There’s no guarantee that every bit of business conducted in the transfer market will prove a success.
Indeed, for every Colby Bishop, Lassana Diarra, Ricardo Rocha and Gavin Bazunu, there could easily be a Djimi Traore, Theofanis Gekas or Mike Williamson lying unexpectedly in await, too.
There’s no scientific explanation why a transfer can turn sour for one and be a huge success for another.
However, the nature of modern football, with players and managers changing clubs so often, means there's always going to be those who struggle to perform in a short space of time.
Like the majority of clubs, Pompey have found that out for themselves in recent years.
And with another transfer window on the horizon, the pressure will once again be on the Blues to get it right.
But what lessons can be learned?
Well, if the list below is anything to go on, there’s plenty of case studies to refer back to.
Of course, not everyone included is a bad player. It just didn't work out for them at Fratton Park for whatever reason.
The list doesn’t include anybody presently at the club. But let us know if there's anyone you think escaped it who deserves to be on the list from the Michael Eisner era.
There’s no scientific explanation why a transfer can turn sour for one and be a huge success for another.
![No doubt.. Morris will rue accepting a January 2019 switch to the Blues from Shrewsbury for an undisclosed fee. At the time, Kenny Jackett was on the hunt for players capable of maintaining Pompey’s three month-long domination of League One. Arriving along with Andy Cannon, Morris made eight appearances and scored once as the league leaders eventually finished fourth. There were also the first signs of the injury problems which would devastate the former Middlesbrough man’s time at Fratton Park. Robbed of the chance to make an instant impact with supporters, the likeable ex-England under-19 skipper spent the remainder of his Pompey days playing catch up. Morris’ 28th – and final – Pompey outing was a 5-1 loss at Peterborough in the Papa John’s Trophy in January 2021 Just over a week later he joined Northampton on loan the remainder of the season, never to return.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ2NWVjMWEyLTU5MWMtNDUwOS04OTY1LWYwZWI2ZWY4ZjgxYTpkYmNhYWYxOC0yYmY4LTQzYjUtYTRjMS1kNTJiNWY1YmM3OWQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
9. Bryn Morris
No doubt.. Morris will rue accepting a January 2019 switch to the Blues from Shrewsbury for an undisclosed fee. At the time, Kenny Jackett was on the hunt for players capable of maintaining Pompey’s three month-long domination of League One. Arriving along with Andy Cannon, Morris made eight appearances and scored once as the league leaders eventually finished fourth. There were also the first signs of the injury problems which would devastate the former Middlesbrough man’s time at Fratton Park. Robbed of the chance to make an instant impact with supporters, the likeable ex-England under-19 skipper spent the remainder of his Pompey days playing catch up. Morris’ 28th – and final – Pompey outing was a 5-1 loss at Peterborough in the Papa John’s Trophy in January 2021 Just over a week later he joined Northampton on loan the remainder of the season, never to return.Photo: Jason Brown
![Another one of the January 2019 arrivals that failed to deliver the 2018-19 League One promotion that many anticipated. The on-loan Birmingham winger scored once for Pompey during his 10 game spell at Fratton Park as the Blues’ promotion bid was ended by Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals. His disallowed goal - for offisde - in the 3-2 defeat to Peterborough during the regular season will forever haunt Pompey fans.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFmNTYyNjQyLWFkY2QtNDRmMy04NDkzLWFjMmMxZmY5Yjk2MDpmM2I1YjQ5YS0yY2ExLTQ5OTMtOTA5MC02OTA1ZWJmYTIzM2U=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
10. Viv Solomon-Otabor
Another one of the January 2019 arrivals that failed to deliver the 2018-19 League One promotion that many anticipated. The on-loan Birmingham winger scored once for Pompey during his 10 game spell at Fratton Park as the Blues’ promotion bid was ended by Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals. His disallowed goal - for offisde - in the 3-2 defeat to Peterborough during the regular season will forever haunt Pompey fans.Photo: Joe Pepler
![Vaughan spent the second half of the 2018-19 season at Fratton Park after arriving from Wigan on January transfer deadline day. The experienced former Everton front man was viewed as another important piece of the promotion-winning jigsaw. However, Vaughan struggled to make an impact. He made just 11 appearances for Kenny Jackett’s side and failed to score as the Blues came up short.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmZmNmNlYTcyLWFkZDctNDQxNC04YjRiLTdmMDUyOTFhZTg3MDpiOTEwMWNiYS0yOGZhLTRhYzQtYTJjZi1mZjJhMmY1NGIzMjM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
11. James Vaughan
Vaughan spent the second half of the 2018-19 season at Fratton Park after arriving from Wigan on January transfer deadline day. The experienced former Everton front man was viewed as another important piece of the promotion-winning jigsaw. However, Vaughan struggled to make an impact. He made just 11 appearances for Kenny Jackett’s side and failed to score as the Blues came up short.Photo: Joe Pepler
![The highly-rated winger spent the first half of the 2018-19 season at Fratton Park on loan from QPR. However, Wheeler struggled for regular first-team minutes under Kenny Jackett and was behind Jamal Lowe, Ronan Curtis and Andre Green in the pecking order. The then 28-year-old made 19 appearances for Pompey but scored just two goals. He returned early to Loftus Road in January 2019.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVkODFjMzRlLWYxOTYtNDdhOC1iNGZiLTg5ZWZmMjU3M2IyYzowMWRjNDAyMi1hYTUwLTQ4ZmEtYWMxOC1jYWIyNWM2M2FlMWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
12. David Wheeler
The highly-rated winger spent the first half of the 2018-19 season at Fratton Park on loan from QPR. However, Wheeler struggled for regular first-team minutes under Kenny Jackett and was behind Jamal Lowe, Ronan Curtis and Andre Green in the pecking order. The then 28-year-old made 19 appearances for Pompey but scored just two goals. He returned early to Loftus Road in January 2019.Photo: Joe Pepler