For no real reason I can think of I hate the idea of loaning players across clubs in the same division. It's just not right. Clubs that we could have easily taken advantage of like Leeds now have access to the top young talent in the country. Bah! Then of course, I realised that we could be doing it too.
Leeds picked up Pennant, Charlton picked up Cole and Wolves picked up Chelsea's Russian signing that I can't be bothered checking to get my spelling correct but is possibly Smertin. All very promising.
However, Saints are apparently looking to bring in Carl Cort on loan from Newcastle. My Newcastle mate insists that it's not to give Draper and Delgado someone new to chat with in the treatment room. Even so, with Phillips, Beattie, Ormerod and a possibly returning Pahars, do we really need him on the wage bill ?
Cort was a very promising youngster but injury has pretty much wrecked his time at Newcastle. Perhaps as they struggle to make an impression on the season they would be better keeping him themselves. I'd much rather space in the squad was given to developing Orrmerod or easing Marian back into Premiership football.
Loan deals between Premiership clubs. It's just not right is it ?
In other news this week, it has come as absolutely no surprise to learn that we have failed to get a work permit for Casablanca's Hicham Aboucherouane. The striker had played only a limited number of games for his club and had yet to break into his national side. There wasn't any realistic chance of securing his signing and Rupert Lowe said: "It is very disappointing because there is no doubt about his ability.
"Unfortunately he did not meet the criteria laid down by the Government because the system in Morocco is for their most talented youngsters to play first for the Olympic team rather than the full national side.
"That means he did not have the required per centage of caps although he also missed several matches through injury and other reasons.
"We are very sad that such a talented player will not be given the chance to to show what he can do in the UK. This would not be the case in other European countries who have more realistic regulations."
While there are fairly good reasons to restrict players coming in from non EU countries, it would make a lot more sense if the EU countires had the same regulations to be enforced by each FA. What we need is a European based organisation to handle important things like that.
Typical, I can't even type this article without getting abuse. There's someone here shouting UEFA at me. Well UEFA to you too, mate !
Right, well my sudden bad mood has put me right off talking about altruistic governing bodies looking out for the game rather than their own weasely interests. Back to the gossip.
Ex-Saint Egil Ostenstad has joined Rangers in a one year deal from Blackburn. Look for Mr. Offside to bag at least 20 for the ibrox club against dodgy SPL opposition.
We are apparently after Gillingham's Marlon King. King, who has a prolific goalscoring record for the Gills, netting seventeen last season, with three form the penalty spot. As with Cort, I fail to see the need to bring in such a striker when we could be playing Brett Ormerod.
But don't just take my word for it, Gillingham player-manager, Andy Hessenthaler said : "It is just newspaper talk. Marlon has only just come back from a serious injury and I would be very surprised if anyone were to make an offer for him at the moment."
And sadly, that's it. No rash wage structure busting moves for over rated foreign players. No demented bids for lower league stars and no silly loan deals to bring in loan players from other Premiership clubs who will only return to thump us in the future. What a tragedy.