Cohen Bramall ‘set for new Portsmouth contract’ after what Mousinho said
Cohen Bramall was one of an eight-strong clutch of January signings for Portsmouth in their bid to survive in the Championship on a budget.
Despite surprise defeat by Plymouth Argyle at Fratton Park on Wednesday (12 March), Pompey should still have enough in the tank to achieve their aim and go again as a stronger second-tier entity next season.
Bramall has yet to start a game since arriving on a short-term deal until the summer from Rotherham United, but has impressed when coming off the bench – including his best Portsmouth cameo yet against Leeds United last Sunday (9 March).
Mousinho raves over Bramall
John Mousinho spoke highly of Bramall earlier this week, with his substitute appearances this season coming on the left wing, rather than his natural position of left-back.
The one-time Arsenal man has shown his versatility with how he has adapted, and used his experience to settle into the side with very little fuss.
Connor Ogilvie has been the consistent left-back at Fratton Park this season with Jacob Farrell injured, meaning Bramall’s opportunities in his natural position have not yet arrived – but he is excelling where Mousinho wants him so far.
“Leeds was Cohen’s best game so far. He had a real effect against a really, really good side who have top Championship and Premier League-level athletes at the back. He was excellent,” the head coach told The News (12 March).
“He’s come on out of position in all of [his games] as well, which is testament to Cohen, but we trust him there.
“However, I still see Cohen as a left-back – he’s still competing for that spot. But, at the moment, Connor [Ogilvie] is doing fantastically well there.”
With the 28-year-old’s short contract up in June, there have been increased calls among the supporters to make a point of extending Bramall’s deal.
Portsmouth should offer Bramall a new contract
Bramall is in the peak of his career, eager to prove he is capable in the Championship long-term, and a very versatile operator.
A contract extension should be a no-brainer – players like him are needed in the squad, and it’s why Portsmouth picked him up in the first place.
As shown by his Sofascore heat map, Bramall this season has filled in on the wing since his arrival, and has been a seamless transition when Mousinho has often looked to either see out games or find further creativity out wide.
In the last 365 days, compared to full-backs at the same level, Bramall outranks 79 per cent of his fellow competitors for chances created, and has had more shots than 61 per cent than his rivals despite far less football than many of them (Fotmob).
This evidence is further reinforced by FBref, and illustrates exactly why Mousinho sees him not just as a left-back but a winger as well.
The data here shows Bramall has averaged 0.24 assists per 90 minutes within the past year – a higher total than 97 per cent of full-backs at Championship and League One levels.
The average of 0.24 also applies to combined goals, assists and xG/xA from open play, meaning he has scored or set up a goal – or been in a position to create it – in almost one in four matches from the back. If he receives a run of games further forward, that figure and his attacking impact is inevitably going to rise.
He is comfortable with the ball, which has become an increasingly important attribute for Mousinho in games like against Plymouth at home, when Pompey had a whopping 80 per cent possession – that has certainly not often been the case this season.
That smartness in possession, along with his stamina and ability to both defend and attack, is why Arsene Wenger plucked him from non-league Hednesford Town to join the Arsenal setup back in 2017.
And while he may not have reached Bukayo Saka levels at the Emirates – the England star also progressed from defence to attack – Bramall is certainly a player Pompey could do with keeping around.