Lloyd Jones signs from Cambridge
Another signing in the door tonight. 27 year old 6ft 3 central defender Lloyd Jones has signed a 2-year deal after his current contract with Cambridge United expired today.
That really should be it from a central defence point of view with Hector, Ness, Thomas, Jones, Mitchell and Elerewe all competing for a first team place. It is expected that Sam Lavelle will move on.
I have long given up on predicting successes of new signings I have never heard off. Scouting videos, past club history and token throw-away promises of promotion have not really worked out for most of those that have joined us in the recent past.
But, good luck to Lloyd who is a west country boy signed by Liverpool on the back of early promise from Plymouth when he was just 16. He was good enough to get another contract at Liverpool when he was 18 and was loaned out at various lower league clubs until Luton signed him, then in League One, in 2018.
He never made the breakthrough there either and played a handful of games on loan at Plymouth and a short-term deal at Northampton before Cambridge saw something in him two years ago and signed him on a 2-year deal.
He played regularly at Cambridge and swept their ‘player of’ awards last season.
Dean Holden said “Lloyd signs for us on the back of an excellent season at Cambridge United. He’s a very good centre-half who plays with real authority, is confident on the ball and a threat from set pieces.”
A great signing for us….he’s a sound player who will definately improve our midfield.
I’ve watched him last season and he’s a no -nonsense player.
We seem.to be getting a squad together that could ( hopefully will ) challenge for top six.
Cambridge fans were gutted at his departure and spoke highly of his time at the club. I presume Conor McGrandles might have had something to do with his signing, they played a fair bit together last season when Conor was on loan at CU. From what I’ve seen of him he’s good in the air and composed with the ball at his feet.
With Jones, plus Michael Hector and Lucas Ness already in the house I’m wondering if Dean Holden is looking at playing a 3-5-2 type formation?
Besides these three we also have Deji Elerewe, Zach Mitchell plus Terrell Thomas. It might be that one or both of Elerewe and Mitchell will go out on loan but we will have plenty of central defensive options.
I like the focus on defence, last season we conceded far too many goals both in total and at set pieces something Dean Holden seems to be addressing and both this chap and Hector give me defensive organiser vibes. Getting these players in early is giving the defence time to gel before the big KO.