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James: star for Pompey

It's a difficult task to get on that PFA shortlist of six when you're not playing at one of the fashionable clubs challenging for the title. I scored 30 goals from midfield in 1995 and I still didn't win it!

Matt Le Tissier
Quotes of the week

Man City v Portsmouth
3.30pm, Sunday, Sky Sports 1

Related links

Teams

• Manchester City
• Portsmouth

Players

• David James
• Jermain Defoe
• More Players Benjani

Also see

• Le Tiss on Arsenal v Reading
• Le Tiss on Newcastle v Sunderland

I was confident that Portsmouth wouldn't be involved at the wrong end of the table this season, but I am surprised at just how well they've done.

Reaching the FA Cup Final and challenging for fifth spot equates to a very successful season and Harry Redknapp deserves all the plaudits he's been getting of late.

He'll be desperate to keep his players motivated for the rest of their Premier League campaign because if they can overhaul Everton and get a fifth-placed finish on his CV that would be almost as impressive as getting an FA Cup-winner's medal under his belt.

The onus tends to be on the Premier League these days and if he can guarantee a Uefa Cup place through the league he'll be chuffed to bits, although you would then wonder how they could possibly ever improve on that.

I'm sure he might protect one or two of his key players ahead of the Cup Final; for example he won't want to push Lassana Diarra too hard after his recent injury problems. But I think he'll keep a very strong team out for the remaining games to make sure they push Everton all the way.

I'm looking forward to seeing David James on Sunday and I wasn't surprised to see him get nominated for PFA Player of the Year because he's had a fantastic season and he's been key to Pompey's success.

It's rare for goalkeepers to get nominated for that award - only Peter Shilton and Pat Jennings have won it in the past and that was back in the 1970s - so that shows how well he's done.

It's also a difficult task to get in that shortlist of six when you're not playing at one of the fashionable clubs challenging for the title. I scored 30 goals from midfield in 1995 and I still didn't win it!

To be fair I came second to Alan Shearer who scored 34 that season and he was terrific, but it shows how difficult it is to force your way in when your team isn't in the top two or three in the league. You need to do something pretty spectacular, so David deserves all the praise he gets.

Faded

It's been an interesting season for Manchester City. They started brilliantly and their record at home was key to their success, but the summer signings have faded as the season has gone on and their most consistent performers have been the guys that were there before Sven Goran Eriksson came in.

They've got a talented squad and with all the new faces they were never going to be challenging the top four this year, so it doesn't surprise me that they've dropped down the table.

Saying that, it seems Mr Shinawatra has taken a different view of things and comments from him last week suggested he may review the manager's position at the end of the season.

I thought those comments were bizarre because I'm not really sure what he expects. They only finished four points above the relegation zone last season and they were a poor side to watch. Sven has taken them into the top half of the table in one season, so I would question the owner's attitude.

With a man like him in charge, I don't think the manager's job will ever be safe but if it was up to me I certainly wouldn't be thinking of getting rid of Sven in the summer.

The manager will be keen to make sure the team finish the season on a high, although that might be tough with injuries to key players like Micah Richards.

They still need to find a top-drawer centre-forward as well because I don't think Benjani is ever going to score enough goals for a team that wants to challenge for Champions League football.

We might see him turn it on against his old club on Sunday but I'm sure Harry's delighted with the deal he got for him in January.

Benjani had a small purple patch at the start of the season, but Harry offloaded him the first chance he got and I think that tells you everything.

Le Tiss Predicts

DRAW - I don't think this will be a blood-and-thunder game and I can see it ending up as a draw. I'll say it will be 1-1.

Matt's Main Man

JERMAIN DEFOE - I like the fact that he's got himself away from Tottenham's substitutes' bench and he's now showing the enthusiasm of a man who should be starting every week. He's finding the net on a regular basis and I'm pleased for him.