Guest writer jod sent us the following:
In recent years we have used the loan system quite a lot, but under Pochettino there seems to be a shift towards keeping our most promising youngsters at Tottenham Hotspur.
Loans can be more trouble than their worth!
Loans are a gamble - they can sometimes make a player and then on the other hand they can be a complete and utter waste of time. I mean, for heavens sake there have been occasions when the loanee doesn’t even get on the pitch, never mind making any sort of impact. Another observation of mine, especially if the agreement / contract between the parent club and the player’s current working environment is not working as well as first thought is having to keep a player at the club. And that, without stating the obvious can in itself create problems (player unrest for example) of its own.
Good example?
Harry Winks is a prime example of developing in-house talent. The England U21 (yes, boy-wonder is on the international ladder) is getting enough senior squad playing time to gain vital experience, (this season especially) on a fairly regular basis. Moreover, he’s beginning to show us (and Poch) what he can do.
Bad example?
Josh Onomah on the other hand isn't having such a good time of it. Last season he looked like he was on the verge of a breakthrough, this season he sits the majority of the time warming the bench. And that’s being kind as (I’ve not checked the stats) sometimes he no more than an on-looker, IE rather than sat on the bench he’s perched up in the stands.
I can't help feeling he (Josh) would have been much better off on loan somewhere where he could actually gain experience in the lower leagues, and then return to the fold, once everyone thinks he’s ready, more of a rounded player.
Adding up?
It seems to me that the problem is one of simple arithmetic. You can only play so many players.
Most of them will be in the manager’s mind when the gaffer thinks about naming his regular first team, so the number of developing players one can actually give a lot of time on the pitch is going to be limited. Having said that the conundrum comes when the team buckles under the weight of the ever-looming injury crisis and panic stations hits home! Does the boss, when his choice is limited take the dreaded gamble?
The way I see it is, if you have one or two decent prospects coming through the ranks then there isn't a problem. Any more than that and you become a victim of your own success and we end up back to square one with the Onomah scenario.
At some point I suspect Poch and the coaching staff are going to have to take another look at our development strategy. Don’t you?
