Pompey’s unfortunate Hart-ache

History making 7 straight losses at the start of the season and Paul Hart of Portsmouth is the No.1 name on the ‘next manager to be sacked list’! The odds on Mr. Hart getting axed are great and logically it could make sense. Get rid of the coach now before it becomes too late, after all it’s still September and the season ends in May.

Watching Portsmouth play Everton at Fratton Park on Saturday, I actually forgot for a second that they had no points on the board sitting dead last in the league. Why? Pompey on the day, were the better side. I found myself routing for them not just because they needed the points but because they deserved something out of that game. Their level of commitment and spirited fight was not indicative of their 0 point standing. Portsmouth threw everything but the kitchens sink at Everton but couldn’t get an equalizer. Goal line clearances, hitting the cross bar and wonderful instinctive saves by Tim Howard of Everton marred the Pompey march and guaranteed Everton’s 1-0 win. Even the Pompey fans were on the side of the team till the end of the game.

Here are 7 reasons Paul Hart should not be sacked:

1. No team loses the number and quality of players that Portsmouth lost during the transfer period and would remain the same. The coach is always expected to perform miracles but miracles sometimes are truncated by the presence of reality.

2. It is still Pompey’s pre-season: Unfortunately, Mr. Hart’s ‘pre-season’ happens to have run into the regular season. I say pre-season because pre-season is when teams try out new players with new formations in a bid to have a coherent team for the start of the season. 7 out of 13 new players he signed joined the team a couple of days to the end of the transfer window. It takes time to build a team.

3. Speaking of players, the quality of players he brought in was in question but at least three of them have proven to be very good signings – Aruna Dindane, Tommy Smith, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Frederic Piquionne . These four players are potential game changers for Portsmouth and I think will be central to the team’s success.

4. Momentum: It is obvious that Portsmouth players are playing for their own pride, the club, the fans and most especially the coach. Even though they didn’t get anything out of the game with Everton, they have some kind of momentum going and they are playing well with a fight. It will be only a matter of time until this translates into a win.

5. Stability: There seems to be some level of stability in the team now with everyone knowing what positions they are playing and how exactly the coach wants them to play. This will definitely change if Mr. Hart is fired and a new coach hired.

6. Psychological effect on players: With the entire goings on behind the scenes with the ownership take over and the availability of funds for the club by the new owner, the least the players need is the thought of having a new coach that will come in with his new way of doing things. It will mean a mental adjustment just when they seem to know what they are doing.

7.  It’s about time clubs show some loyalty to the coaches they hire just as it is expected of the players and everyone associated with the club to be loyal to the club. Mr. Hart took over the manager’s job when frankly I don’t think any other coach would have and he saved Portsmouth from being relegated last season. The least he deserves is lack of faith in his abilities especially with the unfortunate cards he’s been dealt.