Loans can prove so costly
Wednesday 19 November 2008
The loan market should be regarded with as much suspicion as the January transfer window.
January is often an occasion for panic and clubs hope that someone else is in enough of a flap to take players who are surplus to requirements.
Because Martin Albrechtsen and Dean Leacock are currently injured, Paul Jewell has trawled for loan signings before next week’s deadline.
Derby County are short of cover in the centre of defence but unless Albrechtsen and Leacock are long-term casualties, there seems little point in looking for temporary replacements.
Of course the Rams are busy. Another 10 fixtures must be honoured in 2008 but their recent history of loans and signings on short contracts offers little encouragement.
In eight seasons, including the one in progress, Derby have signed well over 30 players on temporary transfers, among them some of the worst ever to don the Rams shirt.
Those who effected an improvement scarcely demand the fingers of one hand amid a collection of non-scoring strikers and bewildered defenders.
Leon Osman stands out as the major success. Without the little midfield player from Everton, it is doubtful if Derby would have survived in the Championship in 2003-4. “Sign him on,” bayed the rehoused Pop Side. There was no chance. Even if Everton had been prepared to sell, the Rams could not have afforded him.
In the same season, Mathias Svensson was a distinctly useful striker but the Rams could not rustle up the £50,000 that took him from Charlton Athletic to Norwich City.
Arturo Lupoli is a gifted finisher and, like Nacer Barazite in this season’s team, properly brought up at Arsenal. Lupoli would have contributed more had Billy Davies been acute enough to see his quality.
Lupoli’s father once took issue with the then Rams manager in the tunnel and it became a feisty encounter.
Briefly, Alan Wright was a revelation at left-back in 2005-6. He was injured after seven games, in which he showed how to play the position – win the ball and deliver to the man in front.
Rule one on past evidence should be to avoid players from Bolton Wanderers. Blessing Kaku and Khalilou Fadiga came from the Reebok Stadium and were catastrophic.
Jason Talbot had to sign a professional form before he could join the Rams on loan from Bolton. It was not his fault but he was so out of his depth that the scout who recommended him should have been sacked or the agent excommunicated.
Players available on loan have often been cruising along in the reserves. They are short of match fitness at League level but tend to be thrust in immediately.
In the situation as it now stands, Jewell has enough bodies on the staff. Claude Davis is a £3m player on a four-year contract and it is surely worth persevering with Lewin Nyatanga.
At a pinch, Jay McEveley, back from loan with Preston North End, can play in the centre of defence, as can Miles Addison.
The cupboard is not bare and the loan market can resemble Grimpen Mire which, as Sherlock Holmes readers will recall, is the dangerous area near Baskerville Hall.
Other stories on this day
- O'Shea shines as he makes a case
- Jewell hoping defensive duo come through without injury
- And the winner is...Surprise prizes at early award ceremony