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Keane, Donovan & Henry: MLS Loans a Great Idea Or Avoiding The Subject?

I`m sure if you asked any Gooner, Villa fan or Toffee if they were glad with their loan acquisitions from across the pond; you would probably hear no complaints. It may help Keane, Donovan and Henry with maintaining their match fitness and may give their MLS teams an advantage when they return to them, it may even help their loan clubs; but are these loans just a quick fix that covers over longer term problems?

For example, Thierry Henry came through with his 227th goal for Arsene Wenger within 10 minutes of coming on against Leeds United in their third-round FA Cup tie; but is it ever a good thing to bring back a club`s great player for a second stint like Paul Scholes back at Manchester United? Even though Wenger admitted in Wednesday`s papers he wouldn`t be dipping into the market this January, surely Arsenal should be looking for their next scouting goal-hungry Captain Marvel with Arsene’s talents of pulling a player from European obscurity; rather than spending money on changing dates on Henry`s statue outside the Emirates and gambling the rest of their season on their one-man strike force; Robin Van Persie and his Goal-scoring streak (so far at 18 goals in the League).

Henry Celebrates

The last time Landon Donovan donned the Evertonian Blue he only managed two goals. The USA`s top goalscorer hardly set Goodison Park alight the last time, with their reluctance to fully dip into the Transfer Market too; why are they not using the full wealth of their Academy and will these Academy players miss out because of this short term solution? Players such as Joao Silva, Hallam Hope and the highly energetic Ross Barkley could be the diamonds in the rough that Everton need to rest their future on rather than throwing money (that the club says they supposedly haven`t got) at a player on a Busman’s holiday.

Aston Villa`s Shay Given said last week he feels Robbie Keane`s six week loan deal at Villa Park will revitalise the club`s season, but will it? Sure, he is a proven Goalscorer in the Premier League but it doesn’t hide the fact that once he leaves Villa Park they will continue to have trouble scoring goals. Darren Bent is their top League Goalscorer with seven goals and Agbonlahor with five, sitting in 13th place in the league – they need a more permanent fixture up-front as opposed to a six week “wonder”, maybe from a lower league, for example Jordan Rhodes at Huddersfield could be a good buy for January; 25 goals so far this season speaks for themselves – no matter what League his goals are scored in.

Having said all this though I`m sure all three clubs will get benefits from their loanees, I am also sure as more players flood into the MLS from teams from the rest of the world this loan activity will increase in the Premiership and across all of Europe during the MLS close season. As a neutral, it is good to see these players show us again what they have to offer – though only for a short time.

As for fans of Arsenal, Everton and Aston Villa will it be a great six weeks with an eventual bitter after taste? Maybe like the clubs themselves, we should avoid the subject…till that time comes.

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