Portsmouth urged to make Conor Chaplin decision - "Something needs to change" | OneFootball

FLW's Portsmouth fan pundit gives his verdict on Conor Chaplin's lack of goals since making Ipswich loan switch

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Conor Chaplin has struggled for form since making his return to Portsmouth on loan from Ipswich Town late in the summer.

The forward made the surprise return to Fratton Park late in the transfer market, much to the excitement of Pompey supporters, having previously played with the club from 2014 to 2019 as an academy graduate.

While his season in the top flight with the Tractor Boys didn’t go to plan, he still contributed 13 goals and eight assists in the previous campaign to help Ipswich gain promotion to the Premier League.

However, he has yet to register a single goal or assist for Portsmouth from seven appearances in the Championship, leading to criticism over his form.

John Mousinho will be keen to see him improve in the coming weeks, with the club aiming to climb the table and break away from any potential relegation battle.

Conor Chaplin’s disappointing form at Portsmouth

When asked about Chaplin’s struggles, FLW’s Portsmouth fan pundit Miltos Ioannidis admitted it has been disappointing due to the expectations placed on him upon his return to the club.

He believes the forward and the fans are both frustrated with how the start of the loan stint has gone so far, warning that perhaps playing him out of his preferred position isn’t helping.

“It’s been a disappointing start to life for Conor Chaplin and it’s been extremely frustrating, not just for us fans watching him, but for himself as well,” Ioannidis told Football League World.

“He will feel very frustrated with the way things have panned out so far in his second tenure with the club.

“I believe he also came out with an interview the other week in the Portsmouth News saying how he feels disappointed with how things have started for him, how he hasn’t been able to get up to speed just yet, how he hasn’t been able to make any sort of impact.

“And it’s disappointing because there’s this level of expectancy around his name, not just because of the things he’s already done with us in the past, but also the things that he has gone on to do after he has left the club the first time.

“And so, frustration is a natural feeling.

“Now, they say that you want to play your best players in their best positions, and that’s not something we’ve really done with Conor Chaplin just yet.”

Ioannidis went into greater detail about what’s gone wrong for the 28-year-old, claiming he has to be used in the number 10 role, instead of as a right-winger, if Portsmouth want to get the best out of him going forward.

“We seemingly brought him in with the intention of playing him in that number 10 spot, which is his preferred position, the position that I think most people know Conor Chaplin most famously for,” he added.

“We’ve only played him as a right-winger, and he hasn’t made his mark for us from that position.

“Now I don’t know if this is the only way that he looks a bit rusty, and a bit off and a bit out of place because even simple passes, very simple patterns of play, ones and twos, that he can’t get around with.

“I don’t know if that’s necessarily down to him playing on the right, rather than on the centre, but I’m sure it’s got to play an impact.

“And I want to see him in that number 10 spot as soon as possible because we want to see the best of Conor Chaplin.

“I feel like we need it, we’ve had all these players out injured, Josh Murphy, Callum Lang, our attacking output so far this season has been disappointing, underwhelming and not up to standard.

“So, something needs to change, and for a player of the magnitude and calibre of Conor Chaplin to step up, and finally make his mark, and get up to speed, would be a massive help for us.”

Portsmouth have won just three of their opening 12 games so far this season, leaving them 18th in the Championship table.

Pompey earned a 17th place finish in the standings last year, their first campaign back at this level after earning promotion in 2024.

Next up for Mousinho’s side is a trip to face Birmingham City on 1 November in a 3pm kick-off.

Portsmouth have to try Conor Chaplin in his preferred role

It’s been disappointing for Chaplin so far at Portsmouth, and if he doesn’t improve his performances then he could find himself out of the side entirely.

But first Mousinho must try using him in his preferred no. 10 role, as it’s clear that he plays a lot better there than out on the right-wing.

No goals or assists from seven games is a surprising return given his attacking threat at Ipswich, although the fact he’s just recovered from a bad injury might offer some further explanation for his performance levels.

At this rate, it is hard for Portsmouth to justify a possible permanent move in the summer unless he can start finding the back of the net soon.