January Transfer Window: Pompey's worst purchases

KONSTANTINOS CHALKIAS

The memories of this Greek goalkeeper continue to bring a shudder to the spine of anyone who saw him play for Pompey.

He arrived in January 2005 and was handed a debut in the cauldron of the FA Cup fourth-round defeat at local rivals Southampton – a crazy decision from caretaker boss Velimir Zajec, who picked him ahead of Shaka Hislop and Jamie Ashdown.

That experience perhaps affected his confidence from day one. But he was lacking in judgement, vulnerable on crosses, and Chalkias looked a nervous wreck. He had the same effect on both team-mates and supporters.

In his five games for the club, he conceded 13 goals and was on the winning side just once, before Ashdown replaced him for the rest of the season.

Sander Westerveld then arrived that summer and Chalkias left for Real Murcia in January 2006.

THEOFANIS GEKAS

Brought in on loan by Tony Adams in January 2009, the Greek striker found himself out in the cold under Paul Hart when Adams was sacked soon after his arrival.

His Pompey career was the sum total of a one-minute appearance from the bench in a 2-2 draw with West Brom.

But despite calls from fans to see a proven goalscorer given an opportunity, Hart refused.

Gekas returned to Bayer Leverkusen and went on to enjoy successful spells with Eintracht Frankfurt and in Turkish football, while also earning 78 caps and scoring 24 international goals.

Would he have succeeded in the Premier League? We’ll never know but he deserved a chance.

EMMANUEL OLISADEBE

As Harry Redknapp frantically attempted to rebuild a Pompey side that looked destined for relegation, the Polish striker was drafted into the squad on loan in January 2006.

But he made just two substitute appearances – a 1-0 home loss to Everton and a 5-0 defeat at Birmingham – and never made the bench thereafter.

He departed for Skoda Xanthi – one of several clubs in Greek football he played for – and also played in China before his retirement in 2012.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie

It was a tale of what might have been for the Dutch-born Ghana international, who arrived at Pompey in January 2010 on loan for the remainder of the season.

He started just three games in 11 appearances as the Blues plummeted towards relegation.

But his one goal and his greatest Pompey moment came as a substitute in the FA Cup 4-1 demolition of Southampton.

He scored one and was a key man in a memorable victory.

But he never reached those heights again and left for Spartak Moscow in March 2010.

PELE

The Portuguese midfielder with a big name to live up to failed to make the grade at Fratton Park.

In fact, he didn’t even make a single appearance.

Pele or Vitor Hugo Gomes Passos, to give him his real name, arrived on loan from Porto in January 2009.

But he never even made the substitutes bench under Tony Adams or Paul Hart and left that summer.

His career has not hit the heights since his short stay at Fratton.

Subsequent spells in Spain, Turkey, and Greece followed and he is now playing for Anorthosis Famagusta in the Cypriot first division.