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Blues Close in on Evans Signing Friday, 4th Jun 2021 09:48
Wigan central midfielder Lee Evans, who TWTD revealed was a Blues target in April, is currently at the club and looks set to become Town's second signing of the summer today.
We understand Evans is at the club now to undergo a medical and complete the formalities on a free move with his Latics contract up this summer.
Evans, 26, was taken to the DW Stadium by Blues boss Paul Cook on loan from Wolves for the 2017/18 campaign in which the Latics carried off the League One title.
That led to a £750,000 move to Sheffield United, then in the Championship, but after a year with the Blades Evans returned to Wigan on another loan in the summer of 2018 before the switch was made permanent the following January.
Evans had been released by Bristol Rovers as a 15-year-old and joined hometown club Newport County where he broke into the first team when only two years older in 2012.
In January 2013, Wolves paid a reported £200,000 for his services and the four-times-capped Wales international went on to be a member of the side which won the League One title in 2013/14 season.
He featured in the Championship during the following campaign but spent 2015/16 back in League One with Bradford before returning to Wolves for the next season, prior to joining Wigan for his first loan spell.
Yesterday, the Blues made Fleetwood's Wes Burns the first signing of the Cook and Gamechanger eras. We understand that in addition to Coventry, the Blues fought off two other Championship clubs, Hull City and Millwall, to land the forward.
Photo: Action Images
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I don't understand how there are still some people moaning! We have made 2 very good signings, signings who a lot of fans identified as good potential. We are literally on Ashton's 4th day in charge! Loads more will be done between now and the end of the window. Yes people might have moaned about getting players in on freebies under the Evans era but generally the standard of these players would have been below par and often picking up the dregs at the end of the window. We've identified targets early and gone in for them, beating higher up teams to their signatures, what's not to like? Also don't see the issue with signing ex Cook players and players Ashton knows, they'll know their capabilities and they'll know their mentality and work ethic etc, we want players who not only know how to play football the right way but players who have the right discipline, attitude etc.
Just the type of player we've been screaming for,,, 2 very good signings already,,, can't wait to see who's next,,, must be the Ed sheeran effect,,, coyb
@masetheace, don't forget we are at the moment AN AVERAGE LEAGUE 1 team, good signings by the sound of it, CEO has only been here 3 days and we have 2 signings by the look of it with one we actually paid for, think positive- exciting times
This guy is championship quality player and will be a top top performer in this league. Now I don't always agree with sofa score ratings but here are the last 5 ratings for Lee Evans below.
7.8; 8.8; 7.6; 8.5; 8.0;
He has an overall average pushing close to 7.5. Can't recall when an Ipswich player last achieve anything like an 8.0 let alone an 8.8.
This season we only had 5 players averaging above 7.0
Mark McGuinness. 7.15 James Wilson. 7.10 Toto Nsiala. 7.04 Woolfie. 7.02 Judgie. 7.02
Maybe McGuinness might be a good shout for another year, Arsenal permitting. Yes he may have had a few rough games but his rawness is being tamed and I must admit I was surprised to see where he was in the ratings.
In constructing critique let's not forget this is a totally different year, a totally different market and a totally different business/ economic outlook ahead ; players and agents will be assessing prospects in a different light and man management / future prospects might take sway over immediate monetary returns ,either for the agents or the players . It is however very good to see the sense of purpose projected by our new owners and Mgt team being fulfilled ! COYB
The wave of optimism has struck many supporters on here I see as per 2018 summer when Hurst took over...I have much more confidence in Cook to turn the ship around than Hurst/Evans who literally sunk it but I just wish for a bit better scouting.
Burns looks interesting not sure about Evans (don't know enough about him) unlike a number of posters who seem to know everything and automatically every signing will be quality'...don't forget last season we could make the most mundane of players look reasonable we were that poor.
Two good signings, right age and successful at this level. Helpful to have some players that Cook knows as without an assistant manager a lot of pressure will be on Cook to run training etc. Evans will know what is expected. Plenty of time for some bigger names to come in if appropriate but that might come next year, for now we need players capable of dealing with physicality of play and sub-standard grounds of League One.
A new wave of Tractor Boyos? One a Welsh U21 the other from Newport. To replace the outgoing Huws, Cornell and (maybe) Edwards? Lets hope these fair somewhat better
A new wave of Tractor Boyos? One a Welsh U21 the other from Newport. To replace the outgoing Huws, Cornell and (maybe) Edwards? Lets hope these fair somewhat better
In nearly 30 years of following Town I don't think I've ever seen us move so early in the close season. This feels good: quality players, proven at the level we are at (and slightly above in Evans' case). Mark Ashton and the infrastructure between him and Cook is suddenly there: BOOOOM! Can we have Max Power before lunchtime Sunday, please?!
For those moaning and still harping on about evans and how if he's made these signings we'd all be moaning. Firstly we beat off championship sides to get Burns which shows that the new CEO and owners are really enthused and this is clearly running off on the players when was the last time we beat any team above us to a signature we struggled to beat team like Plymouth or Peterborough to signings under his tenure, secondly tell me the last time we had this buzz around the place and did our work this early pre season? All I've heard from evans were broken promises to sell season tickets then we get in a load of lower league players in to mix with players who really were not fighting for town at all!! We have a sponsor literally selling the club all over the world at the moment, no debt, making signings early who ARE proven at this level and even higher in this guys case winning this league previously!! Christ some people on here will never be happy. We have moved forwards considerably SO FAR and the structure is chalk and cheese to what we've had to ensure past 14 seasons. Just get your season tickets and COYB's
masetheace, YOU may have been'' led to believe '' nobody has said we will be buying high profile players to my knowledge. The trouble is too many many people dont read or understand whats going on and make up their own stories and assumptions, some seem to assume money is no object now, well sadly that is not the case.
Great start to the re-emergence of ITFC. Of course there will be links to the Managers/CEO's past, both know what is needed, and required to get out of this division. A long term project starts at square 1, and square 1 is to get out of this division. Therefore, its horses for courses, and if players arrive knowing some, or all, of the backroom staff, it's a more comfortable move for them. As has been said, the old regime have had ample time and opportunity to be part of this, and those who are good enough, and are prepared to commit to a whole new level of fitness, desire and commitment, can still be part of it. COYB.
"Not the type of high profile signings we were led to expect . If Marcus Evans had made them the site would be full of complaints about lack of ambition"
Firstly, Marcus Evans would not have made these signings. He would have prevaricated, pondered and p*ddled about until it was too late... someone else would have snapped them up.
Evans proved time and again to be incapable of negotiating for the services of anything approaching a decent player and didn't want to spend what it would cost in either fees or wages to acquire good talent, so please don't even mention that smarmy, dismal failure's name on here ever again!
You also have to realise that we need to build a squad capable of getting out of this league. We're in League One and we should be looking to attract the services of good quality players who can push us on towards The Championship. Both Wes Burns and Lee Evans have experience of League One and of promotion... they should know what it takes to get out of this division and have the tools to help it happen. It also doesn't hurt that the manager and CEO have prior knowledge of these guys, having already worked with them and they obviously trust them to do a job for us. What's not to like?
TimmyH has compared our supporters newfound optimism to that when Paul Hurst took over. I don't agree. The optimism being shared about by the posters here now, and Blues supporters in general, goes way beyond the levels shown when Hurst was appointed manager. It comes down to the overall reboot of the club from owners through boardroom to manager, backroom staff & playing squad. The former owner was a clown who lacked football knowhow and ambition, employed monkeys and got peanuts in return. The new ownership has stated a real intention and it seems they look good to honour their commitment to the club with a fresh approach that has been well thought out and implemented. We are now a joined-up-thinking outfit with a crystal clear target to aim at.
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