They no doubt played a key factor in Danny Cowley’s sacking at the start of January, with the former Blues boss unable to call upon some of his better players on a consistent basis.
And they’re still impacting the Blues now under John Mousinho’s leadership.
That made the business concluded on transfer deadline day so important, with Paddy Lane strengthening a left-wing position devoid of both Ronan Curtis and Michael Jacobs on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Di’Shon Bernard’s arrival shores up a central-defensive department that is currently without the injured Clark Robertson and Michael Morrison, who completed a move back to Cambridge in January.
Coupled with the earlier arrivals of goalkeeper Matt Macey and defender Ryley Towler, there’s the potential for Pompey to have a very different look about them over the second half of the season.
A look that could also be transformed when the Blues’ walking wounded – including long-term absentees Joe Rafferty and Tom Lowery – return to the fray.
That guarantees a totally different headache for Mousinho, who will have some tough decisions to make, not just to his starting XI but also his match-day squad.
So who can we expect to be involved and who runs the risk of being left sitting in the stands?
We take a look at what potentially lies ahead, IF the Blues ever report a clean bill of health and Mousinho sticks with a 4-3-3 formation.
25. Dane Scarlett - misses out
The Spurs loanee was a breath of fresh air when he arrived at Pompey in the summer and looked every bit the future star we've been led to believe he is. But it's just not going for him at the minute. And with a 4-3-3 John Mousinho's preferred formation, you wonder where he would fit into that system? If his goals and assists return was better, maybe Owen Dale would be looking over his shoulder more. Photo: Jason Brown
26. Kieron Freeman - misses out
Freeman has always been a reliable performer for the Blues, but with Zak Swanson and Joe Rafferty in front of him, it's hard to see him breaking back into the first-team set-up on a regular basis. Photo: Paul Thompson