The signing of Jed Wallace has been greeted with an understated air of optimism, I think it’s fair to say.

The timing of the acquisition, and the obligatory YouTube compilation video, seems to augur well for the future.

But at Wolves Blog, we weren’t satisfied with a three minute montage and a stock quote from the official website, so we contacted our good twitter friend Susan Maskell, a lifelong Portsmouth fan, for the lowdown on Jed.

Susan has been a regular blogger about the goings-on at Fratton Park and is well worth a follow on twitter @sjmaskell.

We wish her, and Portsmouth, all the very best next season and beyond. A club I have long admired, despite their recent turmoil.

Thank you Susan!

Jed Wallace

Jed Wallace is not the finished article. But you wouldn’t expect that for £275k. but he could be a potential match winner in the right hands.

An attack minded player, nominally a midfielder, there are many who think Jed has still not quite found his natural position. He seems prepared to play wide, through the centre or take on a roving brief on demand. He has some speed, is prepared to run at the opposition, although perhaps prone to holding the ball too long on a number of occasions.

He has been accused of trying to win matches on his own. But he will try, try and try again. He does not shirk in tackling back either. He still lacks the experience to see and decide between options when on the ball, but with Pompey over the last three years there haven’t often been many options available.

Pompey’s player of the season, a product of the Academy, Jed has been blooded over three seasons of excruciatingly poor on-the-pitch performances, and off-pitch dramas, culminating in Pompey’s lowest ever finishing position of 16th in L2. He has been a shining light in the darkness throughout.

It could be said that it was his goals, 24 from 88 appearances, that have kept us in League 2 over the last two seasons. Some feat from midfield. Only a terminal numbskull like Richie Barker, who dropped him during his brief tenure as manager, can fail to see the potential of the player.

‘Super Jed’ has been Fratton approved, unlike many over the last three seasons. So much so that most Pompey fans wish him well in the future and think he has chosen the right club in Wolves. The fact that he shone at Pompey through our darkest days may be down to the lack of quality around him during those three seasons. A squad that was constantly being demolished and rebuilt is not a good place to learn the finer skills required higher up the leagues.

So most fans here understand that to develop, Jed has to go and learn among players who are experienced at a higher level. He may not shine for a while, but proper coaching and Wolves could have a valuable asset there. We hope so, anyway, if the rumoured sell-on clauses are to be realised.

To cap it all, Jed is a thoroughly nice person and has been a popular club ambassador at social and charity events. We are sorry to see him go and wish him well. Wolves have acquired a proper professional in Jed Wallace.

The goals