In

Right lads, I’m seeing a lot of worry among a few of you, and concern about these loan signings. So, I’ve just had a study and look into both players, to see what we are getting, and maybe see why Paul Cook has brought them in

CALLUM ELDER
Came over here from his native Sydney, Australia, as a 16 year old, taking a scholarship with Leicester. Over the past few seasons he has enjoyed loan spells at clubs such as Mansfield, Peterborough, Brentford and Barnsley, different spells that saw him get game time and experience at Championship and League one level. Described as a player that likes to get up and down the line and be very mobile.

LEE EVANS
Newport born Welsh u21 international, started at Bristol Rovers but was released by them. Whilst at Wolves, he has enjoyed successful loan spells away from Molyneux, especially at Bradford City in league one, playing 35 times in the 2015-16 season. Not a great goalscorer, but a player who has been highly regarded by managers he has worked with.

Summing up, you can see that both players have had crucial experience at this level, and are obviously well thought of by a number of managers and coaches. Obviously, Leicester is a club that has scaled the heights on recent seasons, and I know that they already have a superb back up left back in Ben Chilwell, so Callum will not really have had a chance there. Whilst Evans hasn’t been helped by being at a club full of change and management turmoil. He was told by former manager, Kenny Jackett, that he featured in long term plans, but obviously Jackett himself didn’t last that long, and there have been other managers since. Perhaps the lad just needs a good run of games? Playing 35 games in his season on loan at Bradford shows he is more than capable.

Anybody with any football nous or sense can see these two lads are sensible additions by Paul Cook, and hopefully both can play a big part for Latics.

A Pompey fans view of Noel Hunt:-
Noel Hunt will be a positive influence off the pitch. His experience will be valuable to some of the younger players and he was popular amongst Pompey fans last season for his attitude and willingness to talk to fans. I suspect he has signed with a view to be having some coaching role when he retires in the next year or two.

However, in terms of on the pitch contribution he only scored once for us (a tap in against the nine men of Mansfield) and barely saw any playing time in League Two, so he is likely to have even less of an impact on a team pushing for promotion in League One, although his willingness to run around despite his age does give him some nuisance value up front.

If he has signed to be a replacement for Omar Bogle, Wigan fans are going to be very disappointed. Hunt was a player all Pompey fans expected to leave this summer regardless of who the manager was.

Very positive, think not, (waits for happy clappy crew to reply with overwhelming joy and happiness)

I notice he has scored 5 times in 41 appearances for Southend and Portsmouth respectively. If he has been signed to play a major part in our season then it’s a bad signing in my opinion. If however he has been brought in to replace Jimmy Bullard as the club clown then fair enough!

Happy Clapper brigade strike again

It is quite amusing reading some of these posts NL. I for one am still optimistic about his season as cookie seems to have gotten a good team spirit.
Let’s see where we are come end of September then we can start to judge.