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JDefoe14 · 19-08-2008, 04:30 PM

PORTSMOUTH BOOSTED AHEAD OF PRESEASON TOUR

The rumours surrounding Harry Redknapp’s major transfer spree seem to be materialising before our eyes, with a number of players in and out of the club, a week prior to Pompey’s tour of Greece and Turkey. A total of 8 changes were made with 4 players transferred in and 4 players out off the club in what can only be described as a major tactical move by Redknapp, giving his team an added boost before what will be a torrid tour of the two countries.

Redknapp’s signing of Peter Whittingham comes as no surprise, with rumours surrounding the move going as far back as two weeks after the FA Cup final, where Whittingham played on the opposing team in Cardiff City. Whittingham is no stranger to the Premier League, playing 66 games for Aston Villa. In 2007 he had become surplus to the requirements of Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill and was transferred to Cardiff, who signed Whittingham at a steal of just £350,000.

Whittingham quickly establishd himself at Cardiff and was a major contributor in getting the team to the FA Cup final, scoring 3 goals in the road to the final against Chasetown, Wolverhampton and Middlesbrough. He played 60 games for Cardiff scoring 9 goals and is known for being a tactical thinker on the pitch with a fierce shot from the left side of the field. Cardiff made a good profit off the transfer, with Portsmouth paying 10 times what the Welsh club did just a year ago handing over £3.5m for the winger.

Argentine great, Juan Pablo Sorin has joined the Portsmouth on a free transfer after he was released by German club, HSV. Sorin has played for some of the great clubs of Europe and will play a integral part in Pompey’s European campaign. Known for his versatility on the pitch and he’s some what eccentric style of play, Sorin will add a new dimension to Pompey. Expect him to push forward in search of goals and bring the flash Argentine style of play to the English club along with his leadership qualities that were evident in the 2006 world cup where he led Argentina into the quarter finals of the tournament.

Once regarded as one of the best keepers in England, times have been tough for Chris Kirkland. Injury has played a major role in his disappointing career and he will be looking to turn that around at Portsmouth. At just 20 years old Kirkland was the most expensive goalkeeper in British transfer history, signing with Liverpool for £6m. Kirkland was tipped to be Liverpool and England’s new number one at the beginning of the 2004-05 season but poor performances caused by injury meant he slipped down the goalkeeper order behind Jerzy Dudek and Scott Carson at the Reds. In 2005 Kirkland went on loan to Wet Bromwich Albion where once again injury kept him out of the number one jersey, losing out this time to Tomasz Kuszczak.

A loan deal with Wigan became permanent on the 27th of October 2006, Kirkland managing to keep relatively injury free at the club and despite a good season in goals last season, faced relegation with Wigan who failed in the attack department for the season. Kirkland will be used in rotation with David James at Portsmouth with the view of eventually taking over from James, who has already discussed the possibility of retirement at the end of the season.

Seen as a replacement for Sulley Muntari, Christian Obodo partnered Muntari in their days at Udinese before Muntari was signed by Portsmouth. Obodo is rated as one of the best players to come out of Nigeria and has made a reputation for himself in the Serie A, playing for Perugia, Fiorentina and Udinese. He is an imposing mid-fielder, both strong in attack and defence and will do a good job in replacing his friend Muntari at the club. Udinese were well compinsated for Obodo with a rumoured £7.5m exchanging hands that could rise to £9m depending on appearances and performance for the club.

The players transferred out off the club were defenders Hermann Heidrasson and Noe Paromot midfielder Richard Hughes and goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown. The club wishes these players the best in their future with their chosen clubs.

Peter Whittingham

Juan Pablo Sorin

Chris Kirkland

Christian Obodo

19-08-2008, 04:30 PM	#23 (permalink)
JDefoe14 Rookie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sydney,AUS Posts: 29	PORTSMOUTH BOOSTED AHEAD OF PRESEASON TOUR The rumours surrounding Harry Redknapp’s major transfer spree seem to be materialising before our eyes, with a number of players in and out of the club, a week prior to Pompey’s tour of Greece and Turkey. A total of 8 changes were made with 4 players transferred in and 4 players out off the club in what can only be described as a major tactical move by Redknapp, giving his team an added boost before what will be a torrid tour of the two countries. Redknapp’s signing of Peter Whittingham comes as no surprise, with rumours surrounding the move going as far back as two weeks after the FA Cup final, where Whittingham played on the opposing team in Cardiff City. Whittingham is no stranger to the Premier League, playing 66 games for Aston Villa. In 2007 he had become surplus to the requirements of Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill and was transferred to Cardiff, who signed Whittingham at a steal of just £350,000. Whittingham quickly establishd himself at Cardiff and was a major contributor in getting the team to the FA Cup final, scoring 3 goals in the road to the final against Chasetown, Wolverhampton and Middlesbrough. He played 60 games for Cardiff scoring 9 goals and is known for being a tactical thinker on the pitch with a fierce shot from the left side of the field. Cardiff made a good profit off the transfer, with Portsmouth paying 10 times what the Welsh club did just a year ago handing over £3.5m for the winger. Argentine great, Juan Pablo Sorin has joined the Portsmouth on a free transfer after he was released by German club, HSV. Sorin has played for some of the great clubs of Europe and will play a integral part in Pompey’s European campaign. Known for his versatility on the pitch and he’s some what eccentric style of play, Sorin will add a new dimension to Pompey. Expect him to push forward in search of goals and bring the flash Argentine style of play to the English club along with his leadership qualities that were evident in the 2006 world cup where he led Argentina into the quarter finals of the tournament. Once regarded as one of the best keepers in England, times have been tough for Chris Kirkland. Injury has played a major role in his disappointing career and he will be looking to turn that around at Portsmouth. At just 20 years old Kirkland was the most expensive goalkeeper in British transfer history, signing with Liverpool for £6m. Kirkland was tipped to be Liverpool and England’s new number one at the beginning of the 2004-05 season but poor performances caused by injury meant he slipped down the goalkeeper order behind Jerzy Dudek and Scott Carson at the Reds. In 2005 Kirkland went on loan to Wet Bromwich Albion where once again injury kept him out of the number one jersey, losing out this time to Tomasz Kuszczak. A loan deal with Wigan became permanent on the 27th of October 2006, Kirkland managing to keep relatively injury free at the club and despite a good season in goals last season, faced relegation with Wigan who failed in the attack department for the season. Kirkland will be used in rotation with David James at Portsmouth with the view of eventually taking over from James, who has already discussed the possibility of retirement at the end of the season. Seen as a replacement for Sulley Muntari, Christian Obodo partnered Muntari in their days at Udinese before Muntari was signed by Portsmouth. Obodo is rated as one of the best players to come out of Nigeria and has made a reputation for himself in the Serie A, playing for Perugia, Fiorentina and Udinese. He is an imposing mid-fielder, both strong in attack and defence and will do a good job in replacing his friend Muntari at the club. Udinese were well compinsated for Obodo with a rumoured £7.5m exchanging hands that could rise to £9m depending on appearances and performance for the club. The players transferred out off the club were defenders Hermann Heidrasson and Noe Paromot midfielder Richard Hughes and goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown. The club wishes these players the best in their future with their chosen clubs. Peter Whittingham Juan Pablo Sorin Chris Kirkland Christian Obodo Last edited by JDefoe14; 20-08-2008 at 05:57 AM..