Welcome Adam Lewis

 The 2nd Newport County signing in as many days is confirmed to be left back Adam Lewis on loan from Liverpool. He is the 2nd loanee from the Mersyside club in 2 seasons as last season Jake Cain made 28 appearances for the exiles last season. 

 

This signing is a bit of a statement of intent from the club. Adam is a player that has played internationally for England at various youth levels. He came through at Liverpool playing at u19 level in the Uefa Youth League, this is the Champions league for academy sides. In his age group was players likes Curtis Jones, Ki-Jana Hoever and Jake Cain so he's come through with quality at Liverpool. In the 2019 pre season he made a few appearances in friendly's serving mainly as an understudy to Andy Robertson. He made his official debut for the reds in their FA Cup 4th round replay against Shrewbury at Anfield. He made the move in that summer to french second division side Amiens. He made 9 appearances for the side in a six month stint as they finished 10th. In the 2nd half of the season he was sent out on loan to South west side Plymouth on loan as he helped them survive in league one. In 20 games he scored 1 goal and set up 2 goals as well with a very brief spell playing in the same side as ex county goal man Dom Telford. In the season just gone he was up in Scotland with Livingston making 13 appearances in all competitions. 

He will no doubt be looking to kick on in his career and hopefully its at Newport County. He will add much needed quality down the left hand side following Ryan Haynes' departure over the summer. He will have a tough battle on his hands competing with Aaron Lewis down the left hand side. I think he is a fantastic signing for a league 2 club and as the players return to pre season today.            

 On the signing of Adam manager James Rowberry said “I’m delighted to welcome Adam to the club and I’m excited to see how his qualities will improve us as a team. I have no doubt that his experience at higher levels, as well as his international pedigree, will be a huge help to our processes to take the club forward. I know our supporters will give Adam a very warm welcome when they get the chance to see him!”

Welcome Adam!

Welcome Offrande Zanzala

Newport County have announced their 7th signing of the summer and its is none other than Congolese Striker Offrande Zanzala.

Zanzala, born in Brazzaville in the Congo follows Will Evans, Sam Bowen, Aaron Wildig, Declan Drysdale and Chanka Zimba through the door this summer and adds much needed depth up front and adds competition for Zimba, Lewis Collins and Will Evans in the attacking department. 

 

Zanzala came through at Derby County. Whilst at the Rams he had spells out on loan at Stevenage,   Chester and Accrington the latter of which bought him on a permanent deal in 2018 as he helped the club to promotion to league one. In the 3rd tier he notched up 4 goals in 27 appearances. Over the past 2 years he's been at multiple clubs. From Accrington he went to Crewe Alexandra only making 5 appearances at the club before joining Carlisle United. He made 22 appearances for the Cambrian outfit with a 5 goals and 2 assist return for the striker. In the season just gone he started the season off at Barrow before making the switch in January to Exeter where he linked up with former County striker Padraig Amond. 

The 6 foot 1 inch Striker will be seen as a replacement to Courtney Baker-Richardson who moved on in the summer with a tall and commanding presence who can win headers and knockdowns for players around him. With him being 25 he will be coming into the prime of his career and hopefully we see that at Newport County

 On the signing of Offrande or Oz as he also goes by James Rowberry said “I’m really pleased to welcome Offrande to our club. I’ve been speaking to him for the past week or two and I’m excited on how he can help the team and how we can develop him. We’ve fought off some really strong competition for his signature and I would like to thank Darren (Kelly, Sporting Director), Gavin (Foxall, chairman), and the board for their support in making Offrande a Newport County AFC player. I’m sure you’ll give him a warm welcome when you meet him!”    

Welcome Offrande

Welcome Declan Drysdale

 This morning County announced their 2nd signing in as many days by adding Coventry City defender Declan Drysdale to their defensive ranks he can also play in midfield. The 22 year old is County's 5th summer signing after Sam Bowen, Will Evans, Chanka Zimba and Aaron Wildig who was officially announced yesterday.

Despite only being 22 Drysdale has had plenty of experience in his short time in football. He came through at Tranmere Rovers in 2017 but only made 2 league appearances in 3 seasons both in the national league. He was then let go by Tranmere in 2019 where he found himself at Coventry City. In his first 6 months at the club he predominantly featured in the Papa Johns Trophy. He only made 1 appearance in league one for the sky blues coming in a 2-1 win against Rochdale. He then has been out on a number of loans to Solihull Moors where he made 3 first team appearances, all starts in his time there. He then was sent out to Gillingham in league one for the first part of the 2020-21 season. He found more first team success here making 13 appearances in all comps. In the 2nd half of the season he found himself at high flying Cambridge in sky bet league 2. He helped the U's to promotion as they finished 2nd in the table. He also has a promotion at Coventry as well as they earned promotion to the Championship. He made 13 appearances there scoring one goal which was the winner at Rodney parade last year. He spent the last 6 months out on loan at Ross County in the Cinch Scottish premiership only making 6 appearances in all comps. 

On the signing of Declan manager James Rowberry said that “Declan at 22 already has
two promotions on his CV and has really good experience within senior football for his age. He brings a physicality and technical ability to our back line as well as showing he can be a leader.
I’m excited to be working with Declan. I’m sure you’ll give Declan a warm welcome to our club.” 

Welcome Declan.

Welcome Aaron Wildig

Newport County's 4th signing of the summer has been announced as former Morecambe midfielder Aaron Wildig. 

A 30 year old experienced campaigner who has played the past season in league one playing 22 times with 16 starts. In that time he racked up 2 goals and 4 assists in sky bet league one in the 2021-22 season. He also scored the only goal of the game as his previous side Morecambe knocked Newport County out the FA cup in the 1st round. He was a key player in Morecambe's promotion 2 seasons ago playing 40 games and racking up 9 goals and 5 assists last time he was in league 2. 

Wildig came through at Cardiff in 2009 making 13 apperances for the bluebirds. He then went out on loan to Hamilton up in Scotland and Shrewsbury in which he played a key part in their promotion to league one as they finished 2nd in league 2. He made the permanent switch in 2012 spending 3 more years there. A loan spell to Kidderminster then followed in 2015 before going up to Morecambe where he has spent the past 7 years. He was the club captain there so he comes in with plenty of experience and leadership. 

On the signing County manager James Rowberry said “Aaron brings a wealth of
experience to our attacking department and the team. Having two promotions on his CV, along with
his leadership qualities, I’m really looking forward to working with Aaron.I’m sure you’ll give Aaron a very warm welcome to our club.”

Welcome Aaron.

Wales v Ukraine preview the biggest game in our history?

 Sunday June 5th 2022, Arguably the biggest day in the history of Welsh football as it is only Ukraine that stands between us and a first world cup final in 64 years.

Wales made it to the play off final nearly 3 months ago as another Gareth Bale masterclass seen us get past Austria 2-1. Gareth Bale did Gareth Bale things as he kicked of the scoring with one of the best free kicks he's ever scored in his career which sent the Cardiff City Stadium into a state of frenzy. He then doubled our lead just 6 minutes into the 2nd half. Austria did pull one back through Marcel Sabitzer but we managed to hold on to move to within 1 game of the world cup.  

Ukraine made it through only Wednesday as for obvious reason their semi final against Scotland was delayed until this international break. It was their first competitive game since November last year and for most of the squad who play their football in the Ukranian Premier League it was their first competitive game since the war broke out 101 days ago. They have had 3 friendly in the build up to this against 3 club sides Borussia Monchengladbach, Empoli and Rijeka respectively. They beat Scotland 3-1 at Hampden Park on Wednesday night in a pretty dominant win for them with goals coming from Andriy Yarmolenko formally of West Ham, Roman Yaremchuk and Artem Dovbyk.

They have quite a few good players that can cause us a lot of problems. Some of the key men to look out for are Roman Yaremchuk of Benfica, Ruslan Malinovskyi of Atalanta, Vitaliy Mykolenko who has just helped keep Everton in the Premier League and recent Premier League winner Oleksandr Zinchenko of Manchester City. They will be motivated even more than usual with the horrific scenes we're seeing day in day out in their home land. 

Also this past Wednesday Wales kicked off there League A campaign in the UEFA Nations League as we lost away in Poland 2-1 with pretty much a B team playing in that one. The only players I could see keeping their place is Danny Ward in goal, Joe Morrell in midfield and maybe the front 2 of Dan James and Kieffer Moore but that all depends on what system manager Rob Page wants to use. The likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies wasn't risked in this game as Sunday is more important that the game last week.

The Fortess that is the Cardiff City Stadium will once again be the 12th man. They will do everything in their power to push Cymru over the finishing line and see us finally get to the world cup.We have only lost 1 in 19 at the CCS with that 1 defeat coming back in 2019 to european championship semi finalists Denmark 2-1 The home of Welsh football, the Cardiff city stadium will be bouncing and win lose or draw we will push the team until the very end.

I think we will win 2-0 with goals from Bale and Ramsey, 2 Welsh legend being the difference and getting us to the World Cup. Also don't forget to follow us on twitter @Absoutecounty and on Instagram @absolutely_county. CMON CYMRU!!!