[spireitematt]

They may get one or two of our players but I think Portsmouth are going to start panic buying. You could have the best players in the football league playing for Portsmouth but it doesn't mean that you should get promotion, the reason why it worked for us last season to get out of L2 was because we had the right structure the right balance in the squad between defence and attack and also anyone in the team could score goals and we didn't have to rely on the likes of Richards or Doyle as goals came from the midfield and even from players like Cooper. Also the team from L2 and this seasons squad the players gelled together and morale was high between the players and that's why we played good, attractive attacking football because the players could read each other. If the players they recruit at Portsmouth don't get on with one another then it will knock morale and confidence.

I actually think sooner or later Portsmouth will start spending money they haven't got again and this time it won't end pretty. Most football teams around the country in any division are in debt and to get that debt down the teams have to spend within their means. Portsmouth will have a big turnover due to there attendances they get but the money from that will only get you so far. I think Cook will find it difficult to take players from non-league teams on the South coast as his knowledge might not be the same like it was up here in the East midlands and the North West. Like you say Plymouth, Wycombe, Luton, Notts County and Bristol Rovers will be up there come the end of next season. Teams which get promoted into the football league tend to get promotion in there first season. The thing is asking Paul Cook to get Portsmouth promoted out of L2 is like asking a magician to repeat the same trick again the first time you might be able to do it 100% spot on the second time maybe not so much.