'Would be closer to relegation' - social media calls for Portsmouth to sack John Mousinho dismissed
Pompey lost their seventh Championship game of the season at Hull on Saturday - forcing some members of the Fratton faithful to demand a change in manager
Weekend calls for Pompey to relieve John Mousinho of his Fratton Park duties have been labelled ‘ridiculous’.
That’s the honest verdict of The News’ Jordan Cross, who believes the Blues have a better chance of avoiding relegation from the Championship and building something for the future with the 39-year-old remaining in position at PO4.
A certain section of the Fratton Park fanbase we calling for the club’s League One title-winning manager’s head in the aftermath of Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at the hands of Hull City. Concerned by the Blues’ current form - two draws and four loses from their past six games and just three wins all season - they believe Pompey’s current position of 20th is not good enough and that the blame lies firmly at Mousinho’s door.
Cross is also worried about he’s currently seeing from the Blues. But rather than siding with those who believe a change in leadership is required, he believes other mitigating factors are at play - including injuries, recruitment and backing from the owners. And he firmly believes Pompey have what it takes to escape their current troubles with Mousinho remaining at the helm.
‘I don’t think the answer lies in sacking John Mousinho’
Speaking on the latest episode of Pompey Talk, Cross said: ‘I was watching from afar at the weekend... I didn't watch as closely as maybe I would have done, but what, from afar, that did strike me - and I was surprised by it actually - was the strength of sentiment for Mousinho to go from supporters afterwards, which, I was like: ”Really, are people really thinking that now?” Because I think that's a ridiculous sentiment.
‘I understand the frustration and the look for answers, I absolutely get it, this form's not good enough, it needs to be changed. But looking for answers, I don't think the answer lies in sacking John Mousinho. I don't think it'll happen, I think he has the backing of the owners, I don't think it should happen.
‘I think if we did sack John Mousinho, we'd be closer to relegation than if we kept him. But it was just surprising that there was quite balanced people, one or two balanced people I would regard, coming out and saying things about the managerial situation.
‘But I would add to that… there was a kickback against that sentiment from Pompey fans, and I think when people were asking and saw some social media sites saying should Mousinho go, I think about 90% of the fans were saying: “Come on, we need to stick with him here”. So that's important on that element.
‘There are mitigating factors with injuries, but, and I've been quite consistent on this, I think that Pompey, with their first XI, have got a team that can stay and maybe even develop in the Championship.
‘I think there's always been a question about the depth of the squad, and I think we've seen that with these injuries, that has been exposed again, a number of the players underneath probably aren't good enough at the moment, and there's a debate about whether they will be or they need that time to.
‘But you recruit for the future and you recruit for now, and perhaps those players that have been recruited for now, the John Swifts - that's a bit harsh - but maybe more Conor Chaplin, haven't stepped up as well. And then with the players, the Kosznovszkys, the Le Rouxs, probably not being up to the mark at the moment, you've got a problem.
‘Colby Bishop is out of form, you didn't see (that coming), that's a problem, and they haven't got anyone underneath him with experience.
‘But I think if I'm looking at the trio of factors (for Pompey’s current predicament) - manager, recruitment and backing from the owners - I would probably point to the latter two over the manager.’
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