The loan system can be the making of more men like Townsend
By Gary Neville.
There is a huge debate at present as to how we can ensure that young English players receive enough playing time to bring them up to Premier League and international standard.
Last Tuesday at Wembley we were provided with part of the solution to that problem. The loan system has its detractors. Some see it as a way of imposing feeder clubs by stealth and a threat to the independence of lower league, or even Premier League, clubs that rely on loan players. Regulation is required in any system to ensure it is not abused.
But few could dispute that the amount of time spent on loan by Tottenham’s Andros Townsend during the past four years contributed massively to the performances he gave for England last week.
Not in his wildest dreams could Andros have thought he would have the debut he did nine days ago against Montenegro, when his boldness and his courage to take the ball lifted the crowd as well as his own team-mates. It was the moment for which he has worked all his life and he looked excited by it, rather than overwhelmed
On the way up: Andros Townsend on loan at Yeovil Town (left) and making his England debut
Peak form: Townsend clebrates his goal against Montenegro in exuberant fashion
For me, his performance against Poland was even better, given that he had to recover from the emotional and physical exertions of his debut and that the Poles would have been ready for him. That he could play with the same amount of quality and verve was a credit to him and testament to the grounding he has had in football. Andros is 22 but has already played in 143 games.
If there is one thing a young player needs between the ages of 18-22 to help him make the step from being a talented prospect to an international and Premier League player, it is games. By which I mean proper games, in front of a real crowd that is passionate about their football and the result; playing with team-mates who are scrapping for their livelihoods; and for a manager who is under pressure week in, week out.
That’s where you understand the importance of taking responsibility. And the earlier in your career you do it, the better.
Playing in the Under 21 Premier League or the reserves just isn’t the same. At Manchester United, I was told that I couldn’t call myself a senior player until I had played in 100 games. By then, you had been through three seasons of football, experienced enough highs and lows, some good patches of form and difficult periods, to know what being a footballer was about.
Experience: Townsend gained vital playing time under his belt at QPR last season. He also has a
spell at Leyton Orient on his c.v. (below), pictured in 2009 battling with Stoke's Tom soares
You wouldn’t normally think that number of loan moves that Andros has had — nine in four years — would be ideal. Some of them will have been difficult periods and some of them would have been good. But I’m sure they all contributed to toughening his character.
You might think that playing at Leyton Orient and Millwall can hardly prepare you for playing for England at Wembley. But that is where you learn to be a professional.
People talk about the challenge of playing in front of huge crowds, the atmospheres of Anfield, Elland Road or Galatasaray, some of the most hostile I have experienced. But what’s equally intimidating is playing in front of few thousand people where when you can hear every single shout from each individual fan.
I remember playing at Exeter City in an FA Cup third-round replay and that can be just as unnerving as a Champions League game. It’s no different in football or other professions. Think of the Beatles playing The Cavern Club in Liverpool or Oasis playing small clubs like the Boardwalk in Manchester and travelling up and down the country playing in front of a few hundred people. That’s where you learn your trade. That’s where you build up a back catalogue so that when you play Wembley, you’re as ready as you can be.
There will always be exceptions — players such as Cesc Fabregas at Arsenal or Wayne Rooney at Everton, who can step straight into a team at 16 — but the vast majority of players need a body of work behind them if they are ever to take on the bigger challenges.
If you're good enough: Cesc Fabregas (pictured left with Michal Papadopulos) became the youngest player to score for Arsenal in 2003 in a League Cup tie against Wolves, while Wayne Rooney (right) made his Premier League debut against Spurs aged just 16
Step up in class: Rooney (right) hit a hat-trick on his Champions League debut as Manchester
United beat Fenerbahce 6-2 in 2004
David Beckham has spoken about how being on loan at Preston helped develop his career and that it made him understand that real football was not always a bed of roses. Frank Lampard has spoken about how his loan spell at Swansea, who were then in what was the equivalent of League One, helped him to do that.
The year at Sunderland gave Danny Welbeck the belief that he could perform in the Premier League. Kyle Walker thrived during his loan back to his original club, Sheffield United, and during his time on loan at QPR and Aston Villa after he signed for Tottenham at 19.
Tom Cleverley went to Wigan to work with Roberto Martinez, a manager who believes in good passing and movement, and both club and player benefited massively. That’s when it works well, when a manager can be trusted to play the loan player in the style in which his club need him to in order to develop. It can go wrong though: Giuseppe Rossi went to Newcastle and only started three games. That’s just a waste of time.
Too many young starlets burst on to the scene with some sparkling displays for the first team in their teens. They stay in the team for a few games and, because of the promise they have shown, they remain in the squad rather than going on loan, because they are deemed first-team players.
Confidence trick: Tom Cleverley (above) excelled on loan at Wigan, as did Manchester United
team-mate Danny Welbeck (below)
But they can end up trawling around the country in large squads not playing. Even training becomes disrupted as they taper for games they might play in, but never actually do. They can end up getting neither the game, nor training time, required. The problem gets worse when either the manager or player feel that going back into Under 21 games is degrading. So they end up undercooked and not ready for the heat of competition.
Ironically, because Andros never made that first-team breakthrough until this season, he has been spared that fate. His manager, Andre Villas-Boas, understandably expressed some concern before the Ukraine game when he was first called up, worrying that it be a short-term fix and that could overexpose him.
But Villas-Boas must be delighted that he can send a player out at Aston Villa who will feel like he is walking on water.
And when you look at how many of those England players have benefited from the loan system, you have to say it will be crucial for developing our young players in future. It may not be the answer to the problem of developing English talent; but it certainly will be part of the solution.
Time for United to up the tempo
Manchester United’s performance against Southampton was much better than their last home match against West Bromwich Albion.
But there is still a sense that David Moyes is finding out about his players and his own way in the job.
The key for me is that the speed of their game through the midfield is not quick enough.
United have always been about those relentless waves of attacks, sustained for good periods without counter, which would eventually overwhelm the opposition.
Caught short: Manchester United were much improved against Southampton, but boss David Moyes (pictured blow left alongside Mauricio Pochettino) must instil more sped into the midfield
Because this isn’t happening opponents have time to rest and recover between attacks.
And it means teams are perhaps playing a few more attacking players against United and going into games with a bit more confidence than usual.
Southampton certainly showed that in the first 20 minutes of the game.
I have no doubt that David Moyes will be an excellent United manager. But for now he is having to endure some painful results.
Source: Daily Mail / G. Neville
