After a decent week of loan football last time out, things were much quieter over the past seven days to the extent where nobody really did anything to be Headline-worthy. So…
England
Ryan Bertrand continues to impress for Southampton and completed another full match in their 1-0 victory over Stoke, for whom Victor Moses played 79 minutes without great success. Saints manager Ronald Koeman revealed on Friday that he would like to sign Bertrand permanently at the end of the season if the club can afford to; the deal gives them that opportunity for a fee that could reach £10m.
There should have been a clash of loanees at Turf Moor on Sunday but whilst Nathaniel Chalobah got a few token minutes at the end of Burnley’s defeat to Everton, Christian Atsu was not involved having played ten or so minutes in their Europa League clash with Lille. Chalobah has to be growing particularly frustrated at his lack of playing time at Burnley and with two months left until the winter transfer window will already be considering his options.
Championship teams had a double-header of action this week and for Middlesbrough it was Patrick Bamford who played the most of all Chelsea players, earning starts against Wolves and Watford and playing well on both occasions. He earned an assist in the latter fixture and is playing as well as he has since joining the Teessiders.
Kenneth Omeruo played in the former fixture before being rested at the weekend whilst Jamal Blackman was not in the matchday squad on either occasion.
John Swift was twice an unused substitute for Rotherham and has still not played a first team minute since August 18th.
Germany
Lucas Piazon’s Eintracht Frankfurt hosted Oriol Romeu’s Stuttgart and it was the Spanish midfielder who secured the bragging rights as VfB edged the content 5-4. He even managed to provide something of a fortunate assist in his ninety minutes but the day wasn’t a memorable one for the inconsistent Piazon; he was substituted at half time.
Thorgan Hazard’s Europa League opportunities continued in midweek as he played 90 minutes at home to Apollon Limassol. He laid on an assist for the game’s fourth and fifth goals, crossing dangerously from the right firstly for Patrick Hermann before causing Angelis Charalambous to turn into his own net. He was then a very, very late sub on Sunday as Gladbach held Bayern to a scoreless draw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WUz2tquf84
Tomas Kalas is the only Chelsea loanee to not play a single minute of senior football this season and he was not in Köln’s squad on Friday night as they won 1-0 at Werder Bremen.
Spain
Gael Kakuta started for Rayo Vallecano but the in-form Madrid outfit were humbled in a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Málaga.
Mario Pašalić did not feature for Elche in their defeat at Valencia whilst in the Segunda Division, Uli Dávila had no part to play for Tenerife as they beat Barcelona B 2-0.
Netherlands
Bertrand Traore and Wallace continued as starters for Vitesse in their 2-2 draw at home to NAC Breda on Saturday night. Both have been lively if slightly inconsistent this season but are amongst the better Vitesse performers. Wallace completed the match whilst Traore was substituted during the second half.
Josh McEachran has been back in England receiving treatment on an ankle injury whilst Stipe Perica was absent for the opposition as he served the second of his four-match suspension.
Italy
Marko Marin surprisingly proved that not only is he alive but able to finally make his Fiorentina debut, doing so in the final moment of their Europa League tie against PAOK. On Sunday he met up with Fernando Torres and Marco van Ginkel as Milan hosted I Viola but they were all substitutes, with only Torres getting on for ten minutes of the 1-1 draw.
France
Joao Rodriguez played no part for Bastia versus Monaco and nor did Matej Delač for Second Division Arles-Avignon against Niort.
Greece
Islam Feruz did not feature for OFI Crete against Asteras Tripolis and at this point all signs point towards a continued negative trajectory for the Scottish forward’s career. Offered around various clubs at home and abroad this summer, he has thus far failed to settle into a regular playing role in Greece and short of a remarkable turnaround, he’ll be looking for a new home in January or next summer.
Chile
Cristian Cuevas is unlikely to play for Universidad de Chile against Palestino later tonight but if he does, details of any involvement will be added here in due course.