Keep It In The Family?

Last updated : 31 May 2006 By Jim Bonner
With Agent Bond almost certain to leave Pompey to join his mate Glenn Roeder at Newcastle the "Redknapp to Pompey" link has once again reared its head into the media world, only this time it's Jamie who is being tipped to move to Fratton Park to replace Kevin Bond as a coach.

It could be a good move to groom him here under his own father who he seems to have a top notch relationship with, he also seems to have a decent knowledge of the game and how managers think if some of his rantings on Sky TV are to go by. The temptation of sticking with Sky to natter some more rather than having the oppurtunity to put his theories into eventual practice might mean we'll have to wait a while, if not forever to see Jamie at Fratton Park however. I'd welcome the move if he did decide to form the partnership with Harry because I believe he has got a lot to offer for the future once he learns the ropes and he's still only young so he has plenty of years ahead of him. He's also got one of the best teachers in the business to learn from and he shows a real enthusiasm for the game which is always nice to see.

Of course, if he did arrive it could all go wrong. If Harry decides to take early retirement a year or two from now, the club choose the easy option and appoint Jamie as manager far too early and it won't be long before the "get that Scummer out of our club!" brigade start gobbing off. I think he has potential though and it's some positive news for the club in my opinion.

Other news in brief:

Andres D'Alessandro may or may not be signing for Portsmouth.

Celtic have had a bid accepted for John Hartson. It's rumoured that we are the bidders.

Season ticket sales are set to be an all-time record high because of the great optimism surrounding the club.

One final point, it makes me laugh that a few Pompey fans are squinnying because we miss out on "proven" English talent such as Andy Johnson and that we risk buying "useless" foreigners from abroad too much just like Alain Perrin did. Just a couple of things: Firstly, the transfer window isn't even a month old so there is still plenty of time to go for that "Proven English Talent". And secondly, what about some of the players that helped Pompey to safety this season?

Andres D'Alessandro: Argentinian
Pedro Mendes: Portugese
Brian Priske: Danish
Lomana Lua Lua: DR Congolese
Dean Kiely: Irish

Some people might feel proud to have a british core in the team. Personally, I believe there are plenty of quality players who we can bring to this club who won't have the over-expensive "English" price tag slapped on them. Just because they are English, it doesn't automatically make them any good. If it did by default then I'd be playing professionally tipped as "one for the future".

That's it for now. Tune in tommorow when maybe there might be something interesting to talk about!