Exclusive:Portsmouth Q&A with Jordan Cross: Fratton Park pitch latest, Josh Murphy’s injury return and free agent insight
Pompey writer Jordan Cross is back with his latest Blues Q&A covering everything from the chances of tomorrow’s Sheffield United game going ahead to Josh Murphy’s injury signing a free agent and much more.
Is the game with Sheffield United going to be postponed or not?
Various
Well this is definitely the place to start this week, judging by the amount of times I’ve been asked that question!
Given last week’s Ipswich Town postponement after the heavy rainfall, the fears among a lot of fans over another game being called off are justified - especially given the impact on local sport of late.
The good news is, as of when this story was published, there are currently no concerns about the game with Sheffield United not taking place.
Basically the key factor, even though there has been poor weather this week, is the amount of rainfall has not remotely reached the levels in the build-up to the reorganised Ipswich clash.
As I understand it, the pitch is currently fine with the Pompey ground staff putting in the graft this week, but work currently stretching to standard pitch preparation ahead of a game.
There is no need for covers on the pitch, which is something which tends to be employed to combat plummeting temperatures over rainfall.
The Blues ground staff do have the option of using ‘blotters’ to remove water from the pitch. These are the water removal machines often seen in cricket, but are used when the rain has stopped - hence not being of use in the relentless downpour ahead of the Ipswich game.
There has been contact with the club today and things all seem in order presently, though no one was quite prepared to say the game’s definitely going ahead - probably understandably so!
Will you let us know the fate of Josh Murphy?
@StronnerJack
Hi Jack, as you probably know Josh was yesterday seeing a specialist to gain some clarity on when he will be back in action.
The update on that information came out of John Mousinho’s press briefing on Wednesday, with the Pompey boss not really publicly keen to say much more than that.
The next update will now likely arrive when we speak to John after tomorrow’s Sheffield United game, so expect news to filter out after the game.
That said there’s a bit of light I can still shine on the situation.
As we know now, Josh has been playing with multiple injuries which required two injections for him to get through games. That commitment and being prepared to put his body on the line for Pompey is admirable.
We also know Josh has recovered from the hamstring injury picked up at Derby in November, but was also carrying hip and ankle issues.
It’s the fractured metatarsal picked up at Swansea in December which is now the issue, however, and what the specialist is looking at.
As I say, John was wisely waiting to see what the specialist had to say, before putting a time frame on a return. I did hear some unofficial talk he’d be back next month, but things may have moved on yesterday - so expect more definitive news on that tomorrow evening.
Why don't we have an under-21 team to help keep players fit and to help on their comeback from injury? Is it because we can't afford it, because the money would come from the transfer budget?
Gary Butcher
Gary coming in with a subject which continues to be debated among supporters, one which surfaces as a talking point at regular intervals.
In direct answer to your question, I think the cost of what it takes to implement an under-21 set-up is certainly one of the major factors why there isn’t one at Pompey presently.
But I think it’s also part of the equation, with that outlay weighed up against the upside from having the set-up in place.
So, in terms of cost, and this has been stated by CEO Andy Cullen before, you’d need to fund an extra 15 players, medical and coaching staff plus have the required infrastructure around a new age group.
I just get the sense, and this is from the football operation and not the board, they don’t see the necessary gains to justify that expenditure now.
There’s not really been a flow players from the academy who’d progress into the under-21 set-up in recent years, too. What often happens elsewhere is players are stockpiled to make numbers up, over being viewed as good enough to progress professionally.
The view seems to be the best, young players at the club like Toby Steward and Tayo Singerr will benefit more from getting out and playing men’s football - look at Steward’s success in Scotland with St Johnstone this season on that point.
A couple of other issues is Rich Hughes has a history of utilising the system to his benefit, by picking off players from Category 1 under-21 set-ups elsewhere. Hughes has had some huge success on that front in his career. Then there’s factoring in fears over young talent you develop being plundered by bigger clubs for training compensation fees, too.
On the subject of helping players return to fitness, and I’m guessing this is off Callum Lang doing so for Preston under-21s this week, I don’t see that as a major issue. Training games or one-off matches can be organised when they are required.
So, in summary, I don’t really see an under-21 set-up at Pompey anytime soon.
Why do we always take a gamble on injury prone players who are not match fit?
Shawn Woodward
There aren't too many championship-quality players in the £1m bracket. The irony is we'd save money in the long run, moving up to £2-2.5M (imo).
@reece_w99
I thought I’d band these two points together, given there’s some overlapping subject matter.
The questions are quite timely, given I spoke to John Mousinho this week on the issue of signing two defenders who aren't deemed ready to start games yet.
The reasoning behind doing so then starts to bleed over into the answer to Reece’s view over spending levels, which I wholeheartedly agree with.
First of all, kudos to Rich Hughes because it looks like he’s found a Championship-quality operator for £500,000 in Ebou Adams!
That is some going but inevitably the more ‘calculated risks’ you take in a transfer market with increased Championship spending, the more times you can come unstuck.
That certainly looks to be the case at present with the £1m signings of Luke Le Roux and, to a fair degree presently, Mark Kosznovszky and Josh Knight.
As with most things it comes down to spending power, and with Pompey being among the Championship’s lowest for playing and transfer budgets, more gambles have be taken.
Hence a player coming in like Sunderland’s Aji Alese, who hasn’t played for a year, and a raw Senegalese recruit seen as having potential in Madiodio Dia for £600,000
The positives are we can look to the success of Rob Atkinson last year, when it comes to the former.
And when it comes to spending, and some of the bids made last month, there are signs of Pompey could move on in terms of outlays this summer. That simply has to happen.
Do you think Pompey will go for a free agent?
Richard Martin, via email
We’ll give Richard the, dubious, honour of this week’s final question.
In answer Richard, I’d say I wouldn’t completely write it off - and that’s even factoring in John Mousinho’s words on the subject this week.The Pompey boss stated yesterday morning, the football operation have looked at free agents and they don’t see anything there for them - at the moment.
Significantly, Mousinho did add all the time there’s a space open in his Pompey squad there’s a chance it could happen.
With Harvey Blair returning, he will be expected to fill one of those two remaining berths - leaving a slot for Florian Bianchini or Josh Knight if they are deemed fit.
If neither of those make it, you’d think that would increase the chances of coming in. Perhaps the fact the Pompey boss stated signing a free agent was unlikely, before then signing a free agent of two previous occasions is revealing!