Sport

Pompey signing turned down Big Guns
by Tom Adams, 02 July 2008

Harry Redknapp

Portsmouth's new academy star James Hurst has claimed that he turned down Manchester United and Arsenal in order to join Harry Redknapp’s side.

It was revealed in May that the England Under-17 international would be swapping West Brom for Fratton Park but it has now emerged that Pompey faced stiff competition for his signature.

As well as United and Arsenal, Aston Villa were also interested in the full back who has been tipped for a bright future in the game.

Hurst claims the decision to move to the South Coast was an easy one though.

“West Brom wanted to keep me but as soon as Portsmouth came in I knew that's where I wanted to be,” said Hurst in the Portsmouth News.

“It's a club on the up. They're the FA Cup winners, a Premier League club with high status, a top-eight team. For me it's the place to be.

“There were others interested such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Villa but I would obviously get more of a first-team opportunity here than I would at the others so it made sense.

“It's a really good club and there's a new stadium and new training facilities on the way so it's going to be really exciting round here.”

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Comments

theguy - 04 July 2008 08:37: all the clubs from 8th spot down are youth acadamies for the big four anyway...its shockin, and it means no one will ever break the cycle in the EPL...; Report this to a moderator

ian H - 03 July 2008 20:57: I know this kid and he is completly over rated, he did not turn down any of the teams mentioned as he isnt good enough. His head is bigger than his potential and he will not make the grade at pompey. mark my words.; Report this to a moderator

villa_carew - 03 July 2008 20:22: I live close to where James Hurst used to live in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and I know his old friends in Birmingham and they told me that he singled down his choices down to Villa (the club he supports) and Portsmouth but he chose Portsmouth not because of the youth set-up or the club or Harry Redknapp but because he was getting in a lot of trouble in his school and he wanted to get out of Birmingham. 100% reliable! It's funny how all these Portsmouth fans actually think he would choose Portsmouth over Villa (the club he supports) when Harry Redknapp never plays young players and Martin O'Neill always plays young players! At Portsmouth he'll just be a wasted talent. Shame!; Report this to a moderator

yido4life - 03 July 2008 13:47: spot on prophet, this happens with spurs all the time, pretty much every signing. apparantly teemu tiano turned down a move at man u to join spurs. well if im not mistaken, united are double champs, spurs are still shit, and teemu tiano has about as much chance at a first team place as kieran dyer does staying fit this season. when the big clubs want, they get. also why nobody good signed bale is beyond me, kids the best thing since sliced bread; Report this to a moderator

Alan - 03 July 2008 10:13: Prophet I have to disagree with your first comment, as you later stated ( maybe its not you ) his West Ham youth policy was amazing and we owe him alot as far as our current England squad go. He produced Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Lampard, Carrick, Defoe and they all turned out to be regulars for club and country. This young lad has made a wise choice, while Arsenal blood youngsters they tend to do it of the superior technicians of Europe and Africa than English, Man Utd havnt blooded any youngsters for a long time Chris Eagles got a few games, Danny Simpson got a few games and Guiseppe Rossi got a few games but other than that theres been nothing. Villa would have been the alternative but given their task of improving on their league position again next season do they have the time to blood a youngster in defence ?; Report this to a moderator

Prophet - 03 July 2008 08:54: You are wrong about Harry. Have you looked at his record at WHU? Ferdinand, Carrick, Defoe, Lampard....need I go on?; Report this to a moderator

davy - 03 July 2008 07:40: why is it that any crap of a player claims to have snub Man U after signing a deal with whatever crap of a club He's heading to...??....this includes..Dos Santos..jones en now Hurst who can't make it even in Man U's academy...this ar just crap of players using Man U's status to get publicity en ar desperately wishing to be part en parcel of Man U....SORRY for them coz thiz ain't gonna happen......Ha ha ha ha ha.....Man U til i die.; Report this to a moderator

goomva - 03 July 2008 07:17: jevan; Report this to a moderator

yeah - 03 July 2008 03:57: i agree with prophet.; Report this to a moderator

Greenz - 03 July 2008 02:09: I am in agreement with Prophet here..... To think that anyone would turn down the chance to join Man U or even Arsenal would be stupid. Even as a Villa fan I can see that, but if it's 1st team football you're after why on earth would anyone choose Pompey over any of the mentioned teams? They have no history of blooding players, Just last season 4 young Villa players ended up in the England squad... Including ex-baggie Davies. Unless it's for the money (a la Diarra) no youngster in their right mind would go to Pompey.; Report this to a moderator

Pompey WA - 03 July 2008 00:42: Well first team opportunities or no he has decided to join the club that has just won the FA Cup, and who knows with the Academy overhaul that is currently going on we could see some of these youngsters (Hurst, N'Lundulu or Mahoto) that have recently signed given first team action...especially with the packed schedule next year. New training ground on the way, new stadium on the way and the best academy year ever should show that his decision is not that ridiculous. Plus most of the players that Harry does give a chance from the youth system turn out to be stars (Walcott at Scumpton and a book full of Hammers). Maybe Hurst sees this and wants to be part of a team on the up and up (especially with an opening coming at left back soon).; Report this to a moderator

Prophet - 02 July 2008 23:15: Yeah, right!!! Noone in English football gives more first team opportunities to youngsters than the Gunners so put a cork in the first -team-football argument Hurst. We, Brommies ,respect and applaud your decision to choose Pompey because you have a right to do so but save us the faulty reasoning. Pompey is hardly an established top eight team when one considers that they're just a few years removed from the Championship. In fact, you probably stood a better chance of first team football at Villa than under Harry whose history of blooding younsters is spotty at best.; Report this to a moderator

big red - 02 July 2008 21:57: sure they put lahm in as the best left back, he made more mistakes than enough. i agree senna, was the best player, if he played for real or barca, he would have got it, xavi wil prob end up wit the best player in the world award now, even when he did'nt have a great season wit barca. but sure that is the way it goes.; Report this to a moderator

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