Portsmouth News 24/7Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Friday July 4 2008
Time: 10:47AM
UK time is: 23:26:49
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Utaka, last season's biggest disappointment...
John Utaka was them most disappointing signing we made last season, not my vote, yours - although these findings from pentonpompey's poll are thoughts I fully agree with.
No one can doubt the ability that Utaka has; we have debated this until we are blue in the face. We have seen glimpses of what he can do and whilst I do hope that he comes good this season unless he can start to show an interest - which is his biggest problem - he will remain a disappointment for me...
A professional footballer should not need to be told that he has to run, track back and put in the effort. He should know these are the basics and be looking for an involvement in the game, not wait for it to come to him. Most the time Utaka just looked like he could not be arsed, and that is what annoyed us the most. He is being used as a winger, and maybe he wants to play as a striker, but playing as part of a team is the most important thing above anything else!
He has talent, ability and pace that is frightening. He keeps talking the talk about being at his best this season - hopefully he will be but I will take some convincing myself, but do hope I am proven wrong, I honestly do, but if January comes and we see no improvement I say 'he must go'...
Put yourself in Redknapp and Storrie's shoes, what would you tell 'the king' if he was demanding a 2 year contract - this is what Chix wants to know with this - 'If you were Harry & Peter what would you say to Kanu?'
Let the poll do the talking before we do when it finishes, but what are your thoughts on what the last poll concluded? You know what to do...
PLAY UP POMPEY!
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Your Comments
The shame about this is that the guy has the talent. He scored some great goals against Bolton & at Newcastle & Reading. He did the cross for the cup final goal, he has it in him, it just didn't show often enough. That's the frustrating thing & why we voted for him. If he can turn it next season, then fantastic.
storagematt
when he cme i thought this guy wa quite good but seeing him last seaon i was really disappointed and i dont rate him at all now
jamiekilgannon1
he got the cross that kanu stuck in for the fa cup so dont knock it. kanu and utaka: so lazy, so little effort, so amazingly brilliant at the right time! i would rather have someone who looked like they were doing fa but did the business when called upon than a milan baros and nugent type who works his A off but when the moment of brilliance is needed flops like a wet blanket!
pompey--pessimist
"Did the business when called upon". I agree but in my opinion, he has been called upon far more often than he has delivered and is found wanting. One cross (admittedly for a cup final winner) does not make up for all the other occasions.
UKTony
I think the past views of the Kanu situation were the most universal damning on this site of all time.
007
i thourght this guy was good, but the value of him was unrealistic
kendog
Not surprised atall.
pompey4me
£8.1m for this guy..... had fantastic prospects, admitted he had been following Pompey, and hoped for the move to come true....
It did and has been a big let down Im afraid. I think maybe the price tag affected him somewhat.
Hopefully he has the passion and desire to still play for the club, and wont give up with the fans turning on him. If he just keeps working hard, and dosent be so lazy in the games, (actually taking people on and running down the wing like we know he can do!) then he will hopefully prove to be a great asset for us next year!
PompeyFCUK
Price tag was a problem I agree but would it make him lean of the halfway flag watching the game almost? Not sure I think he would be too keen to impress.
eastneydave
lazy utaka has really pi***d me off last season no effort at all mind u also a flop with a £8 mill price tag on him.The only game what i can think of what he done well in was bolton at home and newcastle away where he scored and set up one.I no he has got ability but it is when he can be arsed.Like reading away he sprinted past shorey to score but he has to prove good this season or it is by bye mr utaka.
stfc ballboy
Halfway flags, Dave... those were the days!
pompey4me
Agree with you all fellas and I really hope he proves us all wrong next season... but something inside me tells me it just aint gonna happen..
Chix
Chix I have faith that he will prove himself this season, if not he will be gone in in January
sneakay
It has to be a toss up between Utaka and Nugent as the biggest failure last season. I think both of them will improve this coming season (not hard to do on showings to date) but Utaka will probably get more chance than Nugent to show his ability.
frattonaussie
Agree FA .. but why is it that I want Nuge to suceed more than Utaka ?.. maybe becuase he seems a bit more interested.... I think with Nuge it's an ability thing ... whereas with 'the torpedo' (lol) it's more to do with attitude and application
Chix
Agreed Chix, you cannot compere the two.
007
I hope they both do well but on past form from Harry, Utaka will get more chances than Nugent. Still with Little and Crouch in the mix now, both Utaka and Nugent will find it hard to get a regular game.
frattonaussie
not so sure that little would be a regular ahead of utaka tbh... SWP on the other hand maye so :-)
pompeyrug
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