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Will there be change?

With the season kicking-off this weekend, despite positive actions seemingly being made at PFC this summer, we are still some players short.

I know, I know, we cannot 'splash the cash' left, right and centre - and nor have I wanted this, or would I like to see it now - but we still need another 3 players, at least...

I think we know better than most what it is like to 'struggle' through a season and at the moment, despite improvements, plenty of the signs are pointing towards 'minimal' numbers being on the agenda again this season.

Having failed to bring in any players for the past 3-4-weeks now it would 'seem' unlikely that the 'trio of players' that Steve Cotterill said 'were close' to arriving, over a week ago now, will arrive?

Do not get me wrong, as said, I have been pleasantly surprised by the actions of CSI and think that the signings that we have made are decent ones but we are just a suspension and/or injury of two away from hearing the words 'crisis' once more...

A signing this week would make a difference, more than one the world of difference although a kind of 'déjà vu' feeling seems to be around in some ways.

Once more I say 'do not get me wrong', it is possible that we could pull off these deals, and I have little doubt that the club is working around the clock to make deals - that are good for PFC - happen, but the more days that tick away this week the harder it is to think we will go to Boro with anything other than what we currently have?

I hope that I can be shot down over the next couple of days and at least one arrival comes in, if not more, but I have to 'call it as I see it' personally really, do I not?

Do not take this piece as a 'moan and groan' too much, I do think that I try to be as balanced on the issues in hand as I can to be fair.

What I know is we must, no two ways about it, bring in at least 3 more players by the end of the month, when the transfer window - permanent signing one - slams shut until the New Year...

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Writer: pompeyrug

Date:Tuesday August 2 2011

Time: 7:43AM

Your Comments

I said something very similar in the forums Rug, it has got a very familiar feel about it. Just when it looked like we were turning a corner it has stalled and there doesn't seem to be much to suggest that anything will happen before Saturday. My main concern is that despite not bringing anyone in we do alright in our first few games and the board decides what we have is strong enough. That will soon against us, so we need players in, preferably a striker before Saturday.

PompeyFrippy

Yes, despite my early positiveness around the takeover it all does seem to have gone very quiet recently. I'm with Rug on not splashing the cash and think there have been chances when good championship players have been available but not of interest to SC. This is not about having a playing squad of 25 players but a squad that can hold it's own when suspensions/injuries/internationals kick in. At the moment we don't have that and I can see a very similar pattern as last season emerging but this year the championship is a much tougher league so anything around 17/18 would be an achievement.

bluedr

Well as it stands, we have a full squad of 16 players (including Williams) for the start of the season. But even that doesn't look too good.

Pearce is suspended for the first 3 games.
Kitson has a niggling injury and missed the last pre-season match.
Lawrence is just back from a injury.
Kanu has aged another year and will no way be able to last 45 minutes let alone 90.
Williams has never played a full game at this level.

PompeyFrippy

I see what everyone is saying but we have (in my opinion) a better and more balanced squad than we did this time last year - we also have until August to get some more in. We do need a striker and winger minimum and sooner rather than later but not breaking the bank and getting the right players in are more of a concern for the next couple of weeks for me - if not, then I might start panicing! :)

pompeyweller

An interesting fact emerged on the football hour yesterday on R5live. Out of contract players have a months severance pay so they can bide their time before signing for a new club. Even Robbie, now retired, gets it. So maybe there are one or two still picking and choosing that we might get. Ever hopeful :-)

PFCblue

The one thing I am not panicking too much about at the moment is the fact that we still have 5 loan places to fill.

PompeyFrippy

exactly Frippy, i was about too say much the same, we may only have 15 players but add the 5 loans and its the magic 20 we where all hoping for at the beginning of the summer. Still need that elusive striker though!

pompeym@

I think a reality check is needed Pompey have to get the best they can within the limited resources at their disposal. Just because the club make an offer does not mean the player has to take it- and- if the player doesnt take it the offer was a bad one. Pompey are not considered serious challengers this season and the manager being away also didn't help imho despite what he says in the media. Standby for the loanees.

russellm

I say use the loan Market to fish out some midfielders and hopefully a young striker thats can shoot a ball, not tap balls in. Preferable off Premier League teams as negotiations and signings have dried up.

PompNut

2 Goalkeepers 6 Defenders 6 Midfielders (Inc. Williams and Varney) 2 Forwards (Kitson and Kanu) Obviously a striker is Priority!!! Lita would have been nice at £1.75m

PompNut

I think most Pompey Fans agree that the club needs to operate within it's financial means and we want no repeat of previous seasons. I'm happy if we can do this but on that basis do not see the team making much more progress than we did last season.

bluedr

Given our history and circumstances, I think we are lucky to have what we have at the present time. Just hope our luck holds out and we get the pieces to slot into the holes.

Gandor1

Well if we're led to believe that we bid over 2m for Paterson, surely we would still have that budget available? We must be able to find a half decent striker for that price.

PompeyFrippy

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