Too many loans?

Despite having a fantastic academy and brilliant youth set up, Derby County this season have brought in many loan players supposedly to add experience into the squad. However the fact is that on the whole the players that have been added to the squad were journeymen who were of limited use to Derby and didn't improve the quality of the team as a whole.

Previous manager Phil Brown alongside Murdo Mackay, the clubs Director of football were responsible for bringing in some. It would be very unfair though to say it was all Phil Browns or Murdo Mackay's Fault, the lack of any financial investment was also a big factor.

Current manager Terry Westley seems to have done well with the current batch of players; Wright, Lisbie and McIndoe for example. He is also looking to add more loan signings into Derby's team, as at this stage of the season it is his only option for new talent. Westley too has certainly shown commitment to the youth set up including the likes of Nyatanga and Barnes, but will they be good enough in the remaining matches?

What concerns me is the fact that we now have loan players who could be recalled at any time to their ‘own' clubs leaving us again with big gaps in certain positions. So with this in mind it asks the question are Derby abusing the loan system? An unsettled squad with many changes, plus the low quality of some of the loanees surely isn't beneficial to the club?

Derby have used 30+ players so far this season with at least one more signing to come. Is it right that Derby County can do this? Or should the League step in and say enough is enough? What do you think? Let us know!

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.