Pompey Decide Against Varney Appeal

Last updated : 21 September 2011 By Jim Bonner

The FA has confirmed that it has not received an appeal from Portsmouth over Luke Varney's dismissal at Hull last Saturday.

Steve Cotterill had hinted that he was going to appeal what he thought was a "harsh" decision but he has decided against running the risk of having Varney's ban extended.

Generally, the FA won't reverse a referee's decision to send a player off for "dangerous play" and whilst it was questionable that the Pompey forward deserved a straight red card for his challenge, there is also the arguement that his tackle could have done far more damage than it did.

This means that Luke will miss Saturday's game against the club he played for last season, Blackpool and will also miss next Tuesday's home game with Peterborough and the trip to Leeds the following weekend.

Just a quick word on Varney's Pompey career so far - it has been fairly hit and miss hasn't it?

He has looked bright in the games he has scored in, those being on the opening day at Middlesbrough and the defeat at West Ham when he surged forward with purpose and always looked a threat.

However, I'm still not entirely convinced by his overall contribution to the team. There have been performances where he has been lacklustre, failed to beat his man down the wing and hasn't been able to give the opposition goalkeeper too much to do.

And I still cannot understand for the life of me why Steve Cotterill thinks that he is going to win the long balls aimed at him by Jamie Ashdown whenever he takes a goal kick. It's a pitiful, predictable tactic that simply doesn't work.

I believe that Varney could be better utilised if he was played as a centre forward alongside a willing strike partner such as Kanu or, dare I say it, Dave Kitson.

If what Cotterill says is true and Varney is the quickest player at the club then I would like to see him given a chance as a centre forward who plays on the shoulder of the last defender, making him the perfect foil for a player who can hold the ball up or maybe finish a one-two by putting the ball in the back of the net.

The only drawback to this would mean that Pompey are light in the wide positions but hopefully by the time Varney has served his suspension, Liam Lawrence would be close to full fitness and Erik Huseklepp would have had more time to settle in. Perhaps Ryan Williams could also be given a run in the side?

This is just my what I hope for, however and if I'm being honest all I can see when Varney returns is more useless route one balls by Ashdown to a player who may well be utilised better if we're to see him hit double figures this season.