Why struggling Championship big hitters is not concern for Portsmouth boss as Sheff Utd, Norwich and Southampton labour
The Championship table has a surprising look to it with nearly a third of the season played. With some big name and big budgets down near the bottom there is a thought there potential to improve is a worry for Pompey. John Mousinho discusses how things stand.
John Mousinho has dismissed concerns over the gaggle of well-resourced Championship clubs around Pompey near the foot of the table.
And the Blues boss predicted the make-up of those teams in the second-tier relegation dogfight are likely to significantly change this term.
Mousinho: ‘Isn’t any point bothering ourselves’
The league table has a surprising look to it with nearly a third of the season now completed, as we pause for the international break.
At the top end the likes of Stoke City, Preston North End and Hull City are going well, despite many having them down for a season of struggle.
Then, at the other end, Norwich City have foundered despite spending big this summer, while Sheffield United and Southampton have had poor starts despite being in receipt of parachute payments.
Mousinho is remaining calm about the financial muscle around Pompey in the table at present, however, with last season’s events a clear indicator to him over how the picture will change.
He said: ‘I definitely didn’t expect to see Sheffield United and Norwich down there. I probably didn’t expect to see Southampton down there, as nice as it might be.
‘But I don’t think there’s any point in bothering ourselves with who’s around us and picking up points down at the bottom.
‘I can compare it to pretty much every, single point of last year.
‘We played Cardiff this time last year and I would’ve put my mortgage on them being a top six side, when we played them. They were brilliant on the night.
‘I would’ve put my mortgage on Stoke being a top six side when they demolished us 6-1 as well. Both of them were involved in a relegation battle and Cardiff ended up going down.
‘Luton had parachute payments and you would’ve thought they would’ve sorted themselves out at some point, with Plymouth maybe the side who struggled a little bit all season.’
Pompey’s batterings last term offer Championship message
Mousinho highlighted how Pompey’s own tumultuous results last term is another indicator of how perceptions can shift in the Championship. His men had some chastening experiences, as they were battered 6-1 at Stoke, 4-0 at Derby County and 5-1 by West Brom.
Yet Pompey produced play-off form over the second half of the campaign to finish comfortably tucked in 16th place in the table.
Mousinho said: ‘I bet there were sides who watched us at various points last season and thought we are going down. We ended up finishing 16th and had a good end to the season.
‘So you can’t look at all the sides around you and think what are this team or that team going to do?
‘Sides will be dragged into it, sides will come out of it and sides will do it a bit of both. The table will be so different come the end of the season.’