'Owners will get away with it. Pragmatic signings' - How Portsmouth fans have reacted to Blues' transfer deadline day business
The window has finally slammed shut on Pompey’s January transfer business
Pompey fans on social medai have been reacting to the Blues’ January transfer window deadline day business.
The Fratton Park outfit had, as expected, a manic Monday with all five deals they were keen to conclude being announced after the window closed at 7pm.
That included three new arrivals in the form of forward Jacob Brown (loan), winger Gustavo Caballero and Senegalese defender Madiodio Dia, who proved to be a leftfield signing.
It also involved Tom McIntrye seeing the final months of his Blues deal mutually terminated and Fratton favourite Callum Lang completing his protracted move to Championship rivals Preston North End after a deal was finally struck with the Premier League promotion chasers.
Lang, who was hugely popular at PO4, joined Paul Heckingbottom’s side for a PNE club record fee, which is believed to be north of £2.1m.
The majority of Blues fans have braced themselves for such a development. Yet, it was still hard to take when confirmation of his move was finally announced.
In total, Pompey brought in seven new players in January - including Millenic Alli, Ebou Adams, Keshi Anderson and Aji Alese.
Here’s what fans have been saying, though, as they take stock of Monday’s events.
What Pompey fans have said since close of transfer window
@CRE1941992: I’m confident Pompey will stay up and the owners will get away with it, but if I’m Mous, I’m gone in the summer. He deserves better and a real chance to compete higher up. Not this cycle.
@FFSChristie: While I’m frustrated we didn’t get one of these permanent signings we were going for across the line, the brief was to come out of January stronger than we went in and I think we’ve done that.
@SamMcEwan17: 5 pragmatic signings who seem to have pace and athleticism that we’ve been desperately missing. 2 absolute random plucks from thin air. Rich’s success rate on those is pretty much 0%. Screwed if our loans workout as we never have options on them.
@fletcherg003: Well we have sold Lang for a profit. Apart from a couple of other players, the rest will fade away or goven away. Not a good buisnes plan, eric!
@leepfc76: I think we’re stronger than at the start of January. Hopefully will be enough, with players returning from injury, to stay in Championship.
@PFC_MarcB: Right windows done and dusted... We know what we have to deal with... Back Mous and the boys and see where we end up... It’s clear owners are not going to invest to the standard we need... Up the blues and let's have it! #Pompey
@David_Winter123: Incredible deadline. I have to admit, I panicked when it passed 9pm, but Pompey proved me wrong, I'm alot more confident that we'll stay up after the window rather than before especially with the players already proving themselves. PUP.
@PFC_Josh_: Time to sell up, bought #Pompey with momentum as just promoted from league 2, sold our best players in Clarke & Lowe, let Jackett get rid of Chaplin, struggled to finish top 6 in League One for years, multiple poor transfer windows, constant rebuilds due to loans.
@JamesSetters05: I think we exit the window stronger. Lang isn't as big a loss as I first thought with his injuries. We've played most the season without him. McIntyre had to go. Yang was a rotation player for Murphy anyway. Replaced by Alli.
@JackDavis10: The only player that makes it into the fully fit starting XI is Ebou Adams. Can make a case for Alli at RW. Obviously not seen some and they could impact starting XI but that makes it feel an underwhelming January window.
For your next Pompey read: A sad farewell, welcoming the unknown and superb early business: An intriguing Portsmouth transfer window