Loan Players Good Or Bad Idea?

I am more in favour of young players coming in, who their parent club see them as having a future with them. Sometimes we get players who aren't wanted and they just become squad fillers. I suspect, someone of the better loans we have had to contribute a fair amount towards their wages (well what we can). Some players are not often seen, but it's very rare to find talented players like Jack Grealish, Callum McGregor, Ryan Yates, and Jorge Grant.

Certainly, I believe we should be looking out for them and willing to incorporate good talented loan players. Had Lewis Macari not been given a chance, it's highly unlikely we would be including him in this and the fact we managed to secure his services full time - it's a positive sign of how the loan system can compliment your squad.

well you would want players like mentioned in this discussion, over loans which never seemed to be given the chance i.e ollie tipton. we have no idea if he could have been a useful signing but because he did not play much and with luke williams never seeming to give him a chance it makes it rather a pointless signing.

i think loans should only be explored in areas where signing a permanent player might not give us further strength in that position. i would rather see a good loan signing be made, than for the club to sign someone who clearly sits on the bench or out of the match day squad completely.

The article presents a balanced view on loan players, but I lean towards seeing more homegrown talents on the pitch. The success stories of loan players are tempting, but nothing beats seeing a young player from our academy breaking into the first team and staying there. It's about building a legacy and identity for Notts County, something that constantly rotating loan players can't provide. We need a long-term vision.

Honestly, the loan system can be a double-edged sword. While we've seen talents like Grealish shine, it's painful when key players are recalled unexpectedly. Balanced approach is key.

Thanks for your thoughts fellow Fans, there are some good points in all your replies and hopefully more Magpie followers will join the debate. Regarding Lewis and Jodi , Lewis was coming to the end of his contract (I believe) and his loan was an ideal way for him to impress at Notts. And Jodi it would seem nobody would give the lad a chance after his A.C.L. injury and such a long time out of the game, it was a stroke of genius by the Notts recruitment team, to see what a fully Fit Jodi Jones could do for Notts and Boy as it paid off Big Time. The Main thing I have against loans is the good loan players benefit Notts in the short term, while Home Grown Talent could be there for a few seasons.

I've seen both sides of the loan system. While the article reminisces about the likes of Grealish and McGregor, it's crucial to acknowledge the broader implications. Loan players indeed bring immediate skill and experience, which is especially vital in crunch times of the season. However, the reliance on loan signings can sometimes stifle the growth of our homegrown talents, who spend yet another season on the sidelines or out on loan themselves. The delicate balance between nurturing our squad and supplementing it with loans is something the club management needs to master. It's about the future as much as it is about the present.

Great read, but I think loan players are vital for our strategy, especially in the lower leagues where budgets are tight. Players like Grant and Yates brought a lot to the team, and without such loans, we might have struggled more. Yes, the departure of a key loan player can disrupt the team, but it’s a risk worth taking for the potential rewards. The key is choosing the right loan players and having a backup plan.

This piece rightly highlights the mixed blessings of loan players. The temporary nature of these signings often leaves fans with a sense of what could have been. However, in the absence of significant investment, loan players provide a necessary solution to immediate problems. The real challenge lies in integrating these players without compromising the development and morale of the existing squad.

The issue with loan players, for me, is the lack of consistency. They might shine one season and disrupt team dynamics the next when they leave. Hard to build a team that way.

I understand that when we lend players, supporters of those teams might wish for a local player to get an opportunity. I get that. I also recognise that while young players won’t improve without playing, they need to be good enough to begin their journey. If they perform well, they become part of the team. The significance of the loan system is to increase the depth in key areas, not just with any player or youngster. This could be with seasoned talent, which is harder to find in the loan market, or promising young players who are more available but also more sought after. We’ve been lucky to have some top-notch loan players, so not all loan signings are poor. However, you have to play them to determine if they’re any good.

An excellent subject and a great read @Wheelbarrow repair man

I agree with many that the loan system is a good system when the loanee proves to be a success.We always remember the successes.

The downside to the loan system is when the loan doesn't work out for a variety of reasons which isn't always the fault of the player involved.

It is to no one's interest to see a player being loaned out to finish up sitting on the bench match after match with just a few minutes here or there of playing time.

The loan system has to be fair to all players being loaned out to clubs.

A player being loaned out to a club should be better than what's available at that club. That would avoid players not getting game time.

A decision should be made quickly to ascertain if the player loaned is going to get game time or not.

Reflecting on the article, it's clear that loan players have become an integral part of modern football, especially for clubs outside the top leagues. While I share the concern for our youth prospects, the reality of financial constraints cannot be ignored. Strategic loan signings, like Jack Grealish and Callum McGregor, have shown they can uplift the team dramatically. Yet, the club must also focus on creating a pathway for young talents to flourish, ensuring they don't become perpetual loanees or overlooked potentials. The balance is delicate but essential for the long-term health and success of Notts County.

The article hits home. Watching a loan player develop and then leave is bittersweet. I'm torn between the immediate benefits and the long-term impact on our own youngsters.

Loan players coming in can be a huge benefit at times when the squad needs strengthening because of injury or to boost a promotion push or fight against relegation. We’ve certainly seen some great players come in on loan as mentioned in the article but there have also been disappointments, I think it’s important to get the right kind of player, a hungry young player from the Premiership or Championship can be a huge boost to clubs like Notts.

I’m also in favour of our own young players going out on loan to gain experience of competitive games thereby preparing them for a time when hopefully they can make the step up to the first team. It’s a win win in my opinion.

Callum McGregor and Jqack Grealish were gems, weren't they? I wish loan deals always worked out like theirs. It's hit or miss, but those hits can be game-changers for us.

I support the idea of one or two loans, though I’ve appreciated how under the Reedtz, Notts has concentrated on signing and recruiting players permanently. The real quality at our level seems scarce, to get two players that are above our level in the same season is something I didn’t think would be achieved after Jack Grealish and Callum McGregor.

While Ryan Yates and Jorge Grant are not at their level, they’re still extremely good players that demonstrate the benefits of using the loan system wisely. I believe if this area is used incorrectly, it can be a waste of time. There’s no point in taking on players that aren’t up to the mark, it’s all about ensuring whoever comes in is of a good standard. If we can do this with players who we sign permanently, we should be able to do it more often in the loan market, budget permitting.

Loved seeing Grealish and McGregor play for Notts. It's those kind of loans that make me support the idea, despite the downsides.

I reckon there are aspects to both scenarios that make loan signings good and bad. It’s more about using common sense and bringing in players who have the skill and attitude to do well. Some, even the seasoned players, don’t make an effort because they are merely on loan. But when you sign someone who wants to prove themselves, usually out of favour like Jodi Jones, you can get the best out of them. He’s the prime example of how it can be successful, as he enjoyed his time here so much he signed on a permanent basis and his time here wasn’t a benefit to others. Not that I’m against that, it just counteracts giving our own lads a chance but the likes of Jack Grealish, Callum McGregor and Ryan Yates are good examples of why this does work albeit that Yates’ being recalled did harm the progress the club was making at the time.

The loan market should always focus on bringing in quality or something unique. I don’t think anyone could have predicted how successful some of the players we’ve had would become in their careers. We’re used to the ones who just disappear and their time ends up being forgotten, but sometimes you can use it as a way to test a player before buying. We had a defensive midfielder that was brought into the club from the non-league, I forget his name but he started off well.

I get why loans might not always work, but the arrivals like Ollie Tipton leave me puzzled. He's a young guy who can play as a center back or defensive midfielder, but he was overlooked when we needed cover in those positions. I'm all for loans, but I don't agree with bringing in players just to fill the numbers.

I can understand doing it for a goalkeeper as backup, but not for any other position.I'd rather see our own youngster play than signing someone for occasional matches. It feels like a waste, but I trust the club knows what they're doing overall. A couple of bad loans shouldn't overshadow the system's overall usefulness.