As the January transfer window approaches the fervour surrounding potential signings at clubs the length and breadth of the country begins to gather pace. In the Premier League 3rd placed Spurs talk of making a marquee signing and last season the top flight saw the likes of Torres and Carroll change clubs for in excess of £80M.
In the Football League the rumour mill is also set to get into full swing but in leagues one and two especially the focus is more likely to be on temporary transfers rather than permanent ones.
There can be little dispute that the loan market offers a number of benefits for all concerned. The clubs that loan players out benefit as their fringe or younger players gain valuable competitive experience, the players themselves benefit from this experience and the clubs loaning the players add ability to their ranks.
For all these positives there are also some significant negative points in respect of the current system. As things stand clubs are permitted to name up to 5 loan players in their match-day squads meaning that it is possible to field almost half a team of players that don’t actually belong to the club. This surely isn’t right? The loan market should be an option available to put the final touches to a team or to make ends meet when injuries and/or suspensions take their toll. Is it fair that that one team in the lower divisions may beat another team thanks by and large to the abilities of 4 or 5 Premier League reserve players who may well line up for another team against them later on in the same season?
To some fans having a team full of loan players detracts from the identity of the club. It is difficult to become attached to a player who is only likely to be around for a few months. Having more restrictions on the amount on loan players that can be fielded may perhaps encourage clubs to put more resource into football in the community and look to source and develop more players at local level. Supporters and players alike may then have a greater affiliation to the club and even if further down the line the top teams come knocking at the door then at least these clubs will have the benefit of a potential transfer fee to compensate for the loss of the player.
At Sheffield Wednesday this season, as with many teams in League One, the club have benefited greatly from the acquisition of loan players. Players such as Batth, Bywater and Marshall have been consistent performers but at present a great emphasis is being put on whether the services of the latter two players can be secured for the rest of the season. If this does not happen then the likelihood is that the Owls will probably look to sign more loan players to boost their promotion bid and the merry-go-round will commence once more in the summer.
Wednesday’s approach should not be knocked as they are doing all they can to improve their squad within the rules as they stand, lets face it, the Owls are a much better side with Marshall in the team than they would be without him. It just feels like the rules are too lenient at the moment. Football League clubs may appear to benefit financially in the short term as they spend less on these loan signings than they may otherwise have to on permanent transfers.
It is the teams in the top league that benefit the most however as they get to give their players much needed experience and if they prove to have enough potential they will keep them and if not they may still have done enough to put them in the window to attract a potential transfer fee. In the long run the Football League clubs would surely get greater benefit from developing their own players but this requires more time and effort of which there is precious little as clubs strive for instant success and loans can be offloaded quickly if things do go to plan.
Source: FOOTYMAD
