Taylor-made For Pompey

Last updated : 09 December 2007 By Jim Bonner

Neville Dalton is a journalist with the BBC News website and a Portsmouth fan of 40 years. His expressed views are his and not necessarily those of the BBC.

Disturbing developments down at the Park.

Our best period in half a century, so much excitement and optimism - there just had to be another bombshell.

No, I don't mean Harry's arrest, but the twin shocker that Matt Taylor might want to leave… and Harry might let him.

OK, I don't suppose the news that Matty is restless and frustrated at his lack of first-team chances comes as that much of a surprise to most of us.

It would be more surprising if he wasn't.

But actually to state publicly that he is thinking about leaving in January gives the prospect of a Pompey without one of their cult heroes real credence.

I imagine most of us reading The News' revelations were itching to read a follow-up, quoting Harry as saying Taylor would leave over his dead body (although, given his declarations in the weeks leading up to his departure to Southampton, maybe that wouldn't have reassured too many of us!).

But to read confirmation that the manager wouldn't stand in his way has certainly generated a groundswell of opinion that we've seen the last of Matty Taylor in a Pompey shirt.

I'm not so sure.

I sympathise with Taylor's predicament. He's at an age when he wants to be playing every week. He wants to better himself, and after England's failure to make the European Championships, now is an ideal time for him to try to break into the international squad, too.

But his favoured position is currently rightly occupied by Niko Kranjcar, probably one of the most talented and skilful players ever to play for the club.

Taylor has no divine right to expect a place.

Yet, he is such a valuable asset to the club. He is energetic, enthusiastic, has no little skill - and commendably, the rare ability to kick with both feet, scoring some crucial goals into the bargain.

Too Good To Let Go

He's not as consistent as some of his greatest supporters on this site might suggest, but one of his top attributes, in my opinion, is the fact that he never hides when he is not playing well, and often compensates for his off-days with high-energy chasing and support which erodes opponents' confidence and effectiveness and offers colleagues options.

In short, he is too good to let go.

And if Pompey really are to compete seriously for a European qualifying place - which I believe should now be their minimum goal after yet another sensational away win against a top-quality team - they cannot afford to let any of their squad go without replacing them with even better players.

Surely by now Pompey have realised the importance of strength in depth?

Last season's sensational start - we were actually higher this time last season - petered out after Christmas, as injuries, suspensions and loss of form took their toll.

This year, while the team has been more settled, those who have come in have invariable performed as well as - if not better than - those they have replaced.

Look at Noe Pamarot, who seized his chance when Hermann Hreidarsson (who had been in exceptional form) was injured. And Benjani for Kanu.

If we're not to fall away again, we have to be confident that we have players we can rely upon in every single position, should something happen to the current first-teamers.

And given that we all know where a third of our top-performing players are going in January, it would be madness - nay, irresponsible - to deliberately weaken the squad at such a crucial time.

Of course, Harry may well have his own motives.

Transfer window

The story that reported Redknapp's response to Taylor's comments also contained quotes from the manager about Jermain Defoe (a player Harry covets) enduring a similarly frustrating time out of the Spurs first team.

And Tottenham are one of the clubs reportedly interested in Taylor.

Two and two?

Except Defoe has made it pretty clear he's not dying to join the Fratton Glory Train - and more importantly, he's not a left-sided midfielder.

But maybe Harry's plan is more elaborate. Maybe Defoe will replace Nugent, whose transfer fee will fund a Matty replacement.

Anything is possible - especially when it involves Harry and the January transfer window.

But my view is that we might all be pleasantly surprised - and see Matty and another goalscorer here in January.

I just can't see Redknapp letting Taylor go during the African Cup of Nations tournament.

And I'm not convinced that the quotes attributed to Taylor in the initial article actually add up to transfer talk.

Yes, he's frustrated, and yes, he's thinking over the possibility of moving to get first-team football.

But he loves it here. He loves the fans' adoration.

And what would represent progress for him?

A move to Manchester United? Arsenal? Chelsea?

Possible - but he'd hardly walk into the first team - and that's what he says he wants.

Blackburn? Newcastle?

Maybe, but he's hardly bettering himself. More a move sideways.

Fulham, Birmingham? Relegation remains a possibility for both - and many similar-sized clubs. Does Taylor want to risk that?

And finally, the biggest reason for Matty Taylor staying at Pompey?

He's got an excellent chance of becoming a key part of our surge towards Premier League glory - and a place in European competition.

For I'm convinced there is room for both Matty and Niko in the Pompey team.

I've advocated playing both on the flanks of our 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation, although the experiment against Manchester City revealed why Harry prefers to play the right-footed Kranjcar on the left.

His forte is cutting in from that flank and passing, crossing or shooting with his right.

But I still reckon the pair could learn to play in a flexible version of those roles.

Even more practical in my view is the prospect of playing them as the two support men in a Christmas-tree-style formation of 4-3-2-1, where they would be more central and not confined to the flanks, where kicking with one foot becomes more important than the other.

And - controversially - there is the mouth-watering prospect of yet another juggle of resources - a 4-3-1-2 formation, where we actually play with (dare I say it?) two forwards!

Niko could have the freedom to roam behind the front two, leaving a three-man core midfield in which each player would need to display energy, enthusiasm, skill - and an ability to kick with both feet and weigh in with a few goals.

Now who does that remind you of?