Loan Watch: 1/12/08 – 14/1/09 (part 2)

19 January 09 by Bill

This is part 2 of our (almost) monthly loan watch. You can find part 1 here.

Febian Brandy, Swansea City

Febian Brandy’s loan spell at Swansea City continued in it’s almost farcical fashion with the young striker getting game time, but so little it seems almost ridiculous.

Brandy was an unused substitute for Swansea’s trip to Bristol City in which the teams played out a goalless draw (6/12). The youngster did come off the bench in the following three matches; in the 92nd minute as Swansea drew 2 – 2 with Barnsley (9/12), the 93rd minutes in a 1 – 1 draw at home to Sheffield United and in the 92nd minute in yet another draw, this time 1 – 1 away to Blackpool (20/12).

Swansea hosted Coventry City next with Brandy remaining on the bench for the entire match as Swansea notched up their 7th draw on the trot. Another 0 – 0 (28/12). Brandy was given a little more game time in Swansea’s following tie away to Birmingham coming on at 0 – 0 with 11 minutes to go. Brandy had chances to win the game but was unable to put the game to bed and the game ended 0 – 0 (28/12).

Brandy wasn’t named in Swansea’s squad for the 2 – 0 victory away to Burnley (10/1) and his loan spell came to an end when he was recalled by United on 12/1. Brandy made 14 league appearances for Swansea; all of which off the bench. Unsurprisingly, he scored no goals.

Danny Simpson, Blackburn Rovers

Danny Simpson looks to have failed to impress new Rovers’ boss Sam Allardyce and now looks a bit part player at the club. Dan Clough, a Blackburn Rovers Fan, has written an excellent evaluation of his performance to date which you can find here.

Blackburn kicked off December with a League Cup clash at Old Trafford. Tevez scored 4 (3 really) and United won 5 – 3 (3/12). Simpson was ineligible for the clash and the youngster voiced his disappointment. Perhaps the youngster fancied one last match at Old Trafford, who knows when it will happen again.

Simpson was named on the bench (and stayed there) for Blackburn’s following two fixtures, a 3 – 1 defeat at home to Liverpool (6/12) and a 3 – 0 defeat away to Wigan (13/12).

After 2 months without a win and only 3 wins in 17 league games, Blackburn were staring relagation in the face and Paul Ince was sacked. Sam Allardyce was brought in and Simpson had a second opportunity to stake his claim for a place.

Allardyce’s first game saw Simpson come off the bench in the 85th minute as Blackburn wom 3 – 0 at home to Stoke (20/12). The young right back was then omitted from the squad altogether for Blackburn’s 0 – 0 draw away to Sunderland (26/12) and again as Rovers hosted Manchester City and played out a 2 – 2 draw (28/12).

An FA Cup tie with Blyth Spartans saw Simpson handed his first start under Big Sam but an entirenly new team failed to gel and the team battled to a 1 – 0 victory (5/1). Simpson, like the rest of the Rover’s squad, failed to impress.

Lee Martin, Nottingham Forest

Lee Martin failed to break into the match day squad in December and as a result, his loan wasn’t renewed and expired on 31st December.

Ron-Robert Zieler, Northampton Town

Ron-Robert Zieler was brought in by Nottingham Forest as cover and as such has still not made any appearances for the club. The young goalkeeper has established himself as second choice keeper in his short time at the club having been named in the teams last 5 match day squads.