That’s according to whoscored.com, who have been calculating all club’s players’ performances since the 2022-23 season began at the end of July.
All four teams who presently sit above the Blues in the table – Plymouth, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough – would have players picked in a 4-4-2 formation.
Yet there would be no Pompey representation, even with striker Colby Bishop – the Fratton Park outfit’s current top scorer with eight third-tier goals this term – coming in with an average rating of 7.07 per game.
Indeed, surprisngly, only he and Michael Jacobs (7.03) average above the 7/10 rating per game, despite the Blues’ solid start to the season.
So if no Pompey players makes the current, who does?
Well, just to tease you – there’s a former PO4 striker who has been banging in the goals this term, and a Bristol Rovers forward whom Danny Cowley was linked with during the summer.
Here’s the starting XI...

5. Ciaron Brown (Oxford United)
Games played: 15. Average rating: 7. Photo: Catherine Ivill

6. Bali Mumba (Plymouth)
Games played: 16 Goals scored/assists: 3/4. Average rating: 7.2. Photo: Mark Thompson

7. Barry Bannon (Sheffield Wednesday)
Games played: 16. Goals scored/assists: 4/5. Average rating: 7.6. Photo: George Wood

8. Lee Evans (Ipswich)
Games played: 15. Goals scored/assists: 3/1. Average rating: 7.4. Photo: Ashley Allen

