adminThe former Wimbledon and Reading midfielder didn’t hold back when talking about Portsmouth, describing them as a “strange” side because of how inconsistent they’ve been this season.
Still, his overall take wasn’t all doom and gloom there were a few reasons for fans to stay hopeful during what’s clearly a difficult spell.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, McAnuff said Portsmouth have been hovering around danger for a while now, but it feels like they’re slowly being dragged deeper into the fight.
He pointed out that their January signings, including Ebou Adams and Milli Alli, gave the team a bit of life and helped them pick up some important results.
But that momentum hasn’t lasted. Their recent run has raised real concerns, especially after a disappointing defeat to a QPR side with very little left to play for.
McAnuff even mentioned Adams’ reaction after the game, noting how visibly upset he was. Having played alongside him before, he described Adams as an honest, hard-working player who always gives everything on the pitch.
Despite the struggles, McAnuff believes there’s one thing Portsmouth fans can rely on the team’s fighting spirit. According to him, this isn’t a group that will give up or shy away from the challenge. He’s confident that manager John Mousinho will just about have enough to steer them to safety.
On paper, McAnuff feels Leicester have more than enough quality to stay up. In fact, he said if he had to choose a squad based purely on talent, Leicester would be the obvious pick. But for him, the issue runs deeper than ability.
He admitted that Gary Rowett hasn’t been able to get the level of performance many expected from that group, with consistency proving to be a major problem.
There was a small positive a couple of clean sheets but even that couldn’t hide the bigger issues.
McAnuff was particularly critical of their wastefulness in front of goal, pointing to missed chances like Patson Daka’s penalty and open goal opportunity. For players with Premier League experience, he expects much better.
In his view, the problem isn’t just technical it’s mental. He believes the entire squad needs to take responsibility, and questions whether they truly have the unity and character needed for a relegation fight.
If they can pull themselves together, he says, the quality is there. But whether they have the togetherness to match it remains a big question.
McAnuff also took time to praise West Brom and their interim boss James Morrison, who has managed to turn things around with back-to-back wins after a long winless run.
He admitted things looked bleak not long ago and he didn’t see a quick turnaround coming. But those two wins have changed the mood completely and given them a real chance.
For McAnuff, West Brom’s position in the table doesn’t reflect the quality in their squad. He believes it’s more about restoring confidence and creating a positive atmosphere again.
Handing Morrison the job was a bold decision, he added, but right now it looks like it might be paying off and most importantly, it’s given the team a fighting chance.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim