Daniels coming, Curtis staying? YOUR Blues questions answered
Our weekly Q&A with the Fratton faithful continues after Pompey’s FA Cup defeat against Bristol City on Sunday.
Certainly, there’s been plenty to talk about following plucky 2-1 loss to Championship opposition at Ashton Gate.
From Ronan Curtis’ future to the chances of Charlie Daniels moving to Fratton Park, we’ve been tackling your questions sent in.
Q. There's been plenty of fans fretting about Ronan Curtis' future after his absence against Bristol City.
I’m aware the club said he was ill but there’s some speculation of a move away on Twitter. Would it be wise to consider such a thing given the current race for promotion?
Simon Brady, Horsham A: It wouldn’t be a January transfer window without discussing Ronan Curtis’ future!
For a third successive winter, there’s talk the Irishman might be off.
From what we were told before kick-off on Sunday and by Kenny Jackett during his post-match press conference, Curtis was ill and wasn’t risked in case he does have coronavirus – despite testing negative.
It didn’t help matters when his mum, Marie, wrote on Twitter that the winger had a groin strain, before quickly deleting the tweet!
As a result, speculation was rife, although that’s the nature of social media.
There have been a couple of tweets saying Curtis is off to Derby, but that’s about as far as the rumours go at the moment.
This time last year when there was tangible interest from Blackburn, Pompey felt under no pressure to sell – and didn’t want to.
With the Blues in the promotion race, they had no interest in selling one of their key players at the halfway stage.
And why would that stance change a year later with Curtis under contract for another two-and-a-half years?
Certainly, it wouldn’t be wise and Pompey wouldn’t be receptive unless it was for silly money they couldn’t turn down.
Curtis wasn’t in the best vein of form before Christmas but he has consistently delivered goals and assists, even in games that failed to see him at his best,
He’d be a loss, especially at this stage of the season.
It’d be difficult to find a replacement and clubs would likely inflate price tags knowing the Blues have received a decent fee.
Q. Charlie Daniels would be a good addition, if the rumours are true, to the Pompey squad. How realistic is a move, though? Harry Butterworth,
via email. A. The fact that Kenny Jackett didn’t deny he was interested when asked after the defeat to Bristol City spoke volumes for me. Pompey are definitely keen. When it comes to
League One recruitment, a lot of the time fans need to have a quick Google of players when they’re linked.
That’s not the case with Daniels, who was with AFC Bournemouth for all five seasons while they were in the Premier League.
Daniels, left, has made 139 top-flight appearances, which underlines he’d be a welcome addition in terms of quality.
After a serious knee injury, he’s bounced back superbly at Shrewsbury, making 16 appearances and becoming one of their performers this season.
Perhaps Daniels would fancy another promotion on his CV as he enters the twilight years of his career, while a return to the south coast could also tempt.
Jackett told The News that age doesn’t come into consideration when bringing in a left-back but, for me, it has to be a factor.
Daniels is 34 and the Pompey boss has scarcely signed a player into their
30s during his time in charge.
What’s more, Lee Brown (who is 30) is first choice after another fine display at Bristol City. Would Daniels want to come in as a back-up or continue playing at regularly Shrewsbury?
Recruiting someone the ilk of Pring, who’s an upcoming player willing to learn and be patient, is potentially what Pompey might go for.
Q. Pompey's attacking options from the bench seemed thin on the ground on Sunday. Have Pompey got enough cover between now and the end of the season?
David Collins, via email. A: Assessing the subs at
Bristol City, I had a few concerns myself.
The only natural attacking options Pompey could bring on in a bid to try to change the tie were Ellis Harrison and Jordy Hiwula.
Obviously, they were a man down with Ronan Curtis’ absent, but, even still, it's a legitimate argument.
Pompey are prioritising a central midfielder and, if they do recruit one, that will mean Kenny Jackett has five options along with Tom Naylor, Andy Cannon, Ben Close and Bryn Morris.
That seems one too many and you can afford to shift either Close or Morris out the door given their lack of recent game time.
Then Jackett can go out and sign an attack-minded player instead.
Q. Was it harsh Rasmus Nicaloisen was subbed at half-time again? Could he change his mind and end his loan? Adam Leath, via email
A: I don’t think Kenny Jackett had much choice to take off Nicolaisen at the break.
He was already on a yellow card, had committed another foul that edged him closer to being sent off, and looked a bit shaky throughout.
The Pompey boss showed confidence in the Dane by keeping him in the starting XI rather than returning Jack Whatmough to the team.
But you only had to look at the reaction to the substitution among fans – the vast majority agreed.
The Blues were more stable at the back in the second half, with Sean Raggett looking far more comfortable alongside Whatmough.
In terms of ending his loan, I’m not too sure whether that will be the case after Pompey struck an agreement with FC Midtjylland only last week.
There’ll be more chances for Nicolaisen, although it appears he’s back to thirdchoice centre-back.