Lincoln City moved quickly to secure the signing of Alfie Lloyd from Queens Park Rangers this week, and in doing so, immediately sparked the usual wave of reaction.
The irony of replacing a striker recalled by QPR with one arriving from the same club was not lost on anyone, but rather than being something to be suspicious of, it felt like a sensible, pragmatic solution to an unexpected problem. A forward was removed from the squad, and the club responded with speed, clarity, and intent. After all, QPR were likely to sanction a loan once they got their man, Obikwu, so it was a move we should have seen coming.
That speed itself became a point of contention for some, with predictable claims that City had acted too quickly or rushed into a decision. The irony, of course, is that those same voices would have been the first to complain had no replacement arrived within 24 hours. There is a strain of commentary that exists purely to criticise process regardless of outcome, and it is hard to take seriously. Acting decisively when circumstances change is not recklessness; it is competence.
The word “underwhelming” was also thrown around, which usually translates as “I have not heard of him.” That says far more about the observer than the signing, so if you felt that way, it’s likely a you problem, not a club issue. Even I will admit that Alfie Lloyd was not a player I knew in depth beforehand, but that is not a failing of the recruitment, nor is it a reason to dismiss him. Football history, including Lincoln City’s own, is littered with examples of players arriving with limited fanfare and becoming hugely important contributors. Football people know footballers better than fans do.
There is also a wider misunderstanding about what modern strikers are meant to do. Not every forward has to score 20 goals a season to justify their place, particularly in a side that is already second in League One and performing miles above its budgetary position. We do not need rescuing; we need maintaining. We need energy, pressing, physical presence, and the ability to sustain performance levels across a long second half of the season. Of course, Alfie will hope to chip in with a goal or three, but that’s something Michael Skubala addressed yesterday.
“Alfie’s a good one,” he said in his pre-match presser. “He can play off the sides, he can play a 10, he can play a nine. So, he’s a very nice one to add to the group and support the lads.”
“He’s got great attributes. Physically, he’s a powerful lad. He’s not played as much as he wanted to this season, so I think that’s one thing to add. He’s been injured for quite a lot of the season.
“We last watched him against Cardiff and he caused them all sorts of problems. He’s got to get his goals, but I think if he did get his goals, he probably wouldn’t be here. That’s his challenge to come and support the team to score goals, but create chances.”
“He’s really good without the ball as well. And he’s a hardworking lad, which is one of our non-negotiables. When you come into this building, you have to work hard for the badge.”
From Michael’s comments, Lloyd fits our profile. He runs all day, presses aggressively, brings physicality, and is happy doing the unattractive work that allows others to shine. Conversations with people who have watched him more closely suggest a forward who gives centre halves a torrid afternoon rather than one who waits for service. That alone has value in a side built on intensity and collective effort.
Crucially, he is not being asked to come in and displace Freddie Draper or Rob Street, nor is he expected to suddenly produce double figures in half a season. If he can come off the bench, score a couple, create space, hold the ball up, and allow others to manage their minutes more effectively, then he has done his job. Squad management matters just as much as star quality at this stage of a campaign.
It is also worth remembering that we do not operate without planning. This was not a panicked call to QPR once a recall happened. Players like Lloyd are watched, profiled, and discussed long before circumstances force action. The fact that his attributes closely mirror previous loans tells its own story. Remember, Michael said ‘we watched him against Cardiff’ – that was before Obikwu was due to be recalled. Indeed, Michael explained how we have lists that extend much further than Paul Mullin or Joe Taylor (he didn’t name those players by the way, that’s me introducing a little sarcasm).
“We’ve got loads of lists,” he added. “Joe Hutchinson leads our scouting team. We look at loads of players. We’re always doing that. Believe me, when I say it, throughout the season, we’re always looking at players, how well they’re doing in our league, how well they’re doing in League Two. Is there any loanee that comes out from higher?”
Ultimately, Alfie Lloyd should be judged the same way every January signing should be, by what he adds between now and May. On paper, he looks like a sensible fit for a side already thriving on an uneven playing field. He does not need to transform Lincoln City; he needs to complement what already exists. In a squad sitting second in League One, that alone is reason enough to be quietly optimistic.