The Loan Star Curse …
In early 1995, a young David Beckham was deemed to be falling behind the development of other members of United’s 1992 golden generation. Something needed to be done and quickly.
Alex Ferguson, before his enoblement, concluded that the midfielder’s best hope lay in surviving the steepest of learning curves far away from the glitz and pamper of Old Trafford. A crestfallen Beckham was farmed out to Preston but showing the character that would later become a trademark, took all that was positive from the experience. An Old Trafford injury crisis led to Beckham’s rapid return, a United legend in the making.
Alas, Beckham is an all too rare example of the loan system working to United’s favour. The imminent return from Rangers of David Bardsley and Lee Martin after an ill-fated loan mission and the sale last month of David Jones, a veteran loan star, have renewed suspicions that a call into the manager’s office for a chat about a possible loan deal marks the end of the player’s United career. The sound of a loan deal is a Red door slamming shut.
After two years on loan, what hopes does the much-heralded, £3.5 million rated, Chinese international Dong Fangzhou have of ever running out at Old Trafford in a meaningful fixture? The Chinese forward qualifies for a European passport this month after his stint at United’s Belgian feeder club Antwerp. Sir Alex tried the player in pre-season friendlies and was moved to praise his efforts. Ferguson said of the 21 year old : “He has the speed and physicality and his technique is improving all the time.” This was a paternal pat on the head for a player whom few expect to be challenging Saha or Rooney as leader of United’s attack.
The names of other youngsters who rose through United ranks only to be cast out via the loan system should be a roll call of calamity for the United coaching system. Wallwork, Davis, Webber, Mulryne, Healey, MacShane, Spector and Ebanks Blake are just a few of United’s tried and failed young starlets of recent years. Perhaps, these are the casualties of United’s fight to the death for the very best talents, a price worth paying for excellence. Only brilliant young players make the grade at Old Trafford. The merely very good go elsewhere. Nevertheless, it is in the United tradition to rear players good enough for the first team. There should be great concern, especially in these straightened times, when a once distinguished production line appears to be grinding to a halt.
Bardsley must hope that his name will not be the next to be added to the list of failures but has every reason to worry about his immediate future. United have solid experience in defence and Sir Alex might decide that for this season at least, another spell away from Old Trafford is warranted. The Mirror reports today that both Blackburn and Watford are interested in the fullback.
Striker Giuseppe Rossi is another young player who will return to United in the new year with much to prove. Rossi’s candle does not burn so brightly now following his shock exposure at Newcastle. For so long United’s ace in reserve, Rossi will return with the whiff of a joker about him. Newcastle’s Glenn Roeder has had the chance to examine the player at close quarters and has clearly decided that, even with the Toon’s striking woes, Rossi may be Red but in Premiership terms, he is still very green.
The picture was so much brighter three months ago when news broke that United were ready to loan their most promising reserve. The move was condemned within these pages and elsewhere as a terrible mistake. Letting go the youngster who had scored four goals in 12 first-team games for United last term, would expose United’s striking frailties. Rossi’s goal poaching prowess was essential if United were not to be over-reliant on the first choice Saha and Rooney and back-up crocks Solskjaer and Smith.
Sir Alex smothered the criticism by pointing to the player’s determination to get first team experience and reassured fans that Rossi would be welcomed back into the fold a better, more seasoned footballer. “When he returns, he will be a more experienced player who will be able to offer us much more.”
August seems a long time ago now for Sir Alex Ferguson, who has voiced his disappointment at Newcastle’s decision to restrict the 19 year old to a sprinkling of games, mostly as a substitute.
“Giuseppe will come back to us because he is just not getting enough football at Newcastle,” said Ferguson. The understanding we had with them was that he would play more games. Every manager is subject to their own opinions on players, so I don’t want to say too much about that. But we could have done with him here, so he might as well come back to us.”
For Rossi’s plight at Newcastle, read that of defender Gerard Pique. The Spaniard too has failed to break through at Real Zaragoza and is not playing regularly.
In stark contrast to the outfield loan stars, United’s goalkeepers can consider their temporary rent deals to have gone exactly as planned. Tim Howard is the number one sticksman at Everton and but for a knee surgery, Ben Foster would be challenging for a regular England squad place on the back of his performances for Watford. Whether either player can be certain of a long term future to Old Trafford or even a return in time for next season is debateable.
The loan star curse hangs over all the players now tied to United but playing elsewhere. For some, like the emerging Johnny Evans, a period away represents no more than a stepping stone, a toughening experience to be endured before a certain recall to the Theatre of Dreams. For others, it is a staging post on the conveyor belt to the Championship. AU
© Copyright: Absolutely United 2006
