"Robbed" claim made on Portsmouth star Josh Murphy as Norwich City ace pips him | OneFootball

FLW's Portsmouth fan pundit has reacted to star winger Josh Murphy not being selected in the Championship's Team of the Season

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...

Josh Murphy has enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign during Portsmouth's long-awaited return to the Championship after joining from Oxford United last summer, helping John Mousinho's side to survival.

Both Portsmouth and Murphy endured a difficult start to the season, but form has been found in due course and the 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday afternoon, coupled with results elsewhere, was enough to officially ensure the south coast side's second-tier status for the 2025/26 term.

As the season has gone on, Portsmouth's home form and a series of consistently exceptional, match-winning displays from Murphy have helped to steer away any fears of relegation to League One.

Well-versed in the Championship owing to previous stays at both Norwich City and Cardiff, Murphy has been among the most impressive attackers throughout the division this season. Murphy's return of 14 assists and 21 big chances created are both not bettered by any of his divisional counterparts, while only Joel Piroe, Finn Azaz and Josh Brownhil have eclipsed the winger's 21 direct goal involvements.

Murphy is keeping company with the Championship's best, many of whom are strutting their stuff for sides en-route to the Premier League next season, despite spending much of the campaign in a relegation battle with Portsmouth, which arguably makes his performances all the more impressive.

And that's exactly why his omission from the Championship's official Team of the Season has been lamented by the Fratton Park faithful.

Portsmouth FC claim dropped on Josh Murphy, Borja Sainz situation in Championship team of the season

Many supporters had expected Murphy to earn a spot in the team ahead of its annoucement at the EFL Awards Evening on Sunday but, on the left-hand side, it was Norwich winger Borja Sainz who ultimately received the nod.

Sainz has also posted a productive campaign in the Championship, returning 17 strikes and four assists from 40 appearances. However, just two of the Spanish winger's league goals have come after the month of November.

Portsmouth fans feel that the consistency of Murphy's displays as opposed to Sainz's, which have been hit-and-miss throughout the second half of the season, mean that he should have been selected over his counterpart.

FLW asked our resident Pompey fan pundit, Miltos Ioannidis, whether he believes Murphy was "robbed" of a place in the Championship's Team of the Season.

Predictably, Miltos subscribes to this school of thought and is at a loss for, in his words, what else the ex-Cardiff winger was supposed to do in order to earn a spot.

"I absolutely think Josh Murphy was robbed of a place," Miltos told FLW.

"Robbed is a word I don't normally use too often, but he was robbed of a place. No argument about it.

"Borja Sainz had a phenomenal start to the season, no argument about that. But since the start of November, he's had more yellow cards (six) than goals (two) for Norwich.

"Whereas Murphy, who is top of the assist chart with 14 for a newly-promoted and relegation-struggling Pompey side, to have 21 goal contributions. Take it away, what else is he supposed to do?

"Murphy will be thinking to himself 'what on earth am I supposed to do more in order to get my place in the Team of the Season?'

"I genuinely think Murphy was robbed of a place, I was really frustrated when I saw that.

"He keeps doing what he does on the pitch and I'm comfortable with him not getting the recognition he so wholeheartedly deserves."

Josh Murphy going under the radar may not be a bad thing for Portsmouth FC

As frustrated as Portsmouth fans are at Murphy not gaining the recognition they believe he deserves, it may not be a bad thing if the speedy wide-man goes under the radar.

He knows he is appreciated at Portsmouth, having won both the club's Men's Player, and Men's Player's Player of the Season awards, along with the adoration of the Fratton Park faithful for much of this season, and they will desperately hope he does not gain admirers elsewhere in the summer.

The 30-year-old's age may be a caveat for any clubs potentially considering a move, but his performances have been bettered by very few this season and Portsmouth could well face a battle to retain him for next season.