Portsmouth

Tom Chappell
Fournilwrittenalloverit

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Saturday's bizarre curtain-raiser was indicative of where Portsmouth are as a side right now, unable to turn an impressive half hour into a complete 90-minute performance.

Conceding three goals at home at any point and under any circumstance is really poor, but to do so on the opening weekend after having gone a goal up, in the fashion we did, within 14 minutes of football is unacceptable.

It is a devastating reminder that if you don't convert in moments of fine margins in the Championship, there is a good chance you will be royally punished.

Abu Kamara's second debut had glimpses of real promise, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen's first outing in Pompey blue was very impressive indeed and those, coupled with Terry Devlin's first-half screamer, are about the long and short of the positives from an otherwise pretty turgid afternoon.

What is perhaps most disappointing is that once QPR's third went past Nico Schmid, a handful of half decent second-half chances aside, the scoreline never really looked like changing.

A chilling awakening on a stiflingly hot Fratton afternoon that proved for all the eye-catching transfer activity so far, we are not yet quite as good as I thought we were.

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We asked for your thoughts after QPR's 3-1 win against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Here are some of your comments:

Portsmouth fans

Cynthia: It is the same defensive frailties that Pompey have shown for the last couple of seasons. They need to invest in better quality players in defence rather than spend on midfield and attack. Build a team on a strong defence that spreads confidence to the rest of the team.

Michael: I'm not panicking. Shaughnessy and Abu both missed gilt-edged chances and plenty of dangerous crosses weren't attacked. Players will get used to each other and system but obviously work to do.

Grahame: A disappointing performance and result, reminiscent of last Saturday and much of last season. The new signings cannot disguise the problem from last season: a lack of goals from the central striker and a persistent susceptibility to counter attack.

Dean: Pompey were poor. Fell apart again this week as soon as a goal conceded. Alright, last week was a cup game but six goals in two games? Going to be a long hard season.

Gavin: After a great start, we seem to lose momentum and were undone by some shocking defending. It looks like we could be in for a difficult season!

QPR fans

Serb: First game of the season away from home and we start as we mean to go on. A real togetherness throughout the team which brought its just rewards. And just as important, a fully fit team, although I don't expect that to last long.

Steve: Great team performance, let's hope it's a springboard to an enjoyable season.

Chris: I thought it was a good performance but QPR should have added more goals in the second half. Vale, Chair and Lloyd missed good chances to do so. A special mention to Adamson who came on to play in an unfamiliar left back role and barely put a foot wrong. I was less impressed with starting with Vale and Edwards as makeshift central midfielders with Varane, Kamara and Alemayehu on the bench. Better sides would have capitalised on that pairing.

Colin: A lot of pundits have QPR down for relegation. They may just surprise a lot of them, with some astute signings and a manager in his second term could give them much needed consistency and confidence.

Geoff: Great start to the season. We should make the play-offs.

Andrew Moon
BBC Sport, Hampshire

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A copy of last week, where Portsmouth started very well and deservedly led, but in the end were comfortably beaten.

However, this loss was self-inflicted. Portsmouth fell apart at the end of the first half and those goals will be tough to watch back when the match is reviewed.

QPR do not have anywhere near the quality West Ham possessed last week.

Ebou Adams and Rocco Shein both want to play in a similar way. They are not a natural midfield pairing and would both be better off with a defensive midfielder alongside them. Pompey intend to sign one before the transfer deadline.

Positives were few, but Josh Murphy reminded everyone of his class in his brief cameo and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen showed some bright touches.

Portsmouth struggled to break down sides who sat back against them at Fratton Park last season. On this showing, a solution has not materialised over the summer.

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho spoke to BBC Radio Solent after they lost to QPR at Fratton Park after taking the lead. For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

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Portsmouth begin their Championship season with the visit of QPR to Fratton Park on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Pompey went down 3-1 at West Ham in the EFL Cup first round last weekend but are unbeaten in their past six league curtain-raisers, winning 1-0 at Oxford United last season.

The Hoops went out of the EFL Cup on penalties against Millwall and are without an opening day win since 2020, drawing 1-1 with Preston last year.

• Portsmouth have won just two of their past 11 league games against Queens Park Rangers (D6 L3), doing the double over them in the 2024-25 Championship campaign.

• Queens Park Rangers have won just one of their past seven away league games against Portsmouth (D3 L3); a 3-1 win in May 2000 under Gerry Francis.

• Portsmouth finished last season losing just one of their final eight league games (W4 D3); only Southampton (17) earned more points in Championship since the beginning of April than Pompey (15).

• QPR lost their final four league games last season; they haven't lost five in a row since October 2023 (a run of six).

• Portsmouth's Adrian Segecic finished last season either scoring (5) or assisting (3) in each of his final six appearances, while overall only three players overperformed their xG by a greater margin in the Championship last season (6.2 – 11 goals, 4.8 xG).

Andrew Moon
BBC Radio Solent Portsmouth commentator

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There is reason for optimism and positivity around Portsmouth as they head into their third Championship season.

Abu Kamara's return on a permanent basis has been celebrated by supporters. The owners have sanctioned significantly more spending than previous years. Pompey have already spent more than double their outlays in the whole of the last summer window.

For the first time in a while there have been no key departures. In previous years, important loan contributors have been tough to replace.

If the squad is fully fit the starting eleven looks strong. The attacking trio of Josh Murphy, Adrian Segecic and Kamara is very exciting. Marko Milovanovic is the biggest signing in terms of fee that Pompey have made for nearly two decades. Rocco Shein has made a very bright start in midfield.

However, the squad is not fully fit.

Murphy and Connor Ogilvie would both start against QPR but are out. Thomas Waddingham picked up an unfortunate injury last weekend. Keshi Anderson may not return until October. Franco Umeh is set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

There are only two fit full backs. Pompey have six central defenders but there are still valid questions over the position.

New loanee Benji Arthur is highly rated but hasn't played in the Championship. Conor Shaughnessy is an excellent player but has struggled to stay fit. Josh Knight struggled with form and fitness last season. Hayden Matthews may benefit from a loan to try and kick start his career.

There are questions of depth in the squad. Not in terms of numbers but in terms of quality. There are likely to be more exits than arrivals between now and the end of the transfer window.

The budget may have increased but it's still modest by Championship standards. Last year it was probably the second lowest in the division. This season it's likely to be around the fifth or sixth lowest.

Therefore, matching last season's 18th place finish wouldn't be a bad effort. Ending halfway up the division would be an excellent achievement, anything higher than that would be something very very special.

Whatever happens though, if Pompey can get their forward line going, it could be a fun ride.

QPR open their Championship season away to Portsmouth on Saturday - and head coach Julien Stephan says it is important not to expect a repeat of the thrashing they handed the visitors back in March.

Stephan's side were 3-0 up inside the first half hour and ended up winning 6-1 at Loftus Road.

But, speaking to BBC Radio London, Stephan said: "I don't think the previous result will have a great importance on Saturday.

"They [Portsmouth] will probably want to have revenge. I can understand that. In reality, when you restart the season, it's just a reset.

"You have to forget what happened the season before because all the teams restart with zero points.

"That's why it's very exciting to restart the new season each time because you have a lot of hope for good things.

"We respect Portsmouth a lot, but the main thing is to stay focused on QPR, how we want to play, how we want to manage this game [and] how we want to win the balance of power."

A new episode of BBC Radio Solent's Who Needs Mourinho podcast is now available.

Former Portsmouth striker Guy Whittingham joins Chris Wise and Andy Moon to chat about all things Pompey.

They look back on the EFL Cup loss at West Ham and discuss the arrival of Abu Kamara.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds

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Andrew Moon
BBC Sport, Hampshire

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Fans usually take a 'glass half-full' approach in August. For those looking, there were positives against West Ham in the Carabao Cup first round.

For 40 minutes, Pompey were excellent and deservedly ahead. Rocco Shein continued his good pre-season form. Adrian Segecic still has his scoring boots.

On the flip side, the Blues threw away an excellent position against a lacklustre West Ham side who spent most of the day in first gear.

The Hammers still possess Premier League quality, though, and that was the difference

John Mousinho's view that Portsmouth have the "basis of a good side" is a fair assessment.

Deals for Abu Kamara and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen are all but sealed. Add a good holding midfielder, another left-back and possibly a centre-half and there's reason for optimism.

The lack of quality depth in certain areas remains a concern. It's a big few weeks coming up on and off the pitch.

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Portsmouth manager John Mousinho admits they still need to sign a number of new players before the transfer window shuts on 1 September.

The Championship side have already made six summer signings as they look to build on finishing 16th and 18th in their two seasons since promotion from League One in 2024.

Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent: "There's definite gaps that we need to fill, and we are fully aware of what and where they are. Some are more significant than others.

"I've been pretty clear that we want to make further additions, and I think it's absolutely necessary that we do make further additions.

"We've done some good business so far, but we're a long way from where we need to be at the back end of August."

Portsmouth are currently being linked with Hull City winger Abu Kamara, Antalyaspor midfielder Jesper Ceesay and 17-year-old Chelsea winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen.

Mousinho added: "There will be loans, we're trying not to rely on too many, but ultimately over the past couple of seasons we've ended with six loans on both occasions.

"The current state is very difficult to assess at this stage of the season. We're not going to take loans for the sake of it, but we'll see what crops up."

Pompey have been handed arguably the toughest possible tie in round one of the League Cup, with an away trip to relegated Premier League side West Ham United on Saturday.

Mousinho says his current squad is ready to face what he calls "a huge challenge", but a situation that also presents "a lot of opportunities".

"They're a massive club, with massive expectation. A huge amount in terms of resource and a side that have only very recently won a European trophy.

"We want to try and progress in the cup. We'll be at full strength to try and win it, but we're probably not quite there with the squad at the moment. It will be our starting eleven at this stage of the season."

BBC Radio Solent's Portsmouth commentator Andrew Moon discusses Pompey's ambitions to sign Hull City winger Abu Kamara.

He also talks about other potential incomings, including a deal for midfielder Jesper Ceesay from Turkish club Antalyaspor and a loan move for 17-year-old Chelsea winger Ryan Kavuma-McQueen.

Listen above or on BBC sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds

Dan George & Andrew Moon
BBC Sport, Hampshire

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Portsmouth are progressing in their pursuit of Hull City winger Abu Kamara.

BBC Radio Solent reports that the Blues are getting closer to signing the 23-year-old but a potential deal is not yet complete.

He spent the 2023-24 season on loan from Norwich at Fratton Park where Pompey won the League One title and Kamara played a key role under John Mousinho.

Following his loan spell he signed for Hull City where he has gone on to make 40 appearances, but spent last season on loan at Spanish side Getafe.

A new episode of BBC Radio Solent's Who Needs Mourinho podcast is now available.

Chris Wise and Andy Moon look back on Pompey's eventful summer and ahead to the new campaign. How are they doing with recruitment and what is still needed?

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore more Portsmouth content on BBC Sounds