Portsmouth See Out Season in the Wigan Sunshine
Posted on | May 25, 2009 | No Comments
Wigan Athletic 1 Portsmouth 0
In truth, we should have known what was coming. It has been like this for weeks but at least the grind is now over. The job has been done. Portsmouth are set to kick off their seventh successive season in the Premier League and for that we should be grateful, but we have certainly endured rather than enjoyed the crawl to safety.
Yesterday’ match appeared to just confirm what we have all believed for a while, namely that we were always going to do just enough, and no more. Many of the players had probably long lost belief as a result of Harry Redknapp’s departure and the subsequent turmoil and instability, whilst others probably went as far as to let their minds wander to the subject of their probable summer transfer destinations. It must be said though, that there has been precious little to keep them interested regarding the brand of football they have been required to play. The second half against Sunderland was different, but yesterday the same old negativity returned. A mistake by Sol Campbell midway through the first half gave Wigan their goal and it could have been more. Despite safety being confirmed, the club was weary of this awful season and had no more to give.
Paul Hart will discover his future this week, and the decision will probably depend on the takeover situation or lack of it, but a more positive show yesterday would certainly have helped to alleviate some of the fans’ considerable misgivings. The club’s first reported summer signing, Aaron Mokoena of Blackburn Rovers, would seem to suggest more of the same next season.
The real story, of course, was at Villa Park where Newcastle, despite eventually needing only a draw to survive, were meekly relegated. The standard of the Premier League this season was borne out by the fact that not one of the four teams involved in the relegation issue on the last day could muster even a point. The real crime from Newcastle’s point of view was that they never looked remotely like doing so.
Five years of mismanagement has now come home to roost. Ever since Bobby Robson was sacked shortly into the 2004-05 season, things have been in decline. How Newcastle must long for the top five finishes provided under Sir Bobby’s reign. Even the mid table security of Sam Allardyce’s solid approach would have been preferable to this, and there can’t be many who believe this would have come to pass if Allardyce had remained in charge. His only crime appeared to be not having his team play like Brazil. Perhaps the fans who clamoured for his resignation need to take a share of the blame for that. They got what they wanted, though, as Kevin Keegan made a messianic return, only for Mike Ashley to impose such restraints on him that he found them intolerable.
Such mistakes have led to this and one of the Premier League’s biggest wage bills will need to be trimmed drastically as well if Newcastle are to avoind the fate of some of their predecessors, most notably Leeds United. They will surely ba back in the future, though and they should take heart from a club like Everton. Traditionally a big club, Everton’s status, like that of many other big cubs recently, has been eroded by the Champions League qualification situation and the creation of the ‘big four’. They are showing, though, that sound sensible management enables a bigger club to produce consistently in the league. The old argument goes that the top players are not attracted to the North East, but Everton have achieved on a limited budget. ‘Achieved’ might be relative in our uncompetitive league, but it is simply the result of good management. Newcastle will need a lot of that if they are to return any time soon.
Tags: Aaron Mokoena > Blackburn Rovers > Bobby Robson > Everton > Harry Redknapp > Kevin Keegan > Leeds United > Mike Ashley > Newcastle United > Paul Hart > Portsmouth > Premier League > Sam Allardyce > Sol Campbell > Sunderland > Villa Park > Wigan Athletic
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