Exclusive:Portsmouth Q&A with Jordan Cross: Colby Bishop, Michail Antonio, signing Millenic Alli and much more
Portsmouth writer Jordan Cross answers your Blues questions and offers some insight on the big issues at PO4. This week Colby Bishop, Michail Antonio, Millenic Alli and out-of-contract players are among the topics discussed.
Given Bishop’s current return of roughly - 0.04 goals per 90 and a 6% conversion rate compared to the typical 12–15% league average, do you think a short spell out of the starting XI would serve as a confidence reset, reducing immediate pressure while allowing focused finishing work to prevent further psychological erosion? Ryan Apsee
Colby’s place in the team continues to be a significant talking point among supporters, and with justification, too. Ultimately, it’s his goal return which Ryan is focussing on here - and we know that’s what strikers get judged on. We also know the return of three goals this season is one which falls short of expectations - for both Colby and Pompey.
It was heartening to see him step up and bury a high-pressure penalty at Charlton, but it’s just a single goal in 28 games from open play this term. It’s not good enough. Just further to Ryan’s numbers, his three goals comes against an xG of 7.51 this season (and non-penalty xG of 5.93) - so he’s clearly a long way short of where he should be.
That said, he’s performances leading the line have undoubtedly been strong for a decent period now. It was interesting to hear Charlton fans say they’d not seen their physical defence given such a hard time by many strikers like Bishop did last week. It was arguably even more noticeable against Millwall - who had Jake Cooper, Caleb Taylor and one of the division’s most highly-touted defenders in Tristan Crama.
We all know Pompey were looking for another striker in January and didn’t get the deal over the line, that would have been an out-and-out number nine to share the load with Bishop. That I can see happening this summer, but I think Mousinho is going to rely on him heavily for the rest of this season, with occasional cameos from Makenzie Kirk and maybe even Millenic Alli up front.
We still require a centre-forward. Barry Watts
A statement I know a lot of Pompey fans agree with from Barry. Blues sporting director, Rich Hughes, has been open over the club pursuing three targets in January - with all three remaining with their current employers. Dundee’s Luke Graham and Sheffield Wednesday’s Svante Ingelsson were both extensively reported, with the third a number nine targeted.
I think Pompey did take something of a calculated risk with not recruiting a more experienced option under Colby this season, but I totally understand the thinking behind that.
The football operation were given a budget they had to stretch a long way, so investing a decent portion of that in a No9 who wouldn’t come cheaply, when Colby was clearly the established choice, was logical.
I don’t think many would’ve seen the drop in form coming after hitting 11 goals from November onwards last term after heart surgery, with Thomas Waddingham - who is perhaps more highly rated internally than many people realise - viewed as capable back-up going into this season, before his injury woe started.
In terms of the here and now, I know Michail Antonio has his fans as a free agent option among supporters. Antonio, as John Mousinho indicated this week, was considered but the football operation’s view is he would take too long to get up to the required standard, after so long out.
Also, and excuse me if it sounds harsh for someone who nearly lost their life in a car crash, there has to be an obvious concern over the level the former West Ham man can reach at the age of 35 - after his femur was shattered in four places.
In terms of striker, and pretty much all free agents, Pompey’s view is the right options are not there. That includes Antonio - who now looks to be off to Qatar.
Do you think Pompey will sign Millenic Alli? Martin Heather, via email
Hi Martin, this is an issue which Pompey have addressed this week and one, of course, all Blues fans are very keen to know about.
Alli has not been far short of a revelation since arriving last month.
The best way I can gauge his impact is the fact that not too many are fretting about Josh Murphy’s ongoing period on the sidelines, which now stretches to well over two months. That’s Pompey’s best player, by the way.
Alli has been the side’s standout attacking performer and has missed a combined 24 minutes from nine games since arriving, that from a player who’d not started three games in a week for a year.
Sporting director Rich Hughes and John Mousinho have both now gone public on wanting to sign the Luton man this summer.
Mousinho also joked this week that the Irishman has been rubbish - that was a response to a question over his form potentially pushing his price up.
Given the 26-year-old signed for the Hatters for £1.5m and then fell out of favour under Jack Wilshere, you’d like to think a deal was very doable.
I guess one potential fly in the ointment would be a managerial change at Kenilworth Road. Alli’s clearly not favoured by Wilshere, but there does seem to be continuing unrest there. Hopefully any change in boss doesn’t shift the dynamic over Alli moving forward, but that would be an obvious possibility.
I like Doz but if we want to progress we do need to ‘upgrade’ on him. Happy to use as a squad/rotation option. Jordan Draper
As most of you would’ve seen, there’s been a fair bit of focus on Pompey’s out-of-contract players this week.
With seven players’ deals up, Mousinho has made it clear the likes of Marlon Pack, Connor Ogilvie, Toby Steward and Andre Dozzell are wanted moving forward. There will be news on Zak Swanson later today, too.
Jordan’s point on Dozzell hits on an issue which probably relates to recruitment in general, in terms of squad planning.
Pompey will be looking to constantly evolve and improve their squad, but that doesn’t mean it’s game over for the existing group.
I personally feel all the names above deserve to be at the club moving forward. That said, the bar has to be raised in the manner achieved by Ebou Adams to date.
Mousinho believes Dozzell is currently playing the best football of his career at Pompey. He’s certainly been more consistent this term, with some outstanding displays along the way - Preston at home in August springs to mind.
I don’t think Dozzell has necessarily maintained the level reached in that game, where he showed that he can drive games and be an impressive ball carrier, really grabbing the match by the scruff of its neck.
He deserves to be a part of things moving forward, but with £1m duo Luke Le Roux and Mark Kosznovszky not shining and Marlon Pack 35 next month, it’s clear the middle of the park has to be a major summer transfer focus.
When are we playing Ipswich? Dawn Roberts
We’ll wrap up with this one from Dawn.
I don’t actually have a definitive answer on this, because there’s been no news or suggestions from the club on a new date. That said, if you look at the fixture list it’s clear there’s only really a couple of options remaining.
It’s not going to be next week and the following Tuesday we play Swansea with Derby moved to Monday, March 16. We are then into the March international break (March 28) after QPR (March 21), with the Easter period seeing fixtures on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
The week commencing April 13 sees both Pompey and Ipswich have clear weeks, so that is definitely a strong possibility. Pompey will be coming off the long trip to Middlesbrough, with Ipswich a lunchtime kick-off the previous Saturday for their derby clash with Norwich City.
The only other clear week is from April 25, ahead of the final game of the season against Birmingham.