The business transacted in the summer transfer window has created a much improved squad, with strength-in-depth and greater competition for places across all positions. Now, the next issue that Bilic and his staff will address is: which of the surplus fringe players and/or promising youngsters might go out on short-term loan?
In the summer transfer window Gus Poyet (MK Dons), Reece Burke (Bradford) and Matt Jarvis (Norwich City) were all put out on loan. The lower league emergency loan window has now opened. so, who might also benefit, from a 1-3 month period of regular first team football? Lets examine the question position-by-position. Well firstly, amongst the keepers, one of either Speigel or Howes could be considered; similarly, at full-back, either Chambers or Page might benefit. The U-21 results are not going very well at the moment, so they probably could do with retaining and playing Lewis Page. However, there might there be a argument for putting Leo Chambers out for a short loan? Young Chambers has recovered from a 18 month period of injury and, now fit, could probably do with some competitive game-time at an appropriate level. Some might consider Joey O’Brien a candidate, but I feel he is presently important to the squad as back up cover for Jenkinson and Tomkins at right-back. At centre-back, with James Collins also retained as additional cover, might they consider giving Don Henry more Championship experience? I am sure that Blackburn Rovers would welcome the opportunity to take the player back for a period. Although I suppose the question does arise of whether Henry and Burke should ideally be loaned out at the same time?
In midfield, Josh Cullen could be a candidate. The Irish youngster looks a very promising prospect and has probably reached a stage when he needs a taste of regular competitive league football. However, that is arguably not the case with Reece Oxford. The 16 year old starlet is a top talent and, at his tender age, he is probably better off continuing his development via a combination of U-21 football and managed exposure to the West Ham first team. There will be plenty of time for Oxford to out on loan, if it is eventually deemed necessary?. There is also the vexed question of Morgan Amalfitano’s position at the club. The key question is: has Amalfitano’s much publicised spat with Slaven Bilic been resolved and will he, accordingly, be re-integrated back in to the first team squad? I certainly hope so, as Amalfitano is a very useful player to have available from the bench. Regardless, I doubt that a lower league loan would appeal to Amalfitano and it is also doubtful that he is going anywhere until the January window.
Up front, arguably Elliott Lee probably needs a loan to a League 1 club. He is a young player that needs a consistent run of first team football. A club such as as MK Dons would be ideal. But the important thing is that he plays regularly and it could be that another option such as Southend Utd or Blackpool FC would be a better bet. While youngsters such as Jordan Brown or Parfitt-Williams might also benefit, there are arguably no current first team strikers who are suitable for a loan.
So, they are some of the ‘runners and riders’ for possible loan deals. Hopefully I have not overlooked any players? Which of these players should go out on loan this autumn? Also what is the advisability and practicality of inserting a recall or break clause in all such loan agreements? Surely this is a sensible policy to ensure that we can recall the likes of Poyet or Burke if injuries necessitate it?
I would like to conclude by making a couple of points about young players and the use of loan deals. I would like to see the club use the loan market more diligently (for youngsters) than has some times been the case in the recent past. The decision to loan must be firmly based upon the specific developmental needs of individual young players. On the other side of the coin, it must be impressed upon those youngsters that whilst out on loan they are expected to apply themselves, make a positive impact and develop their game. It is totally counter-productive for a youngster to spend the duration of a loan sitting on the side lines and not playing, learning and gaining valuable experience.
They should come back to the club better and more experienced players after a loan. If a player does not positively impact or progress, after successive lower league loans, then it must surely flag up a ‘red light’ about their prospects of succeeding at Premier League level. That has certainly been the learning from the experience of a number of previous youth players who failed to impress on multiple loans, stagnated in the U-21s and were then eventually released.
SJ. Chandos.