UNTOLD ARSENAL » 2009 » February » 24
I have just been struck by the number of players we currently have on loan. I suspect this must be an all time record for us – and maybe for any league club.
- Jay Simpson: WBA
- Gavin Hoyte: Watford
- Rui Fonte: Crystal Palace
- Henri Lansbury, Scunthorpe Utd
- Paul Rodgers: Northampton Town
- Rene Steer: Gillingham
- Armand Treore: Portsmouth
- Nacer Bararaozite: Derby County
- James Dunne: Nottingham Forest
- Kerrea Gilber: Leicester
- Abu Ogogo Barnet
- Philippe Senderos: A C Milan
- Pedro Botelho: UD Salamanca
- Vincent van den Berg FC Zwolle
That makes 14 players out on loan! And quite probably I have missed someone.
What makes me think of this particularly is the news that Celtic are in discussion with the Scottish FL over the option of playing their reserve team in the Scottish 3rd division.
This notion came up here some months back where we were looking at the fact that in Spain this is the way it happens – the big teams play their reserve teams in division 2, and just have the rule that if the reserves win the league, they can’t go up to the top division.
We were suggesting that if the Football League continue with their 19th century view that this is not possible in England, maybe Arsenal could have a reserve team in Spain, instead of players out on loan all over the place.
If the Celtic deal goes through it could open up the option in England. I personally think this would be a great option, not just because it would keep more of our youngsters together, but also because it would allow tens of thousands of fans around the country who never get the chance to watch Arsenal, to go and see the stars of next year playing in lower league stadia.
I say this as one who has trooped along to some away reserve games in the Midlands (where I live) and it has always been enjoyable – although it would have been better in front of a large more partizan crowd.
So, maybe here’s another campaign. Arsenal loan team to come home and take Ebbsfleet’s place in the Conference.
And speaking of campaigns, yesterday’s blog says that the idea that came from Gunner.sk about no points for a draw, also noted that quite often our ideas get taken up elsewhere without acknowledgment. (And sometimes not just the idea – on which there is of course no copyright – but the whole sodding article gets reprinted without acknowledgement).
Yesterday an hour after we published the story about no points for 0-0, Football 365 did the same sort of story. Absolutely not copying my words – just a run through of the same idea.
I knocked off a fairly intemperate email to the editor saying it would have been nice for an acknowledgment, and got a reply back saying that their story arrived in their offices at the same time as mine was published. I’ve tried to go back and find the F365 piece to read it again, but because I am writing from home before toddling off down south I can’t find it.
But from memory, I don’t think it mentioned the original – which I cited and which was published the day before – of the article on the topic from Gunner.sk – which is still a bit of a shame. (But I could be wrong – as I said I can’t find it to check).
Anyway, one up to Gunner.sk for coming up with the idea first = your fame (with or without acknowledgement) is spreading through Football 365 and this august site. Tomorrow the Daily Mail, after which it is uphill all the way.
Now, about this Italian job…
(c) Tony Attwood 2009