He doesn't need speed, he has a quickness of thought. I watch a lot of Scottish football whilst in Scotland, and Neil Lennon for Celtic never ran more than 5 yards, but was the conduit in midfield to keep the ball moving. He is a much better player than him, but does a similar job, as long as he has workhorses around him like Meyler and Livermore did, and Docherty and Honeyman we have now, he can do a good job for us IMO.
If Tom is anyway near the player he was then having a couple of non stop workers like Honeyman alongside him would work and give him that bit more freedom to get his passing game going. We all know he’s a super footballer on the ball but it’s obviously his age and how hungry he is. Hopefully he will make a big impact on this young squad.
McLoughlin badly needs game time somewhere - he is too good to not be playing competitive games in some league somewhere.
We can only bring in one more loan to add to the match day squad, so if Scott goes as expected, then all our slots will be used up. Don't really see how we could benefit from loaning out McLouglin as well.
Have to say I'm slightly in two minds about having Tom back. Great bloke it seems and a great influence but if it was a choice between getting him back or getting Slater, I do wonder if over the course of a season Slater would make the bigger contribution. Can we assume that ship has now sailed?
... also, I don't see the benefit all round in loaning him out IF that is being considered. Maybe it isn't being considered by the club at all and it's just talk on here. IF he isn't deemed good enough for our squad by now then surely the club should be looking to sell or release him? He'll soon be 25!! He's been with us more than 2 years. He played half a season on loan in the SPL more than a year ago. He was given a 3 year contract back in March, so presumably McCann does think he's good enough (or was it just that he was cheap?) and another loan therefore doesn't serve to run down the contract to it's end. I don't know if he's good enough or not, but another loan doesn't seem right to me. Either use him or move him on.
If someone offered a third of what we paid for him he’d be long gone a very poor signing. He has shown absolutely nothing.
Honestly I think he'd do well in a back 3 or 5 with us. I've noticed a lot of teams in the Championship play a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3 these days to the point where a back 4 is the exception rather than the norm.
I think it was a short head between him and Greaves as to who got the nod when JDW was crocked... the problem is, we all know the second he's put on loan he'll either get crocked himself or Greaves will... much can be said about Emmanuel too, for me, better than Coyle and he'd walk into most teams in this division...
I don't see Emmanuel going out. Think it's likely to be 1 out 1 in - in a like for like loan switch with either Eaves/Scott or McLouchlin, or both.
That's correct, you can have five in a matchday squad, but more in the overall squad. Problem is if one of your permanent players gets injured, you're left with too many loanees.
