‘Knows where the net is’ - The expert Portsmouth verdict on Bristol Rovers new recruit John Marquis

Bristol Rovers made their fourth signing of the summer this week with the arrival of John Marquis, who joined on a free transfer.

A long-term target of manager Joey Barton, the striker has put pen-to-paper on a deal with the Gas for the next two years. Marquis has scored goals wherever he’s went which is required when you’re a striker and that’s the main aim of your job.

To get an insight as to what Rovers are getting in their latest addition, we spoke to The News’ Pepe Lacey who is a reporter for Portsmouth. He gave us information as to what striker they’ll be getting, why he was allowed to leave and whether we could see a change in shape to accommodate the front man.

What kind of striker is John Marquis?

He’s a well-rounded striker and knows where the back of the net is. He’s a poacher but also does the hard yards as well. You can’t fault his work rate because off the ball he chases down everything and gives his all for the team. If Joey Barton likes to press, he’s the right striker for you.

What are his strengths and weaknesses?

Again, one of the biggest strengths in his game is his ability to close down and press defenders. His movement is a big factor in his game, in the box he’s a nightmare for defenders because he just loves to hassle them and give them problems.

One of the biggest weaknesses at Pompey was his first touch. When he was put through you wanted to say ‘get it under control and have a shot’, but more times than not, he couldn’t get the ball under his spell and would waste the opportunity. He’s a bit streaky in front of goal. He could put a run of five or six games scoring in every one but other games he found himself in the same position and he put it wide.

Is there a particular system that Marquis suits best? Is he best suited to leading the line on his own or having a strike partner with him?

It doesn’t work when he plays as a lone striker. Pompey tried it and it just didn’t work. He would chase everything but needed someone else alongside him, just here they didn’t have anyone that could do it. At Doncaster, he played alongside James Coppinger and all you have to do is look at his goal record and see what he did there.

His best return for Portsmouth was 16 goals in 41 League One games. As someone who’s now in his 30’s, do you think he’s capable of reaching double figures again?

100 percent. He’s a goalscorer and knows where the back of the net is. He’s a confidence player and if he’s given that support by the manager and the fans then he will do the business. He’s a nice acquisition for a team that have just come up from League Two, he’s a goalscorer with plenty of League One experience.

He was allowed to leave for Lincoln City in January and had a short stint there, so why did Portsmouth want to get rid of a striker who had got them goals last year?

It just didn’t work out under Danny Cowley. He was trusted by Cowley over the summer but scored four goals prior to his January exit and fell behind George Hirst in the pecking order. As well, his confidence was shot and it was best for all parties if he moved elsewhere.

What kind of reception do you think he’ll get on his return to Fratton Park?

He returned to Fratton Park with Lincoln last season and got a good reception. Despite giving him a tough time when he was here, Pompey fans knew it just didn’t work out and that happens in football. There were a few boos when he played but the general reaction was cheering him and singing his song when he applauded the Fratton End at the end of the game.