‘Mousinho missing key component at Portsmouth’ amid transfer links
Portsmouth fans will be on Cloud Nine after hearing that the club are about to finalise a transfer for Adrian Segecic.
The Australian playmaker bagged 18 goals in the A-League for Sydney FC last season. At just 20 years old, he has the potential to one day become one of the top Pompey players of recent times.
Manager John Mousinho has seemingly been trying to stack his squad with a number of rising stars. The captures of Hayden Matthews and Thomas Waddingham in January provide more evidence of that.
Indeed, the Blues have most recently been linked with a move for 19-year-old Italian winger Patrick Nuamah.
However, this transfer strategy won’t do much to solve one of Portsmouth’s biggest weaknesses.
Portsmouth need to improve away form to progress in Championship
It’s all well and good signing these youthful flair players when the sun is shining and everything is going well at your club.
But what happens when the team’s backs are against the wall?
When you’re away from home, the opponents are firing on all cylinders, and the crowd is roaring them on to victory. The metaphorical cold midweek fixture at Stoke.
That’s when the less experienced players can cave in and the real characters have to stand up and be counted.
Portsmouth’s away form was the second-worst in the Championship last year. It will be easier to improve on that than their home form, which was eighth-best in the league.
If Mousinho wants to do that, he’ll need to add some steel to his side alongside his skilful youngsters.
Pompey must continue to mix youth with experience
It’s not as if there are no experienced players in the Pompey squad.
The Blues have the likes of Matt Ritchie and Marlon Pack to call upon, and the younger stars have praised the influence that these have had on them.
| Portsmouth away form 2024-25 | |
| Games played | 23 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Losses | 15 |
| Goal Difference | -25 |
| Points | 14 |
However, it’s important to get the blend of youth and experience right.
To succeed in the Championship, you need a handful of players who understand the league. Experienced heads who can calm a game down when necessary. Guys who can close out a tight 0-0 when the opponent is throwing the kitchen sink at them.
That’s part of the reason why John Swift could be a good man to bring to Fratton Park. He might not have the fancy YouTube highlight reel that Segecic boasts, but he’s the kind of player you’d want on your team when those tough away fixtures roll around.
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