Last Season - Finished 8th in the Premier League - 57pts
Manager: Harry Redknapp

INS:
ST Ben Sahar - Loan
ST Peter Crouch - 22m US
ST Omar Alieu Koroma - Loan

OUTS:
MF Sulley Muntari
DF Joel Ward
GK Asmir Begovic - Loan

Possibles:
DF Younes Kaboul - Tottenham
FW Jeremy Menez - Monaco
DMF Marcelo Mattos - Panathinainkos
ST Eidur Gudjohnsen - Barcelona
ST Steven Fletcher - Hibernian
LB Celestine Babayaro - FA
ST Djibril Cisse - Marseille
MF Nolberto Solano - FA
CB Steven Taylor - Newcastle
RW Shaun Wright-Phillips

What's Left in the Kitty - 10m US

What Lies Ahead:
Aug 16 Chelsea (A)
Aug 23 Manchester Unted (H)
Aug 30 Everton (A)
Sep 13 Middlesbrough (H)
Sep 20 Manchester City (A)
Sep 27 Tottenham (H)
Oct 4 Stoke City (H)

Possible Starting XI:
GK David James
RB Glen Johnson
CB Sylvain Distin
CB Sol Campbell
LB Hermann Hreidarsson
RMF John Utaka
CMF Papa Bouba Diop/Lassana Diarra
CMF Sean Davis
LMF Niko Kranjcar
FW Peter Crouch/David Nugent
FW Jermaine Defoe/Kanu

How They'll Stack Up:
After winning the FA Cup last term (for the first time in 69-years), Portsmouth now get to show what they can do on the European stage in the UEFA Cup. Since Harry Redknapp returned, the side have continued to build and the little/large strike partnership of Crouch and Defoe - while humorous to think of - will be potent if Redknapp works his usual magic. The former Southampton man has a habit of getting the best out of his players and this Pompey side will be no different. We'll see what type of pedigree they have right out of the gate with their first three games against last season's top two - Man United in the Comm Shield this weekend, then Chelsea to open and United again on the 23rd.....And then Everton. Redknapp still needs to add to his backline (like many teams) and he has his eye on Younes Kaboul - but being the bartering man he is, he won't over-pay for him. This Portsmouth team isn't flashy but they are better than the one that finished 8th last term - especially up front. If they can handle the extra fixtures from the UEFA Cup, I think they can better last year's finish - maybe even go top-5. Maybe that kind of finish will bring some more attractive fans to the games (see FSR this past Tuesday night).

Coming Up Saturday - Blackburn