We all know the adage about ‘not falling in love with a loan player’ but unfortunately for most Aston Villa fans that ship has well and truly sailed with Phillipe Coutinho. Not least, of course the UTV Podcast team.
The relationship we have with loan players can be complex and differs from player to player – some we know are temporary and only something earth-shattering will change that. Others we grow to love to the point we can’t imagine life without them. To put our minds off the impending decisions of ‘silly season’ I thought it was worth a look back through other players that have joined the club on loan. Some stayed, most went, but nearly all left something of a legacy.
Football has always had a complicated relationship with the idea of a ‘loan’ and the concept existed in a variety of forms from football’s inception as an amateur and then professional entity. In April 1898 however, the FA banned the “loaning and borrowing of players” and that appeared to be that. When World War Two broke out football looked very different with regional wartime leagues replacing normal competitive structures, and as a result loans returned in the form of ‘guest players’. Individual location – often determined by wartime garrison – meant players regularly guested for teams other than their own. Post War, as football returned to some normality loans were largely off the table – at least until the early 1960s when the relaxation of football wage caps and the abolishment of the retain and transfer system led to increased player freedom of movement. It was in 1966 that the Football Association made formal and proper concessions to the “temporary transfer of football players” and essentially set the system that exists today. There were some odd twists along the way – only goalkeepers could be loaned in 1980 – and it wasn’t until the 1995 Bosman ruling that regular loan practice emerged. Even at that stage, due to a rule not being abolished until 2003, loans were only allowed between clubs in different leagues. So, when did the Villa start to test those loan waters?
STARTING POINTS
The first evidence I am aware of – and can find – of Villa loaning a player in, is, inevitably, a strange one. Ron Atkinson signed Danish midfielder Henrik Larsen in January 1993. Larsen, a 6ft 2in midfielder (nickname, Big) had won Euro 92 with Denmark and only left Italian club Pisa due to regulations around foreigners following relegation to Serie B. Not for nothing, worth noting that Pisa opted for one Diego Simeone as their foreign midfielder over Larsen. By March 1993 Big Ron had decided the Danish ‘Big’ was surplus to requirements but as Pisa couldn’t have him back, he hung around in the reserves until May. He never made a first-team appearance for Villa, although did go onto relative success back in his homeland and played in every Denmark game in Euro 96.
THE EARLY NOUGHTIES
With all due respect to Gilles de Bilde and Gustavo Bartelt, it was Joey Gudjonsson who I recall as the first loan signing that made any impact. Much of that impact was on Matthew Upson’s legs as he went in two footed and over the top of the ball against Blues in 2003. Despite the red card that came as a result, plenty of Villa fans will fondly remember that derby day challenge. We will also fondly remember a couple of pile driving goals, not least in his final appearance against Leeds. Gudjonsson was a decent player, and it smarted a little when he turned out for Wolves (again on loan from Real Betis) the following season.
Carlton Cole hit the ground running in August 2004 when he joined Villa on loan from Chelsea, in a move that I remember being relatively excited about. He scored on his debut against Southampton at a sun kissed Villa Park but that was largely that. In retrospect he was a latter day Keinan Davis type player, lacking the prolific goal scoring to make him a top player, but useful in terms of a certain style of play as West Ham uncovered later in his career.
The best-case scenario with a loan signing is that it is just the starting point of a relationship with the club and its fans – one that can be built on as a permanent squad addition. This was certainly the case with James Milner who joined Villa on loan for the 2005/2006 as part of the re-sale to Newcastle of Nolberto Solano. I think I am with David O’Leary that Villa got the better end of that deal. That loan season for Milner was a great success and he started to develop a rapport with the club and was open about the potential of a permanent move. Never have I been so sure we had a real player on our hands when we scored twice in the 8-3 League Cup win against Wycombe, Milner scoring twice as we recovered from 3-1 down. Ultimately Milner’s return would be convoluted, but return he did, joining Villa permanently in 2008 and ultimately making 126 appearances for the club, scoring 22 times. He remains a player I am keen to see do well and his exploits in Manchester and Liverpool should be applauded.
Three other loanees appeared for Villa in this period – Erik Bakke, Gabor Kiraly and Phil Bardsley – and whilst none were a disaster as such, neither did they ever look like putting down roots.
2010 TO RELEGATION
This period of loan signings is the ultimate mixed bag – some real and lasting contributions offset by some dire decisions that smacked of desperate times at the club.
Two January loan signings – Kyle Walker in 2011 and Robbie Keane in 2012 – can both be considered successes for the club. Walker especially impressed, and it was evident at 20 the player he would (and sure enough has) become. I think we knew this was always temporary but the 18 appearances, two goals and three assists point to some real impact. Walker is another player I am proud to have represented Villa even as his career with Manchester City and England has reached far higher and more successful levels. Keane’s arrival was at the other end of his career and he played just six times for Villa but deserves recognition for a positive impact, mainly for his two goals against former club Wolves. Obviously, Walker joined Villa on loan from Spurs and Keane had a long history with the London club – and the same can be said of other loanees from this period. That’s where any comparisons with Jermaine Jenas and Simon Dawkins surely end however, both contributing nothing to the wider cause. Signed around the same time as Jenas, the same can be said of Michael Bradley, albeit without the Spurs links.
The mixed bag analogy continued to hold sway as Villa regressed towards ultimate relegation to the Championship. Ryan Bertrand, Tom Cleverley and Scott Sinclair were all solid signings and performers in their loan spells. Sinclair scored crucial goals in the run to the FA Cup Final in 2015 and Cleverley – alongside Fabian Delph in midfield – made vital contributions to keep Villa in the Premier League in the same year. I was always disappointed Bertrand didn’t stay as there seemed little option for him back at Chelsea and it remained a position that Villa struggled to nail down. Let’s not forget Kieran Richardson was essentially the first choice left back in that 2015 FA Cup run. It’s an interesting side note that Villa signed Matt Targett – now loaned out himself – from Southampton after he failed to displace Bertrand from the Saints’ left back position. The merry go round of modern football continues apace.
On the flipside the less said about Grant Holt and Tiago Llori the better.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP YEARS
Loan signings came in two swathes in the Championship – firstly as Villa progressed and lost to Fulham in the 2018 Play Off Final and then the following year as Villa again reached Wembley, this time beating Derby to win promotion. Both swathes can be considered a success and the names we recount here remain central to recent Villa experience even if they are not with the club now. The only player to bridge both of these phases of loan signings is of course Axel Tuanzebe who also, of course, returned for a less successful loan spell at the start of the 2021/22 season.
Of the 2017/18 vintage Sam Johnstone, Josh Onomah and Lewis Grabban all made strong contributions to an ultimately fruitless promotion campaign. Johnstone probably would have been signed permanently had Villa beaten Fulham at Wembley and he has endured his own frustrations since, relegations with West Brom offset with England recognition. You’d be amazed if he isn’t a Premier League player next season.
It is Robert Snodgrass however that can be held up as the best loan signing that season and reflects well when compared across the years covered in this piece. Snoddy was a revelation for Villa playing 43 times over the 17/18 season, scoring seven and assisting thirteen goals. He became a real fan favourite and many of us were disappointed a way couldn’t be found to get him back for the following season. Snodgrass has only endeared himself to Villa fans more since departing saying, “Aston Villa is a fantastic club. I loved every second there. I love the players, I love the staff, and everybody about the city as well.” In essence he was the perfect loan player – like Milner above – in that he married the fan rapport with genuine on the pitch impact. Can now be found alongside other Villa Championship era ‘stars’ at Luton Town – Messrs Steer, Bree and Lansbury.
As Villa faced a third year in the Championship loans would again prove to be crucial, this time in securing that Premier League return. The following names remain either at the club or a celebrated part of their recent history – Tammy Abraham, Tyrone Mings, Anwar El Ghazi and Kortney Hause. Even Yannick Bolasie had some bright moments. Andre Moreira maybe less so.
It’s difficult to look past Tammy as Villa’s greatest ever loan signing – certainly he had more influence than anyone else in real terms. The first player to score 25 goals in a season for Villa since Andy Gray way back in 1977, Abraham’s goals were directly responsible for 17 points in that Championship season. He also became the first Villa player this century to score four goals in a game in the madness that was the 5-5 draw against Nottingham Forest. His penalty gave Villa the advantage in the home leg of the Play Off Semi Final against West Brom before he dispatched the winning shoot out penalty in the return leg at the Hawthorns. The commentary that night (“destiny at his feet”) still sends tingles down my spine. He continues to lord it up in Roma as I write – I miss him.
Equally, Mings and Anwar have been central to the return to the Premier League and the consolidation that has come with staying there. That Anwar penalty at Molineux alone. Obviously, Anwar joined Everton on loan to no great effect and I suspect we won’t see him in Claret and Blue again, which whilst a shame is the reality of change on football, especially when new managers and systems become a reality. What the future holds for Tyrone Mings, we can’t be 100% sure. Although captaining the team at present there remains doubts, many of which unfair. Either way both these players who joined on loan in the Championship before becoming permanent additions deserve credit and recognition for the roles they have played in putting Villa where they are right now.
RETURN TO THE PREM
The rebuild of the squad on returning to the top flight rightly prioritised permanent signings, although the injury ridden win at Burnley on New Year’s Day 2020 necessitated some additions. Pepe Reina arrived as cover for the injured Tom Heaton and brought with him a vast level of experience and honours. I am in no doubt that he played a key part, post Lockdown, both on and off the pitch in ensuring final day survival. The same cannot be said for Danny Drinkwater who my 10-year-old son (perhaps slightly fashionably) states is the worst player he has ever seen play for Villa.
Last season Ross Barkley started well – as did Villa – but generally faded after an injury against Brighton. Goals against Liverpool in the 7-2 win, and winners away at Leicester and Southampton hinted at something that never quite came to be. The fact that fans never saw him live in a Villa shirt probably doesn’t help in terms of solidifying a positive memory of him.
So, where will our Phillipe sit within this come May? Who knows – but what we can be sure of is that some of the magic we have seen since January will stay with us for a long time. As we have seen here loan players will continue to come and go but genuine quality and impact is what we remember and treasure as Villa fans.
AUTHOR | IVAN MCDOUALL
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Ivan McDouall
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2 Responses
I think Pepa Reina is still running back to his goal at St Mary’s!
Great article. Brilliant for a trip down memory lane. Some of our loans were shocking.
My favourites Snodgrass and Tammy easily.
Hi Simon, we appreciate you taking the time to read our article and commenting. Glad you enjoyed it as much as we did publishing it. UTV.
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