Thriving Fratton failures offer Pompey food for thought

And old acquaintances have been a talking point at Pompey over the past couple of weeks.

James Dunne and Adam McGurk lie in wait at the Abbey Stadium this weekend.

A glint in Dunne’s eye as he talked about the game during post-match duties in the U’s win at Exeter, told you the countdown is on for him.

And McGurk has racked up nine appearances for former Blues midfielder Shaun Derry’s side since he added the Irishman to his squad last summer.

So, Pompey fans will be entirely justified in having that familiar feeling of foreboding.

That, of course, arrives with the fear a former player is set to return to haunt them. An oft-repeated process down the years.

These days, though, that is more or less a weekly feeling.

With the turnover of players at Fratton Park in recent years, there’s a fair scattering of those who’ve worn royal blue knocking around League Two.

Most of them have been involved in three aborted efforts at setting Pompey on a path forward in the community era.

So, to varying degrees, they have been associated with not delivering at Fratton Park.

Yet, many of them are enjoying success away from the spotlight they found themselves in with the Blues.