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Portsmouth will be looking to regain their spirits during the new campaign under the Cowley brothers after failing to secure the play-offs last season.
The south coast side had quite the rollercoaster of a season last year having gone top of League One just a few days before Christmas, before sacking Kenny Jackett in March after a disappointing run of form. Danny and Nicky Cowley were soon brought in to steady the ship and helped the club reach an eighth-place finish.
The managerial duo soon signed a long-term contract with their new club in the hope that they can build a squad fit enough to challenge for Championship football.
In a league that now boasts some top clubs, it will be much more difficult for Pompey to push towards the top six and achieve the promotion that fans have been dreaming of for years now.
Manager
The Cowley brothers have worked together for some time now having started at Concord Rangers before heading to Braintree Town. They soon guided Lincoln City back to the Football League and oversaw a memorable FA Cup campaign in which they reached the quarter-finals, only to be knocked out by eventual winners Arsenal.
In 2019, they made the move to Championship side Huddersfield Town, before eventually being dismissed come the end of the season despite maintaining the club’s survival in the second tier.
After a few months away from the game, Pompey approached them and offered a short-term contract until the end of the season. They soon became fan favourites as they won the first four games in charge, before finishing just outside of the play-off places.
It’s clear to see they have a depth of managerial experience across the English football pyramid, but this next venture could prove to be one of their toughest yet.
Transfers
Pompey’s squad has been somewhat overhauled throughout the summer, with many key players from previous seasons departing the club.
The likes of Ben Close, Tom Naylor, Jack Whatmough and Craig MacGillivray have all left to pursue new challenges, leaving the club with a fairly thin squad at one point.
Soon though, new signings were brought through the door. Shaun Williams and Ryan Tunnicliffe were signed to help bolster the midfield, while Gavin Bazunu was signed on a loan deal from Manchester City.
Clark Robertson joined from fellow League One side Rotherham United, with Connor Ogilvie making the switch from Gillingham and Kieron Freeman returning to the club after a loan spell back in the 2015/16 season.
Throughout pre-season, Gassan Ahadme was on trial at the club and made an instant impact by scoring a hat-trick in a friendly against Havant and Waterlooville. The club soon brought him in on a loan deal from Norwich after consistently getting himself on the scoresheet.
Jayden Reid was another trialist who impressed and eventually made the move from Birmingham City, but he unfortunately suffered a cruciate ligament injury in the friendly against Luton Town which will see him out on the sidelines for some time.
Targets
There is a strong sense that this season will be a transitional period for the club.
Having suffered play-off heartbreak in previous seasons, the squad needed a refresh with the hopes of soon returning to the Championship.
Pompey have a good mix of youth and experience within their squad and have now had a pre-season where they implemented their style of play, however, it certainly won’t be easy.
With the likes of Charlton Athletic, Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland all competing for the top and strengthening their squads, Portsmouth may fall short once again this season.
A promotion push could well and truly be a real prospect, given how close the League One table has been in previous years, but a more realistic finish would most likely be in the top half of the league.
Key Player
Since joining in 2018, Ronan Curtis has been one of Pompey’s stars. The Irish international has scored 40 goals in 142 appearances for the club and has attracted attention from clubs in the Championship.
He primarily plays on the left and enjoys cutting in from the wing, whilst also having a good partnership with left-back Lee Brown. With 32 assists to his name, he also has a keen eye for creating goalscoring chances.
Curtis’ energy and passion will be a huge factor in Portsmouth’s success this season and if he is able to consistently produce week in week out, then the club can certainly push for the play-offs.
Youth Prospect
At just 19, Haji Mnoga is one of Pompey’s brightest prospects. Having come through the academy, he made his first appearance for the senior team in the EFL Trophy in 2018 and has featured in the first-team squad a few times ever since.
Playing at right-back, he possesses power and pace along the wings, as well as showing good strength in the tackle and providing good stability in the Pompey backline.
He is yet to play competitively under the Cowleys, but will no doubt be keen to impress the new bosses once given the opportunity.
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