- 7 months ago
Pompey Talk
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00:00Hello and welcome to a bite-sized edition of Pompey Talk. I'm Pepe Lacey and I'm joined by
00:08Jordan Cross today to go over the latest transfer action that's sort of taken place over the last
00:1424 hours. It's been a quiet start to the summer for Pompey, but then in the last 24 hours it's
00:19just got right into gear, Jordan, hasn't it? We've been in the desert, haven't we, clambering
00:25through the sand dunes for endless miles, just looking for that oasis of a transfer nugget of a
00:31signing just to give us some sustenance. We are there, we are there. The players are coming back
00:37to training soon next week. We've got some deals. We've been right across, well it's been, yeah, it
00:43has been a fairly quiet start. And I think, again, I've said this before, I think Neil might have said
00:49this today, Neil Allen, but Pompey fans have been really good actually. Sometimes there's a real
00:54wank. It feels like, oh, we've got to see players in the building now and it hasn't, hasn't been
01:00that. And I think people realise the sort of different dynamic of the window and how things
01:03are different this year in the Club World Cup. But by the same token, with players coming back,
01:09pre-season tours, things need to start moving and they are. Yeah, you're right. They are. And Adrian
01:15Segetich, that's much anticipated arrival. We first broke it earlier in the week, I believe,
01:21on Saturday. Last week, last week. Yeah, last Saturday. So it's been building. And then on
01:2810pm on Wednesday evening, we got the announcement that Pompey have officially signed Adrian Segetich.
01:33Jordi, what's your first thoughts on his arrival? Yeah, I've spent a lot of time looking at Segetich
01:39for our premium newsletter, for just some backgrounders, just for my own sanity releases to be
01:45up to speed with him. I know that people, maybe some of the anti-Pompey brigade, maybe some that
01:53aren't actually, kind of will criticise it as a cheap option. I know it's a question mark about the
01:59physicality of the Aussies adjusting to English football and the injury record of some. But look,
02:07this guy, there's a reason why Pompey had gone to the Australian market over a couple of years,
02:12but they're now, and it is defined value, and that's still the case. But now they are established
02:17there. They've got really good ins, they've got really good contacts, they're really respected by
02:23people who are established after there, and they've really built that avenue now. This lad is probably
02:28the most exciting young talent coming out of the A-League at the moment. He's the top goalscorer,
02:34joint top goalscorer last season, 13 goals in the league, 18 of you count the AFC,
02:39their Champions League, 18 goals, three assists. He's had a year in Europe, in the URST division,
02:48the Dutch second division, with Emin, so he knows about the European game, and he is flying. I think
02:5921 now, just turned 21. His numbers are impressive. His goals have come against an XG of 11.39,
03:07so he's outperforming his XG. He's got, he gets up, racks up the passes, 70, 24, this is according to
03:14Wisecout, this is how much I've been dealing with them later, 24.73 passes per 90, 79% completion rate,
03:233.26 dribbles for 56 per 90, for 56 completion rate. But the lad is a handful, and he's different
03:33in profile to what Pompey have got at the moment, and it's what John Messino has wanted to add in the
03:3810 position. He likes to come in on the half space, which is in old money to us old fogies, we call it
03:45the channel, but in new parlance it's a half space. He likes to operate, he's a left footer on the right,
03:51he likes to pick up and come in and get shots off, and anywhere I'd say within 25 yards, maybe 30 yards,
03:56he can unleash. Foot like a traction engine is the Alan Parks phrase, and it's made by Adrian
04:03Segocic, he can unleash, and he has got a really good show reel of goals from outside the box.
04:09Just another point on his style of play is, he likes to pick up those pockets in and around the
04:1520-25 yard area, back to goal, and offer him reverse balls, and just take the ball, he can take
04:21the ball in tight areas, he's got low centre of gravity, he's quite squat, and he bounces off
04:26challenges, but he's a spiky so-and-so, as I'll send the premium newsletter again this weekend,
04:32he's got to really chime with Pompey fans, who are like him, because he can lead a press,
04:36but he can turn, he's quite, you know, gets in defenders' faces, can turn the ball over,
04:40good energy, and I think there's a little bit of swagger about him. I haven't spoken to him yet,
04:45but just look at him, and what I hear, I think there's a little bit of swagger about this lad.
04:49Pompey fans, you're going to love him.
04:50That's a big bill in there, from Jordan Cross, you've heard it here first, plenty to excite,
04:56but Pompey had to work hard for it, didn't they, for his signature, just looking here,
05:01there were clubs in Scotland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, and in the US,
05:05that were reportedly looking at him this summer, Pompey won the race for him.
05:12Not reportedly, these are the facts, these are the facts, but nonetheless,
05:19that's a huge area across the globe, where clubs are looking at him, and Pompey have won the race.
05:27You mentioned about the pool, and how Pompey utilised the Australian market.
05:34You look at Thomas Waddingham, Hayden Matthews,
05:37Segacic's his teammate at Sydney FC as well, former teammates,
05:40Jacob Farrell, you look at Cassini Yengi before as well.
05:45What's the pool at Pompey?
05:47Segacic wants to work under John Massino.
05:51How big of an impact does Fratton Park and John Massino have in bringing these players
05:54from the other side of the globe?
05:56Yeah, the fans in Fratton Park are established, and that is a factor.
06:03And, you know, players will say that, even if it wasn't a factor.
06:07They're smaller clubs, but I think that definitely is a factor in this case.
06:11It's one that Pompey are well-established and have used to their benefit in signing players.
06:15I think from what I can ascertain, though, it's John Massino.
06:18He's the great pool.
06:19He's a very impressive figure.
06:20I think when people, agents, players, football people in general deal with John Massino,
06:27he makes a really positive impression.
06:29He's straight.
06:30He's smart.
06:32What you see is what you get.
06:33And I think he follows through with what he says.
06:35And when they've made their presentation to Segacic, I think Pompey's plans
06:40and the way it's come across has resonated with him, with the player.
06:45And as he said in his quotes today, I mean, it's Massino.
06:48It was job done once he's spoken of, but I know that's the case.
06:53Also, yes, the established Aussie connection there.
06:56Obviously, Hayden Matthews is a Sydney player.
06:59He is from the same company, same stable as Jacob Farrell and also Alex Robertson.
07:08So there is an established route there as well.
07:11And so, yeah, that's going to be, you know, when Pompey are looking to build their status worldwide,
07:18naturally, there's a big buzz around Pompey in Australia now.
07:22So it's an obvious thing they're utilising and it's part of, certainly part of the pool for Segacic.
07:26Yeah, with one new arrival this summer there, there has been one sort of quite emotional departure in the last 24 hours.
07:36Christian Sadie, it's been announced that he's departed Pompey after two years and joined Wigan Athletic.
07:43Sad to see him go.
07:44But at the same time, too, it's these hard decisions Pompey and John Massino had to make this summer if they wanted to progress in the Championship next season.
07:52Spot on, Pepe.
07:53It's one that really tugs at the heartstrings.
07:55Christian is such a popular figure.
07:58And I think when I kind of, when I wrote a story off the back of Pompey securing a position in the league and the story starts to emerge about players' futures,
08:08Sadie was, Christian was one of the ones that I first reported Pompey would look to maybe move him on or certainly open to that.
08:14They weren't chasing him.
08:15They weren't throwing him out the door, but they knew that it would be one they'd listen to.
08:19It really got some strong responses from fans.
08:23Fans don't want to let Christian go.
08:25He's a really popular figure.
08:27You can tell why with his style of play, the way he can impact games off the bench and has done that in his time at Pompey and when he started as well.
08:36So it is an emotive one with supporters, but it's one that's best for all concerned.
08:43And if you want to evolve and grow as a Championship force, I think this is one that kind of works out best for everyone.
08:51You could have kept Christian around and he could have impacted games off the bench, but you're working to a 25-man squad limit situation.
08:57And Pompey is not necessarily like for like in terms of position, but Zegacic is the type of profile that Pompey wanted in that area.
09:05Christian said he was bought as a 9, I think Pompey realised it wasn't going to work or had to evolve with that with Colby establishing himself as the main number 9.
09:17And Messina played a blinder by turning him into a 10 and what an impact he had in that position in the league one season.
09:28I mean, he was just a riot.
09:29He was a one-man riot at times coming on and just ripping things up.
09:33The one that sticks out to me was Northampton, where we produced a way when we produced some of our best football to totally demolish them.
09:42And he was just having a field day from a deep line position.
09:45It was about minus four.
09:47But that's so cold.
09:48It's so cold, isn't it?
09:49But that performance was really artwarming.
09:53And that was Christian Sadie in an upsell and he could do it time and again.
09:57I just don't think that Christian had it as a number 9 for Pompey, if I'm honest.
10:03I don't think he had the goals in him.
10:05And there was like Swansea was one last season where, you know, he came on and there was kind of a big miss.
10:13And it was, you're feeling like that's going to be costly.
10:17But so I don't think you could sort of pigeonhole him forever in that, you know, come on as an impact sub, even though it would be nice to.
10:24It was just best that he needed to go and play his football, develop himself and get the minutes he wasn't going to get out of Pompey.
10:29Wigan's a good move for him.
10:32But it is with a heavy heart.
10:35And he leaves a cult hero known, I mean, Oxford, March 2024.
10:41It's crazy.
10:42What an afternoon.
10:45The Pompey fans really getting their plaudits for the way they sung Pompey home in that game.
10:52And that was Christian Sadie's moment.
10:53You know, the goal that game going through, a good finish contrary to what I've actually just been saying.
10:59He took that one really well.
11:01And yeah, that was, it was really brilliant to see the party.
11:04Take the L, Quadeau Bar this season.
11:07That's not going to be worth a mention.
11:09But it is such a, such a great, like, happy-go-lucky, smiling, zero worries for a manager, no difficulties.
11:17You know, it wasn't always playing, but never any bother.
11:20And it was all about the cause.
11:21And I've got some photos.
11:24I managed to get in the wake of the Barnsley game last April with him.
11:28And I was with him after the game and Will Norris and Conor Shott Nessie.
11:32And it was just great.
11:33It was a great person to be around in that moment.
11:35Because you can imagine how, like, fraught he was and how joyous he was.
11:40And those are great memories to have.
11:42And, you know, I'm sure Pompey fans have all got their own memories of Christian Sadie in that vein.
11:46And that's probably why everyone's a little bit sad to see him go.
11:49Yeah, and I saw a tweet this morning.
11:53He only scored seven goals in 73 appearances.
11:56And usually if a forward brings up that tallied sort of question of being like, oh, something's not gone right there.
12:03But they said, he's unique.
12:05He's different.
12:06It's the work he did, not necessarily in front of goal, but building up.
12:11And that's what people sort of enjoyed watching.
12:14His build-up play, his power, his tenacity.
12:16And that's what he's going to be known for, really.
12:18And his huge impact, not really in the starting XI, when Pompey won the league.
12:24But his roles when he came off the bench.
12:26You mentioned Oxford there.
12:28His goal tally wasn't really what made him.
12:31It's everything else before that.
12:33Yeah.
12:34Yeah.
12:34And, you know, the whole City game, I'll write a colour piece that if it was to be farewell, which it is.
12:41That was great that he had that at the end of this season as well.
12:44Because, I mean, that was a thumping shot.
12:47That was Christian Sadie, like, full force, wasn't it?
12:50You know, that whole second half performance was something else.
12:52It was like the grip between his teeth.
12:54Yeah, yeah.
12:55And it was whole City.
12:57You've just been Christian Sadie.
12:59Bang.
13:00Snap.
13:00The ball was passed.
13:02It was just inside the box, wasn't it?
13:04He's under it.
13:05And the ball's passed the keeper.
13:06And the keeper's still thinking about setting himself.
13:08It was just full force from Christian Sadie and what he's all about.
13:14And he can be that phrase unplayable at times when it's like that.
13:18And he will be at League One level.
13:20So, yeah, good on.
13:21I mean, Wigan have got a lot to enjoy there.
13:24But it just, with Pompey looking to go in a different direction and the bar being raised,
13:29it's just a way to go.
13:32But, you know, his minutes were down this season.
13:34I think he went down to 1,300 minutes from 2,100 and fewer appearances.
13:39So, I think it would have only gone further that way.
13:42But let's not harp on about that.
13:44Let's remember all the good memories from that he gave us.
13:47And, I mean, that cult hero phrase, isn't it?
13:50That one gets bandied around.
13:51But Christian Sadie, what a Pompey cult hero.
13:53And he'd be welcomed back with open arms whenever he returns to Fratton in years to come.
13:58Absolutely.
13:59And I couldn't put it better myself, Geordie.
14:01Thanks for joining me on this bite-sized episode of Pompey Talk.
14:04We will see you in the next episode.
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