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.
![Downing arrived at Pompey in the summer of 2019 on a free transfer from Blackburn, signing a three-year deal. He made 27 appearances for the Blues but just 11 of those came in League One. He quickly found himself out in the cold under Kenny Jackett after Pompey's 2-2 draw with Burton on September 17, 2019. The centre-back endured frustrating injury problems during his two-and-a-half seasons at PO4. Downing left Fratton Park in January 2022 for Rochdale.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjkyYzY3ZTdlLTk1ZTItNDFmZC1iNjg0LTZiY2JhZTk3ZDE2OToyZThiMzQyYi0xZWM4LTRlYjUtOTg0YS1iYzMzZmI4OTFiZjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
13. Paul Downing
Downing arrived at Pompey in the summer of 2019 on a free transfer from Blackburn, signing a three-year deal. He made 27 appearances for the Blues but just 11 of those came in League One. He quickly found himself out in the cold under Kenny Jackett after Pompey's 2-2 draw with Burton on September 17, 2019. The centre-back endured frustrating injury problems during his two-and-a-half seasons at PO4. Downing left Fratton Park in January 2022 for Rochdale.Photo: Dennis Goodwin
![A costly acquisition by Kenny Jackett in the summer of 2019, Marquis' £1m arrival was greeted with understandable optimism. Signed to deliver Championship football, the striker ultimately failed to get the goals that would lead the Blues to the second tier. 36 in 121 appearances was deemed not good enough for the £1m man who departed for Lincoln for a nominal fee in January 2022. Marquis had six months remaining on a contract that wasn't going to be renewed and Danny Cowley wishing to utilise his wage elsewhere.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmVhN2MwZTQ3LWEzYmEtNDNlOC05YWUxLWMzZmU2N2RhM2YzZjo2YmIyMWUwYS0xZTI2LTQyYTItODYwOC05MWUyZmI4YTFhZmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
14. John Marquis
A costly acquisition by Kenny Jackett in the summer of 2019, Marquis' £1m arrival was greeted with understandable optimism. Signed to deliver Championship football, the striker ultimately failed to get the goals that would lead the Blues to the second tier. 36 in 121 appearances was deemed not good enough for the £1m man who departed for Lincoln for a nominal fee in January 2022. Marquis had six months remaining on a contract that wasn't going to be renewed and Danny Cowley wishing to utilise his wage elsewhere.Photo: Graham Hunt
![Harrison endured an injury-hampered two-and-a-half season association with the Blues following his £425,000 arrival from Ipswich. He joined Fleetwood in January 2022 with 20 goals in 84 Pompey appearances. That's not bad - but only nine of those goals came in 64 league outings.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg4YTY5ODNlLTM0N2UtNDhhNS05NzY5LTIzODAxYzA3MDgzYTo0Y2ZkMDdiYi05ZWU1LTRlZTAtOGFkNS1hMjM1YjMxNTlkMTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
15. Ellis Harrison
Harrison endured an injury-hampered two-and-a-half season association with the Blues following his £425,000 arrival from Ipswich. He joined Fleetwood in January 2022 with 20 goals in 84 Pompey appearances. That's not bad - but only nine of those goals came in 64 league outings.Photo: Jason Brown
![Signed in January 2021 by Kenny Jackett from Swansea – a move that was considered a bit of a coup at the time – the 26-year-old struggled to make an impact as the Blues missed out on the League One play-offs on the final day of the season. The midfielder made 15 appearances in total, but only four were starts. Meanwhile, one assist was all Byers could muster in that time as an attacking threat. It was, therefore, little wonder Danny Cowley – who subsequently replaced Jackett that season – allowed Byers to head back to south Wales without even the suggestion of a permanent move.](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNjMmRhOWNjLTJmMDUtNGNkOC1iMDQ3LTk4ZjkwNmIxOTU1OTo0YjA2MTIzNy1jNjhlLTQ4NWUtYTFkMS00NGQ5MzNlZjQyODE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
16. George Byers
Signed in January 2021 by Kenny Jackett from Swansea – a move that was considered a bit of a coup at the time – the 26-year-old struggled to make an impact as the Blues missed out on the League One play-offs on the final day of the season. The midfielder made 15 appearances in total, but only four were starts. Meanwhile, one assist was all Byers could muster in that time as an attacking threat. It was, therefore, little wonder Danny Cowley – who subsequently replaced Jackett that season – allowed Byers to head back to south Wales without even the suggestion of a permanent move.Photo: Dennis Goodwin