Portsmouth FC are being encouraged to make a difficult but potentially necessary call on the future of striker Colby Bishop after a frustrating run of form that has coincided with the club’s slide toward the lower end of the Championship table.
Following Saturday’s narrow 1–0 defeat at home to Hull City, head coach John Mousinho finds his side sitting 19th in the Championship, just five points above the relegation zone. With the pressure mounting and the season entering a critical phase, scrutiny has intensified around Bishop, who has struggled badly in front of goal.
The 29-year-old centre-forward has managed only one goal from open play in 30 league appearances this season — a stark contrast to the prolific numbers he posted during Pompey’s promotion campaigns in League One. While he was a consistent 20-plus goal scorer in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, that cutting edge has not translated to the higher level of the Championship.
Despite the growing frustration among supporters, the club recently tied Bishop down to a contract extension on 24 February, a move that would keep him at Fratton Park for at least two more seasons. That decision suggests faith from within the club — but outside it, patience is wearing thin.
Mousinho defends Bishop amid fan backlash
Mousinho has publicly stood by his striker, insisting that his assessment of Bishop goes beyond pure goal numbers. The Pompey boss has stressed that he values the forward’s work rate, hold-up play, and contribution out of possession. In his view, the team can still function effectively even if Bishop is not scoring regularly, pointing out that goals can and should come from other areas of the pitch.
However, many supporters have not been convinced. On social media platform X, criticism has been sharp. One fan went as far as to claim that Bishop is on course for “the worst season as a striker in Championship history.” Others have described him as a “passenger” in the side and called for him to be dropped immediately.
The divide between the manager’s backing and the supporters’ frustration has become increasingly apparent, highlighting a broader disconnect over how Bishop’s performances are being interpreted.
Calls for a summer overhaul
Pompey fan pundit Miltos Ioannidis believes the time is approaching for the club to be ruthless. While acknowledging Bishop’s importance in recent years — and crediting him as instrumental in helping the club reach its current level — he argues that sentiment cannot outweigh performance.
According to Miltos, Bishop’s physical commitment and warrior-like attitude are not in question. Instead, the concern lies with whether he can match the tempo and intensity required in the Championship. He suggests that Bishop often struggles to anticipate chances, arriving too late into scoring positions or failing to read attacking movements effectively.
The statistics reinforce that concern. Bishop has missed 12 big chances this season and currently holds a shot conversion rate of just 4.2%, according to FotMob data. With only one non-penalty goal in 30 games, critics argue that the numbers speak loudly enough.
Miltos believes Bishop’s ceiling may be at League One level — a division in which he would likely thrive again — but questions whether he can consistently deliver in the Championship. As a result, he has urged Portsmouth to use the summer transfer window to bring in a striker capable of performing at a higher standard.
He also expressed surprise that the club did not address the issue in January. That view gains some weight from Portsmouth’s reported interest in Nesta Elphege, then of Grenoble Foot 38. Pompey are believed to have had a bid rejected before Elphege eventually moved to Parma Calcio 1913 in Serie A.
What happens next?
If Portsmouth manage to secure Championship survival, changes in the attacking department appear likely. Even if Bishop remains at the club, competition for the number nine role seems almost inevitable.
Ultimately, the club now faces a delicate balancing act: showing loyalty to a striker who played a pivotal role in their recent success, while also confronting the reality that survival — and future progress — may require a more clinical presence up front.
