Nugent set for move away from Portsmouth?

When asked after Portsmouth’s last game, a FA Cup victory at Preston’s Deepdale ground, Harry Redknapp denied speculation linking former Lilywhites stiker David Nugent with a return to his former hunting ground, or to fellow Championship side Ipswich.

The Pompey boss claimed, “No, it wouldn’t be a clever move would it? We paid a lot of money for him and wouldn’t let him come back for nothing.”

So with Redknapp telling Sky Sports at Fratton Park this afternoon that the one-time capped England international is ‘free to leave’, what has changed that has paved the way for the £6 million striker to possibly leave a side gunning for a European spot?

After all, Redknapp admitted that his striking options are limited to Kanu, on-loan Milan Baros and cup-tied Jermaine Defoe, and has even been forced to play John Utaka in an unnatural position up-front. So why then the sudden change of heart?

Nuge has not had the best start to his Portsmouth career with not a single Premier League goal to his name and has only just recovered from a hernia operation. Redknapp has said that a deal is close to being agreed with Ipswich to take Nugent to Portman Road so that he can gain some match fitness.

Is this the end of Nugent’s Premier League career, or is it just as Harry said and a move to regain sharpness? I think Nugent has a lot to offer Pompey and can be a hit in the Premier League as he is a good goal scorer. However, in the short term I do not think he will move to Ipswich. He was in the stands for the FA Cup game, and is great friends with Preston players such as Sean St. Ledger. Therefore, a move back to Preston looks the most likely. Whilst there may no be official bid from the Lancashire club, I believe Nugent will wait for an offer and get back to Deepdale at the earliest opportunity.

I feel as though Preston are in desperate need for a natural goal scorer and this could maybe inspire the club to climb away from the relegation area. He is adored by the Deepdale fans and they could be heard chanting their heroes name at the FA Cup match last Sunday. The fans want him back, Alan Irvine I am sure would want him back, and admittedly I want him back. It really would give the club a real buzz and would create a better competition for places in the striking position. But could the temptation to help Ipswich possibly gain promotion too big a lure for Nugent? Hopefully not.

Are the fans of our English clubs the only part of the beautiful game that we can be proud of?

There are four English teams in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, so does this mean that we posses the greatest league in Europe?

On the face it many people would say yes. Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool people would say are some of the best Europe has to offer. With the likes of Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa all battling it out to break into the ‘top 4’, it would be fair to say that there are more than just this ‘top 4’ that England should be proud of. But can we really be proud of it.

I mean, I would say the English league is the most exhilarating league there is, high in passion and energy and talent on show every week for the world to see. But are we right to be proud of it? Is it ‘ours’ to be proud of? With all the plans for playing a 39th game which is a clear money making scheme, is the Premier League another toy for the people who have the big bucks in the game? Is it really the publics, the tax payers, the FANS league? I don’t really think so.

Are we really that proud to hear that our league may be expanding, making us the laughing stock of the world, not least Europe?

We can be honoured to watch Premier League football on our doorstep every week, but I do not think the English league represents English football. The only way it can be related to England is because it is played over here, but now that might even change.

We can be proud that we have 4 English teams playing in the Champions League, but they are just English teams, it is not a fair representation of the English game as our national team performances show. There were few English players playing last night and will be few tonight, there is not even an English manager. There is a lot there that needs changing before we can truly be proud.

What we can be proud of is the fans. English fans will travel to all corners of Europe to watch their team play, whether their team is packed with foreigners or not. This something which can never be matched anywhere in the world. I think there is a long way to go for us to really be proud of the English Premier League and how many teams remain in the Champions League. Just because the English Premier League may be the best in Europe and we may arguable have the best teams, I don’t think I can be 100% proud just yet.