Season Preview - Portsmouth

Last season: 9th, 54 points; FA Cup fourth round; Carling Cup third round

Transfers:

In: David Nugent (Preston £6m); Sulley Muntari (Udinese, £7m); John Utaka (Rennes, £7m); Arnold Mvuemba (Rennes, undisc); Sylvain Distin (Manchester City, free); Hermann Hreidarsson (Charlton, free); Martin Cranie (Southampton, free)

Out: Svetoslav Todorov (Charlton, free); Andy Griffin (Derby, free)

Official Website: http://www.pompeyfc.co.uk/

Official Kit: To be updated soon.

Portsmouth finished last season in their highest placing for half a century though their main problem last year was the inability to win away from Fratton Park. They recorded just 3 road wins in 2006-2007, along with 7 draws and 9 losses.

This time around they have spent a lot of money. They won the race to sign David Nugent Preston North End, they’ve got in midfielders Sulley Muntari and Arnold Mvuemba and a highly capable defender in Sylvain Distin.

Schedule via English Soccer Talk:

Portsmouth start of the season with the most ridiculously difficult stretch of games compared to any team in the Premiership. After opening the year at newly promoted Derby County, it's home against Manchester United and Bolton, away to Chelsea and Arsenal, back home against Liverpool, at Blackburn, and then home against Reading. Quite Insane!

Obviously after seeing all of the tough teams the first time around at the beginning of the year means Portsmouth will only see teams they should beat for the rest of the first half. Another tough run of games in December (Everton at home, Aston Villa away, Tottenham home, Liverpool away, and then Arsenal home) will be tricky as well. However by my estimation, the season ends with 13 winnable games in a row, the toughest of which is at Tottenham.

EPL08.com prediction:
League Position - 12
Pompey owner Alexandre Gaydamak handed Harry Redknap a 25-million-pound transfer kitty and Harry's made quite a few signings. Portsmouth might lack the big names but have one of the most balanced squads this time around. Expect them to surprise a few teams but they've got the cruelest of schedules to start off with. They might still manage a top 10 finish.