Pedro Mendes: Rangers Steal a Gem

It was just one of those mornings. The kind where you roll out of bad after sleeping far longer than you should have, delighted it is your day off and still content from the night before.

So, I did what I do every morning first-thing when I have awoken. I sat down in my computer chair, wiped the sleep from my eyes, and I checked the day's activity in the football world.

Except today, in addition to all of those things, I wept.

Alas, poor Pedro Mendes! I knew him, Mr. Redknapp, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath commanded my midfield a thousand times, and now how abhorr'd in my imagination it is!

Ahem.

Scottish club Glasgow Rangers signed Pedro Mendes on a three-year contract today for £3 million, in what will prove an absolute stellar signing for the Scottish Premier League runners up.

As any Tottenham supporter will gladly tell you, Pedro Mendes is an incredibly hardworking, tough tackling, and determined player with the experience and determination to improve almost any midfield.

And any Portsmouth supporter will proudly speak of his professionalism, the heart he has for his club, his impressive rocket shot (feel free to fancy a shout of "SHOOT!" when Mendes has the ball outside of the box, Rangers fans) and how important his skill and passion for the game is at the most crucial of times.

And if they are anything like me, said Portsmouth supporters will be scowling angrily and asking why we let a player of such quality leave, when Redknapp has already been concerned about the lack of depth in our squad—especially with our first European campaign on the horizon.

While I have immense faith in Harry Redknapp and a number of our squad players who are less fancied by our supporters (namely John Utaka and Arnold Mvuemba), I can't help but feel that this was a decision that Redknapp was certainly not in favor of.

Here's to hoping we aren't going to miss the lad too much—especially considering the earlier departure of Sulley Muntari—and will find a suitable replacement... quickly.

Most importantly, however, here's to Rangers for an incredibly shrewd signing, and to Pedro: thanks for the memories, especially that unforgettable game against Manchester City three seasons ago.