Lee Evans (returns)

Blackpool as a fanbase have had to adjust their expectations from promotion favourites to meh and we all know what what that does to opinions. Season before he played vast majority of games for a decent team

 

Be interesting to see how we perform with him deputising for Max Power. His position could be under threat if Evans performs well while he's suspended if and when that happens. Tricky decision for GA with Power having the arm band.

 

Problem is, what sort of signing can we otherwise make in that position? Max Power is your captain and effectively undroppable given his experience, and Metcalfe is improving rapidly and attracting Championship scouts. On form, you don’t drop him either. We don’t need to be spending a million or whatever to upgrade that position and anyone we brought in was going to have to be content with being benched.

we could have got a player like Evans or a young kid in on loan (Hull youngster was linked) but I’d much rather we bring in a steady, experienced head like Evans for CM. We know Power is a walking yellow card most weeks so we need Evans to slot straight in and perform when his chance comes, which I think he’ll do.

 

I actually think we’ll get get a Chris Waddle here. Was class has moments of past class and just enough class to be a better option 2 than Leigh

 

I seem to remember from when he was here before that he had a good range of creative passes. Hope that’s still the case.
Edit
Just noticed @vin weasel ’s post above, which very much suggests he still does.
Seems like a very canny signing to me.

 

You have to look at it like this. Hopefully he’ll make an impact in our push for promotion.

If it doesn’t work out then he’s only here till the end of the season

We’ve had garbage on three year year contracts before, don’t forget

Welcome back to VP Lee.

 

Having gained a bit more insight from the blackpool fans, he is still technically very good. A deep lying playmaker who does have the ability to spray the ball out, but he needs runners. Not the quickest however so will need legs around him. Could well be a good signing in the long run

 

Ah yes, but according to the Blackpool fans he walked down the tunnel without clapping them after a loss, the biggest possible crime (short of finding an armband uncomfortable!) a player can commit against precious modern football fans, so it's completely understandable they think he's shite

 

Well MK Dons hated Tommy Leigh for moving a shirt, so at least we can say it’s like for like

 

Evans certainly has an incentive to look for a deal beyond this season as outlined by Sparks.

Maybe it will come off for him here. He must surely give us a better option than Leigh for that midfield cover option.

The window does smack though of hoping that we can cling onto a top 6 spot rather than going for it.

I would imagine eyes already on a summer rebuild depending on which league we find ourself in.

 

To be fair look at what the top teams are spending. We have to be smart with our signings

 

Confirmation from Ryan Sparks that the contract has a couple of clauses in it. One is that if he makes a certain amount of starts and we finish in a certain area (assuming that is top 6) he gets an automatic extension, the other is an option in our favour so we are looking at this as a potential for next season as well.

https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportlatest/25819250.bradford-city-reveal-incentive-lee-evans-short-term-deal/

 

Exactly how I feel.

 

He might even be better than Leigh in another ten years, who despite a reasonable start to the season, tailed away and offered nothing in midfield or attack

 

Central midfield isn’t an area to take too many chances IMO. Metcalfe was raw and has improved since he had an extended run in the side, but we are far better off having Evans deputising in there rather than a young kid.

its a sensible, low risk option, and he’s defensively much better than Tommy Leigh, and still as good on the ball as we remember from before, looking at his stats.

 

Not sure that's how we should be measuring our players!

 

Vaughan and Donaldson would have done well under a more attacking manager ...............soon as Vaughan along with Doyle peed off they started magically scoring again.

I think Vaughan got unfair stick when we basically created fook all for him

 

A decent deal for all parties. Sharpe isn’t a mug is he .