Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Jamie Wilson
Guest(s)
Release Date
1 June 2023
Duration
70 min
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by lifelong Portsmouth fan Jamie Wilson for part one of a double header that celebrates the remarkable FA Cup-winning season of Portsmouth 2007–2008, before later exploring Mohun Bagan’s historic 1911 triumph.
The conversation takes listeners back to an era when Portsmouth defied the odds. Under the charismatic and unpredictable Harry Redknapp, Pompey assembled a squad of cult heroes, Premier League stalwarts, and international stars — a combination that produced one of the most unexpected cup runs of the modern era.
From the dramatic quarter-final victory at Old Trafford against Manchester United to the Wembley triumph over Cardiff City, every step of Portsmouth’s journey is revisited in vivid detail. The panel reflects on the tactical pragmatism that defined Redknapp’s management, the leadership of Sol Campbell, the brilliance of Nwankwo Kanu, and the passionate Fratton Park crowd that carried the team to glory.
The discussion also explores the financial and emotional highs and lows that followed — how success brought both immortality and instability. Portsmouth’s FA Cup win marked a fleeting golden age before financial collapse reshaped the club’s destiny, making 2008 feel like the end of an era in English football.
Takeaways
Portsmouth’s FA Cup win remains one of the last true underdog triumphs.
Redknapp’s blend of experience and instinct created a fearless, cohesive side.
Key victories over elite opponents reflected the squad’s belief and unity.
The triumph masked growing financial instability behind the scenes.
Portsmouth 2007–08 remains a reminder that football’s magic often comes from the unexpected.
Portsmouth 2007–08: The Last Great Underdogs
Portsmouth’s 2007–08 season remains one of the great modern fairy tales of English football — a campaign defined by bold management, seasoned leadership, and pure cup magic.
Under the guidance of Harry Redknapp, Portsmouth assembled a team of veterans and mavericks who combined grit, experience, and flair to conquer the FA Cup — their first major trophy in nearly seven decades. Built around Sol Campbell’s defensive authority, David James’ consistency, and Nwankwo Kanu’s creative instinct, the side captured the imagination of neutral fans across the country.
Pompey’s FA Cup run was a sequence of defining moments. They stunned Manchester United at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals, defied pressure at Wembley in the semi-final against West Bromwich Albion, and triumphed in the final over Cardiff City, where Kanu’s instinctive finish secured a 1–0 victory and eternal glory.
Tactically disciplined and emotionally charged, Portsmouth operated with balance — defensive solidity from Campbell and Distin, work rate in midfield through Sulley Muntari and Lassana Diarra, and flashes of creativity from Niko Kranjčar and John Utaka. It was pragmatic football at its best: compact, physical, and opportunistic.
Their triumph marked the end of an era when smaller clubs could still rise to the top through organisation and belief. Just a few years later, financial turmoil would see the club spiral down the divisions — yet the memory of 2008 endures as the pinnacle of Portsmouth’s modern history.
The FA Cup victory of 2007–08 wasn’t just a win for Portsmouth — it was a celebration of English football’s enduring unpredictability. A team built on heart, character, and defiance proved that dreams were still possible, even in the age of giants.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Harry Redknapp’s management and man-motivation style
Portsmouth’s FA Cup run: from Old Trafford to Wembley
The mix of experience and flair in the 2007–08 squad
Key figures: Sol Campbell, Kanu, James, Muntari, Diarra
The emotional legacy of Portsmouth’s last great triumph
The financial fallout with the chaos behind the scenes
Kanu’s winner in the FA Cup Final vs Cardiff City
1–0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals
Sol Campbell’s leadership and defensive organisation
David James’ heroics throughout the competition
The FA Cup parade through Portsmouth’s streets
Notable Manager
Notable Players
David James, Sol Campbell, Nwankwo Kanu, Sylvain Distin, Glen Johnson, Lassana Diarra, Sulley Muntari, Niko Kranjčar, Hermann Hreiðarsson, John Utaka, Jermain Defoe
Style of Play
4-4-1-1 formation, defensive organisation, counter-attacking football, set-piece strength, tactical pragmatism, experienced core
Harry Redknapp’s Portsmouth were a team built on balance — a hybrid of Premier League experience, tactical pragmatism, and moments of individual brilliance. Deployed most often in a 4-4-1-1 formation, Portsmouth’s strength lay in their defensive solidity, midfield work rate, and the ability to strike decisively on the counter.
At the back, Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin formed one of the league’s most reliable partnerships, shielded by the commanding presence of goalkeeper David James. Full-backs Glen Johnson and Hreiðarsson added width and support, while in midfield, Sulley Muntari’s power and Diarra’s dynamism provided the spine for both control and transition.
Going forward, creativity came from Niko Kranjčar and John Utaka, feeding into the mercurial Nwankwo Kanu — who played as a withdrawn forward, dropping deep to link play and conjure moments of magic. Redknapp’s tactical mantra was simple: keep shape, play with heart, and trust the players’ instincts.
Portsmouth’s FA Cup run was characterised by compact defending, clinical counter-attacks, and set-piece precision. Their semi-final and final performances demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure, with Kanu’s match-winning goal at Wembley epitomising the team’s mixture of grit and guile.
They were not the most flamboyant champions, but they were efficient, united, and fearless — a side that embodied Redknapp’s philosophy of turning belief into achievement.
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