Loanee Watch - Karl Darlow

As part of this weeks series in the international break, we catch up with another Red out on loan and how he is doing.

The young goalkeeper is off getting vital match experience with Walsall this season, a step up from last season’s loan with Newport County. Regular football at League One is part of Darlow's development as a footballer, and he has been featuring in the Saddlers first team.

He has made 5 League appearances and one in the Football League Trophy since joining on September 21st.

Since joining, and when he was signed was said o be cover for Goalkeeper Grof as main keeper Jimmy Walker was injured he has started every game.

Walsall won those first two games, but have since lost their last 3 which leaves them in mid table. The Football league Trophy game ended up in defeat by Port Vale on penalties 6-5.

I have only seen a little Walsall action on the Football league show and it was of Darlow making an error, a poor kick out only reached around half way and the opposition were quickly on the attack and netted.

Even so it is a fairly decent level of Football for a previously reserve team keeper to be playing. The advantage of playing in a team that is largely mid table means he gets a bit of action in games. The fact also that it is a short term loan is a huge advantage as if things go badly he isn’t committed there for a while.

Darlow is getting vital experience, and by going there to be back up but actually becoming first choice cements that he is a good prospect,.

Loanee Watch - Robbie Findley

Findley in action for Gillingham

A quick check in with the various players out on loan right now starts with Robbie Findley.

The former (and I think we can safely say former) American international has played 5 times for the Gills in his loan spell in Kent. This includes 2 starts and 3 substitute appearances. He has failed to score so far.

He started in his first two games, though was withdrawn early in one match due to a midfielder being sent off for the Gills, so he was sacrificed after 35 mins. The next game he made way after 50 mins.

His last 3 appearances have all been as sub coming on in the last third if the game, and nearly netted in his most recent game with his first touch when he came on.

The Gills aren’t exactly struggling to make chances or score, as they lead the table, so Findleys lack of goals even in League Two is a worry really.

This is a guy who famously missed from half a yard once. I haven’t been able to see any footage of his in Kent, merely going off match reports, but as I say the fact he’s now starting on the bench in League Two speaks volumes.

As much as some said it might be good to try and get him firing lower down and bring him back, even this is failing, and I am starting to think he’s never going to make it over here, and will end up back in MLS within a couple of years. It’s not as if he’s a youngster.

McGoldrick Loan Might Be Just the Ticket

Anyone who has ever followed my live tweets from games will know I really don't rate David McGoldrick. He has never impressed me really. I do begrudgingly accept that he must have something about him as he had a good scoring rate for Southampton before we signed him in a team that got relegated.

However in a Forest shirt he has done little save for that wonder strike away at Palace on the last day of last season. McClaren seemed to rate him early this year,persevering with a player that most fans had written off last year as being a waste of money.

No he has joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan, in a move I hope will be like David Johnsons loan there nearly10 years ago. Johnson had flattered to deceive since hi arrival at Forest, and a loan at Wednesday seemed to reinvigorate a Forest career that seemed to be going nowhere.

Not that I'm saying lightning strikes twice, but dropping a division and getting his goal scoring eye in, might see him return to us full of confidence and ready to show us what he really is capable of.

However, this is to a team managed by Idiot in Chief Gary Megson. Make no mistake he is on borrowed time at Hillsborough following a very embarrassing 5-1 defeat to Stevenage. They may be sat near the playoffs, but for a team of Wednesdays size, that simply isn't good enough.

McGoldrick one assumes has gone there for first team football so should be straight into the team for the match against Yeovil (seeing Megson return to one of his scenes of biggest embarrassment,inviting fans in to do his team talk for him)

So here's hoping McGoldrick takes this chance to get some football and get his self belief and confidence back. He needs a big kick up his arse, and it might motivate him to perform. It also teaches him that if you don't succeed you will be shipped out.

Rodney Loaned to Burton

Following the arrival of Kris Boyd today, Forest have allowed young striker Nialle Rodney to join Burton Albion on loan for a month.

Rodney, who has 3 sub appearances for the Reds in the last few weeks will now be looking vital match experience down in league Two for Paul Peschisolido's men. Looking bright and willing in his few Reds appearances we of course wish nothing but the best for him in this spell, as the Brewers battle against relegation.

It also means the awful Dave jokes will have to take a back foot for a few weeks yet