Source: SKY_Sports
Hart hopeful of new additions
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Portsmouth boss Paul Hart remains confident of boosting his squad before the transfer window slams shut on 1st September.[LNB] Pompey have been left depleted after losing the likes of Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson and Sean Davis this summer.[LNB]Hart has little cash at his disposal as the club's takeover saga rumbles on, with owner Alexandre Gaydamak set to sell.[LNB]But having lacked a cutting edge in losing their two opening Premier League games, Hart is determined to make sure he has greater strength in depth.[LNB]Lens striker Aruna Dindane is on Pompey's wish list and Hart is also targeting Bolton pair Gavin McCann and Danny Shittu.[LNB]"Historically, a lot of the action takes place in the final week of the transfer window," he said.[LNB]Targets"We've got our targets and, hopefully, over the next week or so those targets will be in here.[LNB]"We're still working on the fact we haven't got any money. Some of our targets from May are still there and some of those targets cost money.[LNB]"I think we've got to increase our options all over the park and I would like to bring in one or two players.[LNB]"They (Shittu and McCann) are on the list, as is Dindane."[LNB]Hart admits Pompey have a fight on their hands to stay in the top flight this season - a far cry from when Harry Redknapp led them to FA Cup glory in 2008 and a first-ever European campaign.[LNB]"My brief, I feel, is to keep us in the Premiership," said Hart. "But I'm one of about 12 or 13 other managers that have a similar brief.[LNB]"I wouldn't like to paint a black picture - we're all big boys and we know where we are.[LNB]"I think we should all know the facts and then everyone can deal with them.[LNB]"We have talked about the numbers in the squad - they're low," he added. "There's no point hiding it.[LNB]"It is a different club. We had money coming into the club and Harry was a great manager and was winning things.[LNB]Change in expectations"That's fine but this is where we are at. I can't paint a different picture.[LNB]"I'll use this analogy - if Roman Abramovich pulled out of Chelsea, they would be a different club. Our owner basically pulled out of this football club nine months to a year ago. It had to change."[LNB]Although Pompey have lost both their opening games 1-0, they were beaten by a deflected strike at home to Fulham and a late penalty at Birmingham in midweek.[LNB]Hart has therefore seen enough to give cause for optimism and urged everyone at the club to show their mettle.[LNB]"I'd like to take the positives out of what we've done in very difficult circumstances," he said.[LNB]"We created chances and, in my opinion, we should have won both the games we've played.[LNB]"We've also restricted the opposition to minimal chances - David (James) has had probably three saves to make in two games.[LNB]"But until we get some new blood in, this is what we'll have to do - graft and be organised.[LNB]"It has been universally accepted that it is a difficult time for this football club. You could roll over or you can stand up and fight.[LNB]"I think we're going to stand up and fight. The whole club and everybody connected to it are in a fight."[LNB]
