01-05-2024, 07:19 PM
Evans and Macey a little surprising too, but maybe they have better replacements lined up. Likewise for Raggett and Rafferty.
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01-05-2024, 07:19 PM
Evans and Macey a little surprising too, but maybe they have better replacements lined up. Likewise for Raggett and Rafferty.
01-05-2024, 07:24 PM
Harsh but I think probably just about fair. I agree with offering Pack and Ogilvie new contracts. Pack I think can still do a job in the championship for one more season at least and Ogilvie is solid and can also play centre back. Of course both could turn down the offers but hopefully not. The scary thing is that if none of Pack, Ogivlie, Swanson and Morrell sign new contracts, it will mean only Bishop and Lowery remain from the Cowley era with Towler the only other non Mousinho signing (he was brought in while Bassey was in caretaker charge).
Raggett is a rough call I know. What a season he had when his team needed him the most. Rafferty was such a consistent performer for us too. Ultimately though, the championship is a big step up with more pace and athleticism and they may both have had a much tougher time. Rafferty was released by a championship club before he joined us so may not be quite that level. The Morrell and Swanson situations are ongoing. My suspicion is that we will lose Morrell and keep Swanson. There are still a lot of the key elements from this season remaining in the squad providing a good foundation to build from.
Looks to me like they are building for three year's time as well as for an establishment season. Raggie and Raffs can now get a big signing on bonus and try for another promotion.
Were the club extra year options historically set way too high? We seem to have refused a lot of them of late.
01-05-2024, 07:51 PM
(01-05-2024, 07:03 PM)Gerry Hatrick Wrote: I think the biggest shock is that NO-ONE from the academy has been offered a deal. What an indictment of our youth set up! The academy was based round producing players for League 1 - now we have stepped up a level that immediately changes the calibre of player we need to produce. Personally not that surprised that none of them made it. Hopefully being a Championship club will attract better academy players. I would guess that Toby Steward gaining a second professional contract will be seen as a success story.
01-05-2024, 07:52 PM
01-05-2024, 07:55 PM
(01-05-2024, 07:51 PM)exterminator Wrote:(01-05-2024, 07:03 PM)Gerry Hatrick Wrote: I think the biggest shock is that NO-ONE from the academy has been offered a deal. What an indictment of our youth set up! We need to become a Category 1 level to achieve that I believe & hopefully the Eisners now understand that.
01-05-2024, 07:57 PM
(01-05-2024, 07:52 PM)mikey393 Wrote:(01-05-2024, 05:47 PM)FiftyYearsOn Wrote: Disappointed for Rafferty in particular. I am being dense here I think.. what does ‘not taking up an option on Morrell or Swanson, but negotiating with them’ mean? I suspect contract additional year options were set far too high a few years ago (possibly before Covid) we have rarely taken them up in the last few years. Swanson might have an offer that includes number of appearances given his fitness issues. Morrell might be similar but with red cards in mind.
01-05-2024, 08:04 PM
01-05-2024, 08:42 PM
(01-05-2024, 08:04 PM)mikey393 Wrote:(01-05-2024, 07:03 PM)Gerry Hatrick Wrote: I think the biggest shock is that NO-ONE from the academy has been offered a deal. What an indictment of our youth set up! The system now relies on an u21/U23 set up. I was shocked when Caitlin outlined how much infrastructure is now required to upgrade the youth system and separate this that and the other for the other bit. Indoor domes, pitches enough to cover the whole of Portsmouth etc etc etc. How did clubs ever cope in the black and white days with youth set ups, reserves and 50 odd first team squads? and then, unearth a gem and the prem clubs can stroll in and help themselves to him when ever they feel like it. and after all that, very few of them come out of the tippy tappy five aside training any where near ready to play in grown up football. Still feels like we need to get the U23 thing in place and then scout and try out the rejects from the bloated London based youth set ups. Noises about the work on the training ground do suggest that is the direction of travel.
01-05-2024, 10:38 PM
(01-05-2024, 07:52 PM)mikey393 Wrote:(01-05-2024, 05:47 PM)FiftyYearsOn Wrote: Disappointed for Rafferty in particular. I am being dense here I think.. what does ‘not taking up an option on Morrell or Swanson, but negotiating with them’ mean? Where did you hear/read that? I haven't seen that quoted anywhere.
01-05-2024, 11:06 PM
I've likely missed the update somewhere...but what's happening with Koby Mottoh?
02-05-2024, 04:39 AM
02-05-2024, 06:09 AM
They’ve let Mottoh go
02-05-2024, 06:30 AM
Very saddened about Rags, a big man, and I sincerely hope he finds a good club who admire and appreciate him, he deserves all of that.
And totally agree with all the above re the Academy, that is now a major priority. However, I do think the club know that and will invest significantly in that area, to enable talent to be identified for our new level.
02-05-2024, 06:44 AM
(01-05-2024, 07:52 PM)mikey393 Wrote:(01-05-2024, 05:47 PM)FiftyYearsOn Wrote: Disappointed for Rafferty in particular. I am being dense here I think.. what does ‘not taking up an option on Morrell or Swanson, but negotiating with them’ mean? Not so. The extension options that the club had offered when the players signed involved increases that the club now considers too risky, given the injuries the players have had so they are trying to negotitiate new deals probably based on appearances - not necessarily on lesser terms otherwise. Agents will of course be involved in those negotiations but to suggest they caused the situation is wide of the mark.
02-05-2024, 07:01 AM
Obviously at a different level but Raggs has become a cult figure on a par with Linvoy.
02-05-2024, 07:10 AM
At the risk of saying the same thing about Rags and Raf: It would be difficult to imagine a more dependable duo as back up if indeed the club moves up a grade in those positions. Not that those particular players would necessarily see themselves in those terms or would accept that premise. But we have seen over the course of a season what injuries can do and that back up players rise to the occasion. Perhaps that was put to them and they rejected the idea - or it was a wage issue? In Mous we trust but feel this is a strange one.
02-05-2024, 07:49 AM
It's hard to part ways with a lot of players, especially after a title winning season. However, in order to progress the club needs to make hard decisions when they are in the best interests of the club long term.
02-05-2024, 08:42 AM
Some of these decisions will be player lead as well. Some would have wanted assurances about playing time.
Raggett would been told he can have a contract but will not be first choice and would have been weighted in the club’s favour. He will go get a 2/3 year deal at Lincoln or somewhere. Not sure we will see morrell again either rumours wrexham want him and will pay over the top on wages. His poor disciplinary record is something we can’t have in the championship. But as a squad player I’d keep him. If rafferty was championship level would Preston of let him go in his prime not sure.
02-05-2024, 09:14 AM
If they replace all the released players with better players, which is presumably the plan, then we will have a hell of a squad come the end of the window.
The hardest to replace IMO will be Kamara, who Norwich are clearly not going to release given recent comments from Wagner. Dembele would be a good choice if Brest would let him go.
02-05-2024, 09:28 AM
(01-05-2024, 07:55 PM)mikey393 Wrote:(01-05-2024, 07:51 PM)exterminator Wrote:(01-05-2024, 07:03 PM)Gerry Hatrick Wrote: I think the biggest shock is that NO-ONE from the academy has been offered a deal. What an indictment of our youth set up! Wouldn't expect anything to change with the academy until the 1st team has been established in the championship for at least 2-3 yrs. Mous remit was soley to get promoted and the next objectives will be to stay in the championship and stabilise there. There was an Academy strategy with Cowley and he did spend a fair amount of time with them and could often be seen on the U18 training pitch and U18's did get a lot of minutes training with the first team. They took on a number of CAT 1 releases two seasons ago and appointed Zesh as the coach to raise the on-pitch standard. From what I understand the U18's had one of it's best seasons at that time. Cowley leaving and Zesh moving into a first team support position changed the whole academy set up and strategy - some would say the coaching level dropped and the academy focus was understandably sacrificed for a first team promotion push. It will be quite a while for the academy to recover - form indicates no pathway for the youngsters and I would expect the club to struggle to attract U16 released players from other clubs - especially coming from a Cat 1 & Cat 2 where the facilities are much more attractive. Any agents that these players have would also be reluctant to push them Pompey's way as the agent won't receive any benefit until a pro contract is signed and history says that is unlikely. I wouldn't expect the academy to close as it will continue to serve the community and local talent that doesn't get picked up by other more attractive clubs. (01-05-2024, 07:55 PM)mikey393 Wrote:(01-05-2024, 07:51 PM)exterminator Wrote:(01-05-2024, 07:03 PM)Gerry Hatrick Wrote: I think the biggest shock is that NO-ONE from the academy has been offered a deal. What an indictment of our youth set up! (01-05-2024, 07:55 PM)mikey393 Wrote:(01-05-2024, 07:51 PM)exterminator Wrote:(01-05-2024, 07:03 PM)Gerry Hatrick Wrote: I think the biggest shock is that NO-ONE from the academy has been offered a deal. What an indictment of our youth set up!
02-05-2024, 10:38 AM
With us not taking up the 12 month options for Swanson and Morrell it now leaves both players officially out of contract and available to other teams. I know we’ve put new offers on the table for both players, however it’s a gamble as they can be refused.
02-05-2024, 10:57 AM
(02-05-2024, 10:38 AM)bluetagagain Wrote: With us not taking up the 12 month options for Swanson and Morrell it now leaves both players officially out of contract and available to other teams. I know we’ve put new offers on the table for both players, however it’s a gamble as they can be refused.Don't understand why we've not agreed contracts with both of them. Is it greed on behalf of their agents?
02-05-2024, 12:23 PM
It is sad to see these lads go. It seems such a together squad. A lot of them are out in Vegas at the moment, Rafferty is there despite his release and there's bit part players like Mcintyre and Stevenson. MPH is out there too. How many January loanees have we had in previous seasons that would A) Willingly go on an end of season outing with their temporary teammates or B) Would be welcomed on such a trip by said teammates?
I'm glad I'm not involved in such decision making. I'm far too soft and sentimental. I wouldn't be able to look a single one of last seasons squad in the eye and tell them they were offski. Not even the ones I really didn't rate like Martin and Schofield.
02-05-2024, 02:36 PM
The total commitment and togetherness of the squad has been special. You are right to highlight how much a part of it all the loan players have become. They seemed to love being here and would return given the chance. It's been a season they won't forget (I think Kamara said it's been all his dreams come true) and we should remember what a big part they played in our success. I always enjoyed seeing them celebrate at the end of games as though Pompey was their club through and through.
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