Isgrove Happy To Pen Loan Extension - More from the official site... 04-01-2016 05:00 PM <a href="http://wall.barnsleyfc.co.uk/Event/Barnsley"></a>
The last 2 games he has been impressive but before that only average. Shooting is not one of his stronger points!
Another "try before you buy"? We've tried, surely we've seen enough by now to either buy or send back. Baffled as usual.
From the Supporters Trust website after meeting with Ben and Patrick: “Most of our loans are with a view to a possible purchase, with exception of the arsenal lad”. If you look at a few of the loans we have currently we have an agreed transfer fee with their club. A sort of try before you buy. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. Yes we are still using the loan market, but in a more calculated way than before.” Have we actually signed a single one of them on a permanent basis?
No, because they're either no good (Smith, Wilkinson), or if they do well we won't be able to afford them/bigger clubs will want them/they don't want to stay as they think they can do better (Pearson).
Isgrove's ok. I mean he works hard, he's quick & he seems to have a good reading of the game but the lads 22, has come through a top academy like Southampton but technically is shocking. I don't get it. He's good enough for league one but how's he stayed at Southampton so long? He's a winger who isn't a good crosser of a ball & he doesn't have a trick or a feint. He literally gets the ball & just runs. Doesn't drop the shoulder or anything. Find it a bit weird he's spent his whole career there.
I'm thinking the 'try before you buy' is maybe a smokescreen that's more of a 'we'll see if they're ***** or not first' then try and sign the better ones. I can't believe for a second that (Crowley apart) we'd managed to sort 'some deal' or at least an agreement or understanding for the other 10 or so we've had this season?!?
I suppose they do say 'possible' purchase. As in it's possible we might get them but in all probability we won't. So it's exactly the same situation with loan players as it always has been. We rely on them far too much and have to reassemble a new squad every transfer window. Where have all the flowers gone.