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: 15 appearances, 0 goals.
Verdict: The left-back made 14 appearances for Pompey, after being brought to Fratton Park ahead of the 2020 summer transfer deadline. He largely featured as Lee Brown's understudy but made a good impression on the Fratton faithful with his attacking displays. He returned to Ashton Gate in January 2021 as the Championship side struggled with injuries.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/15/01/Cam%20Pring.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
45. Cam Pring - 7/10
Pompey stats: 15 appearances, 0 goals. Verdict: The left-back made 14 appearances for Pompey, after being brought to Fratton Park ahead of the 2020 summer transfer deadline. He largely featured as Lee Brown's understudy but made a good impression on the Fratton faithful with his attacking displays. He returned to Ashton Gate in January 2021 as the Championship side struggled with injuries. | National World
![Pompey stats: 27 appearances, 1 goal.
Verdict: After arriving on loan in September 2020, the former Denmark under-19 international went on to feature 27 times and score once as the Blues finished eighth in League One. However, it was not quite the success all parties had hoped for.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/16/00/Nicolaisen.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
46. Rasmus Nicolaisen - 6/10
Pompey stats: 27 appearances, 1 goal. Verdict: After arriving on loan in September 2020, the former Denmark under-19 international went on to feature 27 times and score once as the Blues finished eighth in League One. However, it was not quite the success all parties had hoped for. | National World
![Pompey stats: 22 appearances, 1 goal.
Verdict: The midfielder spent the second half of the 2020-21 season on loan at Fratton Park from Spurs. It represented White's first real experience of first-team football, having played only twice for Spurs in cup competitions previously. White scored once in 22 appearances as the Blues narrowly missed out on the League One play-offs.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/16/08/Harvey%20White.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
47. Harvey White - 6/10
Pompey stats: 22 appearances, 1 goal. Verdict: The midfielder spent the second half of the 2020-21 season on loan at Fratton Park from Spurs. It represented White's first real experience of first-team football, having played only twice for Spurs in cup competitions previously. White scored once in 22 appearances as the Blues narrowly missed out on the League One play-offs. | National World
![Pompey stats: 15 appearances, 0 goals.
Verdict: Signed by Kenny Jackett from Swansea – a move that was considered a bit of a coup at the time – the attacking midfielder struggled to make an impact as the Blues missed out on the League One play-offs on the final day of the season. He 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.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/04/16/37/George%20Byers.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
48. George Byers - 3/10
Pompey stats: 15 appearances, 0 goals. Verdict: Signed by Kenny Jackett from Swansea – a move that was considered a bit of a coup at the time – the attacking midfielder struggled to make an impact as the Blues missed out on the League One play-offs on the final day of the season. He 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. | National World