Pompey Blogs

What Do We Need?

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So, having decided to release a few players and moving quickly to add Ronan Curtis and Louis Dennis, we now know how the Pompey squad stands.

What are we lacking though?

I still think Luke McGee was hard done by last season, but with Alex Bass in need of football and almost certainly benefiting from a loan elsewhere, the addition of another goalkeeper would be needed. The easy choice, should he prove his fitness, would be to add Stephen Henderson. But I suspect we’ll be looking elsewhere and there should be plenty of options out there we can bring in to push McGee, which would benefit him too.

Full backs? Well, I personally want Brandon Haunstrup to be recognised as the first choice, yet we’re a little light in this area, so a versatile option to fill that role too wouldn’t be a bad call.

Much depends on what happens with Matt Clarke, both his continued career at Fratton Park and a decision that could see him moved forward into midfield? In Clarke, Christian Burgess and Jack Whatmough we have three excellent options, but Whatmough’s injury issues will always be a concern. Being able to utilise Nathan Thompson and Oli Hawkins appears to leave us well stocked in central defence, all things considered.

Dennis is an attacking midfielder, who I understand can play through the middle? Danny Rose’s return to fitness will give us another impressive – and experienced – option in the middle of the park, which was an area we lacked experience and leadership. Even so, this is perhaps something to look at?

Providing Brett Pitman and Hawkins remain, working on the assumption Connor Chaplin will leave, we’re a little light as far as a central striker goes. Yes, other forwards can play through the middle but we probably need one, if not two – if Chaplin departs – coming in.

I feel personally our priorities would be a goalkeeper, central midfielder and a striker. Obviously, extra bodies are always wanted, but not for the sake of it and adding these three areas to a decent squad would please me.

PLAY UP POMPEY

Follow @VitalPortsmouth.

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