Running The Rule

Last updated : 27 June 2008 By Jim Bonner
Harry Redknapp says he'd like to bring in four more players to Fratton Park: a centre back, a left back, a wide man and a striker. Let's run the rule over some of the strongest candidates for these positions.

Nicky Shorey

Some say that the signing of Glen Little was just to tempt Shorey to also make the journey from Reading to Pompey. I say that's nonsense but you can never be sure can you?

The best points about Nicky Shorey is that he's nearly 7 years younger than Hermann Hreidarsson, gets forward well and is capable of taking a good set-piece.

However, Pompey fans who have watched him play against us will say that he was part of a defence that conceded nine goals in two games against us and was also part of the second worst defence in the Premier League.

Pompey fans will also know that he can't take a penalty and that he lacks pace after John Utaka beat him to a long ball and scored at the Madjeski Stadium.

It's difficult to predict how much he'd improve the team. We certainly need cover in the left back area as Hermann won't be able to cope with so many games this coming season whilst we surely can't rely on Noe Pamarot and Lauren to play there all the time can we?

£3 million is the rumoured asking price and I believe he's worth that. However there are probably better options around and it's up to Harry to find them.

Peter Crouch

I think it's safe to say that Pompey's former player of the year would be a coup for any team playing in Europe this coming season and perhaps even more so if he were to be reunited with Harry Redknapp.

Frustrated with his lack of opportunities at Liverpool, 'Arry could be the man to rejuvenate his career like he has with the likes of David James, Sol Campbell and Jermain Defoe. He also had his best spell of his career with Harry Redknapp at Southampton, scoring 16 times in 33 appearances for a struggling team.

There are two issues here that need resolving before we see the lanky striker in a Pompey shirt. The main one is the £10 million fee that Pompey are unwilling to pay. Is Crouch worth that? I think he is, simply because he should guarantee goals and would be the perfect foil for Jermain Defoe.

That "little and large" partnership could be lethal and Crouch could also be utilised in the 4-5-1 formation to a greater effectiveness than Defoe would.

But would he want to come back? Some supporters have given him abuse since he moved to Southampton and they will still remember that he was the one to score that last minute winning penalty in the FA Cup a few years back now.

Most of us have forgotten that and will remember the good times he had at Fratton Park, hopefully the man himself will too.

Shaun Wright-Phillips

Unlike his useless Scummer of a half-brother, Shaun has a lot of talent that seems to be wasted at Chelsea thanks to a crisis of confidence. He's a shadow of the player that tore defences to pieces on the right wing for Manchester City but Harry can be the man to restore that.

My Chelsea supporting friend says that Wright-Phillips is "useless" but then she said the same thing about Glen Johnson before we signed him and turned him into one of the best right backs in the country who would now walk into Chelsea's team (unless Bosingwa turns out to be a hit).

£10 million is the supposed fee that Chelsea want for a player they paid £21 million for a few years ago and I think that's fair for a player who is 26 years of age and certainly has the pace and ability to tear defences apart again.

However, there would be a fair bit of competition for him if Chelsea did decide to sell him and then there would be the issue of whether Pompey would have the money for him too.

Here's hoping Jamo and Defoe can put in a good word as he would be a fantastic acquisition if we could sign him. He's certainly better than the likes of Yossi Benayoun and Nobby Solano who we've also been linked with. Hopefully a deal can be done.

John Mensah

Out of all the centre backs we have been linked with, Mensah would be the most likely to join us as well as being the one many Pompey fans would like to see arrive at Fratton Park now the chances of stealing Richard Dunne from Man City are slim.

Younes Kaboul has also been linked with a move here but after a torrid first season in English football it is easy to see why Pompey aren't keen on him. Mensah, on the other hand has the strength and the physique to be a hit in the Premier League.

Rennes are reportedly wanting £5 million for the Ghanian centre back and with Sol Campbell getting older and the inevitable injuries and suspensions that will hit the squad I think we could do a lot worse than Mensah.

If Sulley Muntari can help persuade him to join the Blues then I see no reason why Mensah can't become a Portsmouth institution.

So, if Harry Redknapp does get these players then we could be looking at paying over £30 million for four players. Only time will tell whether we have that sort of financial backing without having to sell to recoup this money but one thing is for certain, our gaffer and Peter Storrie are going to have their persuasive powers and negotiation skills severely tested in the coming weeks.