Spurs loanee update

Currently we have the following players out on loan:

Andros Townsend – Leyton Orient (until 6th September 2009)
Adam Smith – Wycombe Wanderers (until 6th September 2009)
Jake Livermore – Derby County (until 10th September 2009)
Ben Alnwick – Norwich City (until 24th October 2009)
Jon Obika – Yeovil Town (until 11th November 2009)
Ryan Mason – Yeovil Town (until 14th November 2009)
Steven Caulker – Yeovil Town (until 14th August 2009)
Troy Archibald-Henville – Exeter City (until December 2009)
Tomas Pekhart – Slavia Prague (until 2nd Feb 2010)
Adel Taarabt – QPR (until May 2010)
Kyle Walker – Sheffield United (until May 2010)

Now returned from loan:
David Button – Crewe Alexandra (until January 2010) – RECALLED 20/08/09 due to injury to Gomes.

Steven Caulker has now made four appearances in the league and one in the cup for Yeovil, playing 90 minutes in all four matches. He took the MOTM award on his debut (although wasn’t able to collect the champagne, being only 17!), but has had a more mixed time since, playing in a slightly unstable Yeovil back-line. From reading the Yeovil forums, though, it seems that the majority are keen for him to be one of the starting centre backs while he is there.

Ryan Mason has had a slightly more stop-start beginning to his league career – he has missed two games with knocks – the League Cup thumping against Norwich, and this week’s match against Leyton Orient. He has, however, managed two excellent goals in his three appearances – especially impressive considering that he has played as a central midfield player. He has also won two consecutive Man of the Match votes on Yeovil fan-site Ciderspace.
Goal from free kick (1:26 in).
Brilliant goal from distance in the 1-1 draw with Exeter.

There’s an interesting article here where Skiverton comments on why he has so far resisted from playing Ryan up front:

“I think he’s doing a very good job in coming from central midfield and scoring two in three games, so why change it?

“We knew all his attributes, we knew his goalscoring record and we knew all of the positions that he can play. We did try him out in three or four so far this year.

“It’s just a case of trying to get him further up the pitch at the moment in a solid formation, without sacrificing our shape.”

Jon Obika has joined Steven and Ryan at Yeovil, and scored today on his second start of the season for them. He’s also made two substitute appearances but, with Dean Bowditch out injured for a while, it’s expected that he’ll be leading the line from now on, perhaps even with Mason playing off him (remember that they played this way very successfully for the Spurs U18s).

Andros Townsend today scored his first goal for Leyton Orient – against Yeovil! Apparently it was an excellent goal (the Orient official site call it “a stunning solo goal”), so hopefully I’ll be able to link to this tomorrow. This was Townsend’s first league start for Orient, although he’s made two sub appearances in the league, and started their cup win against Colchester.

Adam Smith was an unused sub for Wycombe today, but has played a part for them, making three league starts – he came off injured in his third start, so could just be getting back to full fitness. Hopefully he’ll get back into the team and get some much needed games under his belt.

Ben Alnwick has made two league and one cup appearance for Norwich City, today conceding two in a 5-2 win against Wycombe – it doesn’t sound as though there was a lot he could do with either goal, and I think he’s been relatively steady for them so far.

Jake Livermore made his debut for Derby County after completing a suspension from last season. He played 85 minutes, and caught the eye of the guy who runs the Derby Match centre – “I’ve been quite impressed with Livermore, who grew in confidence as the first half went on.” and “I thought he had a good debut. Started slowly but grew into the game as it went on. Good passer of the ball and looks like he can look after himself in midfield.”

Troy Archibald-Henville completed another 90 minutes for Exeter City – his third start of the season. It sounds as though he’s carried on where he left off last year. Today they kept a clean sheet, so he can be pleased with his day’s work.

Adel Taarabt has had a mixed bag at QPR – he’s been chopped and changed, played at left midfield, and up top, and has so far started each of their games. Today he played on the left, and it sounds as though he had a busy afternoon.

From the QPR Official Site’s report:

“At the other end, trickery from Taarabt after a clever pass from Gary Borrowdale saw the Spurs loanee beat two men before setting up Leigertwood on the edge of the area, but he could only shoot high and wide.”

“The Icelandic forward then played a first-time pass to Taarabt, who in all fairness, had more time than he realised when being put through on goal, and could only snatch his shot wide.”

“Rangers were now having the greater say in terms of possession, and after super work from Taarabt saw him find Routledge out wide on the right, he crossed dangerously into the box.”

“It was the ever-present Taarabt who, after driving down the middle, played the ball to Routledge, who was quick to react and play Pellicori in down the left. The Italian forward went close, but could only see his shot hit the side netting.”

Kyle Walker started again for Sheffield United today – his fifth game since re-joining them on loan. There are only a few mentions of him on Sheffield United’s Official Site report, but it seems he’s been playing at right-back.

David Button has now been recalled from Crewe (as cover for Gomes) but he started three games for them in his short spell there, keeping two clean sheets.

Poor old Tomas Pekhart is not getting games for Slavia Prague – I do wonder whether he’ll be recalled early, as there’s no point in letting him rot in their reserves.