I'm feeling optimistic. How about a Good Loans XI?

1. TONY WARNER. The fifth goalkeeper in the season after Greeno's departure, and perhaps the best. A major factor in our scramble to safety in 2007.
2. ELLIOT OMOZUSI. Competition for Otsemobor in a position that's been a problem for a while.
3. MOHAMED CAMARA. A lot of the plaudits went to Ryan Bertrand last season, but I thought Mo was quality, especially at Selhurst Park, where he had promising young Sean Scannell in his pocket. Good stuff.
4. SCOTT PARKER. A loan signing that doesn't always go well - an apparently promising young Premiership player needing first-team experience. This one, however, was brilliant, and an important factor in turning the club around in 2001.
5. JOHN KENNEDY. A player whose career needed a shot in the arm, coming into a defence that desperately needs a shake-up. Already looks like it's going to suit both parties perfectly.
6. MARTIN TAYLOR. The best of 2007-2008's defensive loanees (shading it over Alex Pearce), and exactly what City needed to get out of the brown stuff. A real coup at the time - but with Stefanovic and Kennedy in, it looks less unfortunate that we didn't keep him.
7. KEVIN HARPER. Looked like a typical Worthington loan signing, but proved so much better than Roberts, Benjamin, Southall etc.
8. DAVID ROCASTLE. A real marquee name for the club after losing several 'names' from the European era to retirement/lack of funds. A shame we couldn't keep him. RIP.
9. PETER CROUCH. Helped push us up the League, and revitalised his own floundering career. Absolutely inspired by Worthington, as Crouch had become a bit of a laughing stock. A loan signing at its very best.
10. DAVID NIELSEN. Far better during his loan spell than after his permanent signing, but played an important part in the run to the play-offs. Gave the whole club a (brief) lift.
11. DARREN HUCKERBY. Because the moment he went from 'loanee' to 'permanent' after all the hassle with his agent was one of the best ever. Legend.

Honourable mentions: Ryan Bertrand, Arturo Lupoli, Alex Pearce, Ched Evans, Neale Fenn, Leigh Bromby.

Posted By: Ottosson Foxtrot, Sep 1, 21:38:12