Seddon, January focus, mass testing...your queries answered
OUR Pompey Q&A is back to give you the answers to your burning questions.
Unsurprisingly, the January window is under the spotlight, with a focus on interest in Steve Seddon, the futures of Jordy Hiwula and Rasmus Nicolaisen along with this week’s mandatory EFL testing.
Here’s our answers to your questions...
Would love see Steve Seddon happen but he might also be wanted at Birmingham. I see he was on their bench over the weekend.
@PropPersonnel
JC: I guess there’s only one place to start – and that’s with the news Steve Seddon is wanted back at Fratton Park once again.
We exclusively reported online yesterday morning that Kenny Jackett sees Seddon as his starting point for replacing Cam Pring, after he was recalled by Bristol City.
Quite naturally supporters have reacted in excited fashion to that development, with Seddon such a big part of Pompey’s success before last season was curtailed in March.
It’s worth examining the context to the bare detail of Pompey’s interest, because there’s quite a lot to digest.
First, from the Birmingham angle, is Seddon is wanted – certainly in the immediacy
– at St Andrew’s with the Championship side facing injury issues at left-back.
But with Kristian Pedersen and George Friend fit, that does potentially leave the 23-year-old back in a situation he’s previously found himself in: not getting the football he craves.
Whatever boss Aitor Karanka’s thinking, the noise from above him is Birmingham would prefer to sell than send him out on loan again.
The latter is Pompey’s preference, with the reasons obvious under the salary and wage cap restrictions they are working to.
Forget the transfer fee, Seddon signed a three-year Championship contract in 2019 and working that into a £2.5m budget will present challenges.
Perhaps this points to an issue which has been previously raised, that fringe Championship players who would previously have dropped down a level have to realise the constraints third tier clubs are working to. They no longer have the same earning power in League One.
Likewise, it’s been suggested Pompey have the ability to bring in one fair-sized recruit this month. Is it prudent for that to be a left-back when there’s a need for, say, an attacking midfielder?
So there’s a lot to weigh up with Seddon, not least the fact that if he gets on the pitch for Birmingham it will kill a move due to not being able to play for three clubs in a season.
One thing’s for sure though, we’ve certainly got our first big January transfer story to watch carefully.
Anyone is replaceable but losing squad players who have been contributing and now need replacing makes this transfer window more difficult – as we’ve found in previous Jan windows ie. Ben Thompson got Bryn Morris, Andre Green got
James Vaughan.
@LukeEllisPUP
JC: Luke makes a very relevant point here and one which possibly could be the central theme of Pompey’s January window.
Cam Pring’s Bristol City recall has brought the need for a new left-back into sharp focus and the possibility of a similar situation for Rasmus Nicolaisen could do likewise for a central defender.
The vibe from Kenny
Jackett when he spoke at the end of last week is he is confident Nicolaisen wants to stay.
Whether FC Midtjylland will agree we will soon hear, with discussions expected to take place this week and Nicolaisen making 10 appearances, including three league starts and sub outings.
We await to see if that’s deemed enough by the Danes or whether he will be recalled and farmed out elsewhere.
Likewise, Jordy Hiwula’s future will place another area under the spotlight...
Sadly, Jordy has never been given a fair chance here. Hope he can find a team to appreciate him, same with (James) Bolton. @LinWarner
JC: And right on cue comes Lin with a sentiment echoed by a whole lot of Pompey fans this season.
Broadly, I feel the clamour to play Jordy Hiwula has been a little harsh on Kenny Jackett.
After not playing for almost a full year, the striker has needed time to settle and didn’t get his first full appearance until November.
He’s looked bright since then when we’ve seen him, such as off the bench against King’s Lynn and at Cheltenham in the Papa John’s Trophy.
But to throw him in would’ve meant changing a team which has looked balanced and performed consistently well, as it moved to the top of the table before the Christmas postponements.
That said, there’s been plenty of occasions where there would’ve been no harm in seeing a Hiwula cameo off the bench, both in games where Pompey have looked comfortable or needed an attacking spark.
Perhaps a few more outings of that nature would’ve strengthened Jackett’s hand when discussing Hiwula’s future this week amid reported interest from Swindon.
Surely the testing players are having this week is a good thing? Why is it being painted as such a problem?
Mike Rees via email
JC: Mike’s question relates to the full round of EFL testing which is taking place from yesterday and the possible repercussions for the game.
Firstly, I don’t think anyone is doubting a full round of testing is a positive in the sense that locating and isolating positive cases of Covid-19 is good news for the health of those in the league.
It’s what a large number of positive cases does for the game in terms of postponements and then scheduling the rest of the season.
At the moment, the EFL protocols are for testing to take place for those showing coronavirus symptoms or coming into close contact with those who test positive.
In reality, that means a very small number of people are being tested compared to a full round of mandatory testing.
The process is for clubs to call off games on an individual basis after an outbreak, with a league investigation following. There’s yet to be sanctions for calling off games.
The suspicion is a large number of positive tests could then lead to widespread postponements and a sizeable problem for the EFL, in a season which would struggle to handle more congestion in its current shape.