Portsmouth News 24/7Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Thursday September 13 2007
Time: 7:00AM
UK time is: 20:59:00
Choose your club
Other Sites
Network Navigation
Vital Partners
'If It's Football, It's Vital'
Utaka the main man from August
John Utaka was Pompey's the player of the month for August! Not my vote, yours - although these findings from the poll are thoughts that I completely share.
Utaka has made quite an impact so far since his arrival from Rennes as Pompey's potential record signing in the summer, scoring on his league debut for the club against Derby as well as putting in a blinding performance.
The Nigerian followed this up with further fine performances throughout the month, as well as a cracking solo goal against Bolton, running from the halfway line before rounding the keeper to score.
He is looking an absolute bargain, so long may this fine form continue so he will turn into just that.
If I had to be critical at all it would be at his lack of defensive tracking back, which is something that he will have to work on to be a truly world class star - which he will.
What the poll asked - Pompey's player of the month for August?
How you voted - John Utaka 68%, Sylvain Distin 17%, Benjani 4%, Sulley Muntari 3%, Kanu 3%, Sol Campbell 2%, David James 1%, Sean Davis 1%, Other 1%
Current Poll - Premiership football returns for Pompey as we welcome Liverpool to Fratton this Saturday, on this subject if you have not already made your predictions in the Pompey predictions league on this match do it here.
Clearly we all hope that Pompey can win, with many of us - myself included - believing that we can, but what will the result be, this is what Aamir wants to know with this - 'what do you think the score will be against us (Liverpool)?' Let the poll do the talking before we do when it finishes.
PLAY UP POMPEY!
To join the Vital Pompey debate - in the forum or with comments on articles - simply take a few seconds to register an account.
Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!
Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco
Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.
Join the Vital Fantasy Football League - its Free!
Your Comments
Heart says one thing but head says it will difficult. They have started very & for not that dodgy pen they would have max points. Depending on what state our overseas players are in & who plays, I think we will do well do get a draw.
storagematt
Yep - he deserves it! (Came from Rennes - not Nantes) BTW. Great attacking signing - hope he can keep up what he's shown us so far..
scott mc
if utaka can come back in similar form to what we have seen so far this will give us even more of a chance to do liverpool. yep it will be tough but i just have this feeling about the game...
pompeyrug
rennes, nantes same thing :) you know what i meant...
pompeyrug
Looks to be a good buy, i hope we give him the ball on Saturday and let him run at the defence particularly if Hypia is playing, he may be good in the air but he is not the quickest, and to get something from this game we need to get them on the back foot and take the chances we create.
Owenspompey
utaka has the pace to fighten anyone so i too hope that he is given it and told to run, i doubt we will see another goal like we id against bolton - but you never know...
pompeyrug
I think he is well worth the investment. You only have to look at the condition of the other 6 million dollar man (sorry pound) Mr Nugent. Now who do you prefer....
pompeygray
utaka could be an £8m man tho in the end... yep utaka has been the most impressive, but nuge will come good, i have no doubt at all about that...
pompeyrug
utaka could be 8, nugent could be 4, and is also affected by being english, which adds about 2 million to his price tag, and is youn - another 2 million - and plays for england - another 2 million. I like nuggent a lot, and i like utaka a lot. The would both be in my startin XI against liverpool, so i dont think it is fair o compare the two. BUT, Utaka is pure class, and definatly our best player so far this season!!!
pompeycarpet
well at least we didnt plump for the glamour option did we now
russellm
He is the player you pay your money to watch. Fantastic pace, good touch and can finish. Still want to see Benji though! he started well and can't get in starting 11 now!!!
L L Blue
..... But we all know Kanu will start, it just a question of who with .... Benji gets my vote, with Utaka on the right midfield..... Nuge will replace Benji ater 70 minutes despite the fact that Kanu would not have moved for 15 minutes...... sound familiar ?
Chix
benji had an injury tho didnt he - i assume this has cleared up? i do like kanu but wish 'arry would give others a chance at times instead of him...
pompeyrug
Kanu has the ability to upset defences and appears to have a really good understanding with Utaka.
Benjy will probabbly start this game and be asked to run his heart out to cover for Kanu's lack of mobility, but again together Benjy and Kanu are a good partnership.
Niko could get a shout though as he did score midweek for Croatia and Harry needs to give a run in the team soon.
Owenspompey
yep i said it will be a Kanu Benji start, the boss il want to "harry" them in to mistakes, but the most important thing by far tomorrow will be to keep posession, no more giving it away cheaply. Allezpompey
russellm
Have Your Say
Recent Articles
On this day in history...25th May (Saturday May 25 2013)
On this day in history...24th May (Friday May 24 2013)
David Connolly joins the crusade (Thursday May 23 2013)
Not short of an option or two! (Thursday May 23 2013)
On this day in history...23rd May (Thursday May 23 2013)
On this day in history...22nd May (Wednesday May 22 2013)
Reaping the benefits of 1st team football (Tuesday May 21 2013)
On this day in history...21st May (Tuesday May 21 2013)
Scunny winger becomes latest Pompey signing (Monday May 20 2013)
Winger signing imminent? (Monday May 20 2013)
Archived Articles
Vital Members League (view all)
| 1. | pompeyrug | 71 |
| 2. | eastneydave | 53 |
| 3. | storagematt | 37 |
| 4. | mslorna48 | 31 |
| 5. | Jimsmithswig | 25 |
| 6. | Pompeytim | 20 |
| 7. | blueballoo2000 | 17 |
| 8. | nagoyablue | 15 |
| 9. | PompeyJake | 13 |
| 10. | PFCblue | 10 |
League Results (view all)
| Latest Results | ||||
| Shrewsbury | 3 | - | 2 | Portsmouth |
| Portsmouth | 3 | - | 0 | Sheff Utd |
| Brentford | 3 | - | 2 | Portsmouth |
| Portsmouth | 0 | - | 0 | Stevenage |
| Portsmouth | 1 | - | 0 | Tranmere |
| Preston | 1 | - | 1 | Portsmouth |
League Table (view table)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 18. Stevenage | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | -17 | 54 |
| 19. Oldham | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | -13 | 51 |
| 20. Colchester | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | -21 | 51 |
| 21. Scunthorpe | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | -24 | 48 |
| 22. Bury | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | -28 | 41 |
| 23. Hartlepool | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | -28 | 41 |
| 24. Portsmouth | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | -18 | 32 |
Breaking League News
| Familiar Faces In U's Return?
» Colchester : 25/05/2013 11:56:00
|
| Dunne Expects Late Transfers
» Colchester : 25/05/2013 08:49:00
|
| On this day in history...25th May
» Portsmouth : 25/05/2013 08:00:00
|
| Max rescues England
» Crewe : 24/05/2013 22:53:00
|
| Colin Cooper Appointed Hartlepool Boss
» Hartlepool : 24/05/2013 22:51:00
|
| Watt Was That, Kinsella?
» Colchester : 24/05/2013 22:42:00
|
| Ibehre Thanks U's Support
» Colchester : 24/05/2013 22:31:00
|
Current Site Poll (view all polls)
|
|
1 © - All content copyright Vital Network Ltd, not to be reproduced without explicit permission Copyright Issues
Cookie Policy
At Vital Football, we along with most other modern websites use small files called 'cookies' to create the most secure, effective and functional website possible for our users. Without these files our business model, based on advertising, breaks down and we would be unable to continue to provide the services that you are here to utilise. By continuing to use this website after seeing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device unless you have disabled them. For full details please read our Cookie Policy which can be found here. However, if you would like to disable cookies on this device, please view our Cookie Policy which contains an opt-out tool for disabling advertising cookies. Please also visit our information pages on 'How to manage cookies' if you would also like to block all other types of cookies. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies.