‘Best signing of January window’: EFL expert’s huge Portsmouth transfer call over Derby County capture
The former Derby County and Cardiff City man has made a huge early impression at Fratton Park - one recognised by EFL experts.
Pompey landing Ebou Adams is the best business of the January transfer window.
And the Fratton Faithful’s new darling has been lauded as the ideal figurehead for the Blues’ Championship survival fight.
EFL pundits: ‘Best signing of window - Ebou Adams. Without question.’
Adams has made a hurtling start to life at PO4, with two goals in three excellent starts and a sub outing since joining from Derby County last month.
The 30-year-old has brought his combative qualities to the midfield battleground and helped boost his new side’s upwardly mobile form.
The early signs is the £500,000 deal looks a shrewd piece of business, albeit at a formative stage of Adams’ career at PO4.
That’s certainly the view of EFL experts, Not The Top 20, with their pundit George Elek rating the former Cardiff City man as the best winter window signing at this stage.
Speaking in their latest podcast focussing on Championship matters, Elek said: ‘If you are going to ask me now who the best signing of the January window has been so far - Ebou Adams. Without question.
‘He’s a player who’s scored two goals now in his very short stay so far - with a famous one against Southampton.
‘He scored the third here (against West Brom) and Portsmouth fans are absolutely loving him for what he brings, in terms of his tenacity, quality on the ball and goalscoring at the moment.
‘It’s just that character that when you’re in a relegation scrap gees up the players and the fanbase - we saw how we ran across the pitch celebrating in front of the Pompey fans (against Southampton).’
Conor Chaplin lauded - West Brom panned
There was also praise for Conor Chaplin, who got finally got off the mark against West Brom, with the first goal of his second Pompey spell followed by an explosion of joy.
Andre Dozzell earned plaudits for his class with his assist for Millenic Alli’s finish, though West Brom’s shocking state was recognised, too.
Elek added: ‘Conor Chaplin hadn’t scored a goal this season for Portsmouth and was their big marquee signing last summer.
‘He’s a player who was a key player for Ipswich, maybe the key player or a least one of them in their promotion to the Premier League a couple of year ago.
‘What a shot it was (for his goal), swept in with his left foot past the dive of Max O’Leary.
‘It was followed up very quickly was just an unbelievably good defensive-splitting pass from Andre Dozzell, getting Milli Alli off down the left-hand who finished again.
‘The key thing for me here is Pompey restricted West Brom to basically nothing. The Baggies had four shots in the game, despite being 1-0 down at 19 minutes.
‘I cannot think of a manager who’s not just lost the fanbase, but united the fanbase so overwhelmingly against them in such a short space of time - as Eric Ramsay. I’m not saying that is or isn’t justified, it’s just startling to see.’