Continuing our advice to the new Pompey manager.

MIDFIELDERS

Jermaine Pennant - Unless Sasha sells up or reconsiders his refusal to invest in the club, it ain't gonna happen. But on the evidence of his first few games, one of the first priorities of the new manager should be to secure this young man's services full-time.

Has surely convinced the doubters, like me, that not only does he have pace, no little skill and the ability to cross the ball, but he is also an intelligent footballer, who can spot attacking opportunities, for others as well as himself.

And he has shown more commitment on the pitch for his temporary employers than many of the more permanent characters he has replaced.

Keep him in the team - and buy

John Utaka - Speaking of which… Showed tantalising glimpses of his ability in recent weeks, but surely too little too late. For a man of his pace and innate talent, it's little short of a scandal that he has failed to show it more often.

Totally unreliable, both as an attacker and when it comes to defending, if you're still not sure, watch a recording of the first half of Pompey's famous FA Cup win at Old Trafford last season.

Sell - despite the heavy loss

Glen Little - Always a mysterious signing - and maybe an early indication of Pompey's limited spending power. Reading fans had only good words to say about him, but warned he was injury-prone. You would have thought Harry would have realised.

Has done nothing to change that view. His ball and crossing skills are cancelled out in the Premier League by his lack of pace and fitness. Though he stood out against the (rather pedestrian) might of AC Milan.

Reasonable back-up if he's fit, but release at the end of the season

Jerome Thomas - Even more injury-prone than Little. He was a surprise loan signing who Pompey were panicked into securing permanently when they wanted to free up a loan slot for Armand Traoré. Won't get near a decent Pompey first team.

Give him back to Charlton

Papa Bouba Diop - Won over many of his array of doubters with a string of quality displays this season. His status has risen still further in his absence as Pompey struggled to replace him in central midfield, and even on the right, where he was forced to risk his reputation by the inadequacy and unavailability of those signed specifically to play there.

Keep

Angelos Basinas - People's views seem to be coloured by his age, but his performances so far have demonstrated perfectly that if your basic fitness is there, skill, positioning and intelligence can more than compensate.

The much-maligned Tony Adams hailed him as the new Pedro Mendes, who would restore nous and protection in front of the defence. The pity was that we ever had to do without the original Pedro Mendes. But Basinas looks a more-than-adequate replacement.

First choice in central midfield. Keep

Sean Davis - Constantly linked with moves, Davis has impressed successive managers and most fans. While totally committed and possessing a good "engine", his lack of pace and inability to reach key advanced positions in time to pose a threat to opponents' goals tend to somewhat negate those qualities.

Not quite as reliable as his supporters would suggest, his inconsistent displays show that running around a lot and sticking your foot in are not always enough at this level.

Deserves his place this season - though a rest might be welcome when alternatives are fit. Then sell.

Hayden Mullins - Another central-midfield clone? His signing was a real surprise to me, and if Tony Adams really did choose his own men in the January transfer window, the signing of Mullins must rank as one of his most puzzling and frustrating.

From what I had seen of him previously, I considered him a quicker version of Richard Hughes. From the admittedly little I've seen so far in a Pompey shirt, I would say he was a poor man's Hughsie. Get rid.

Midfield cover. Then sell

Richard Hughes - So to the rich man's Hayden Mullins. Another whose commitment has sometimes obscured his limitations. This season he has finally shown that he can hack it at this level, but if I'm brutally honest, he should not be in any Premier League team's first-choice midfield.

Just signed a contract extension, so unless another club is willing to pay decent money for someone who is good on his day and totally committed even when it isn't, you'd better keep him.

First reserve - but don't ever pair with Davis or Mullins. Sell for the right money

Niko Kranjcar - Messrs Hart and Kidd seem to have found a way to accommodate his sublime skills without sacrificing solidity in midfield. In fact, they also seem to have found a way of garnering more visible commitment from the player so often perceived as lazy.

In my view, Niko is far from lazy. He's committed, but he can't tackle for toffees (something to work on there), and his lack of pace and languid style mean that chasing and harrying opponents are not his strong points.

Holding the ball and creating attacking opportunities are - and there was growing evidence of their return in his new - and some say best - position against Manchester City.

Unless the likes of Arsenal come along with a club-record bid for him - or he decides he doesn't want to play here any more - the new manager should shape his side around the likes of the Croat.

Preserve his roving, attacking role - and keep

Nadir Belhadj - No, he's not the finished product, but just because he's in his late 20s doesn't mean he can't learn. Belhadj is an immensely talented player with that oh-so-coveted asset of pace.

He has the ability to tear defences to shreds and frighten them to death. He's also a better tackler than he is given credit for. But you can see his critics' point when they describe him as a headless chicken.

Too often he is seen racing around, seemingly in a rage, kicking anything - or anyone - who gets in his way. But he is not dirty - and his enthusiasm should be appreciated. More power to his elbow.

Keep as an attacking midfield option

Armand Traoré - Another with pace - this time with more time on his side. But we can't afford him, and even if we could, there are surely many better Premier League-class players we could buy for the money.

His best asset is his youth. He will no doubt improve his consistency - but I hope it won't be Pompey who are kicking their heels while he does.

Return

Arnold Mvuemba - Has shown glimpses of what is needed from a Premier League midfielder, but not consistently enough. Maybe only a run in the first team would give him that chance, but at the moment he's not good enough to dislodge those first-choice players. Maybe it's time to sell.

Offers an energetic midfield alternative, but unless he shines, sell

ATTACKERS

Peter Crouch - By the time he had reached his third game without scoring, an outcry began, branding him a waste of money. I don't recall a similar hue and cry last season when Jermain Defoe went seven or eight games without a goal.

Admittedly, Crouchie's gone off the boil, but then he's spent a good part of the season carrying the Pompey attack. Surely he's allowed some latitude. He's never let Pompey down in either of his spells with the club. He should be a key part of our future.

Keep - but maybe give him a rest, now we've got Gekas

Theofanis Gekas - Well, I'm certainly not in a position to offer a view. But if he's as good as Adams and Storrie tell us, he sounds a potentially valuable asset.

Maybe he could give Crouchie the chance of a rest so that we can decided whether to try to make his loan move permanent.

Give him a chance to earn a contract

David Nugent - Understandably had his doubters, but given few opportunities to really show what he can do. Equally, his so-called scoring spree of three goals in his past four games should not be taken as incontrovertible proof that he has what it takes.

What we do know is that the effervescent Nugent makes things happen. And defenders don't like that.

Play him while his form dictates - and keep as a player on the cusp of regular first-team action

Kanu - Continues to confound us, earning new contracts with astonishing cameos - including one that took us to the FA Cup final and another that won it for us.

But the Premier League can't sustain virtual passengers - and it's time to say a very big thank you and goodbye to King Kanu.

Release