View: Portsmouth fast becoming Australian capital of the Championship as Socceroos become Blues
Portsmouth is becoming a hub for Australian footballers with the club’s activity in the transfer window, as Socceroos become Blues.
Pompey’s Aussie contingent stands at just two at present but could double by the time the Championship season kicks off on 10 August.
With internationals Sam Silvera and Kusini Yengi already at Fratton Park, Jacob Farrell is expected to imminently become the club’s third player from Down Under – and that’s before the excitement can build for a potential Alex Robertson return.
Portsmouth x Australia
John Mousinho is big on the idea of community among the Portsmouth team, as it runs parallel with the values of what the club has always stood for – an island city; a siege mentality; coming through adversity to rise to the top.
The club are certainly progressing well with that project in its embryonic phase, earning promotion in Mousinho’s first full season as a head coach – an immense achievement on his part.
What could turn out to be a close-knit group of Australian players – who would grace each other with their company for the long and arduous journeys to international duty as well as on the South Coast – may just be a masterstroke in gathering rapport within an ever-changing squad.
Having lived in Sydney for a year myself and worked in the A-League, the league itself has ignited debate in Australia.
Granted, “sokkah” is far from the nation’s primary sport, but the standard of its top domestic division has been rated at around the Championship mark by its local spectators – with a hint of bias, it must be said.
My personal view is that, hypothetically, Pompey would likely win the A-League more times than they didn’t. English players from lower divisions are often excelling at that level when making the move, and it has admittedly taken the likes of Yengi a while to get up to speed with EFL action – although now, both he and his team are reaping the rewards.
The club will of course hope Farrell achieves the same as he has been lauded one of the best over the past three years for Central Coast Mariners – who have won the last two Australian titles.
If the success story continues, the Australian market could be one where Portsmouth continue to have the upper hand.
In other Portsmouth news, Ryley Towler could benefit hugely from his wonder-strike at the weekend.
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