Loan System Rant

It's been some time, since I moved and since I last wrote. It is funny, how much I dread Martinez's impact on Everton's defence. And yet, we're now joint best after 19 games, tied with Arsenal, 1 better than Chelsea. That's a great list to be sitting tied or on top of. 

And here we are, people eyeing on star players of the small club that is Everton. And lambasting the fact that loan players made Everton stronger this year than they should be. 

First, I want to spill some thoughts about the loan system. It's fine that they were criticizing the loan system in general but the arguments seem to contain more sour grapes than not. Like a FTBpro article criticizing how Lukaku would make Chelsea look bad, after he made liverpool look bad. Seriously, these guys need to revisit what the loan system is for. It is for teams that cannot afford the players they want due to the unfair market conditions to receive them and remain competitive in the already unfair league skewed by the big monies that lead to a player transfer worth 100 million pounds.

FTBpro said that it is immoral that Lukaku help Everton achieve UCL spot at the expense of Chelsea if it so happens to be that way on the final day of EPL. He states how unfair it is for the fans. BS. If we buy a junk player that Chelsea doesn't want, say, anyone rotting on their bench right now, and the player scores against Chelsea, isn't it the same? This has been happening since the beginning of EPL. Cantona leading manu to greatness despite starting at Leeds, Roy Keane similarly at manu, Shearer at newcastle and a load of other players that were good at one club, notable mention of Ashley Cole to Chelsea for his drama, sold for money thought to be great at the time and became greats at another club. What does it have to do with fans when football and finance matters supersede what football team the club can have or survive.

The sole reason why loans are essential is clear. There is no FFP or Financial Fair Play. It cannot be implemented across a continent. And as long as that is not done, it cannot be implemented in 1 country. Unlike American sports, which is essentially one single tier within the professional league, football has many tiers and money gets diluted too much before it reaches the heart of a club. In general, we know football clubs as generally loss making machines, powered by billionaires and millionaires. Such a world means that commodities within the sport, which is players to win the team titles and hence marketing monies, are disproportionate. Hence players who need playing time at big clubs often don't get them unless one of two things happen, (1) the club cuts its massive losses and lets the player go, which no business, especially one similar to that financing FTBpro, would EVER do, or (2) the player buys out his own contract to play, which while noble, is one that would leave many players hungry and bankrupt, a choice that the writer at FTBpro would never choose.

Well, of course, not all clubs are loss makers, but those wanting the fast and furious success of UCL, yes, huge loss makers. Remember how fast Leeds combusted from UCL semis to Division One, not in 10 years like many great falling stars, but 5 years, and essentially bankrupt. Look at the great job Wenger did at Arsenal and rarely, you see a transaction hitting the heights of 40 million. On the flip side, they don't have many British players. I wonder if the FTBpro write knows why? Nor does Chelsea, or manu, or liverpool. My Everton has 6 today, 7 if Jags is not injured and more on the bench. So, probably, we should limit the number of foreigners in EPL? Or is it a rule that empowers teams like Everton too much that the bigwigs will shudder and run? It will no doubt remove the appeal that EPL has but it is geared towards a more moral and responsible ground. But I digress. FTBpro is probably a site I'll never read another article from again for the sheer folly of talking about removing the livelihood of smaller teams and eliminate fair playing ground for their twisted sense of morality.

I did read another loan related article from the Journal, and while I don't remember how credible these folks are, they present a more frustrating view. However, I equally denounce their rhetoric, but with no disdain. In terms of Ki and Remy, it might well be a case of financial inequality again. See, QPR is a big club, despite its status in a lower division. It is rich, offering Remy the contract he cannot refuse. Newcastle can't and don't want to afford it. So what can QPR do without losing more money than they would? Loan them out, even if it seems ridiculous that the loan is going to a club of higher status. As for Ki, similar issues, except it is one where the opponent does not reckon the ability of the player or his fit into the system. Or that Ki wants out. I don't know for sure, but I'm sure no team wants to spend millions for a player they are not sure of. Much like how much I detest that Kone is injured almost immediately after joining Everton. Bad things happen. 

He did raise the interesting case of Courtois. But there is a catch with this trick. Courtois will want to play for a UCL team. How many UCL teams play at the top league and needs a GK? Yep, you got it, pretty much this is the ONE odd deal you'll ever find. Does Courtois want less money? Does Chelsea want to lose money on the Courtois deal? Well, if you're willing to foot the bill, I'm sure someone will do it. Asking someone to make the hard choice between losing an arm or a leg is definitely immoral. Don't get me started again on the FTBpro nonsense.

One last comment. If you have any dig against the loan system, WELCOME to the REAL world of football, where the 95% of the teams get 5% of the money (TV money, ticket sales, player sales, owner investments, bank loans). If you support a UCL regular and am against the loan system, its best to keep your mouth shut. Martinez is putting up a clinic on how things should be done. moyes has shown you guys how it might have been done in the past 10 years, Martinez is bringing that team to another level. Will his success continue? No one knows. I sure hope so, but there is always the hard truth out there and Everton is the fine line between fantasy football and reality right now. And definitely, we're living in the moment as we should be.