We asked Pompey fans if they had a question for John Mousinho - with one theme emerging this week. Here’s what the Blues boss had to say in response.
John Mousinho has outlined why Pompey opted to bring in defenders deemed not ready to start in his side’s Championship fight for survival.
The Blues boss made it clear there wasn’t an abundance of Championship-hardened operators available to the club, as they chose to bring in Sunderland defender Aji Alese and Senegal centre-back Madiodio Dia from Norwegian side Haugesund in the January transfer window.
Pompey boss answers fans’ burning question
And with Pompey having to work at the bottom end of the Championship playing and transfer budget scales, that means it’s necessary to take calculated risks on signings.
Pompey moved to bring in Alese on loan from the Black Cats last month, with the former West Ham man showing himself to be a strong performer at the Stadium of Light.
The News asked fans for their questions to ask Mousinho when he addressed the press this week, with a consistent theme - as is the case wit the duo - why have Pompey recruited defenders who aren’t fit to start games yet?
We put that question to the Blues boss on your behalf - this is what he had to say in response.
Mousinho said: ‘It’s the same answer I’d have to anything.
‘If you want to find a player who’s played in the Championship this season consistently and is coming in ready to play, if you’re luck’s in you get Ebou Adams.
‘But I can’t think of many who’ve moved from Championship club to Championship club who are completely ready to play for the sort of money we have available to spend.
‘We did have £500,000 to spend on a 30-year-old, though, and managed to do it. The other option of going to find players who are fit to compete in the Championship (at that price) just don’t exist.
‘We had a list last year with three centre-backs on it.
Pompey boss: ‘We’ve got to work with - and that’s it’
‘Two ended up playing regularly in the Championship and the other was Rob Atkinson, who’d been out for two years.
‘I was asked the same question about Rob, but that’s who was available at that time - it’s as simple as that.
‘I don’t look at a piece of paper and I’m turning down proven Championship centre-halves, who have been playing this season.
‘I don’t turn down those players who are fit and ready to go, to take a risk on a couple who aren’t necessarily ready to play.
‘There’s one who’s back from 12 months out and one who’s come over from Norway. That’s not a conscious decision - we’ve got what we’ve got to work with and that’s it, that’s the state of play.
‘But I can’t think of many sides in the Championship who have gone out signed players who’ve played frequently for the whole season.’
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