Portsmouth must correct transfer mistakes from the past - or there will be no Championship future
Injury-ravaged with a squad lacking Championship know-how, Pompey face a huge January window
Such has become his irrelevance, Florian Bianchini is these days rarely mentioned while thumbing through Pompey selection woes.
Last we heard, he was nursing tendonitis in his knee. In the subsequent five matches he still hasn’t reappeared, an ongoing absence which has barely raised a murmur of concern nor complaint.
Tellingly, whenever John Mousinho is called upon to reel off his ever-lengthening casualty list, the Swansea man is frequently overlooked. Most likely subconsciously rather than anything particularly vitriolic, after all, the biggest losses are mourned considerably more.
It is damning that Bianchini barely occupies any of our Blues thoughts at present, whether fit or available. The inevitable consequence of a hugely disappointing start to his Fratton Park career.
Last summer, Pompey had identified the Frenchman as a versatile attacker to provide competition and cover on both the right and left flanks. A rival to Josh Murphy and a replacement for Matt Ritchie.
Regrettably, after 11 matches, the 24-year-old has still to come remotely close to succeeding in either sizeable challenge. Give him credit, there has been effort, work-rate and commitment, but, crucially, absolutely no end product.
Forced into another Championship relegation battle
Upon reflection, the Blues’ summer dealings have largely failed to come off - with Bianchini epitomising the transfer shortcomings which have plunged the club into another Championship relegation battle.
Freddie Potts, Rob Atkinson and Matt Ritchie were never adequately replaced, leaving a starting XI weaker than then one which last season secured their status with two matches remaining.
Coupled with repeat injuries to key players, Colby Bishop’s alarming loss of form, and once again asked to compete with one of the smallest Championship budgets, it is abundantly clear why the Blues are positioned one place above the drop zone.
Rich Hughes has overseen a strong previous three January windows which have undoubtedly strengthened the starting XI. For that reason, there remains genuine hope.
However, with Mousinho wanting up to six new faces, financially the sporting director must be backed by Pompey’s owners. This is no time to scramble around for bargain buys or obligingly helping out Premier League under-21 squads.
This relegation fight requires men to succeed, not kids enjoying their first Football League fling. Tomorrow can wait, today is far more pressing. Time to pause the recruitment model and return to short-termism, as the Blues did so effectively 12 months ago.
The weaknesses in Pompey’s squad are glaring, with many fragilities representing a hangover from summer transfer dealings which have fallen flat. Now it’s January, a month for second chances.
Summer recruitment has been criticised
Granted, top-scorer Adrian Segecic has proven a gem, creating an instant impact with his energetic, all-action approach, much to the delight of the Fratton faithful. Admittedly, his performances have dipped of late, but he remains a joy.
Josef Bursik has also been a fine capture, demonstrating himself to be an excellent deputy for the injured Nicolas Schmid. Then again, he remains a number two goalkeeper.
Mark Kosznovszky has been okay, neat and tidy without truly affecting games, but there’s hope. Although the fear is now the hard-working midfielder is out for the remainder of the season.
Then there’s Minhyeok Yang. A golden spell of three games in October threatened to finally ignite his Pompey loan spell. Instead we had to wait another two-and-half months before his next worthy contribution against Charlton.
Even Pompey’s safe bets, their Championship bankers in John Swift and Conor Chaplin have bafflingly failed to live up to far from unreasonable expectations.
Certainly few queried their statement signings at the time and, considering the duo’s undoubted talents and natural affinity for the club, there remains the belief they can recapture their form.
It is also worth mentioning that, across the year 2025, Callum Lang has managed 22 matches and three goals, while Conor Shaughnessy has mustered up 15 games and two goals.
Both would be automatic first-team choices when fit and, frustratingly, that has rarely been the case, with the team repeatedly starved of two Championship-calibre performers as a consequence.
Six Pompey positions to strengthen
Still, scouring the gaping holes in Mousinho’s squad, publicly the head coach has solely identified left-back as an essential area to strengthen. A canny operator, in truth he is fully aware that more extensive work is required.
Irrespective of Jacob Farrrell’s latest return to fitness, the addition of reliable cover and competition for Connor Ogilvie is essential, so that should be one signing.
Considering Bishop’s worrying form, Thomas Waddingham’s injuries and a raw Makenzie Kirk being asked to leap from the Scottish Championship into the Championship, a centre-forward is another must.
Albeit more in Bishop’s mould in terms of physicality, experience and leadership, with Pompey usually employing one in a match - as do most football clubs these days.
Even before Kosznovszky’s potential season-ending injury, the Blues were two central midfielders short. At present they have Andre Dozzell, Marlon Pack, Luke Le Roux and Swift.
Moving on, staggeringly Mousinho has started eight different right wingers in matches this season. Clearly that is another position to fill.
Finally there’s the centre-half situation. Pompey’s head coach had previously stated he would gauge the injury status of his five central defenders on January 1 before deciding whether to add to that area.
Well, today is January 5 and Josh Knight and Hayden Matthews are presently injured, although with the latter we have yet to learn the length of any potential absence following his Bristol City set-back.
Total all those positions and that represents six players required, the precise number Mousinho has been voicing on his wish list since early December - and also reiterated several times since.
Not all signings will come off, with Bianchini the latest example, certainly there should be no ill-will towards the Frenchman, it happens, this is football. Even expensive recruits can offer no value, history is littered with them, the Blues have certainly seen their type.
But Michael Eisner must at least give it a shot this January. Failure in the present means there won’t be a Championship future for Portsmouth Football Club.
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