Carroll certainly was unusual in that he did nowt on loan yet came back and shone. I would still suggest the experience benefitted him better than playing reserve football prior to the first team. Fraser Forster certainly benefitted but sadly left a choice between him and Krul with neither wanting to be second fiddle so one had to be sold, our hand was forced sadly.
There is no doubt that a loan in mans football is better for the kids. However if in truth they are just not good enough anyway for our first team it's irrelevant although does improve them as players and puts them in the shop window to be sold hopefully to bring in revenue to provide the facilities to train the next batch. I do think though that too many managers, not just here, just don't give the lads a first team chance. Partly through fear of losing and partly through pressure from fans for glamour signings. A lot of the poor and average players we have paid good money for could have in fact been replaced by our kids who at least couldn't do worse and some unexpected gems would emerge. Either way saving the club money in transfer funds paid and probably wages and making some when the lesser ones are sold on as "first team" players. Managers have to have the bottle to do it. Fans have to support them in trying it even though some won't work and our academy and scouts need improving to get better players coming through anyway.
