I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Rak Sakyi did "ok" too ;-) But yeah, in general our use of the loan market has been poor for some time.
I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Most have, indeed, been a massive let down and the ones I believe ae currently playing at a higher level include Inniss, Rak-Sakyi, Millar, Smyth and Field. Of those, JRS is injured but, sadly given the club he is at, will I suspect be a good PL player.
I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Rak-Sakyi? But yes, pretty much unanimously rubbish other than those two, and we have consistently taken our full compliment of 5.
I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Most have, indeed, been a massive let down and the ones I believe ae currently playing at a higher level include Inniss, Rak-Sakyi, Millar, Smyth and Field. Of those, JRS is injured but, sadly given the club he is at, will I suspect be a good PL player.
Without being presumptuous our loan signings next year could be a bit better as Jones has the ability to improve them. Let's face it the last 3 managers wouldn't have had any pulling power.
I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Most have, indeed, been a massive let down and the ones I believe ae currently playing at a higher level include Inniss, Rak-Sakyi, Millar, Smyth and Field. Of those, JRS is injured but, sadly given the club he is at, will I suspect be a good PL player.
Inniss?
Wasn't on loan. I would say Famewo's first spell was reasonably successful though, as was Maatsen.
Zach has played a decent number of games for a young CB. Now he needs to fight for his space again. It is all a learning curve and will serve him well. He is a footballing CB and the Cowley's are more long ball so no surprise he doesn't suit their plans. They came in mid season so it's no one's fault in this instance. Whilst Colchester have too many loanees I believe he also missed a game where another loanee was injured so the too many loanees excuse is a bit "convenient" I believe. It shouldn't preclude us from sending a player to Colchester again but clearly if the Cowley's are still in charge we won't send a more technical player that way.
I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Most have, indeed, been a massive let down and the ones I believe ae currently playing at a higher level include Inniss, Rak-Sakyi, Millar, Smyth and Field. Of those, JRS is injured but, sadly given the club he is at, will I suspect be a good PL player.
Inniss?
/Yes, my apologies, I did mean Famewo now at Sheffield Wednesday
I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Most have, indeed, been a massive let down and the ones I believe ae currently playing at a higher level include Inniss, Rak-Sakyi, Millar, Smyth and Field. Of those, JRS is injured but, sadly given the club he is at, will I suspect be a good PL player.
Inniss?
Wasn't on loan. I would say Famewo's first spell was reasonably successful though, as was Maatsen.
The loan system is flawed. If a young player is loaned to gain experience but isn't involved, he should be allowed to return to the parent club to train and play academy football.
the loan club rightfully should retain the players services and can call him back on loan if the need exists.
Mitchell is at the front of the rank in terms of next youngster to get first team games and I'm sure jones would rather he be in the building where he can watch him train.
I think we have to stop allowing "loans of convenience" - on the one hand they notionally permit clubs to have more than they can actually play and on the other those loans can be, as with Fiorini, Castillo and John, ones where there are reasons beyond them actually contributing on the pitch. Make it a maximum of four inward loans at any one time but all four can play. Equally, don't allow PL clubs to send out on loan any more than say eight players at any one time - the two initiatives might prevent so many youngsters being "stock piled" and force PL clubs not to purchase players, from further down the food chain, until they have, actually, had a few years at the club where they came through the academy at. Not that PL clubs would ever agree to that - the likes of Chelsea and City probably have up to 20 out on loan at times!
The loan system is flawed. If a young player is loaned to gain experience but isn't involved, he should be allowed to return to the parent club to train and play academy football.
the loan club rightfully should retain the players services and can call him back on loan if the need exists.
Mitchell is at the front of the rank in terms of next youngster to get first team games and I'm sure jones would rather he be in the building where he can watch him train.
I get the sentiment but I’m not sure it’s that simple, what happens if he gets injured whilst back with his parent club - or if his loan team want him back in the match day squad but he just played an academy football game a couple of days before etc..
The loan system is flawed. If a young player is loaned to gain experience but isn't involved, he should be allowed to return to the parent club to train and play academy football.
the loan club rightfully should retain the players services and can call him back on loan if the need exists.
Mitchell is at the front of the rank in terms of next youngster to get first team games and I'm sure jones would rather he be in the building where he can watch him train.
I get the sentiment but I’m not sure it’s that simple, what happens if he gets injured whilst back with his parent club - or if his loan team want him back in the match day squad but he just played an academy football game a couple of days before etc..
do we still have a loan manager? Loan managers talk to the loan club
im guessing it's no different to a loan player playing for the loan clubs u-21's then playing for the first team
The loan system is flawed. If a young player is loaned to gain experience but isn't involved, he should be allowed to return to the parent club to train and play academy football.
the loan club rightfully should retain the players services and can call him back on loan if the need exists.
Mitchell is at the front of the rank in terms of next youngster to get first team games and I'm sure jones would rather he be in the building where he can watch him train.
I get the sentiment but I’m not sure it’s that simple, what happens if he gets injured whilst back with his parent club - or if his loan team want him back in the match day squad but he just played an academy football game a couple of days before etc..
do we still have a loan manager? Loan managers talk to the loan club
I've been one of the ZM "watchers" and main supporters for many months. Initially via the U21s where he was a stand out young player and not yet 18.
He then was in the first team matchday squad for games in the 2022-23 season and made 6 appearances, never letting his team mates down, stepping up to the plate.
As others have posted, he was ever present at the start of his loan at Colchester, which says it all as an 18 year old who wasn't 19 until January this year. Everything was going to plan, seemingly....
But when the Cowleys arrived, things changed & last year's EFL League 1 Apprentice of the Year has seemingly been the victim of overloading the squad with loanees.
What this is doing for the young man's mental health & confidence should not be underestimated. We have a 19 year old grandson so are able to have some insight into the ups & downs of this age group. And I'd wager Zach continues to train 100% whatever the issues - a model pro.
I find it unbelievable in these times that the budding career of an exceptional young footballer can be mismanaged so badly. Surely there has to be a loophole ripe for exploitation or some kind of solution out there if "someone" looks hard enough ?
According to the OS, our U21s are at home to Colchester on 22nd March. Sadly we'll be on our way home from Tenerife, otherwise we'd warch this. It will be interesting to see whether Zach is in the team against his old "pals"....
Are we so overstocked with defenders at present that we could afford to let one of our own seek to ply his trade esewhere ?
Totally understand your frustration @Fanny Fanackapan but not sure how Charlton have fumbled this. As you said yourself, the first half of the loan went well. I guess we could have recalled him towards the end of the January window but he wouldn't have played here so he either goes out on another loan and have his season disrupted or trains with our first team and doesn't get game time. If we had appointed Jones earlier I would have seen merit in it but not when we didn't have a manager
From the outside he’s unfortunate that he got the loan by Garner being Colchester’s manager. He’s a ball playing defender so the type of CB Garner likes and would have known Mitchell’s potential from his time here as manager.
They’re struggling so replaced Garner with Cowley who clearly has very different ideas to Garner.
Having to fight for his place and adapt to a new manager is something he’ll have to do throughout his career. He could be an injury or suspension away from getting another chance so hopefully he keeps pushing and that’ll eventually happen.
He should come out of this experience having learnt a lot, even if the second half of the season wasn’t as successful on a personal level for him.
Going to be interesting to see if he can get any game time in the remaining few months and where he ends up next season. I wouldn’t rule him out being part of our first team and making an impact, even if Colchester doesn’t work out for him - just look at Kanu’s progress compared to where he was a year ago.
If Cochester think he improves them he plays for them, whether they are right or wrong his job is to show that he does and this sort of challenge is surely good for him rather than being guaranteed a place. From the little I have seen of him, I have been very impressed and I'm sure he can come through this test without us being precious about it and demand Colchester play him or indeed recall him.
In the future I believe Charlton should be involved in the positive kind of loans. Scott Fraser, Jack Payne, Tedic and Fiorini are examples of what I call convenience loans, where players with little prospect of playing for their parent club are cluttering up training grounds. Then there are purposeful loans such as possibly Luke Watson, but Zach Mitchell and Aaron Henry and others where the loan is supposed to benefit both clubs and the player. We have had too many poor quality loans in simply to pacify fans and make up numbers.
I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Definitely more misses than hits, but I think that is partly the nature of loans - low risk as you are not buying the player, and some are in as cover rather than for the First XI.
20-21 Millar, Maatsen and Shinnie were all decent 21-22 Famewo and Lee were pretty good (certainly initially dropped off towards the end) 22-23 Rak-Sakyi was one of the best we've had in recent times and Sessegnon was competitive
This year there haven't really been any stand outs.
I'm sorry if I've missed this being mentioned elsewhere but what is the point of Zach being at Colchester if he's not being used - he's not been in Colchester's squad since 13th January and missed the last six games because they have too many on loan - he might just as well come back and play for our U23s and train under Jones' guidance given that he might well be needed for us next season.
We cant recall him though can we... Could only do that in January
Depends even if we even had the option to recall him in the loan agreement.
That might well be the case - if Cowley has no intention of playing him, though, I'm not sure whether he couldn't still play for our U23s and/or train with us. We have seen that happen with players sent to Non League clubs but that might be the difference. Whatever the situation, I think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching.
"think that we should think carefully before sending another player to Colchester and/or a team under Cowley's management. The kid has been sent to learn by playing games not to sit in the stand watching."
This seems to be exactly what a vengeful Man Citeh have done - sent us Fiorini to punish us for not playing Tedic, and ultimately Charltonising him so much they almost immediately sent him back to his first club on a free...
On Mitchell, surely it should be about how much he has learnt and developed over the season rather than just the last few months.
Steve Avory is aware and said that Zak had rung him when he was first dropped to discuss the situation as he'd never been dropped before and wanted to know how to deal with it.
It's not ideal but we've not played loan players plenty of times and still are.
On Fiorini, it seems to have become accepted fact that Man City forced us to take a dud as some sort of punishment/revenge for sending back Tedic but isn't it as likely that Appleton and/or Scott wanted Fiorini, maybe as a replacement for Tedic or maybe just because they rated him, as he'd been as success under MA previously. MA certainly talked him up as a great signing at the time.
Turns out he is actually a worse signing that Tedic but our use of the loan market has been pretty poor under Scott regardless.
Subjective comment as I have not looked back, but it feels like our use of the loan market since the golden season of 2018/19 has been pretty poor. Gallagher in 2020 was obviously a star but otherwise more duds than successes!!
Definitely more misses than hits, but I think that is partly the nature of loans - low risk as you are not buying the player, and some are in as cover rather than for the First XI.
20-21 Millar, Maatsen and Shinnie were all decent 21-22 Famewo and Lee were pretty good (certainly initially dropped off towards the end) 22-23 Rak-Sakyi was one of the best we've had in recent times and Sessegnon was competitive
This year there haven't really been any stand outs.
Doesnt overly bother me to be honest... I prefer it that the likes of Bakinson | Watson | Ladapo are around IF we need them, rather than relying on them.
Nothing more irritating than trying to plan for the next season, knowing there is a strong chance we'll be without our best player(s) before the previous season has even ended.
i think that amount of matches for a kid his age is a good return.
Being left out and fighting your way back into the side is all part of life of a footballer isn’t it ? This experience may stand him in good stead if it happens later in his career.
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They came in mid season so it's no one's fault in this instance.
Whilst Colchester have too many loanees I believe he also missed a game where another loanee was injured so the too many loanees excuse is a bit "convenient" I believe.
It shouldn't preclude us from sending a player to Colchester again but clearly if the Cowley's are still in charge we won't send a more technical player that way.
/Yes, my apologies, I did mean Famewo now at Sheffield Wednesday
the loan club rightfully should retain the players services and can call him back on loan if the need exists.
Mitchell is at the front of the rank in terms of next youngster to get first team games and I'm sure jones would rather he be in the building where he can watch him train.
im guessing it's no different to a loan player playing for the loan clubs u-21's then playing for the first team
I've been one of the ZM "watchers" and main supporters for many months. Initially via the U21s where he was a stand out young player and not yet 18.
He then was in the first team matchday squad for games in the 2022-23 season and made 6 appearances, never letting his team mates down, stepping up to the plate.
As others have posted, he was ever present at the start of his loan at Colchester, which says it all as an 18 year old who wasn't 19 until January this year. Everything was going to plan, seemingly....
But when the Cowleys arrived, things changed & last year's EFL League 1 Apprentice of the Year has seemingly been the victim of overloading the squad with loanees.
What this is doing for the young man's mental health & confidence should not be underestimated. We have a 19 year old grandson so are able to have some insight into the ups & downs of this age group. And I'd wager Zach continues to train 100% whatever the issues - a model pro.
I find it unbelievable in these times that the budding career of an exceptional young footballer can be mismanaged so badly. Surely there has to be a loophole ripe for exploitation or some kind of solution out there if "someone" looks hard enough ?
According to the OS, our U21s are at home to Colchester on 22nd March. Sadly we'll be on our way home from Tenerife, otherwise we'd warch this. It will be interesting to see whether Zach is in the team against his old "pals"....
Are we so overstocked with defenders at present that we could afford to let one of our own seek to ply his trade esewhere ?
Worried of Wadhurst.
They’re struggling so replaced Garner with Cowley who clearly has very different ideas to Garner.
Having to fight for his place and adapt to a new manager is something he’ll have to do throughout his career. He could be an injury or suspension away from getting another chance so hopefully he keeps pushing and that’ll eventually happen.
He should come out of this experience having learnt a lot, even if the second half of the season wasn’t as successful on a personal level for him.
Going to be interesting to see if he can get any game time in the remaining few months and where he ends up next season. I wouldn’t rule him out being part of our first team and making an impact, even if Colchester doesn’t work out for him - just look at Kanu’s progress compared to where he was a year ago.
Would love to know if he's aware of the interest in his situation from those we are interested in his career.
Then there are purposeful loans such as possibly Luke Watson, but Zach Mitchell and Aaron Henry and others where the loan is supposed to benefit both clubs and the player.
We have had too many poor quality loans in simply to pacify fans and make up numbers.
20-21 Millar, Maatsen and Shinnie were all decent
21-22 Famewo and Lee were pretty good (certainly initially dropped off towards the end)
22-23 Rak-Sakyi was one of the best we've had in recent times and Sessegnon was competitive
This year there haven't really been any stand outs.
Nothing more irritating than trying to plan for the next season, knowing there is a strong chance we'll be without our best player(s) before the previous season has even ended.