First of all, I'm no expert! I don't get to watch any of them, and anyway, my scouting credentials are zero - I follow how many games these lads get to play, and I look at, and sometimes join in, the fans' forums of the loaning clubs to get a taste of how they're perceived by the fans. How valid is that? Well, last season I (and the whole Northampton support) thought Marc Leonard was bound for higher things - Championship clubs were after him (on loan?), but then we flogged him to Birmingham for £half a million quid. For a few matches he was paired up with Paik in the midfield, and Birmingham fans were purring with delight at how good he was - and then th club went and spent a million or so to buy Iwata from Celtic to replace him and he's hardly played since (now injured).
Buonanotte we know can play in the PL and he was doing fine at Leicester - until Horse-face arrived and promptly dropped 'their best player' (not my words - they come from the fans' forum), since when things haven't gone well. Maybe we could have/should have recalled him - there was talk at the time though, that we couldn't because he'd played X number of matches and according to the loan agreement we couldn't. No idea it that was true or not. Is he PL standard? - yes, I think so. With us? - not sure.
Lower down, Offiah's loan is looking good. In with a shout for POTS, and well appreciated by Blackpool fans. Can he make the jump from League 1 to the PL? Big jump - but I certainly think he could do the Championship next season, although I'd like to see him get a chance here in pre-season. Mind you, that was the position where Leonard was last season.............
In Europe it's even more guesswork for me - I think Yalcouye is considered to be likely to be in the mix here next season; I think Scherpen and Sima will be sold, without ever pulling on an Albion shirt. Osman is at a good level with Feyenoord, and has played a bit (mostly from the bench). I imagine the next move will be to bring him to England for an EFL loan - but I'm not sure how that sits with the £16M we paid for him - there were enough eyebrows raised when we paid £6M for Sima and sent him to Stoke on loan!
It certainly will! You got any hunches?
Think we recalled McGill because Rushworth is cup-tied
Feasible. Doesn't say much for Cahill's prospects here though.
Really appreciate all your posts - there's so much happening around Brighton since the Withdean days it's hard to keep track.
Enciso's injury has (again) come at a bad time for him - think he might well finish up in the Netherlands or the Bundesliga.Really appreciate all your posts - there's so much happening around Brighton since the Withdean days it's hard to keep track.
As you say, Ayari has completely transformed any perception I have on loanees. But he also had an opportunity due to massive squad injuries and took it.
I'm not sure with our growing squad size and quality, we'll bed youngsters in so early. Feels like another year of loans to get them fully up to speed is more likely.
The bar of our squad is being raised which means for our model to work, we still buy them young but perhaps play them in the first team a year later than before. We'll see.
I think the main ones I can provide any comment on are Buonanotte and Enciso.
Buonanotte
Enciso
- Feels like will be PL quality (if not already right now) bearing in mind his age. Think about Dunk or March and their levels at the same age - clearly a much higher potential to already be competing at this level.
- As you say, was seen by Leicester fans as their best player. Bodes well.
- Came with a lot of positive noise. I think needs more time, not certain will be needed next season by us. Who is he pushing out of the team?
- But if we get Europe and if we lose a few players, he might step into the wings
Ferguson I think is brilliant and just needs to find his form and will be fantastic to have as backup for Welbeck.
- I still think is a huge talent.
- Anyone who can shoot like he can has a place in our squad and many others. The hardest part of football is scoring and he's got this.
- Also the sort of player that can do the magical, so against a low block could be what you want.
- Clearly needs to be a little less trigger happy, make better decisions, but talent is there.
- De Zerbi also talked very highly of him - I put weight behind that
- Really shame he's been injured, as regular game time would help him recover his form and also make him stop trying too hard to impress
- If he doesn't get some regular football at Ipswich, I think we are unlikely to see him play for us again as will be too low down the pecking order and he clearly wants (and rightly needs) regular football at his age.
- And even if he does, from memory his contract isn't long so would force a quick sale so we reclaim some money.
The other players, I watch this thread with interest
Both playing decent. Osman looks a threat down the left and Moder has become the fulcrum of midfield for the Rotterdammers.
Doubt if you'll ever see an easier goal!
Indeed, he was the the conduit for most of Feyenoord’s attacks. But he’s ruled himself out of the second leg by receiving a booking.