season shape-up'. I made it abundantly clear that the retention of key players (think similar to Portsmouth without Gunwharf Quays) would largely define the fortunes of a side whose squad was already threadbare. A team where the chopping and changing of managers last campaign helped little. A club that only narrowly escaped relegation to the Championship.Almost inevitably, and much to the dismay of Fratton Park followers including my now increasingly sweaty compadre, exits have occurred. England right-back Glen Johnson - Portsmouth's most consistent performer last term, they did not lose a league game with him in the side - joined Liverpool. The only sliver of a silver lining being the seemingly much-needed £17million that changed hands. Then, star striker Peter Crouch, scorer of a third of the club's goals in 2008/09, departed for Tottenham Hotspur for around £9million. Head in hands, indeed.Back to businessman Al Fahim, who passed the Premier League's fit-and-proper persons test in July and was subsequently named Pompey's new chairman. Due diligence had been completed earlier in the month, so all the jigsaw pieces were ready to be, erm, pieced together. The next step is for Al Fahim to strike an agreement over a fee with Gaydamak, but therein lies the sticking point. Still, at least the club now have a permanent manager.Indeed, much conjecture surrounded who might be named as the club's new chief. After Harry Redknapp and Tony Adams left for very different reasons last term, it was up to Paul Hart to oversee a side on the decline and manoeuvre them up the table. That he did admirably, but only on an interim basis. His deal expired at the end of the season. And then, amid the excitement of the takeover, several high-profile names were mooted as his successor.High-profile pair Sven Goran Eriksson and Roberto Mancini were said to be candidates, even Argentina's Diego Maradona was mentioned. But ultimately, as the hysteria petered out, the club turned back to Hart, indicating the reality they find themselves in. It is a difficult task ahead for the experienced coach. He has already conceded Crouch's sale was "necessary", while Portsmouth have even admitted should Al Fahim's takeover bid fall through then further sales could be in the offing. That is the last thing the club need.Djimi Traore, Sean Davis, Glen Little, Noe Pamarot, Lauren and Jerome Thomas have all followed the aforementioned duo in seeking exits. Granted, these players are not world-beaters, but they make up a squad. And, right now, one, with all due respect, would be pushed to label Pompey's current numbers a 'squad'. Hart has been left desperately short, and until sufficient funds are made available to him, he is having to work the market as best he can.South Africa international Aaron Mokoena has arrived from Blackburn Rovers on a free transfer and will add muscle, although they already have similar in Papa Bouba Diop. Steve Finnan has been drafted in for nothing from Espanyol, and will fill the void left by Glen Johnson. However, an injury sustained in pre-season is cause for concern. Completing the trio of arrivals is striker Frederic Piquionne, on loan from Lyon. His YouTube clip of a comical air-shot is fresh in my memory at present.Furthermore, 37-year-old goalkeeper Antti Niemi has come out of retirement to sign for the club. Rest assured, though, that Niemi will provide No.1 shot-stopper David James with competition, not serve as his replacement. Also, Niko Kranjcar says he will remain, the Croat keen to guarantee regular playing time ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Celtic full-back Lee Naylor is a target, while Croatia international Nikola Kalinic also seemed Portsmouth-bound until Blackburn heard of his availability. It also appears David Nugent could leave, with Stoke City and Hull City both alleged admirers.Contract talks with veteran striker Nwankwo Kanu are ongoing but defender Sol Campbell's future seems to lie elsewhere. There are also various players, of them midfielder Modeste M'bami and the fantastically named Eugen Bopp, on trial. Time will tell as to whether Hart deems them up to his standard. With funds all-but unavailable, the coach will have to embark on some serious Redknapp-style wheeling and dealing. Let's talk money matters...As it stands, Al Fahim can offer no funds until he is the proper owner. And in the meanwhile it makes no business sense for Gaydamak to exercise extra outlay on his behalf. This is a Catch-22 situation that will not be resolved until a deal is done. This hurts Portsmouth. They are in theory missing out on deals that could be snapped up. Plus, the next arrivals, if there are to be any at all, will come at a time when the season has already begun. It has even been claimed that they may have to wait until January before investors and backers can assist Al Fahim.This would be a nightmare situation for the fans and Mr Hart. It would be damage limitation until the winter transfer window, and by that time things could be irreparable. The club need clarity. Then they need to be run in a proper manner, the recent high-profile sales indicate previous spending beyond their means. They need only to look at rivals and neighbours Southampton's recent flirtation with liquidation. Right now, Portsmouth need help.FanzoneJames Harrissays: "One word sums up our transfers this summer... depressing! The wealthy Arabian knight in shining armour bounding into Portsmouth on his trusty steed, the Saviour of PFC has turned out to be skinter than a skint person and forget the steed, he is on a donkey! "We are the laughing stock of the football leagues! The ambition of the club for the season has been shown by the appointment of Paul Hart. I am thankful for him keeping us up last year but for some unknown reason we know have more goalkeepers than strikers! "To date we have 16 or so first team players, four of who are keepers! I think I am going to start taking my boots to matches... I may get a start! "I really hope I am wrong and things change; I will support the club no matter who is in charge but would still be nice to win some matches and have something to cheer about! But I fully expect us to struggle this season with the size of our squad and the quality we are left with. It's not going to be a fun year! I hear the odds for us finishing bottom are 14-1 - probably not a bad shout!"

BettingSky Bet'sDale Tempest says: "Portsmouth are 7/4 from 3/1 to go down and Paul Hart will have a real job on his hands to keep his aging squad in the top flight. You look at their back five. They have brought Steve Finnan in to join Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin, Hermann Hreidarsson and David James. There's not much youth there and obviously they've lost Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe so there are not many goals coming the other way. Even with new owners there seems little money around to invest in players as the club start talking about cutting the cloth."Star Man: Sylvain DistinIt is tempting to elect Niko Kranjcar, but you cannot help but feel the above defender will have much work to do during a potential season of backs-against-the-wall outings.One to Watch: Matt RitchieThe left winger has talent. He impressed during a loan at Dagenham & Redbridge last season, and will be hoping to push for a role at Pompey this campaign. It has even been claimed that Notts County's director of football Sven Goran Eriksson had Ritchie in his sights earlier this summer.

Fantasy Football pick: Kranjcar (£3.8m)Likely to be key in an attacking-sense for Pompey.

Manager: Paul Hart Hart is a brave man. A tough job awaits him. But the experienced coach did what was required last season, and preserving top-flight status would again suffice.

INS: Aaron Mokoena (free from Blackburn), Steve Finnan (free from Espanyol), Frederic Piquionne (loan from Lyon), Antti Niemi (unattached) free.

OUTS: Djimi Traore (free to Monaco), Sean Davis (free to Bolton), Glen Little (free to Sheffield United), Glen Johnson (£17m to Liverpool), Noe Pamarot, Lauren and Jerome Thomas (all released), Peter Crouch (£9million to Tottenham), Callum Reynolds (loan to Luton).

Best signing: Piquionne Despite a wretched fluff on YouTube, there are murmurs Piquionne could be a winning acquisition. His two goals against Rangers have raised hopes that Hart may have found a diamond in the rough.

Sky Bet Odds: 1500/1

Likely top scorer: John Utaka

Possible best XI James, Finnan, Distin, Kaboul, Hreidarsson, Kranjcar, Diop, Mokoena, Belhadj, Utaka, Piquionne.

Predicted finish: 18th