Manchester City vs Portsmouth Match Preview
Manchester City suffered a gut-wrenching loss to rivals Manchester United in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, but now they can concentrate on league play, at least until FA Cup action resumes in February. Sunday’s match against last place Pompey will surely look like three points in the bag to the Citizens. Now in sixth place, three points from the Pompey match could be enough to vault City over Liverpool and put them even with Spurs. City has off-loaded discontented Brazilian striker Robinho to Santos on loan.
You know things are bad when the club website is taken down. Portsmouth’s financial troubles continue to plague the club. In an effort to make wages, they aim to sell Younes Kaboul, whose fee is estimated at 11 million pounds. But the marketing of Kaboul is apparently happening against the wishes of manager Avram Grant and without the involvement of Chief Executive Peter Storrie, both of whom are said to be considering quitting the club over the matter. But let’s talk football. Pompey came from behind to salvage a draw with West Ham midweek, on a goal by late substitute Danny Webber, his first for the club. Goalkeeper David James didn’t feature, perhaps because his much mentioned possible transfer to Stoke has reached the final stages. Pompey’s finance-related embargo on transfers may have been lifted but Avram Grant feels it may be too late to make a difference and prevent relegation. With just 15 points thus far, Pompey look destined for the drop.
