Portsmouth ‘should not be blinded by nostalgia’ with new transfers
Portsmouth are looking to improve their squad in preparation for their second campaign in the Championship.
The Fratton Park side secured a respectable 16th-place finish this season, securing survival with two games to spare.
However, it’s widely believed that the league will be even tougher next year, particularly as two promoted sides – Birmingham and Wrexham – have huge budgets and are expected to survive comfortably.
Pompey fans are therefore hoping that the Blues will be active in the transfer window, so they can avoid getting sucked into a relegation battle.
Portsmouth should not be blinded by nostalgia in transfer window
Former Portsmouth full-back Joel Ward is one of the players linked with a move to Fratton Park this summer.
The Emsworth-born defender spent four seasons at Pompey, registering 96 appearances.
His contract at Crystal Palace is set to expire shortly, meaning he would be available to rejoin the Blues on a free transfer.
The rumours about signing Ward have excited some fans, as he was a popular figure who went on to enjoy a good spell in the Premier League.
However, the Fratton Park club should take care not to be blinded by nostalgia.
Portsmouth should prioritise key positions in transfer window
Ward will turn 36 in October. He featured in three games for Crystal Palace this year. It’s fair to say that this would be a signing for the short term.
Perhaps he would do a steady job in the Blues’ back four for a couple of seasons, but short-term signings should be reserved for positions where a team is in desperate need of recruitment.
| Joel Ward career statistics | Appearances | Goals |
| Crystal Palace (2012 -) | 361 | 6 |
| Portsmouth (2008 – 2012) | 96 | 6 |
While Ward is an experienced right-back, Portsmouth are already well covered in this position, with Jordan Williams, Terry Devlin and Joe Swanson all proving themselves capable at Championship level.
Yes, he’d be an inspirational figure in the dressing room, but the Blues are hardly short of senior squad members for the younger players to look up to.
The Palace captain can play left-back too, but Connor Ogilvie was one of the club’s most consistent performers this season.
Although Ward is available on a free transfer, he would likely command a significant wage. Portsmouth should prioritise spending their money elsewhere.