Last night The Imps announced the signings of striker Lee Angol on loan from Shrewsbury Town until the end of the season and goalkeeper Matt Gilks on a free transfer from Scunthorpe United.
Speaking to the Official Site about Lee Angol, Danny Cowley said: “We know the ability that he has. For us, he gives us real tactical flexibility as he can play as a sole striker, play as a number 10 behind John Akinde or as a channel-running forward off Matt Rhead.”
Lee Angol: The reaction from Luke Imp: “I think if people take a step back, it’s not as bad a deal as is being made out. I think part of the problem is people were being unrealistic with who they thought we’d be attracting. I mean, take Hylton. Mega money at Luton. Do we have that sort of money left in the budget? Probably not.
With Akinde first choice, we were never going to get a big name signing in to play second fiddle (nor, I suspect, would the Board want them kind of wages sat on the bench either).
He’s been here before, albeit only 3(?) months, so straight away he knows roughly what DC is about and vice versa.
Maybe from Angol’s point of view, his spell at Mansfield (under Evans, whose man-management is so far away from the Cowleys it’s at the other end of the scale) and Shrewsbury (tried to jump back up to L1 too quickly) have opened his eyes a bit and realises that he needed a smaller step (L2) under an ‘arm around the shoulder’ type of manager (DC). A steep learning curve for him there.
It’ll also be interesting to see whether he plays in a slightly different way here. In the NL, he was quite back to goal. This season we’ve got the likes of Rowe, Anderson, Andrade, Pett etc.”
Lee Angol: A Few More Views:
Gaz_Imp: “It makes sense more you think about it, someone who can fill the Akinde role should he get injured. DC clearly sees something in him, the lad has talent and if DC can use the competition we have for places here and his management to get best out of him we could have some player on our hands. Everything else that has gone on before is just water under the bridge.”
hulloutpost: “Open minded about this. As I’ve said previously we weren’t going to get someone willing to play second fiddle to JA. LA knows what is expected from DC and psychologically DC can say to him ‘stupid boy Pike’ but I’m giving you a second chance which should motivate him to get his career back on track and repay the faith. Also, he is more mobile than Rheady so a bit of a hybrid between Matt Green and John Akinde, something different in a jack of all trades kind of way.”
Matt Gilks: The reaction from Gaz_Imp: “Deserves his own thread I think.
Seen a few people suggest he’s been signed as decent back up. Can’t help but think he will be number 1 myself if he’s fully recovered from his injury. Very good pedigree and was rated by Scunthorpe last season – kept 17 clean sheets.”
Matt Gilks: A Few More Views:
Snats: “Gilks a very good signing, plenty of Championship experience. Doesn’t look good for Josh Vickers though, feel for him.”
Casperimp: “I think Vickers is clearly struggling and they need time to get him right. I think Smith needs to be developed and taken out of the firing line. Great experienced keeper to have between the sticks for the run in.”
Summary of the window: 7 out, 7 in (assuming the ‘out’ has not happened):
Goalkeepers:
1 out (Slocombe)
1 in (Gilks)
Defenders:
2 out (Crookes, Wharton)
2 in (Bolger, Brown)
Midfielders/wingers:
3 out (Luque, Gordon, Mensah)
3 in (Rowe, Roberts, O’Hara)
Forwards:
1 out (Green)
1 in (Angol)
5 loans out, 5 loans in
2 signed out, 2 signed in
Exactly the same number of goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers at the end of the window as at the start (including Matt Green in that).
4 signings from League One; 3 signings from the Championship.
A very good squad for League Two.
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Danny Cowley: "We know the ability that he has."https://t.co/YfhfAYY9he#ImpsAsOne #Salop #IRON
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