Lookman

[GLewis]

We Wouldn't.

Not currently but i think there’s been an over estimation about how good they are.

If we had a good manager I wouldn’t just be accepting a defeat if we played them.

[GLewis]

They’re a level or 5 above Derby though regardless of how they’d stack up against us.

Yes.

But his issues aren’t skill.

It’s decision making etc. which are improved under pressure and experience of it.

And I’ll still stand by he’s done this loan move for himself.

Which doesn’t sound bad but everyone hates senior players who try to leave etc.

[GLewis]

The more intense the league the higher the pressure and he’s clearly getting the experience and at a much higher level than the championship.

Of course he’s done it for himself, he’s looking to make himself the best he possibly can be whether that’s with Everton, Derby of Leipzig.

The intensity issue is the key.

Being thrown on for cameo sub appearances, with an “express yourself remit” etc isn’t the same pressure as having responsibility for starting games where mistakes even early on in a game may cost you.

He’s been starting more games recently so that’s good.

And I’ve no problem with players looking out for themselves but lots of people do. He’s just got an easy ride because most people don’t like Allardyce otherwise I think he would have been panned for going against club wishes.

[GLewis]

I've said similar before, but even if he has gone against the club's wishes, it doesn't mean that the club's decision was right for his development.

I think there's very much a progressive argument to make that sending young players abroad - and exposing them to other cultures/styles of play - is the right thing to do here. For attacking players at least, anyway.

There probably was a 'feathering his own nest' side to it as you suggest, but on our side of it, his decision's probably vindicated in that he's actually been starting some games and coming off the bench.

When you've got people like Royle/Dobson, Walsh and Allardyce making decisions on loans, you're probably only ever going to get them going to British clubs because that's what they're used to. This might make sense if you don't think they're ever going to make it at Premier League level, give them experience of the rough and tumble of the lower leagues. If they're likely to be top level players though, I'm not sure it does.

Yes and I think that approach is enhanced if you’re going to be appointing managers from outside of the English game more often.

[GLewis]

Think he’s been eligible for 11 games since his move, he’s started 5 games and featured significantly in 4 others.

Considering the first two games came within 8 days of him landing in Germany I’d say that’s a decent amount of football for a 20 year old lad out on loan no matter what club he’s playing for.

As for the Allardyce point it’s unlikely he’d have sort out a loan move if he wasn’t the manager given the mismatch in skill sets he requests and the player has.   

Yeah I said at the time that the move should be judged on starts etc come the end of the period.

I’m far from being against players getting different experiences.

It’s just that when I’ve watched Lookman, he looks like he needs a) decision making and b) the stamina you gain from playing 90 mins every week.

That was a gamble going to Leipzig.

[GLewis]

He has started several games for a side chasing 4th and Champions League qualification, and his two goals have come in substitute appearances. I think the intensity is surely there -- about as real as it gets.

I don’t think sub appearances are, inherently.

As said, he’s started more games recently though so that’s better.

It’s just not the absolute no brainer option, from the point of view of him coming back here and being good for us, that it is often portrayed as.

[GLewis]

While he might want to stay there I don’t think that he’s been treated appallingly here, that’s stretching things.

We obviously wanted him to go to Derby but we didn’t stop him from going to Leipzig.