Peterborough Chairman Proposes NFL-style Draft For Loans

[Dave]

Premier League youngsters should be entered into a US-style draft pick for League One and Two clubs to take on season-long loans, says Peterborough's owner.

Darragh MacAnthony, who lives in the US, has launched a debate on social media that top-flight clubs should put forward their five best 17 to 20-year-olds for a televised draft pick that he says could ease financial troubles for EFL clubs while helping youngsters "get real men's football minutes".

How would it work?

Each June, 20 PL clubs select five of their best youth players aged 17-20 to be made available for a draft pick

The 50 players from last season's top 10 clubs would be available to League One, while those from bottom 10 PL clubs would be available to League Two

The bottom 10 clubs from previous season in League One (inc. four promoted from League Two) get to pick two players each from top 10 finishing PL teams (with lowest ranked club going first)

League One clubs would take turns choosing two players to take on loan from last season's top 10 Premier League clubs, while League Two clubs would choose from the bottom 10 Premier League clubs (with the bottom three being made up of those promoted from the Championship).

"At the moment a lot of us League One and League Two clubs have a real problem dealing with Premier League clubs where we're being quoted up to £5,000-a-week in wages, pay for their accommodation, you have no idea the costs involved," MacAnthony told Sky Sports News.

"It shouldn't be financial for youngsters to go out and get real men's football minutes. That is the real battle we have in League One and League Two."

Harry Kane went on loan to Leyton Orient in League One for the 2010-11 season

MacAnthony believes playing in the lower leagues of English football is a far better education than "U21 tippy-tappy football".

"If you watch most of the Checkatrade games between Liverpool, Arsenal, whoever, we go watch these kids play and you don't see tackles, the hustle and bustle of proper league football," he added.

"You can't really see if they're going to be able to do it at our club, if they're going to be able to do it on a cold Tuesday night at Bradford in the FA Cup."

MacAnthony suggested his idea could include a guarantee of the players featuring in 20-30 per cent of matches.

"If they're good enough to play, they'll play," he said. "If not that's a different story. You want these youngsters to go out and earn their keep.

"Harry Kane, players like that, went out on multiple loans in the Football League and it did them a world of good."

[Smiley Culture]

Seen an article on BBC. He wants each Premier League team to put up five players available for loan each season and then there’s a draft to decide which League One or Two team they’ll join. 

Thoughts?

[Spike]

Could be good for minimising stunts like Chelsea->Vittesse and allowing players more English players to develope. Of course, the Perfidious Anglo won't be happy about it because it has the word 'draft'.

[Danny]

Honestly not the worst idea in the world, could really benefit League 1 and 2

[Smiley Culture]

He cites the cost issue of loaning a player from a Premier League team but I’m not sure how this would work financially. 

 

[Honey Honey]

It removes the ability of Prem clubs from approving or rejecting certain clubs. A young lad could end up somewhere considered negative or detrimental. The idea that all experience is good experience is not necessarily true.

[Dave]

I remember in the 2009/10 season Preston North End sacked Darren Ferguson. As a direct consequence, Manchester United and Stoke City pulled their players that were on loan at the club. These were some very good experienced players at Championship level and Preston couldn't replace them. They were relegated that season. Albeit that is an extreme example, at least incidents like that would be eradicated. 

At the same time, there's good reason certain clubs get chosen. I remember an interview with a player on loan at Forest a couple of seasons ago who said his club sent him to Forest because they wanted him to get used to playing in front a large demanding fan base. In addition, we had a scenario where Sulley KaiKai and Hiram Boateng went to Crawley Town when they were in freefall and they hardly featured. They went on loan to better teams the following season and they featured regularly whilst playing key roles in the team. Also, if a club of Chelsea's prestige agree to send a player on loan to League One, I'm sure they'd rather send him to a club they expect to be near the top of the table.

I'm against it to be honest on the grounds whatbthe experience will not necessarily be beneficial to everybody.

[Guest]

Has there just been a new idea that tff members actually like 

[RandoEFC+]

I like it. The lower league sides shouldn't have to pay a fee or wages for the loan either. Five youth players wages are nothing to a Premier League club and it's to their benefit anyway to choose five players from their own system to go and get experience of first team football and probably near-guaranteed game time.

[Honey Honey]

Mike Ashley has asked if we can enter the draft as one of the receiving teams?

[Dan+]

On 14/12/2018 at 22:25, Harvsky said:

It removes the ability of Prem clubs from approving or rejecting certain clubs. A young lad could end up somewhere considered negative or detrimental. The idea that all experience is good experience is not necessarily true.

That's the best argument against it I can think of as well. Actually do quite like this idea in a way but it isn't flawless.

[Burning Gold]

2 hours ago, RandoEFC said:

I like it. The lower league sides shouldn't have to pay a fee or wages for the loan either. Five youth players wages are nothing to a Premier League club and it's to their benefit anyway to choose five players from their own system to go and get experience of first team football and probably near-guaranteed game time.

Then the PL team will just pick their 5 lowest earning (read: shittest) players to put up for the draft so they can keep the higher earning/more promising players back for loans that will pay.