That gave Neil Allen and Jordan Cross the brilliant opportunity to get a real sense of how John Mousinho’s team are shaping up ahead of the enormous challenge that awaits them in four weeks time.
It also presented them the golden chance to pick the brains of the head coach and sporting director Rich Hughes to see how Pompey’s ongoing recruirment drive is going. There’s still plenty of work to be done in that department, despite the arrivals of five players since the transfer window opened on June 14.
Speculation remains rife in regards to a number of issues. So what better way to address those subjects that to speak directly to the key men at the top to the chain? We’ve provided you with their responses all week via portsmouth.co.uk. But with so much discussed and situations remaining fluid, we thought it’s worth putting together a transfer state of play so you can remain as up to date as possible when it comes to Pompey’s current transfer window.
We hope this proves useful, with close to 20 transfer issues addressed.
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17. Competing for signings
Mousinho said: ‘The assumption is it’s more difficult - and it is. With the size of the club in League One and its resources, it’s a very different picture in the Championship. We’ve stepped up to the level and are competing with a majority who are former Premier League clubs - ourselves included. The finances obviously do change as well, though we’re really well backed and that’s a positive. It’s a different ball game, I think. When we were talking with other players last year, if they had other League One options we tended to be the biggest club in terms of size, stadium size and history. Now we’re speaking to players, and because we’re competing at the right end of the market, they have other options as well. All of sudden you’re competing with your Leeds, West Broms and those sort of clubs. It’s very, very different.’ | Getty Images
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18. Josh Dacres-Cogley
Mousinho said: ‘The way we’ve dealt with these over the past six months is players like that who are contracted, we’re not going to comment on them either way whether there’s any link or not. In Josh’s case he’s a fantastic player who was brilliant last year, but there’s nothing in it from us.’ | Getty Images
19. Goalkeeper transfer situation
The News understands a Pompey want to add a further keeper to their ranks, despite already signing Jordan Archer this summer. | Habibur Rahman
20. Cameron Plain and goalkeeper search
Joe Prodomo said: 'It’s just a mutually beneficial situation, Cam’s a great lad. We brought him into Bournemouth when he was 15 and he’s now 22. I worked with him for three years or so before I left and then a little when I went back the second time. He’s looking for a club at the moment, but is a really good goalie. We wanted to bring four out to Croatia and he wanted to stay sharp while he looks for his next career opportunity - so it works really well for all of us. At the minute we’re looking for a little more experience in that area. You can never say never, but it’s just very clearly a mutually beneficial situation for both.’ | National World