Pompey Needs Manuel Fernandes Back at Fratton Park

I guess I should start by briefly introducing myself. I am a Portsmouth Football Club fan, and recently I've been incensed by some of the negative press we've received since Harry Redknapp left to manage Tottenham.

Therefore I've decided to put my opinions on transfers, tactics, and any news to come out of the club to good use. I'm not sure how successful I will be, having only previously written tidbits for the Vital Portsmouth site. I can only try to be half as good as the excellent Ryan Lynch, who has an endless knowledge of PFC!

The day Manuel Fernandes left Fratton Park was a great shame. It was beginning of a bright new era as the club signed Sol Campbell, Kanu, Glen Johnson, and two bright foreign prospects Niko Kranjcar and Fernandes.

Whilst neither was a finished article, you could easily see enough potential for both to go on to massive things in the future. Like Sulley Muntari and Lassana Diarra after him, Fernandes had that never-say-die attitude, would go into tackles with everything, and would take risks for the team.

Unfortunately for us, as ever with PFC, his contract wasn't as straightforward as we'd hoped. There were rumours of a clause in his contract stating that if we played Fernandes in three consecutive games, we'd have to sign him for £12m—a lot for a player still learning the ropes. Benfica wouldn't budge on the price for Fernandes and went back at the beginning of January then on to Everton for a similar loan deal to ours.

He looked like he was becoming a permanent fixture at Goodison Park, but Fernandes opted to sign for Valencia at the last minute, although he initially struggled to make the same impact. Having briefly flirted with Everton for a second time on loan, Fernandes has finally broken his way into the Valencia starting lineup with much success.

So how does Fernandes go full circle and end up at Fratton Park? There's no secret of Valencia's financial plight, although I like to take what the press reports with a pinch of salt, as we know they're prone to blowing things out of proportion.

We have sold the beating heart of Pompey's FA Cup-winning side. We need that little bit of quality and steel again in the centre of the park. Fernandes wouldn't need to adjust to the surroundings. Having worked with a lot of the team before, he should fit right in.

I'm already salivating at the prospect of Fernandes as a defensive midfielder, Kranjcar in a free-role, Traore darting up the left, and O'Neil swinging them in to Crouchie. With the little money we do have, let's sign a bit of quality. Let's not waste it on players like Dindane, who was abysmal at the last African Cup of Nations or Wolfsburg's Edin Džeko who could need a lot of time to settle in the Premier League.

Whether or not the rumours of our renewed interests are true, it's time to rebuild the heart of Portsmouth Football Club with former players like Fernandes, Benjani, and O'Neil—players who will fight to wear the shirt and Fernandes would be at the very top of my shopping list.