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Everton player’s struggles highlight loan problem

By Matt Townsend

PRESTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Anthony Gordon of Preston North End is challenged by Will Hughes of Watford during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Watford at Deepdale on February 16, 2021 in Preston, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
PRESTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 16: Anthony Gordon of Preston North End is challenged by Will Hughes of Watford during the Sky Bet Championship match between Preston North End and Watford at Deepdale on February 16, 2021 in Preston, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Anthony Gordon has been on loan at Preston North End this season but has been struggling for game time and it raises questions about whether this loan policy is good for them or Everton.

Everton have been using the loan system a lot recently and there are some good reasons to do so of course if it is giving young players with talent and potential a chance of regular football.

But sometimes I think it can actually be detrimental to those players and Gordon’s situation seems a classic example.

The young winger made a breakthrough last season and had a few good games where he showed the attributes he has, in particular his pace, willingness to carry the ball and ability to take on and beat opponents.

But Gordon didn’t get many more chances at the beginning of this season and he was also playing more inconsistently.

So the decision was made to send him on loan and he went to Preston North End. After some initially solid performances under previous manager Alex Neil, now after his replacement as manager, Gordon has hardly featured.

This kind of situation is hardly helpful for his development and calls into question the point of him going there at all.

Of course it’s not possible to know how such circumstances will turn out but it’s a very frustrating situation both for the player and Everton.

Another player out on loan at the moment is striker Ellis Simms. In the January transfer window he went to Blackpool for the rest of the season.

This potentially left the Blues without any reserve forwards as Cenk Tosun had also gone to Besiktas as well. The Toffees managed to get Josh King on deadline day but he’s hardly featured or made any impact.

Again I’m not sure whether spending time at a League One side is going to help Simms progress or give much real indication of whether he has what it takes to be a Premier League player.

In addition having sent all these young players out on loan the Toffees bench has been pretty threadbare given all the injuries the team have suffered.

So instead of enabling us to see whether these players can deliver, ironically Carlo Ancelotti has had to potentially rely on even more raw young players as reserves.

Loan deals can be useful but in truth I think that it should be used sparingly and sometimes persisting with a youngster in the first team squad might be more advantageous,if there is genuine belief in that indivdual’s ability.

Tom Davies is a classic example. He burst onto the scene four years ago and had a few good matches early on in his Everton career and looked like he might have what it takes to make it.

But then came what could be termed a sort of ‘second season syndrome’ and his game and confidence went backwards. He has struggled again recently and there were intermittent calls for him to be sent on loan, which seemed a reasonable option.

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However, because of all the injuries to players this season, Ancelotti has been forced to reshuffle his pack including in midfield and so Davies has been given a new opportunity to show whether he can contribute.

He has come back into the team and performed reasonably well often as a deep-lying defensive midfielder mopping up in front of the defence and then looking to move the ball on effectively.

Davies is not a first choice, certainly not in front of Allan, Abdoulaye Doucoure or probably even Jean-Phlippe Gbamin. But he can be a useful squad player, which every successful side needs.

I think it’s important Everton ensure more of their young players come through and make it if possible as that will save the club a small fortune, not an unimportant consideration after the last year or so and with the new stadium build about to begin.

There are a number of other youngsters coming through who have been identified by Marcel Brands as potential stars of the future. I hope there is a better, more successful strategy for successfully bringing them though.

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