Pompey Talk bitesize: Pompey close in on John Swift signing

The News, Portsmouth

Pepe Lacey is joined by Neil Allen for a bitesize episode of Pompey Talk as the Blues close in on the signing of John Swift.

Transcript

00:00Hello and welcome to a bite-sized edition of Pompey Talk. I'm Pepe Lacey and I'm joined, as ever, by Neil Allen.

00:07Neil, you've just come back from Pompey's pre-season tour in Slovakia, pre-season training camp, sorry,

00:14and there's news on your return that Pompey could be closing in on their second signing of the summer.

00:19Yeah, we're just waiting for Pompey to announce it, really. It could be.

00:23John Swift is arriving, he's passed his medical, everything signed at the weekend, as we understand it, on Saturday.

00:31So we're just waiting for now for the usual process.

00:34Obviously, the weekend's delayed things, but the usual process are being ratified, verified by the Football League,

00:39and then Pompey officially announcing it.

00:42But John Swift will be Pompey's second signing of this transfer window, joining Adrian Segesic.

00:50And, yeah, interesting news, isn't it?

00:53Yeah, absolutely. And it's one that's been a long time coming, hasn't it?

00:58You did a story yesterday, it's third time lucky for Pompey, and they've got him on their third chance.

01:03Just explain his career at Pompey in the past and how they tried to get him before.

01:09Yeah, so he was actually on Pompey's books for a season, and then was released at the end of the season.

01:15It's an 11-year-old by Paul Hart, then the academy manager.

01:18And by all accounts, there were concerns over his height and size.

01:25He was later picked up by Chelsea.

01:27It was in their academy for six months, who released him, concerns over his size.

01:31And then within a year, he'd magically grown, as you all kids do, don't they, really?

01:36Different stages of their career.

01:38And then suddenly Pompey wants him back, Chelsea wants him back.

01:41Fuller want him, Salam want him, and he ended up at Chelsea.

01:45So it's funny how it changes, isn't it?

01:48So, yeah, so Pompey released him, then missed out on him, and then he forged an excellent youth career at Chelsea.

01:57Played for him at every age group regularly as well.

02:00Won the FA Youth Cup with Chelsea as well, beating Blackburn.

02:04Made one appearance in the Premier League as a substitute, and then went on to play for Reading and West Brom.

02:11He's played almost 400 games, a vast amount in the Championship, scores goals.

02:19And now aged 30, 19 years after Pompey released him under Paul Hart, he's back.

02:27Which, a great turnaround for the Gosport lad who, yeah, it's a lovely story, really, isn't it?

02:34Yeah, absolutely. And it's just reading stuff on social media and looking at what Pompey's, well, where Pompey needs to strengthen this summer.

02:43And everybody pinpointed the midfield.

02:45Currently, they've only got Andre Dezel and Marlon Pack contracted after Laikamara has been told he's free to leave.

02:51So Pompey really needed to strengthen in the midfield.

02:53And you just mentioned there the amount of appearances he's got in his career.

02:57It's the exact type of player Pompey needed to recruit this summer, wasn't it?

03:01He is. I mean, first of all, as I always say, let's judge a player when he's at Fratton Park, when he pulls on a Pompey shirt.

03:09I think Abdullah Kamara is a case in point.

03:12We're very excited about the fact he was at PSG as a kid and played for Borussia Dortmund's second team.

03:18But it's what they do at this football club that really counts.

03:23And we shall see.

03:24However, you've got to be encouraged by this signing.

03:28He's a free transfer, hugely experienced player, quality player at this level.

03:34He's not a gamble.

03:35He's not a Kamara gamble.

03:37He's not a Sorensen gamble.

03:39He's somebody that can play in the here and now.

03:42Strengthens a position, as you rightly say, desperately needs strengthening.

03:46John Messina said only last week it's a priority to strengthen the centre midfield.

03:49And he alluded to a signing coming in, which clearly he was referring to, John Swift.

03:56So, you have to be encouraged by his background.

04:00So, without a doubt, it's a plus for Pompey's squad, isn't it?

04:03It really is.

04:06A goal-scoring midfielder at this level.

04:09So much experience.

04:11And it just comes on the team.

04:14I just think it's a bit of a no-brainer, really.

04:16There's a headline for you, isn't it?

04:17Yeah, there it is.

04:18There's a headline.

04:19There's a headline for you.

04:20So, yeah, it's just a bit of a no-brainer, isn't it?

04:24He's got the natural affinity and the affection for Pompey, the city.

04:29So, I think it's a great move.

04:32We'll see how he pans out on the pitch.

04:35Again, so if it doesn't work out, please don't blame me.

04:37But we'll see how he pans out on the pitch, because we can't see into the future.

04:41But I just think, on the face of it, that's a really, really decent signing.

04:45Yeah, it is.

04:46And just looking at him and his profile in general, he's sort of almost like a versatile midfielder,

04:51which Pompey do like.

04:54They've got Andre Dezel who can do that as well.

04:57He sort of ticks a lot.

04:58But just looking from the outside in, obviously, he's not played for Pompey yet.

05:00But looking from the outside in, he's proven.

05:02He's got goals.

05:03He can bring in assists.

05:04He can sort of operate across the whole area of the midfield, can't he?

05:08Yeah, they're primarily after a six and an eight in modern parlance.

05:13So, yeah, six and an eight.

05:15So, they want two players for every position.

05:18And he can play in both, can't he, really?

05:20I imagine they'll probably see him playing more of an eight.

05:23But we shall see on that.

05:26But, no, I just think it's...

05:28We all know that Pompey haven't signed enough players by this stage.

05:32It's a bit concerning.

05:34They're not the only club.

05:35A lot of clubs haven't signed any players.

05:38Aston Villa haven't signed a single player yet and things like that.

05:40So, Pompey aren't the only ones.

05:42It's not, oh, well, we're not signing players as another player.

05:45So, it's just how the transfer window is.

05:48But clearly, at this stage, they need more than Segesic through the door.

05:54Segesic will, you'd imagine, effectively be a backup coming off the bench,

06:00standing in on occasions, a young lad finding his feet at this level.

06:03So, they haven't signed somebody who can come straight into the team and play.

06:08This is what John Swift gives them, into the side.

06:12Now, he needs time to build up his fitness.

06:14We don't know if he's been training with any clubs at the moment.

06:19But, clearly, he left West Brom at the end of last season.

06:22So, Pompey will need to bring him up to speed for a bit.

06:24So, we'll see if he's features this week once it's been officially announced.

06:28But, I just think it's a very encouraging signing.

06:32It's what the first team need.

06:34It's what the squad needs.

06:35Because they've lost the likes of Potts and Hayden, and they're short in that position.

06:41So, that strengthens it.

06:44And they still need more, of course.

06:46They still need other positions.

06:47But you don't only look for one position.

06:50It's not a queue.

06:51You sign whoever's available for what position at that moment in time.

06:54Pompey still need wingers, especially with the Matt Ritchie situation.

06:58Still need another striker for me.

07:00They still need to look at the centre of defence.

07:01And they definitely still need another central midfielder.

07:04Absolutely.

07:06And a Pompey boy in for the South Coast derby.

07:08That'll add a bit more spice to it.

07:12Marlon Packham, John Swift in the midfield for the South Coast derby.

07:15Yeah, yeah, yeah.

07:16We'll see how it pans out, yeah.

07:19Exciting stuff.

07:20Well, Neil, thank you for joining me on this bite-sized edition of Pompey Talk.

07:23There'll be plenty more where these come from in the next few days.

07:27Thanks for joining me, Neil.

07:28And we'll see you in the next video.

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