retired_mariam02k

Question: What factors should determine whether I should list a player for loan?

I'm managing a club in the English Premier League, I have enough players in my reserve squad to field a complete team, I'm managing reserve fixtures, and my reserve team is doing great. They're winning and I like the idea of having a close eye on developing players. Am I impeding their development by not giving them first team experience at a lower level?

retired_svand67

Good question, you would automatically assume that competative football, even if at a lower level, was better for a young player's development than resere team games.

However, I have noticed that players develop better at the club, with it's facilities, than away on loan.

Even if the players perform well on their loan spell, they nearly always come back saying it was a waste of time.

So personally, I keep them in the reserves and only loan them out if they are not cover for the first team.

retired_w0lfpack1

Hey there: here's a list of links to previous comments on the topic of youth development and loans:

1. Getting the out of my youngsters

2. Whats the point of loans


3. Squad Personality?

4. Burning Youngsters Out

5. Getting the most out of my players

6. Training Youth Players

7. Youth Players

The key things you're looking for are:
- a high standard of league
- quality training facilities
- void at the player's position (so he plays!)
- good coaches

Note that not all of these comments are "correct" for FM'08 - for example the bit about training in "Whats the point of loans" is obsolete, but the gist of the post holds.

retired_w0lfpack1

As for "How do I tell who to loan out?", as an EPL side I figure if I'm going to get a player ten to fifteen games with the senior side, its worth keeping him at the club, and if not, then I want to loan him out.

So, at a typical position, I might have the following. (Looking at my current left wingers)

1. 28-year-old, International star - starts my most challenging games (C.L., tough EPL matches, etc.)

2. 25-year-old - experienced quality player. Starts against easier opponents when star is tired. Obviously cover for injury. Gets some Reserve starts to keep him match fit.

3. 19-year-old - my star of the future. Starts Cup games against lower division clubs. I also try to get him in as a substitute fairly frequently, and he's started a few when #1 or #2 is injured. Plays regularly in the Reserves.

4. 20-year-old - out on season-long loan to a top Championship side, for which he's starting regularly. Barely not as good as the 19-year-old (currently), and I'm intrigued to see which of them develops more from it. Has a recall clause, so if there's an injury crisis (or he wasn't starting) I can bring him back.

5. 21-year-old - out on season-long loan to a mid-table Championship side. I've concluded that he's not going to "make it"; he'll never push aside #3 or #4 enough to get a chance here, so I'll probably transfer-list him next summer.

6. 18-year-old - starting in my U-18s. I might try to get him a 3-month loan later in the season, likely at the League One or League Two level. I wouldn't loan him any lower than that.

7. 16-year-old - one for the far future, too young to loan out IMO, but I'm worried that lack of U-18 time isn't helping his development.

Next year, I'll probably throw the competition for the #2 spot wide open: ideally, I'd like to see #3 and #4 push my current #2 aside and really start getting some serious playing time - even though he'll still be "better" by both attributes and experience at that point.

retired_svand67

:thup:

Top posts! Thanks!

retired_mariam02k

Wow, thanks for going to the trouble of linking those posts. I'll devour the info in them and I'm sure it'll help me decide what to do with my rising talent.

Thanks a lot!

retired_w0lfpack1

You're welcome, gents. I keep meaning to condense and digest them into a single, longer post, updated for FM'08, kinda like the "Psychology" one over in T&TT, but I've not made the time to.