2005/06 Cup Progress FA Cup Fourth Round vs Liverpool (h) - lost 2-1. Carling Cup Second Round vs Gillingham (a) - lost 3-2 after extra time.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Lomano Lua Lua (striker) and Gary O'Neill - 7 goals each.
Players In David Thompson (Wigan Athletic - Free), Glen Johnson (Chelsea - Loan).
Players Out John Viafara (Southampton - Undisclosed), Brian Priske (FC Bruges - Free), Gregory Vignal (Lens - Free), Vincent Pericard (Stoke City - Free), Gary Silk (Notts County - Free), Andrea Guatelli (Released), Aliou Cisse (Released), Collins Mbesuma (Released), Sander Westerveld (Released).
Portsmouth survived the drop last season after languishing in the bottom three for much of the campaign. The rescue act was down to former manager Harry Redknapp, who returned to the Fratton Park hot seat just a year after leaving for bitter rivals Southampton.
A six game unbeaten run between March and April saw Pompey scramble together enough points to beat relegation with four points to spare but Redknapp will have his work cut out again this season.
With plenty of money to spend, he has been thwarted in the transfer market this summer. Celtic's Bulgaria captain Stilian Petrov was high on the wanted list but he failed with a ?5 million bid, despite the player wanting a move to the Premier League. Aston Villa turned down Redknapp's offer of ?4.5 million for midfielder Gareth Barry and Real Betis rejected a bid for Brazilian striker Edu, who netted 11 goals in 31 matches last season.
Portsmouth were on the verge of breaking the transfer record fee with the ?10 million capture of Benfica midfielder Manuel Fernandes but the youngster, who was not selected for Portugal's World Cup squad, but that transfer also failed.
Redknapp has managed to sign Arsenal centre back Sol Campbell on a free transfer following five years, five major trophies and 197 appearances for the North London side. Wigan Athletic midfielder David Thompson, a former England international, also arrived on a free transfer, following spells at Blackburn Rovers, Coventry City and Liverpool.
Chelsea defender Glen Johnson, who has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge following a ?6 million switch from West Ham United in the summer of 2003, has joined the club on a season long loan.
Verdict The arrival of Sol Campbell will provide some much needed defensive stability and Redknapp is slowly shipping out the dead wood, but survival will be the number one priority next season above everything else.
2005/06 Cup Progress Intertoto Cup Semi Final vs Deportivo La Coruna - lost 4-2 on aggregate. FA Cup Sixth Round vs Chelsea (a) - lost 1-0. Carling Cup Fourth Round vs Wigan Athletic (a) - lost 1-0.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Alan Shearer (striker) - 14 goals.
Players In Damian Duff (Chelsea - ?5,000,000)
Players Out Michael Chopra (Cardiff City - ?500,000), Lee Bowyer (West Ham United - Free), Robbie Elliott (Sunderland - Free), Daryl Smylie (Livingston - Free), Allen Picken (Walsall - Free), Tony Caig (Released), Martin Brittain (Released) Alan Shearer (Retired)
Newcastle United enjoyed a new lease of life following the caretaker appointment of Glenn Roeder as manager in February which led to the former West Ham United boss being given the role full time in May.
Under Graeme Souness, the Magpies struggled, but the side's transformation with Roeder at the helm was remarkable. He enjoyed an unbeaten run in his first six matches in charge and the final seven games of the season also went without defeat, culminating in a 1-0 defeat of champions Chelsea on the last day of the season.
While Roeder has allowed several squad players to leave, including Lee Bowyer, Robbie Elliott and Michael Chopra, he pulled off something of a coup in luring Chelsea winger Damien Duff to St. James' Park for a knockdown ?5 million.
Duff was believed to have turned down both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool in favour of a move to Newcastle and signed a five year deal. Duff joined Chelsea from Blackburn Rovers three years ago for ?17 million and made 125 appearances, scoring 19 goals. The Republic of Ireland international won two Premiership title medals during that time.
Much will be expected of the Magpies this season but they will start with a shortage of strikers. Veteran Alan Shearer retired, Michael Owen is a long term casualty following an injury picked up during the World Cup while Michael Chopra joined Cardiff City in the summer. Goal scoring duties will be left to Spaniard Alberto Luque, who finally broke his goal scoring duck against Sunderland in April and Shola Ameobi, who found the net four times in his last six appearances last season.
Verdict The Magpies will be aiming for European qualification this season but they need another proven goal scorer to fill the void left by Shearer and the injured Owen. If they qualify for UEFA Cup their thin squad could be stretched too far to make the impact in the Premier League they were capable of last season.
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