Player Suggestion Will Smallbone

[Blade56]

Can’t see us bringing in free signings something that really bugs me wilder said several times we were after the big name loan signings yet we haven’t signed one I called a big loan signings.

Doughety

 

[Lord Eddard Muir]

Can’t see us bringing in free signings something that really bugs me wilder said several times we were after the big name loan signings yet we haven’t signed one I called a big loan signings.

Surely Kalvin Phillips counts as a big name loan signing

 

[Ron_Justice]

Henderson, Gibbs-White, Macatee only became big name loan signings after the fact. I suspect Donovan will be regarded as a success this time next year.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Henderson, Gibbs-White, Macatee only became big name loan signings after the fact. I suspect Donovan will be regarded as a success this time next year.

But we should have tried for more from that sort of profile. Wilder is too averse to venturing into something unknown, whereas Heckingbottom / McCall backed their coaching skills.

 

[Ron_Justice]

But we should have tried for more from that sort of profile. Wilder is too averse to venturing into something unknown, whereas Heckingbottom / McCall backed their coaching skills.

Yeah, I'd have liked more. Think we've been hampered by pragmatism and money. According to some AI research I did, there's a couple of factors that Wilder alluded to - a reduction in players of that profile being available. The research suggests that PL Clubs A) prefer a lower stakes platform for first time loanees, so L1 & 2 are preferred and B) the cost of getting Starlet players looking for a 'finishing school' are now prohibitive because the new financial rules is also effecting PL clubs so, they want a higher, even complete, wage contribution from clubs.

Zooming out a bit, it's not a good look for players, in general. If clubs aren't willing to loan out youngsters as readily, clubs that hoard talent are going to be even more bloated. Maybe these measures will help address the hoarding and clubs will leave more youngsters on the table and the talent will spread throughout the pyramid more evenly. Or not, money talks and the top 6 are almost a law unto themselves.

 

[Blades1971]

Be careful of these freebies. Why are they free? Not good enough. Injury prone.. And not upto match fitness. These are gambles. We haven't the money for gambling

 

[Wright1889]

Be careful of these freebies. Why are they free? Not good enough. Injury prone.. And not upto match fitness. These are gambles. We haven't the money for gambling

I raise you one David McGoldrick.

 

[Working Class Hero]

But we should have tried for more from that sort of profile. Wilder is too averse to venturing into something unknown, whereas Heckingbottom / McCall backed their coaching skills.

That seems an odd point to make when 2 of the 4 in question were signed by Wilder, and only 1 was signed by Hecky/McCall

 

[Nick Jansky]

Surely Kalvin Phillips counts as a big name loan signing

It’s only four syllables. Is Jan Venegoor of Hesselink still playing? That would be a big name signing.

 

[ISZA ⚔️]

Be careful of these freebies. Why are they free? Not good enough. Injury prone.. And not upto match fitness. These are gambles. We haven't the money for gambling

 

[Yogi]

Henderson, Gibbs-White, Macatee only became big name loan signings after the fact. I suspect Donovan will be regarded as a success this time next year.

Not to put down Donovan because he does look good but the three examples of Henderson, MGW and McAtee were higher profile at the time we brought them in.

MGW had made premier league appearances and a decent chunk of them as a teenager and had during that time been widely regarded as one of the best young midfielders in the country. I’m still astonished Wolves let him out on loan and even more shocked they decided it was a good idea to sell him afterwards.

McAtee despite not having had a senior loan before coming to us was widely known to be the 2nd best attacking player behind Cole Palmer in what was a very strong crop of academy players for Man City at that time. It was widely thought a real coup for United to get him when we did. I know it took him a bit to get his legs under him and settle but he was a very high profile loan who came with real expectations.

Again not to put down Donovan because he’s looked very good but he’s a player Brentford took a punt on 12 months ago paying about 4 mill for him. He looks very very good and hopefully has a great career here and in the future but he doesn’t come with the same expectations MGW and McAtee but that doesn’t mean he can’t be hopefully as impactful.

 

[Mojo]

Not to put down Donovan because he does look good but the three examples of Henderson, MGW and McAtee were higher profile at the time we brought them in.

MGW had made premier league appearances and a decent chunk of them as a teenager and had during that time been widely regarded as one of the best young midfielders in the country. I’m still astonished Wolves let him out on loan and even more shocked they decided it was a good idea to sell him afterwards.

McAtee despite not having had a senior loan before coming to us was widely known to be the 2nd best attacking player behind Cole Palmer in what was a very strong crop of academy players for Man City at that time. It was widely thought a real coup for United to get him when we did. I know it took him a bit to get his legs under him and settle but he was a very high profile loan who came with real expectations.

Again not to put down Donovan because he’s looked very good but he’s a player Brentford took a punt on 12 months ago paying about 4 mill for him. He looks very very good and hopefully has a great career here and in the future but he doesn’t come with the same expectations MGW and McAtee but that doesn’t mean he can’t be hopefully as impactful.

Good post. All in all Donovan has probably started his lane career better than all of them.