The loan deadline has now passed. What we have now, is what we have got for the rest of the season. We are only two or three injuries away from struggling who to pick again, it`s certainly a good job we are all but safe now.
I do see what Grant is doing, fringe players such as McVeigh and Henderson are being given a chance to get some matches under their belt and youngsters such as the Jarvis brothers and Joe Lewis need to gain first team experience, which is fine – a good move from our manager.
Nevertheless, I would like to have seen one or two players brought in. I know we don`t have much to play for and we are all but mathematically safe from relegation, but I want to finish as high as possible this year. Thinking about it, just one cheeky loan signing would have been fine for me. Not sure which position I wanted or who I wanted, just slightly concerned that we have let so many players go out on loan and brought nobody in.
One reason that we haven`t brought anyone in – I guess – is finances. We haven`t got a huge amount of money to spend, our parachute payments are now finished and it is all about next year. We don`t want to be paying a huge loan fee or high wages to bring someone in on loan for ten games in a season where, in reality – we haven`t got much to play for.
It is worth noting the amount of players that have left the club since Peter Grant took over, either permanently or on loan. He has obviously come in, seen what he doesn`t fancy, seen who needs games and acted on it. Good on him I suppose. Grant joined us in October, here`s a list of out goings since he came to the club.
Craig Fleming – Rotherham – Permanent
Carl Robinson – Toronto – Permanent
Ryan Jarvis – Leyton Orient – Season Loan
Ian Henderson – Rotherham – Season Loan
Rossi Jarvis – Torquay and Rotherham – Loan
Matthew Halliday – Torquay – Loan
Joe Lewis – Stockport – Season Loan
Paul McVeigh – Burnley – Season Loan
A quick word on McVeigh – I know he hasn`t been at his best in the last couple of years, but he`s been a top, top servant to this club. His form in the play-off season and the season after that was nothing short of sensational. He still is a talented player and I think he`ll do a job for Burnley – he needs a fresh start. Good job he can`t play against us when we travel to Turf Moor, because he`s just one of those players that you just know will score against us. I predict he`ll have four or five goals for Steve Cotteril`s men before the end of the season.
McVeigh`s future will now be uncertain, as will a number of other players. The likes of Louis-Jean and Peter Thorne I think are certain to leave in the summer. Grant`s intentions to get rid of any dead wood are clear and this will come to fruition during the summer. Hopefully during this period though, we will be a couple of players in as well. You`d like to think so anyway!
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