Portsmouth News 24/7Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Friday January 7 2011
Time: 10:00AM
UK time is: 13:48:40
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Double defensive blow
Nope, we do not have two defenders out - although 'technically' you could say we do with Halford suspended - we have one out that will see to another coming in...
Rocha John Rocha's hamstring injury, that will rule him out for at least 2-weeks, is a blow although the consequences of this 'frighten' me more!
It is 'likely' that Ibrahima Sonko will come back into the team as a result, hence the 'double defensive blow' title.
Defensively we have struggled enough as it is but with Sonko, sorry Sonks, you always fear, if not know, that there is at least one mistake in the offing from him - chuck Carl Dickinson and Aaron Mokoena into the mix and the circus is in town with mistakes galore awaiting us!
Alas this is our lot and they are all trying, very trying at times, so we persevere.
Rocha John Rocha and Moko just have not been able to really get going this season - if they could get a sustained run of games going we could, and should, see them at their best again as we did at the tail end of last season. The problem is Moko's individual errors, coupled with the mistakes he sometimes makes trying to cover for others 'seem' to be hitting him, and us, hard. Whereas RJR is being struck with his injury curse again, which caused him so much trouble during his time with Spurs.
There is a chance that Moko could be moved into midfield at the weekend against Brighton in the cup, with Sonko and The Herminator making up the central defensive pairing, although I think this scenario worries me more!
It will be interesting to see what line-up Steve Cotterill does go with this weekend though.
I know - and with some degree of understanding to be fair - that he is reluctant to bring Tom Kilbey into the side as he is 'not ready for this level' but Brighton are league one, albeit not for much longer, so they are not 'our level' are they. So, is this not a 'decent' game to give him a first start?
The cup is not a priority, I accept this - although I DO want us to have a good run as this boosts the money brought into the club, but with those thoughts in mind surely it makes even more sense to try an 'rest' someone and bring Kilbey in for that midfield start...
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Your Comments
Ouch! We've got some tough games in January & with teams below us appointing new managers, we could get sucked into the mix.
storagematt
From the News - Pompey's manager is close to landing a defender to bolster a back line which has shipped nine goals in the past three games. Cotterill has also targeted a central midfielder to help cope with the anticipated losses of Michael Brown and Richard Hughes, who no longer have contracts on the table. However, the Pompey manager has ruled out bringing in a striker on loan in the belief there are priorities elsewhere. Cotterill said: 'At least there is now some clarity there for me. 'We know we need to try to find a central midfield player as good or on a par with what we are missing. 'We have got to try to do something maybe in that area, whereas before it would not have been an area I would have looked to strengthen. 'If I can get a flexible defender I would and there is someone I am hopeful of – just hopeful at the moment. 'I have definitely made the contact and that would only be a loan. 'He could play along the back line and probably could play midfield, although not centre midfield. 'He definitely can play both full-back roles and as one of the centre halves. It would depend on who you play him with. 'Although I wouldn't imagine anybody would be coming in here before the weekend or too quickly, really.
'As for a striker, it's on the backburner because I don't think with where we are, we could afford to use another loan for a centre forward. 'I don't think anything will be happening there, I really, really don't think so'.
PFCblue
Without sounding too doom and gloom can see us getting beaten tomorrow. Really important that we have a couple in by the Forest game if we are not to dissapear down the plughole. Other clubs around us are either recruiting new managers or bringing players in.
bluedr
Give Herman a run out at centre half?
dedmans
PFCblue Perhapse our illustrious manager has finally cottoned on to the fact that his solid settled defense is rubbish and a 1-2 goal game strikeforce isn't.
Yep it's a defensive catastrophe, Donkoo, Dicko and whereami Mok are all fit to play :-p . Who is this mysterious genius all round defensive and non midfield playing midfielder Cot speaks of?
Russellm
Hermann and Mokoena would have been my first choice, but after watching the Iceman against Hull, I'd actually prefer Sonko and Mokoena.
PompeyFrippy
I'd stick Kanu as centre half, he tall and can head a ball. Got no legs left the poor bugger but even as an old knackered striker he got to be better than our current crop of defenders. If we could have Halford, Ward, Rocha and a decent left back not that clown Dicko we could have a pretty solid defence
blarmy
Your comment about Sonko playing making it a double blow did make me laugh . . . but its really not funny at all! Lets hope this new signing comes in and is good. Herman is just back from injury, I'm sure he'll get better, but how quickly? Mokoena flatters to deceive - he should be pure class, but he isn't really. Dicko is a nightmare - I like the Kanu option, it could work.
tracyc
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