Loan Watch (30/4)

[Loramski]

A bit late starting this, I've had to spend the evening tidying up the office and the Loan Watch Museum ready for a royal visit later in the week. No real idea why Prince Philip would want to look around, I've never had him down as a football man. I guess he's just one more person who wants to jump on the Loan Watch bandwagon, and who can blame him? It's slightly inconvenient to be honest, we're at the business end of the season and the Loan Watch Awards Night doesn't organise itself but what can I do? I'll try and hurry him along as best I can and keep the small talk to a minimum. I wonder if he'll bring his own food? I'll have to check that. I hope he won't mind signing some stuff in the gift shop, I can use them as prizes if I ever do a quiz. An Etien Velikonja inflatable hammer signed by Prince Philip, who wouldn't want to win that?

Let's start this week's round up with the denouement of the League One regular season. Good news at both ends of the table (and in the middle) for our loanees. Adam le Fondre came up with an assist and the final goal as Bolton beat Peterborough 3-0 to clinch automatic promotion. Adam is very popular there and, I'd assume, a permanent move would suit both parties. If that goes through then it's a cast iron certainty he'll score against us next season, home and away, so let's start bracing ourselves for that.

At the opposite end of the table, Deji Oshilaja's Gillingham faced a trip to their former manager Justin Edinburgh's Northampton knowing they had to equal or better Port Vale's result at Fleetwood to stay up. As it turned out, both games finished 0-0 (only Gillingham's third clean sheet of the season) so, by the skin of their teeth, Gillingham survive. A terrible season for them though. Deji said he enjoyed the challenge of the relegation battle, let's see what next season holds for him. For Stuart O'Keefe too. He finished the season with the third goal as MK Dons beat Walsall 4-1.

Matty Kennedy was back this week after a bout of food poisoning and played ninety minutes as Plymouth came from behind to beat Crewe 2-1 to move top of League Two. A win at Russell Slade's Grimsby next week (assuming he hasn't been sacked by then) will win them the title. Emyr Huws played the full game as Ipswich lost at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Another disappointing game in a disappointing season for Ipswich and while many fans are disenchanted, the same can't be said for Emyr. He's restated his desire to play there again next season. Former City player Tom Lawrence finished second in the club's player of the season awards.

Speaking of which, Tom Adeyemi won Rotherham's player of the season this week. He hasn't ruled out staying there next season, both him and Semi Ajayi played in the 1-1 draw at Preston yesterday. Idriss Saadi came on as sub in Kortrijk's midweek win but missed yesterday's defeat at Genk. A number of Belgian clubs, including Anderlecht and Club Brugge, as well as French club Ajaccio were reportedly interested in signing Saadi but his recent dip in form has seen this interest cool. No action for Ben Wilson, Lloyd Humphries or Theo Wharton this weekend.

Goals for former players Josh Magennis, Mats Daehli, Guido Burgstaller and Filip Kiss this week. Kiss was so carried away with scoring that he completely forgot to get himself booked, I'm sure he'll make up for it next week. A first goal for David Tutonda at Barnet as they beat Grimsby 3-1. 1,200 Grimsby fans made the trip and there was a carnival atmosphere, they even hired a mariachi band to play through the game. Slade has managed there before so the fans are well aware that they'll have to make their own entertainment at matches. A sad end to the season for Jon Parkin, his two goals gave York a 2-2 draw at home to Forest Green but it wasn't quite enough as a late Guiseley goal elsewhere sent them down.

[cardiff55]

Excellent stuff again. I am glad that Etien got a brief mention this week. Next year we'll have even more ex-players to watch. Have you though about branching out with a subsidiary company.....Peter Whittingham Watch? I am sure you staffing levels could cope with the extra work, although I expect Whitts will be banging them in for someone like Nottm Forest or Bolton. It may be better if mad Warnock keeps him and send him out on loan in which case Loan Watch towers would definitely cope with the extra burden of work.

[MacAdder]

A bit late starting this, I've had to spend the evening tidying up the office and the Loan Watch Museum ready for a royal visit later in the week. No real idea why Prince Philip would want to look around, I've never had him down as a football man. I guess he's just one more person who wants to jump on the Loan Watch bandwagon, and who can blame him? It's slightly inconvenient to be honest, we're at the business end of the season and the Loan Watch Awards Night doesn't organise itself but what can I do? I'll try and hurry him along as best I can and keep the small talk to a minimum. I wonder if he'll bring his own food? I'll have to check that. I hope he won't mind signing some stuff in the gift shop, I can use them as prizes if I ever do a quiz. An Etien Velikonja inflatable hammer signed by Prince Philip, who wouldn't want to win that?

Let's start this week's round up with the denouement of the League One regular season. Good news at both ends of the table (and in the middle) for our loanees. Adam le Fondre came up with an assist and the final goal as Bolton beat Peterborough 3-0 to clinch automatic promotion. Adam is very popular there and, I'd assume, a permanent move would suit both parties. If that goes through then it's a cast iron certainty he'll score against us next season, home and away, so let's start bracing ourselves for that.

At the opposite end of the table, Deji Oshilaja's Gillingham faced a trip to their former manager Justin Edinburgh's Northampton knowing they had to equal or better Port Vale's result at Fleetwood to stay up. As it turned out, both games finished 0-0 (only Gillingham's third clean sheet of the season) so, by the skin of their teeth, Gillingham survive. A terrible season for them though. Deji said he enjoyed the challenge of the relegation battle, let's see what next season holds for him. For Stuart O'Keefe too. He finished the season with the third goal as MK Dons beat Walsall 4-1.

Matty Kennedy was back this week after a bout of food poisoning and played ninety minutes as Plymouth came from behind to beat Crewe 2-1 to move top of League Two. A win at Russell Slade's Grimsby next week (assuming he hasn't been sacked by then) will win them the title. Emyr Huws played the full game as Ipswich lost at home to Sheffield Wednesday. Another disappointing game in a disappointing season for Ipswich and while many fans are disenchanted, the same can't be said for Emyr. He's restated his desire to play there again next season. Former City player Tom Lawrence finished second in the club's player of the season awards.

Speaking of which, Tom Adeyemi won Rotherham's player of the season this week. He hasn't ruled out staying there next season, both him and Semi Ajayi played in the 1-1 draw at Preston yesterday. Idriss Saadi came on as sub in Kortrijk's midweek win but missed yesterday's defeat at Genk. A number of Belgian clubs, including Anderlecht and Club Brugge, as well as French club Ajaccio were reportedly interested in signing Saadi but his recent dip in form has seen this interest cool. No action for Ben Wilson, Lloyd Humphries or Theo Wharton this weekend.

Goals for former players Josh Magennis, Mats Daehli, Guido Burgstaller and Filip Kiss this week. Kiss was so carried away with scoring that he completely forgot to get himself booked, I'm sure he'll make up for it next week. A first goal for David Tutonda at Barnet as they beat Grimsby 3-1. 1,200 Grimsby fans made the trip and there was a carnival atmosphere, they even hired a mariachi band to play through the game. Slade has managed there before so the fans are well aware that they'll have to make their own entertainment at matches. A sad end to the season for Jon Parkin, his two goals gave York a 2-2 draw at home to Forest Green but it wasn't quite enough as a late Guiseley goal elsewhere sent them down.

Excellent piece as per.
Our loan / ex-players sound like they are having so much fun

Poor old York and Jon Larkin, a proper gut wrencher!

[jon1959]

Thanks Loramski.

[Blue in the Face]

Great Loramski.

Looking at all our players currently loaned out. I wouldn't be surprised if none of them are still contracted to us at the end of the next transfer window. Ben Wilson, Matty Kennedy and Lloyd Humphries maybe. A descision needs to be made on Kennedy in the summer. He has one more year left on his contract, so now would be the time to try and get a sell on clause rather than loan him out again and let him go for free at the end of next season. The rest are all goners though me thinks.

Pity Warnock doesn't rate Huws, but if that's the case then it's best for all that he engeneers a move to Ipswich. Here's Huws statements that Loramski refers to in the OP...

HUWS | I'VE LOVED EVERY MINUTE

http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/2...e-3694014.aspx

Midfielder reveals he's really enjoyed his loan spell at Town and hopes to be at Portman Road next season
Emyr Huws has spoken of his enjoyment at featuring for Town on loan and hopes Saturday isn't his final appearance for the Blues at Portman Road
The midfielder has proved a real hit since arriving on loan from Cardiff in January, with Mick McCarthy already admitting he'd like to keep Emyr on a permanent basis, something the Wales international would also be keen to explored.
"I've really enjoyed my time at Ipswich so far. Everyone has been really good to me, and it's been a really good part of my career," said Emyr in an interview to be published in Saturday's matchday programme.
"It's big to have people you know here, it helps you settle in much quicker. It was nice to see some familiar faces like Jonny [Williams] and Tom [Lawrence] when I came in, but it is one of the best changing rooms I've ever been in, so there was never any problems settling in. The environment here is really good.
"I've not spoken to anyone about being here next season yet, we're just focusing on the last couple of games and to finish strong, then we'll see what happens after that.
"I have really enjoyed myself here though, so hopefully we can sort something."

[Former Labour leader]

Thanks for the excellent information. I have had it on good authority though, that Prince Phillip will be unable to visit due to a prior commitment at a Chinese takeaway in Willesden.
Most of our loan players will be gone permanently, with only Kennedy having any chance of continuing his career with us. Not sure that it says much for our academies and under 23 set up previously. No wonder Warnock has scrapped a load of stuff.

[Loramski]

Excellent stuff again. I am glad that Etien got a brief mention this week. Next year we'll have even more ex-players to watch. Have you though about branching out with a subsidiary company.....Peter Whittingham Watch? I am sure you staffing levels could cope with the extra work, although I expect Whitts will be banging them in for someone like Nottm Forest or Bolton. It may be better if mad Warnock keeps him and send him out on loan in which case Loan Watch towers would definitely cope with the extra burden of work.

Thanks all.

We certainly have got a lot of former players now, spread far and wide. I don't remember us having ex-players in Sweden, Turkey, Denmark, Norway etc in the 80s, maybe my memory is playing tricks on me. As for Whitts, I would be interested to see where he goes if we release him and how he is used. He seems to have played in most midfield positions here in the last season or two without any great success yet people still say the problem is that he's being played out of position. Sitting in front of a back five/three looked like it could be the answer but it turned out to be a disaster. The set-piece stuff is a bit of a red herring in my opinion. I don't want to over-egg the anti-Slade pudding but I seriously believe Slade's biggest legacy here is that there can't be another fanbase in world football more obsessed with corner-taking than ours.

In reply to the other posts, our loan players (Huws in particular) do seem to be having a good time on the whole. Of course you'd expect them to enjoy playing regular football but I'm surprised how the midfielders have suddenly become goal machines since leaving here. In short spells away, Kennedy and O'Keefe have already scored more than in the rest of their careers put together, Adeyemi is having his best season and even Huws is chipping in as part of a miserable Ipswich team. What do we do wrong here when it comes to scoring from midfield?

One other thing. I can't remember one loan player this season saying how they want to impress Warnock/City while on loan so they can force their way back in for next season, which has been the case in the past. It's probably just an acceptance that they don't have a future here (which appears to be the general consensus of opinion on here too), but it's a bit worrying when players seem so happy to sign for struggling teams like Rotherham or Ipswich without even a tinge of regret that it hasn't happened for them here.