So this time last month, many of us were squabbling as to who should be starting in the centre of midfield. Should it be the in form Montrose? or the more consistent Payne? Sadly we no longer have this luxury with both of these players going out on loan. Payne looks unlikely to return with a permanent deal waiting in the wings, but would it be wise to perhaps recall Montrose? Still early days into his Oxford loan I know, but at the moment we have a serious issue, one of which Montrose would be able to address. For people who remember that I preferred Payne over Montrose (probably Gemini), please remember that at the time, I felt that Montrose was no better than what we had in that position (Jackman and Payne). I never said that he was a bad player. He is now the best we have in that position if we can bring him back.
Everyone who joined in the argument as to whether Payne/Montrose/Jackman should be in the team would have happily acknowledged that the club benefitted from having a choice between them and I doubt if anyone wanted more than one to leave. For all three to go was MAdness but at least there was a case (both business and ambition) for Payne have a go elsewhere. Coming back to Pegleg's point about recalling Montrose, he earned rave reviews and won man of the match in his first game for Oxford, since when he has not played. I assume this means he is injured.
He is injured, but can anyone seriously expect him to be recalled when MA has signed two players to play in his poition. That would be one huge loss of face.
Maybe Payne will play terribly at Peterborough, come back to us for the rest of the season, and fix everything!
