Potential Loan Signings: Part 1
- essentialbrentford
- Jul 12, 2015
- 4 min read
Following our assessment of Brentford's loan policy last season (which can be found here: http://www.essentialbrentford.com/#!Brentfords-Loan-Policy-Success-or-Failure/ccrb/55a0e7c10cf25466c29d8c01 ) we take a look at potential loan signings for this season. In this, the first of a two-part seires of articles, we look at potenital English loan signings for Brentford, and indeed other Championsip clubs.
The ‘Moneyball’ approach to scouting under Dijkhuizen, Giles and Ankersen (the Holy Trinity) removes the subjectivity of flair and image from the procedure, statistics dictating their signings, therefore some loan signings may well be made in direct contrast so as to provide that extra dimension. Think Forrester, Forshaw, or even Pritchard himself (fingers crossed more in hope than belief).
The players we're looking at are those who might add that element of flair and class to the squad, even if the Benham’s statistical approach may not have picked them out.
Roland Aarons is a young winger who broke into the Newcastle team towards the end of last season, providing a glimmer of hope to desperate Magpies fans during their long winless streak. He broke into the England U20s and is said to have impressed at the recent Toulon Tournament.
Jesse Lingard is another talented winger, though he can play inside, who has impressed over the break, most memorably with an excellent driven volley for the U21 side in their win against Norway.
It is unlikely that he’ll be playing for parent club Manchester United any time soon and so a loan spell such as he had at Derby last season could be an attractive proposal for the young man.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, it has been suggested, will play some part in Chelsea’s attempt to retain the Premier League title next season and so may not be available at all. If this turns out not to be the case however then Brentford must target the 18 year-old. Another young Lion, he displayed unbelievable touch and physical ability in the European Championships and looks sure to be a star of the future. Could he follow Josh McEachran from Stamford Bridge to Griffin Park?
With early speculation that Everton were preparing a bid for the Bees’ Moses Odubajo it would appear important to consider possible replacements in the attacking full-back position. The player we have picked out in this regard is in fact another Toffee, Tyias Browning.
Having both debuted and impressed in the latest Merseyside derby the 21 year-old looks very capable both going forward and in defence. Furthermore the two clubs’ excellent relationship makes this proposition.
Jordan Ibe is another Premier League winger to have gained experience at Championship level, his having also represented Derby recently. Breaking into the Liverpool squad last season was highly impressive and the boy’s ability on the ball combined with excellent pace might give Brentford the outlet that was perhaps lost with the loss of Donaldson to Birmingham.
Merseyside has a long history of producing young footballing talent and, though not himself Scouse, this Everton prospect is a full back to really get excited about. Brendan Galloway signed from MK Dons at the age of 19 and has since made a few first team starts for the blues. However, he is still in the shadow of both Leighton Baines and Luke Garbutt who, having recently signed a 5 year contract, must be expecting to make the left-back spot his own. This plays into Brentford’s hands though as a loan is surely the next step in his career. Don’t be surprised to see this lad challenging former Toffee Jake Bidwell for the striped shirt in the near-future.
Nathaniel Chalobah did not impress on the occasions Bees fans were able to see him play last season; part of a weak Reading midfield it is worth considering the extent to which his ability was undermined by those around him. Proof of this is perhaps Gareth Southgate’s unfaltering inclusion of the young Chelsea player ahead of the likes of Will Hughes and even, at times, little Pritch. Loan spells at Burnley and then Reading showed him to be unready for a Chelsea appearance though he might make great back-up to the ageing Jonathan Douglas.
Another Arsenal player who might be on offer is right/centre back Calum Chambers. The arrival of Bellerin and then Gabriel mean that realistically Chambers has little chance of representing Arsenal in the coming seasons and may therefore be a viable option for Brentford. The recent record signing (£2.1 million) of Andreas Bjelland from FC Twente as well as the vast improvement in both Tarkowski and Dean’s games may render this possibility redundant however, never mind the unknown quantity that is Jack O’Connell.
A fourth loanee who could make a return is Leicester’s Liam Moore. Playing only 4 games for the Bees during his brief loan spell I didn’t see enough reason to give analysis of his time with us. Leicester are looking to build on a strong end to the Premier League season, one in which Moore played little part, and as such may be looking to offload players such as Moore, albeit temporarily, as the likes of Robert Huth make their transfers permanent.
It is for this reason that Liam may be a viable option for the Bees but his return, I would argue, is highly unlikely given the stuttering form he has showed in both the first and second tiers of English football, as well as Brentford's abundance of centre backs already.
Conor McAleny sffered a horrendous leg-break away at Gillingham mid-way through Brentford League 1 promotion season and has never been the same since. U21 games as well as a spell at Cardiff last season never saw the 22 year old forward-come-winger regain the pace and agility which he showed at times for the Bees. Everton would be very willing to send him to a club who play football in the progressive manner to which we have grown accustomed but, despite Europa League experience, Conor would be a real risk and his slowed development at this relatively old age may prove a short-coming in Brentford’s scouting of the player.
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