Best / Worst Loan Signings ever

[Herbie6590]

Read this on the way home & it got me thinking in respect of Rovers....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/football-league-blog/2010/nov/26/worst-and-best-loan-signings

...particularly liked the mention of Killer Keeley in the article !!

Starter for Ten

Best..?

Oldies...

Terry Alcock - one for the oldies - a stalwart from Blackpool - only played a handful of games but he made an impression on me as a kid & I always remember him fondly for some reason...

Keith Fear - played in THAT 3-2 win at Turf Moor....I seem to recall that he missed a penalty that would have made it far less nailbiting...

Mark Grew - it's darkest before the dawn & these were dark days but he proved to be an inspirational keeper despite being (by modern standards) quite small & slight in stature..

Recent..

David Bentley - steadily matured into an inspirational midfielder...then his ego took over....I'd have him back tomorrow..though not all would agree...

Worst..?

Dario Marcolin - desperate signing in a dark period in our history

Danny Simpson - now at Newcastle....amazed he's still in the Premier League to be honest

[Tom]

Bentley's the best for me. Yordi among the worst.

[SamTheShrew]

Yordi rocked up and got a League Cup winners medal for his efforts! alright for some.

Dario Marcolin ranks up there as the worst for me.

Martin Andresen.

But the worst by far...KABA DIAWARA

[philo]

Jay Bothroyd

[Ossydave]

Bentley's the best for me. Yordi among the worst.

Yordi wasn't that bad, remember him scoring a good header against Fulham I think it was, in fact he'd be suited to our style now.

Gresko was good on loan but it went a bit tits up after that.

[Drakefyre]

Franco Di Santo must rank among the worst.

[Grez]

Robbie Fowler?

[brfcshabba]

Has to be Richard Witschge. One game one defeat - Should never have let him near the Championship winning celebrations

[Gav]

Mark Grew - it's darkest before the dawn & these were dark days but he proved to be an inspirational keeper despite being (by modern standards) quite small & slight in stature..

Great keeper, good shout.

[rickard]

Dino Baggio was pretty much crap as far as I can remember

[47er]

Grabbi.

[brfcshabba]

Grabbi.

Loan signings?

[RibbleValleyRover]

Shabani Nonda? Wasn't the worst signing, chipped in with a few goals.

[Tom]

Nonda was awesome, we should have gone for him on a free last year, would have done more than Di Santo and Niko.

[Mr. E]

Franco Di Santo must rank among the worst.

His goal vs Burnely earns him bonus points though.

[RibbleValleyRover]

Few more poor loan signings:

Markus Babbel

Eyal Berkovic- Talented player, never really shone during his loan period.

Jay Bothroyd- Poor for Rovers but seems to have made a reasonable career for himself (found his level in the Championship). Had a recent England call up.

Bruno Berner

Decent:

Givet- Had a decent period on loan at Rovers made an impact which resulted in a permanent signing.

[Dave S]

Kevin Arnott

Anyone remember?

First loan he was excellent. I think Sunderland wanted £250,000

So we couldn't afford him.

[OJRovers]

Villenueva

[Tom]

Few more poor loan signings:

Markus Babbel

Eyal Berkovic- Talented player, never really shone during his loan period.

Jay Bothroyd- Poor for Rovers but seems to have made a reasonable career for himself (found his level in the Championship). Had a recent England call up.

Bruno Berner

Decent:

Givet- Had a decent period on loan at Rovers made an impact which resulted in a permanent signing.

Really? I was gutted when we signed some old Turkish bloke instead of him

[DanLad]

Really? I was gutted when we signed some old Turkish bloke instead of him

Berkovic played well for us. An important element of the promotion side.

I remember thinking that this Turkish bloke (who I had some serious doubts about - he couldn't get a run out in scottish footy!) had some big shoes to fill. As it happens, it turned out alright and he wasn't a bad un.

Ardiles and Archibald were class acts, although past there prime. They played some pretty good stuff.

[bluebruce]

People have mentioned Bentley...but he was fairly average on loan. As soon as we signed him he almost completely transformed!

Berkovic was quality. Sometimes a luxury player, but other times crucial. Villanueva...well, I didn't see all of his games, but when I saw him I was always staggered he couldn't get a proper run in the team.

[Tom]

He could barely run properly due to his tiny legs, looked like he was running uphill into a gale all of the time.

[speeeeeeedie]

Jason Beckford. He was Darren Beckford's younger brother. At the time the elder was banging them in. I think for Port Vale. We got him from City. He had massive thighs but was not very good.

Andy Marriott was good. Was he from Forest? He was another who we couldn't afford but did a great job.

[47er]

Loan signings?

Whoops!

[blue/white]

Dino Baggio was pretty much crap as far as I can remember

Great shame that. In his day, this guy was Genaro Gattuso WITH proper footballing skill but he lost the plot early on IIRC.