The best and worst of Loan moves this season

The temporary transfer of a player can be for any number of reasons, but mainly for youngsters to gain experience of first-team football, or for players that don’t quite fit in with the existing structure of the club at a certain period.

Another utilisation seen more recently, especially in the Premiership, is that of out of season US stars moving from the states in the winter for a couple of months to keep match fit.

Again, this wouldn’t be something you would see from a club competing in a top European division, due to the exertions of a league season – so for the good of the development of the game in America, the owners have been more forthcoming when enquiries are made into the availability of players.

Some of the best

Even with the short-term nature of these transfers, the sharp impact of some players crossing the Atlantic has seen a vast improvement in squad confidence and team performance. Probably the most significant and monumental deal, was that of returning hero, Thierry Henry to Arsenal in January.

The thirty-four year old read the script in the home FA Cup tie with Leeds which was heading for a replay to the angst of the Emirates crowd – enter the Frenchman after 68 minutes with the game at a stalemate, and just ten minutes later the New York Red Bulls star coolly slotted home a trademark side-foot finish past the despairing Lonergan in the United goal.

He appeared in seven matches during his whirlwind thirty-seven day return, scoring three times including the winning goal in a tough encounter away to Martin O’Neill’s resurgent Sunderland side – a game which earlier on in the season, Wenger’s side would perhaps not have seen out. Some fan’s heralded Henry’s loan as “The Return of the King” – and the former Barcelona & Juventus forward did not rule out another homecoming at some point in the future if the Gunners were needing some more firepower.

When Irish star striker and former Liverpool & Wolves forward Robbie Keane returned to the Premiership in January, Aston Villa were sitting just below mid-table. In his six league appearances for Alex McLeish’s side he netted on three occasions – including, what could now be looked at, as a invaluable brace at Molineux when Villa fought back to win three two in a tense and raw derby match.

Even though during his short tenure at Villa Park he only managed to help the Claret & Blue to five points, you could see progress and determination in the side. Whether this willingness and togetherness was in some way, due to The Republic of Ireland international’s arrival it was hard to say – but the battling qualities shown helped them to pick up points against fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers & Wigan, as well as agonising defeats away to Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle. When the boyhood fan returned to the LA Galaxy, Villa immediately began to falter and his goal scoring was sorely missed as they sailed a little too close to the wind at the bottom end of the table.

Another triumphant return to the Premiership saw American forward, Landon Donovan, back at Goodison Park for his second spell in a couple of years. Back in 2009 when David Moyes brought the 138 capped US star, his performances were of such a high standard that the club attempted to extend the loan only for Donovan’s current club, LA Galaxy to rebuff any further requests.

Such is the high regard which Moyes holds the versatile attacking player in, you would not be surprised if he made a bid for the player in the summer transfer window. In a dozen games, Donovan set up seven goals for the Blues and helped mastermind very impressive wins versus Fulham, Chelsea and Manchester City. This spell propelled the Toffees into an impressive streak, also boosted by the purchase of Nikica Jelavic in attack, which has seen them narrowly miss out on a Europa league spot in seventh.

One young talent who has shone brightly on loan at the Reebok in the midst of a turbulent season, is Arsenal midfielder Ryo Miyaichi. The nineteen year old Japanese attacking midfielder has been praised highly by not only Owen Coyle, his current boss, but also the Wanderers fans when they voted him Bolton Wanderers Player of the Month in February.

A tricky winger with great close control and proving a constant headache for defenders, he has also been recently called up to the full national squad and should receive his first cap imminently. I imagine after this second successful spell on loan from the Emirates, Arsene Wenger will be confident of “Ryodinho” – a nickname given to Miyaichi by the Dutch media following his fruitful period at Feyenoord – being able to produce at the highest level week in, week out for Arsenal. In twelve appearances for the Trotters, the promising starlet has produced two goals and a few vital assists.

Serial loanee, Ben Foster, has spent this season in between the sticks for Roy Hodgson’s West Bromwich Albion side – despite being named parent club Birmingham City’s Player of the Year last season.

Impressively for the former England international, he has been an ever present for the Baggies in this Premiership campaign and the twenty-nine year old has hailed the defenders in front of him who have helped amass a sensational nine shutouts in their thirty-seven matches. Talk is now rife that the former Manchester United keeper will be tempted out of his indefinite England retirement now that Hodgson taking charge of the national side for the Euro’s – Foster also recently claimed the former Swiss boss was the best manager he has ever worked under.

One turbulent performer who may not be returning to North London is Danish international forward Nicklas Bendtner. The twenty-four year old has suggested he would not return to Arsenal at the end of his year-long loan spell, leaving the door open for Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill to make a move for the 6’4? striker.

Just like the club, Bendtner was stagnating under former boss Steve Bruce until the arrival of the Northern Irishman, and the former Villa boss was able to motivate the best out of his under-performing side. As Sunderland picked up three times the amount of points Bruce had accumulated in fourteen matches, Bendtner hit a majestic purple patch in March with four goals and a handful of assists for his team-mates.

Some of the worst

Even though many loans can be productive for both the player & club, a number of these transactions have not run so smoothly! French striker Anthony Modeste’s has lived up to his name with his contribution at Blackburn Rovers since joining up in January from Bordeaux. In fifteen matches, Rovers have won only four times with the twenty-four year old former Nice striker failing to find the net in any of those.

At the start of April, Modeste also felt the wrath of Steve Kean after he was dismissed late on for a senseless kick out at a West Brom player in their three nil Hawthorns defeat.

Experienced Chilean midfield maestro David Pizarro, has been equally as shot shy in the league for leaders Manchester City with no Premiership goals to his name.

It will always going to hard to break into the side possessing the most prolific scorers this season, and the Roma player would not have been used to having to come of the bench for the majority of his rare appearances.

Finally, the sad personal tale of Emmanuel Frimpong, who in only his fifth match on loan for Wolves from Arsenal – returned to the Emirates, following a cruciate ligament rupture in his knee which ended his season and also his spell at Molineux.

If he had stayed fit, if Mick McCarthy had stayed – who knows if it was another decisive and unlucky blow in what was a unfortunate campaign for the Wanderers.

You can follow Mark McClay on Twitter @thebhoymcclay