(Credit: Imago)
(Credit: Imago)

Conor Chaplin in, £1.2m signing misses out – Portsmouth’s best starting XI as transfer window shuts

Jack Dawson

Correspondent AUTHORITY Football journalist with experience at the Edinburgh Evening News and GRV Media; Masters graduate from the University of Derby. FOCUS Scottish Premiership coverage with specialist knowledge of Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen, and Motherwell. THE INSIGHT Jack utilises a network of club and industry contacts across the Scottish Premiership to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the tactical and transfer insight behind the headlines to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

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Portsmouth had an extremely busy transfer window.

John Mousinho has brought in 11 new signings across the summer, with four new additions coming on deadline day. 

However, with so many new faces coming into Fratton Park, Mousinho may well struggle to fit each one into the starting XI.

As a result, Pompey News has put together what we think Portsmouth’s best XI now looks like.

John Mousinho, Portsmouth manager
John Mousinho has put together a fantastic squad for this campaign (Credit: Imago)

Conor Chaplin set to go straight into Portsmouth’s starting XI

While Josef Bursik did join Fratton Park on deadline day, Nicolas Schmid will be expected to keep his place in goal.

At full-back, Mousinho’s best options remain Connor Ogilvie and Zak Swanson.

Conor Shaughnessy and Regan Poole remain the centre-back pairing despite the signing of Zak Knight.

Into midfield, and John Swift has had an excellent start to the campaign and will likely partner Marlon Pack once he is back from injury.

  • Mousinho signed 11 players this summer
  • However, many of them will likely struggle to start regularly
  • Chaplin and Segecic are no doubt Portsmouth's biggest signings of the summer

Chaplin comes into the starting XI to play as the attacking midfielder after his late move, pushing Adrian Segecic to the wing.

Josh Murphy remains on the opposite flank, while Colby Bishop maintains his place up top. 

A graphic of what Portsmouth's best XI looks like
Portsmouth can field a fantastic starting XI (Credit: Lineup builder)

Portsmouth have a ridiculously strong bench

As evident from the lineup, many stars at Portsmouth have missed out.

This proves how strong Mousinho has made the squad, with Pompey having quality replacements for almost every position if there is an injury or suspension.

Hopefully, this will also help the South Coast club to maintain their form throughout the campaign, given the options the manager now has.

Now, it is down to Mousinho to ensure that his squad yields results after a busy transfer window, with nobody ruling out a push for the play-offs. 

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