Pompey completed their quest for Championship football in April as they booked their return to the second tier of English footbal as League One Championships.
It proved to be a relentless pursuit that was initally started in the summer of 2017, after Paul Cook’s Blues secured the League Two title thanks to a 6-1 win over Cheltenham on the final day of the 2016-17 season.
Since then, Pompey have turned to three different managers/head coaches to achieve their goal - Kenny Jackett, Danny Cowley and John Mousinho. However, it was Mousinho who finally delivered the prize as his side went above and beyond what his two previous predecessors’ teams could achieve.
That guarantees him a place in Fratton Park folklore. But it’s fair to say, his achievements might not have been entirely possible had it not been for some of the work undertaken at Fratton Park in the years building up to this season’s success. As director Eric Eisner often points out, it’s process that has been built and allowed to take shape over time.
In that sense, both Jackett and Cowley have helped shape Pompey’s rise - not that they would want any of the credit - with the former kicking it all off under the Eisners.
Mistakes were made along the way, as we all know. But with the latest transfer window fast approaching, what tranfer successes and failings were there under Jackett’s charge? We’ve assessed his 50 transfers during his near three years at the Fratton Park helm - and this is what we’ve decided, with each player given a rating out of 10. See if you agree or disagree.
Since then, Pompey have turned to three different managers/head coaches to achieve their goal - Kenny Jackett, Danny Cowley and John Mousinho. However, it was Mousinho who finally delivered the prize as his side went above and beyond what his two previous predecessors’ teams could achieve.
![Pompey stats: 48 appearances, 1 goals.
Verdict: There were a fair few eyebrows raised when Danny Cowley called time on the defender’s Pompey career. Plenty of Blues followers were fans of Callum Johnson’s after 46 dependable performances, as £100,000 was splashed out to land the right-back from Accrington in 2020 under Kenny Jackett.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/15/38/Callum%20Johnson.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
41. Callum Johnson - 7/10
Pompey stats: 48 appearances, 1 goals. Verdict: There were a fair few eyebrows raised when Danny Cowley called time on the defender’s Pompey career. Plenty of Blues followers were fans of Callum Johnson’s after 46 dependable performances, as £100,000 was splashed out to land the right-back from Accrington in 2020 under Kenny Jackett. | National World
![Pompey stats: 93 appearances, 14 goals.
Verdict: A popular player at Fratton Park, Jacobs was unble to perform at the levels we all knew he could because of persistent injury issues. Last summer, John Mousinho insisted the forward was good enough to remain a Pompey player in the summer. However, the 32-year-old’s desire to move closer to his family and roots led to the decision to part ways with the attacking midfielder following three seasons at Fratton Park.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/15/00/Michael%20Jacobs.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
42. Michael Jacobs 7/10
Pompey stats: 93 appearances, 14 goals. Verdict: A popular player at Fratton Park, Jacobs was unble to perform at the levels we all knew he could because of persistent injury issues. Last summer, John Mousinho insisted the forward was good enough to remain a Pompey player in the summer. However, the 32-year-old’s desire to move closer to his family and roots led to the decision to part ways with the attacking midfielder following three seasons at Fratton Park. | National World
![Pompey stats: 15 appearances, 3 goals.
Verdict: The striker scored three goals in 15 appearances for Pompey after joining on a short-term contract in October 2020 following his release from Coventry. Kenny Jackett limited his involvement, but a few lively cameo appearances and two goals in a 3-0 EFL Trophy win at Cheltenham saw the Fratton faithful demand the forward was rewarded with more game time. Yet it was a clamour his manager never responded to, with Hiwula’s only starts under Jackett coming in the Trophy - including an anonymous display at Wembley in the woeful 2021 final defeat to Salford, which proved to be the manager’s last game.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/15/33/Jordy%20Hiwula.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
43. Jordy Hiwula - 5/10
Pompey stats: 15 appearances, 3 goals. Verdict: The striker scored three goals in 15 appearances for Pompey after joining on a short-term contract in October 2020 following his release from Coventry. Kenny Jackett limited his involvement, but a few lively cameo appearances and two goals in a 3-0 EFL Trophy win at Cheltenham saw the Fratton faithful demand the forward was rewarded with more game time. Yet it was a clamour his manager never responded to, with Hiwula’s only starts under Jackett coming in the Trophy - including an anonymous display at Wembley in the woeful 2021 final defeat to Salford, which proved to be the manager’s last game. | National World
![Pompey stats: 18 appearances, 1 goal.
Verdict: The former Bournemouth favourite endured a hugely disappointing spell at Fratton Park over the second half of the 2020-21 season. Much was expected of the experienced left-back, however he failed to impress.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/15/14/Charlie%20Daniels.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
44. Charlie Daniels - 3/10
Pompey stats: 18 appearances, 1 goal. Verdict: The former Bournemouth favourite endured a hugely disappointing spell at Fratton Park over the second half of the 2020-21 season. Much was expected of the experienced left-back, however he failed to impress. | National World