Tony Pulis namedrops Ipswich Town in advice to Portsmouth boss John Mousinho
Tony Pulis hailed the job done by John Mousinho at Portsmouth this season and told him to follow the blueprint of Ipswich Town in the Championship.
Pompey will play in the second tier of English football for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign next season after Mousinho oversaw a famous League One title triumph.
A year ago, Ipswich were gaining promotion out of the second tier after finishing runners-up to Plymouth Argyle and involved in a brilliant tussle for another promotion in the Championship, sitting one point behind second-placed Leeds United with a game in hand over the Whites.
Pulis spoke highly of Portsmouth, a club whom he managed for 10 months in the year 2000, and thinks Mousinho can learn a lot from the Tractor Boys.
In quotes reported by Football League World (24 April), Pulis said: “I’m delighted for Pompey, I really enjoyed being there and the supporters are fantastic.
“You drive into the City and you don’t see anything else other than blue shirts! It’s a special area, they are so proud to be from Portsmouth. I enjoyed that place.
“John Mousinho has done a fantastic job but you shouldn’t forget the backroom staff there, too. He’s got a massive challenge on his hands next year, though, they need to look at Ipswich Town and try to replicate what they have done, if possible.”
Can John Mousinho emulate Ipswich Town with Portsmouth?
Ipswich love to do things the hard way there is no doubt about that. Last season, it was a three-way tussle with Plymouth and Sheffield Wednesday to get out of League One.
Fast forward to the present day and they have fought valiantly against the big spending of Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton and still have automatic promotion in their own hands.
It would be a tough ask for Portsmouth to do exactly what Ipswich have done but the feelgood factor Mousinho has created at Fratton Park means it is certainly not impossible to emulate it.
Would Portsmouth fans accept a year of consolidation back in the second tier and gradual progress? Or is there a real belief that back-to-back promotions are on the cards? Next season promises to be a fun one at Fratton Park that’s for sure.
In other Portsmouth news, an update on the renovation of Fratton Park has been shared.
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