Premiership Preview - Portsmouth and Reading

Portsmouth
Last Season: 9th

Pompey were close to qualifying for Europe last season, but there’s a school of thought that suggests they overachieved. With that in mind, Harry Redknapp has splashed the cash in an attempt to improve on their ninth placed finish, but has he spent wisely?

David Nugent, despite publicly courting Everton, moves to Fratton Park from Preston. He showed promise at Championship level, but can he reproduce that in the Premiership?

Fellow striker John Utaka also joins Redknapp’s cosmopolitan ranks for an undisclosed fee, reported to be in the region of £8m. If that is true, then the Nigerian will face huge scrutiny from Pompey’s fans. At that cost, they’ll expect him to get amongst the goals.

Other new signings include Hermann Hreidarsson, Sulley Muntari and, in a great piece of business, Sylvain Distin on a free.

David James and Sol Campbell are enjoying Indian summers down on the south coast, and if they continue from where they left off last season then Pompey have every chance of qualifying for Europe.

In Pedro Mendes, Gary O’Neil and Niko Krancjar they possess a quality midfield, which although lacking in goals, more than makes up for it with hard work and creativity, while Matt Taylor will once again look to score goals from virtually every position on the field. If he continues to perform he could find himself in the England squad.

Pompey will dream of Europe again this season. If they start their campaign as well as they did the last one then they could become a real force.

Redknapp now has money to spend to achieve his ambitions. It will be his new signings who determine whether or not he succeeds.

Key Man: David James. Excellent last season, another good campaign could see him back in the England fold.
One to Watch: David Nugent. Will look to transfer his Championship form into the big league.
This Season: Europe is a distinct possibility for Harry’s United Nations.

Reading
Last Season: 8th

‘Same again lads,’ will be the cry from Steve Coppell as Reading start their second season in the top flight.

The veteran boss is clearly from the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ school of management, seeing as Reading have been the least active club in the summer transfer market, only bringing in midfielders Kalifa Cisse from Boavista and Emerse Fae from Nantes.

They of course replace Steve Sidwell, who turned his back on the club that resurrected his career to jump into the arms of Jose Mourinho. An understandable career move of course, but he could regret it when he realises that he’s probably only been bought to provide cover for better players during the African Nations Cup.

Sidwell leaves along with Greg Halford, whose Reading career never really got going, an example of Coppell’s ruthlessness when it comes to his team. If you don’t fit in, you’re out.

Goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann will be important to the club’s fortunes again, as will tireless midfielders Stephen Hunt and James Harper.

Coppell appeared reluctant to qualify for Europe last season, citing that his squad probably wasn’t ready for the extra demands placed upon them. He may not have the luxury to choose this time around.

‘Second season syndrome’ doesn’t just apply to players, it can affect clubs too, and Reading could be experiencing the symptoms soon. Coppell’s side will no longer be the surprise package they were last season, the likes of Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita will have their cards marked, and if their small squad suffers injuries they could struggle.

They won’t go down, but it would be a surprise to see them finish in the top half again.

Key Man: Ivar Ingimarsson. The captain is a hugely important member of the Reading back four.
One to Watch: Dave Kitson. The striker missed the majority of last season with injury, and will add goals if he returns to full fitness.

This Season: Too good to go down, but only bottom half for the Royals this time around.