Hindsight...| Portsmouth Should Never Have Let Matthew Taylor Leave

In a new series, Ryan Lynch takes a look at decisions made in football that could have been very different. In this first instance of the series, he looks at left winger Matthew Taylor's departure from Portsmouth to rivals Bolton Wanderers.

I should begin this article by writing that Matthew Taylor is one of my favorite players to have ever worn a Portsmouth shirt. Thus, when Harry Redknapp decided to let the capable left-sided player leave in the January 2008 transfer window, I was very disappointed.

Taylor had never really put a foot wrong in his last two seasons with Portsmouth. In the 2005/2006 "Great Escape" season, it was Taylor's cooly-taken penalties against Sunderland and Wigan in the final two games of the season that kept us up.

In the 2006/2007 season, Taylor was absolutely sensational, going on to score several incredible goals in matches against Aston Villa, Everton, Manchester United, and Arsenal.

Taylor was absolutely on fire, and it seemed that every goal he scored was a stunner.

Following the game against Everton, as Taylor scored a 40-yard screamer in mid-air, I remember one commentator stating that "It seems Matthew Taylor is on a personal crusade to score THE goal of the season!"

Simply put, it was wonderful.

The buzz was all about him, too, to earn a call-up to the full England squad, something which I believed was certainly deserved.

While he may not have been able to unseat Stuart Downing and Joe Cole for the left midfield berth, I felt no reason why he couldn't fill in the left-back spot traditionally held by an injured Ashley Cole.

And while the season ended for Portsmouth with disappointment in just missing out on a UEFA Cup spot on the last day of the season, Taylor's only disappointment could have been not earning that call-up.

I could only look forward to what was to come from Matty.

As I had written in the past, however, the form of Portsmouth's attacking midfielder Niko Kranjcar would cause him to be viewed as nearly undroppable. Taylor was left with a spot on the bench, and forced to subside with only cameo appearances until he left in January of that season.

The writing had been on the wall, however. When Pompey stalwart Gary O'Neil was allowed to leave for Middlesbrough on deadline day of the season, I knew that the players I believed would never be sold didn't have such status. No one was safe.

When the season began, Redknapp wasn't playing him, and although Taylor loved Pompey, a player of his quality wasn't going to stay sitting on the bench following the form of his life.

Redknapp, however, didn't seem interested in playing him. Was it purely because of Kranjcar's involvement? It didn't seem that could be the entire story. Redknapp preferred to employ Kranjcar on the left wing, but he has always been a right-footed player.

In addition, Kranjcar has always played his best games for Portsmouth in a center-attacking role.

Needless to say, Taylor left the south-coast side during the January window for Bolton Wanderers, and I hoped that we wouldn't miss him. When we faced up against Bolton that same season, I was expecting Taylor to give us a torrid welcome by scoring.

Instead, he missed several absolutely golden opportunities. "Was Harry right?" I wondered. Or was this simply a one-off?

Taylor, however, has gone on to put in some excellent performances for Wanderers, finding form again and scoring thunderbolt goals for the side. He played an important role in keeping them away from relegation last season, and he is doing well again this season.

Some Portsmouth supporters might read this and ask "Why would we need Taylor again when we've had such a strong left side this season?"

While Armand Traore has been a wonderful player to have in the side, I am not expecting us to be able to seal a deal for the lad at the end of the season.

I could only imagine how wonderful a relationship Nadir Belhadj and Taylor could have formed if he was still at the club today.

With Taylor performing well for Bolton and with Portsmouth lacking significant concentration this season, I believe the influence of Taylor in the side would have done wonders for our form.

While Hindsight is always 20/20, I don't believe Portsmouth should have ever let Taylor leave. Pompey's loss, but certainly Bolton's gain. Expect more great things from him in the future, Wanderers fans.