Loan Report

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Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

Stevenage boss Alex Revell talking about Eli King:

"First half he still could have played forward more, we’re trying to get him to be braver on the ball.

"I think the big thing for him is to learn the nasty side of the game. That’s not smashing people but understanding the importance of winning the 50-50 duels and your headers.

"But second half at Burton we saw a much better performance, a more complete performance in terms of playing and running forward, switches of play, winning his duels.

"He is getting better and anyone that comes from a different club, no matter how far away that is, it does take time and it can be lonely.

"We've made sure that he and Ken are in the same place together so it's great for them to have each other.

"But the lads here are fantastic at welcoming people and both of them are now showing that they can be a part of the group."

https://www.thecomet.net/sport/24791...nce-stevenage/

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Thanks for this. It's an interesting article, good to see Revell explaining the situation. We usually assume the player is to blame when a loan goes wrong but there have to some question marks about the club too, especially in this case as King's loans seemed to go so smoothly last season. King and fellow loanee Ken Aboh were the two best players on Tuesday night so it was going to be interesting to see if they could take that form into the league game with Stockport yesterday. Well, it would've been if either of them had got on the pitch. Aboh stayed on the bench and King wasn't even in the squad. With Stevenage's injury list getting shorter and results improving, the outlook isn't too promising for Eli but hopefully he can turn it around there soon.

Not much else going on this weekend. Kieron Evans played the 90 minutes in Newport's draw at Colchester while Joel Colwill was subbed after Cheltenham scored their second in a 2-0 win against Morecambe. Malachi Fagan-Walcott played for York as they dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Tamworth while Josh Beecher made two sub appearances for Barry this week. Old boys Ryan Kavanagh and Ben Margetson each got a goal for Barry while Josh Yorwerth was red-carded yesterday in the 3-2 defeat at Caernarfon.

No pitch time for Ryan Wintle yesterday while Roko Simic and Raheem Conte missed their club's games. Ewan Griffiths was man of the match for Plymouth Parkway as they went down 2-1 at Sholing's evocatively named Mortgage Decisions Stadium. A goal up going into injury time they then went to pieces and conceded twice. The final goal was in the 5th minute of injury time as an excellently delivered free kick was headed in. It's not just us then.

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Originally Posted by Loramski

Thanks for this. It's an interesting article, good to see Revell explaining the situation. We usually assume the player is to blame when a loan goes wrong but there have to some question marks about the club too, especially in this case as King's loans seemed to go so smoothly last season. King and fellow loanee Ken Aboh were the two best players on Tuesday night so it was going to be interesting to see if they could take that form into the league game with Stockport yesterday. Well, it would've been if either of them had got on the pitch. Aboh stayed on the bench and King wasn't even in the squad. With Stevenage's injury list getting shorter and results improving, the outlook isn't too promising for Eli but hopefully he can turn it around there soon.

Not much else going on this weekend. Kieron Evans played the 90 minutes in Newport's draw at Colchester while Joel Colwill was subbed after Cheltenham scored their second in a 2-0 win against Morecambe. Malachi Fagan-Walcott played for York as they dropped points in a 1-1 draw with Tamworth while Josh Beecher made two sub appearances for Barry this week. Old boys Ryan Kavanagh and Ben Margetson each got a goal for Barry while Josh Yorwerth was red-carded yesterday in the 3-2 defeat at Caernarfon.

No pitch time for Ryan Wintle yesterday while Roko Simic and Raheem Conte missed their club's games. Ewan Griffiths was man of the match for Plymouth Parkway as they went down 2-1 at Sholing's evocatively named Mortgage Decisions Stadium. A goal up going into injury time they then went to pieces and conceded twice. The final goal was in the 5th minute of injury time as an excellently delivered free kick was headed in. It's not just us then.

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Thanks, I’ve got to ask is Sholing a spelling mistake on your part because I’ve never heard of it?

Apologies, they do exist, I’ve not heard of a team with their former names either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sholing_F.C.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Thanks, I’ve got to ask is Sholing a spelling mistake on your part because I’ve never heard of it?

Apologies, they do exist, I’ve not heard of a team with their former names either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sholing_F.C.

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It's a Southampton suburb, formerly known as Vosper Thorneycroft FC,
https://sholingfc.co.uk/

Exeter are supposedly keen on Joel Colwill. Riza was saying yesterday that he thinks a Ok League One loan is what he needs next.

'Once more unto the breach dear friends, once more...' That speech was written about the siege of Harfleur but if Shakespeare had been around now he'd quite possibly have put it into the mouth of manager Chris 'Macca' McPhee as struggling Plymouth Parkway prepared for their clash with third place Gloucester City today. Whatever he did say to his players obviously inspired them as they ran out 6-0 winners in front of a crowd of 265. Our teenage keeper Ewan Griffiths made some good early saves but was unable to follow up his man-of-the-match award from last week, despite the clean sheet. He was overlooked in favour of Mitch Beardmore for scoring all six goals, which is fair enough I suppose.

Parkway weren't the only six hitters today. Newport did the same as they ran out 6-3 winners against MK Dons. Kieron Evans is getting a good run of 90 minute games there, apparently as a number 10, and it has coincided with some improved results so encouraging signs there for him.

While Malachi Fagan-Walcott came up with an assist in York's 3-0 win over Southend to take them back to the top of the National League and Ryan Wintle came on to help Millwall to a 1-0 win over Blackburn it wasn't such positive news for the rest of our loaned out players. Josh Beecher got 90 minutes in for Barry but they lost 3-1 at Bala and there were no squad places for Eli King, Raheem Conte or Roko Simic.

Joel Colwill was suffering with illness today and got subbed after 57 minutes in a 2-2 draw at Gillingham. An interesting week for him though. As Undercover says in the post above, Riza is talking about withdrawing Joel from his spell at Cheltenham and trying to get him one at League One level, with Exeter apparently interested. Seems logical enough but Cheltenham manager Michael Flynn is unhappy that Riza is discussing this with the press without contacting him about it first. Probably best if we deal with this properly, Cheltenham have been good for Joel and we may want to stay on good terms if we look to send other youngsters there in the future.

2 more goals for Joel Colwill. Hope we don't bring him back in January - probably ruin him.

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Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

2 more goals for Joel Colwill. Hope we don't bring him back in January - probably ruin him.

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Joel Colwill is the one positive around Cardiff City. Sounds like we need to snuff that out.

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Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

2 more goals for Joel Colwill. Hope we don't bring him back in January - probably ruin him.

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We'd just as well leave him at Cheltenham for the rest of the season. He'll get plenty of League 1 experience next year with us.

Colwill scored again today, that's 9 for the season.

Whilst, I understand why some say that he should stay out on loan - would he not improve us? Our midfield has been bloody awful and only has 7 goals between them - Robertson 3, Colwill 3, Turnbull 1, Siopis 0, Ramsay 0 and Ralls 0. This together with our lack of set piece goals (McGuinness is still our only centre back to score) is a great weakness (for all the understandable claims of the need for a centre forward).

If we are going to play with Chambers at 6 and 2 '8's' those too will need to be very dynamic and offer a goal threat.

I'd bring him back unless we sign (yet another) midfielder.

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Originally Posted by AdrianAlston

Colwill scored again today, that's 9 for the season.

Whilst, I understand why some say that he should stay out on loan - would he not improve us? Our midfield has been bloody awful and only has 7 goals between them - Robertson 3, Colwill 3, Turnbull 1, Siopis 0, Ramsay 0 and Ralls 0. This together with our lack of set piece goals (McGuinness is still our only centre back to score) is a great weakness (for all the understandable claims of the need for a centre forward).

If we are going to play with Chambers at 6 and 2 '8's' those too will need to be very dynamic and offer a goal threat.

I'd bring him back unless we sign (yet another) midfielder.

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To paraphrase PIL, you could be wrong, you could be right. Yes, we haven't scored many from midfield and I'd love to see Joel step in, give us an upgrade and get the goals to take us up the table but I can't see it happening this season. Maybe it should but I don't think he'd get much pitch time here and I can't see anyone benefitting but we'll see.

I haven't seen Joel play recently, I've no idea what level he's at. Plenty of better people than me to judge that anyway but if Joel is Championship ready then why are Exeter the club linked with him? Surely a better side would be looking to take him if he was playing that well?

Obviously I can see plenty of weaknesses this season but I'm wary of saying 'put x,y or z in, they can't be any worse'. People on here were saying we couldn't do worse than Wintle or Rinomhota but they are both still playing at Championship level just as people were saying we couldn't do worse than Pack and Vaulks a couple of years back but they're still playing Championship football too while the youngsters being put forward to replace those players still haven't made it yet. Pack was in the League One team of last season while Eli King can't get in a match day squad for now at that level. It's a funny old game.

The latest, as far as I can make out, is that Riza has apologised to Cheltenham for not talking to them about plans to take Joel out of there but says a decision will have to be taken soon about his immediate future. Manager Michael Flynn is confident he'll stay and Joel says he's loving his time there so it won't be an easy decision to make. A 0-0 draw at Port Vale today for Cheltenham and 90 minutes for Joel.

Not much else going on, loan wise. Malachi Fagan-Walcott has played his last game for York as our player, he joins them full time now as they sit at the top of the National League after a 1-0 win over Gateshead. Kieron Evans got 90 minutes in for the 5th and 6th time in a row for Newport as they lost two away games over Xmas. He also got his first league goal of the season at Bromley.

Josh Beecher started for Barry, Raheem Conte didn't get off the bench for Woking, Ryan Wintle did for Millwall. No sign of Roko Simic, hopefully he's polishing up his shooting boots before coming here. Or borrowing Jimmy Grimble's. Ewan Griffiths has got three more games in for Plymouth Parkway, who built on the 6-0 win over Gloucester with a 5-0 defeat, as you do. I'm not sure if you can make consistency a New Year's resolution but those guys need to. A 2-1 win and a 0-0 draw since are good signs.

Watching Newport v Wimbledon, it’s an entertaining game and you can see how County scored six in their last home game, but they’re being denied by an inspired keeper, some bad luck and poor finishing, not quite sure how it’s 0-0 at halftime. Cameron Antwi is playing in Newport’s midfield, but the interesting one is Kieron Evans who’s playing as a number six and is making a better job of it than I thought he would.t

Romaine Sawyers has come on as a half time sub for Wimbledon.

1-0 to Wimbledon courtesy of a Kieron Evans mistake :facepalm:

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Watching Newport v Wimbledon, it’s an entertaining game and you can see how County scored six in their last home game, but they’re being denied by an inspired keeper, some bad luck and poor finishing, not quite sure how it’s 0-0 at halftime. Cameron Antwi is playing in Newport’s midfield, but the interesting one is Kieron Evans who’s playing as a number six and is making a better job of it than I thought he would.t

Romaine Sawyers has come on as a half time sub for Wimbledon.

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didnt realise mainey was with Wimbledon, I knew he was without a club after he left us, great that he is still playing, I guess L 2 / Nat league is his standard now

interesting fact, when at West Brom he asked if he could have the number 19 shirt due to his hero Jason Koumas playing in that number

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

Watching Newport v Wimbledon, it’s an entertaining game and you can see how County scored six in their last home game, but they’re being denied by an inspired keeper, some bad luck and poor finishing, not quite sure how it’s 0-0 at halftime. Cameron Antwi is playing in Newport’s midfield, but the interesting one is Kieron Evans who’s playing as a number six and is making a better job of it than I thought he would.t

Romaine Sawyers has come on as a half time sub for Wimbledon.

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That's interesting, yes. When I was looking up how many consecutive 90 minutes Evans had played for Newport (he didn't manage it twice in a row for Gateshead last season), Transfermarkt had him down as playing all of them as a defensive midfielder but I assumed they'd made a mistake and didn't even bother to follow it up. I didn't see that coming but good luck to him. No different to Twose playing there for the u-21s, I suppose, but I'd have thought Evans' lack of physicality would've been an issue doing the same at League 2 level. Obviously not.

Sawyers got Wimbledon's second goal in a 2-1 win, played well apparently.

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Originally Posted by Loramski

That's interesting, yes. When I was looking up how many consecutive 90 minutes Evans had played for Newport (he didn't manage it twice in a row for Gateshead last season), Transfermarkt had him down as playing all of them as a defensive midfielder but I assumed they'd made a mistake and didn't even bother to follow it up. I didn't see that coming but good luck to him. No different to Twose playing there for the u-21s, I suppose, but I'd have thought Evans' lack of physicality would've been an issue doing the same at League 2 level. Obviously not.

Sawyers got Wimbledon's second goal in a 2-1 win, played well apparently.

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I’ve watched four or five County games this season and he’s not played in that position in any of them before last night. He’s played right wing back, but mostly played as a winger/attacking midfielder.

Sawyers played more like a number ten and took his goal well.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

I’ve watched four or five County games this season and he’s not played in that position in any of them before last night. He’s played right wing back, but mostly played as a winger/attacking midfielder.

Sawyers played more like a number ten and took his goal well.

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Yes, Evans was playing in different positions this season (including coming on at left wing for us) and was in and out of the Newport side. Before November 23rd he'd only started eight league games and been subbed in four of them but then he appeared as a defensive midfielder against Notts County and has played 90 minutes there in every game since. According to this, anyway.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/kier...B4/saison/2024

Wintle scored for Millwall today. Maybe their new manager will want to keep him.

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Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

Wintle scored for Millwall today. Maybe their new manager will want to keep him.

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Hopefully.

Tsunoda straight into the starting lineup for Kortrijk tonight.

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Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

Tsunoda straight into the starting lineup for Kortrijk tonight.

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Finished 1-0 to Standard Liège, Tsunoda played the whole 90 minutes. Kortrijk remain 15th (out of 16) on 18 points.

Conte has returned from Woking https://x.com/moorsie1/status/1878060448509014101

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Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

Conte has returned from Woking https://x.com/moorsie1/status/1878060448509014101

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I don't know if the two club rule applies to non-league too but if so then Conte's not in a good position now, same as Eli King, having played for us earlier in the season. Even if it doesn't, it's hard to see him picking up a good move now. Maybe he can get his head down here and force his way back into the reckoning, he'd be something a bit different coming off the bench on form, but he hasn't done himself any favours at Woking.

Ewan Griffiths is back from Plymouth Parkway too. They wished 'him and his wonderful family all the very best for the future' which means I'm forced to used the word sweet for the second time this week on here.

weirdly it looks has though despite playing a full 90 minutes in his first match for Kortrijk (and playing well)
he's not even on the bench for their game today.
hopefully he's not injured again

90 minutes for Colwill last night for Exeter. His team also scored an injury time equaliser.

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Originally Posted by Undercoverinwurzelland

90 minutes for Colwill last night for Exeter. His team also scored an injury time equaliser.

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And Eli King got 20 minutes for Stevenage as they won 1-0 at Orient in the last 16 of the EFL Trophy. A penny for his thoughts if he caught any of the South Wales derby before taking his seat in the stands to watch Stevenage lose at home to Wigan at the weekend.

Tom James and Jack Simpson started for Orient. Tom is still the last teenager to play for us in the Premier League (I think) along with Rhys Healey, that's a record they may hold for a while. Who was the last (and only) teenager to score for us in the Prem?

Not much else going on loan wise. Joe Thomas kept a clean sheet on his debut for Yate Town in a 2-0 win while Kieron Evans got another 90 minutes in for Newport at the weekend. They lost 3-2 at Port Vale and while Kieron appears to be playing well. the report I saw said he's not giving enough cover to the back 4 in his new defensive role and he'd be better used further forward. Sherlock, shit and no are three words that spring to mind, not necessarily in that order though.