Stearman Has No Problem With Watford's Loan Arrangements
Tuesday, 19th Feb 2013 14:39

Town loanee Richard Stearman has already appeared on the losing side against Watford this season and doesn’t want a repeat when they visit Portman Road this evening.

He was in the Wolves side beaten 2-1 at Vicarage Road in November, when the Molineux men were handicapped by the 25th minute dismissal of fellow defender and Scotland international Christophe Berra.

Stearman, meanwhile, has no problem with the fact that the Hornets’ promotion-chasing squad includes 11 loan players — because they are operating within Football League rules.

He said: “Sometimes loans work, other times they don’t, but they clearly have a lot of talent throughout their squad. They have taken advantage of some loophole — I don’t know how they have managed to acquire so many players on loan — but it has happened and we are going to have to deal with it.

“I heard Ian Holloway speaking after his Crystal Palace side played them and he clearly wasn’t happy about the number of loan players they have, but it’s not really for me to comment.

“Maybe it’s something the authorities have to look at but Watford are not breaking any rules and you will probably find other clubs looking at the situation to see if the loophole is still open. As things stand, if teams want to do it they can because it’s legal within the game.”

Stearman is looking forward to facing Gianfranco Zola’s men, the Championship’s highest-scoring outfit with 64 goals in their 32 games to date.

He added: “I don’t mind who I play against as long as I manage to equip myself well. It was a bit of a surprise that Tom Ince didn’t start the other day but they’ve certainly got other dangerous players and as a back four we were delighted that we were able to keep them quiet.

“Watford represents an even bigger test but the gaffer talks a lot about defending from the front, with the strikers doing their bit, and in the time I’ve been at the club I think we have done that part of the game really well.

“The most important thing is that we win the game but if we do keep a clean sheet it will be our third in four games and it won’t just be down to the defenders.”

Photo: Action Images

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NoCanariesAllowed added 15:04 - Feb 19

I must admit, I had hoped this arrangement at Watford would not work. No, they haven't broken Football League rules, but it is no way to run a club. I can't see it being sustainable and it seems a terrible waste of the fantastic academy they have down there.

But sadly we can moan all we like about how it's giving them an advantage. It's the rules that are wrong and should be changed - it's just a shame that Watford have stooped to manipulate them and, worse, seem to be profiting from it too.