Official – Varney signed

The dotting of the i’s and crossing of the t’s seems to have taken an age, although the signing of Luke Varney has now been complete.

Its now 100% official, the striker has signed for Pompey from Derby for an undisclosed amount – ‘said’ to be £750,000 – on a 3-year contract.

I do not want to appear ungrateful or anything, as I am happy with another signing – we needed it! – but I do have some reservations about this signing to be honest.

An ‘out-an-out goalscorer’ is still someone that I would hope we are looking to bring in?

Then again they do not come cheap do they!

I can seeing him doing the job of holding the ball up, or even playing out wide in Steve Cotterill’s favoured 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation, but as a primary striker I am not convinced that we would see a high enough goal return?

For me he is another Nugent-esque type player, so I think we will get as much from Varney as we did him – although I reckon he has a little more composure in front of goal than Dave did. The added bonus being he will be paid much less than Nugent was!

All this said Varney has a fresh start at Fratton and will do a decent job I reckon.

Hopefully, as said, a fresh start at PFC can see the guy finally recapture the form that made him so highly rated when he was at Crewe, which does seem some time ago now though.

What I would say is that as long as he gives 100% every week, is willing and able and shows the right attitude – unlike a certain ‘striker’ we have at the club – then that will be good enough for me and that will work in his favour to make him a favourite with the fans.

PLAY UP POMPEY!