Ethan Wheatley | On loan to Lincoln City

top1whoisman said:
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. :+1:

That's a real shame. I know Walsall are top of league 2, and signed an experienced lower league striker on deadline day, but they also lost their previous top scorer at the end of his loan and Wheatley was signed as a replacement.

That loan player, Nathan Lowe, was also 19 and on his first EFL loan. Though he had also played some first team games for Stoke so had a little more senior football experience. But still a startlingly poor comparison of loan spell when Wheatley can't even make the matchday squad in comparison to Lowe's 18 goals in the first half of the season!

Hopefully he'll earn some opportunities later in the season and get to make some positive contributions. But I think it's, sadly, probably a good reflection of where he is ability wise.
 
Shame to see him not playing. Still, a good lesson to keep working and wait for his opportunity.
 
Bertie Wooster said:
Thanks for that. :+1:

That's a real shame. I know Walsall are top of league 2, and signed an experienced lower league striker on deadline day, but they also lost their previous top scorer at the end of his loan and Wheatley was signed as a replacement.

That loan player, Nathan Lowe, was also 19 and on his first EFL loan. Though he had also played some first team games for Stoke so had a little more senior football experience. But still a startlingly poor comparison of loan spell when Wheatley can't even make the matchday squad in comparison to Lowe's 18 goals in the first half of the season!

Hopefully he'll earn some opportunities later in the season and get to make some positive contributions. But I think it's, sadly, probably a good reflection of where he is ability wise.
Click to expand...

As I said multiple times before, he's not a consistent goalscorer (good striker of the ball and decent technique for a player of his size though) and as long as that's still the case, he isn't gonna cut it on senior football. He has time on his side to work on his consistency though.
 
Last edited:
Looking at the Walsall forum there's a couple of comments about his reaction to being subbed against Salford which was his last appearance. Doesn't sound like he impressed in the couple of games he's played either.

It's the risk you take sending youth to clubs that are fighting for promotion or to stay up. They're not in a position to give them time to settle in and learn about the senior game. Makes more sense to loan them to mid-table sides who would be more willing to do that.
 
Don't think he's anywhere near good enough.. not enough weapons for PL football. Leagues below Biancheri and Obi for me in terms of potential.
 
IRN-BRUno said:
Looking at the Walsall forum there's a couple of comments about his reaction to being subbed against Salford which was his last appearance. Doesn't sound like he impressed in the couple of games he's played either.

It's the risk you take sending youth to clubs that are fighting for promotion or to stay up. They're not in a position to give them time to settle in and learn about the senior game. Makes more sense to loan them to mid-table sides who would be more willing to do that.
Click to expand...

Then again they need games with high pressure and those mid-table teams would not be able to provide that experience.
 
top1whoisman said:
Then again they need games with high pressure and those mid-table teams would not be able to provide that experience.
Click to expand...
True, it's about finding that balance between the two I guess. Similarly you have Jackson and Mather who went to a Tranmere side trying to stay in the EFL and they have a total of 3 minutes between them.

For a first loan I do think the mid-table route would be more ideal, that step up to a more high pressure environment could come after if that's successful. Getting used to playing senior football is the main thing.
 
I'm assuming they're hoping for a good loan next season and have renewed his deal to sell him when he builds up more value. I don't see the new deal as a sign he's expected to make it at United; super high bar and failing at Walsall doesn't bode well.
 
It does seem that strikers are breaking through older and older. He's not a greenwood but he could eventually become a Solanke or something like that. I believe in him long term but I don't think he'll make it here as a regular starter.
We should get a good fee for him when the time comes. It'll be interesting to see how much he can improve because I think he has a lot of raw talent
 
I would not hope for a good fee if the player at least did not have successful season at CH level. At the moment he is having bad loan in League Two, so, lets start with him playing some senior games, scoring goals at any level and see where he can go in 2 season and than look for sale. He looks to me as someone at Hugill level, and CH football is far away from him at the moment.
 
Ali Dia said:
It does seem that strikers are breaking through older and older. He's not a greenwood but he could eventually become a Solanke or something like that. I believe in him long term but I don't think he'll make it here as a regular starter.
We should get a good fee for him when the time comes. It'll be interesting to see how much he can improve because I think he has a lot of raw talent
Click to expand...
I remember Solanke having a much better goal scoring record for the u18s than Wheatley just had.
 
Wheatley is nowhere near Solanke was, bit of a laughable comparison. He'd do extremely well to become a PL level striker, which is not a dig at Ethan at all.
 
From What I've seen, Wheatley has had one really good season (23/24). Nothing else I've seen has impressed me. Not the 22/23 season, not in the first team, not on loan, not this season for U21. As AjaxCunian said, he'd do well to become a PL striker, which will be difficult considering he doesn't even get in the squad at a League Two club.
 
Made a 15-minute sub appearance after having been out of the match-day squads for a while.
 
TwoSheds said:
Was his loan cut short then?
Click to expand...
I don't think so although he isn't making the bench at Walsall currently. It is not uncommon when a player is on loan for them to be allowed to play for their parent clubs youth team provided that is included in the terms of the loan, typically it would apply if the club he is on loan at is not planning to feature him in their next game. If the loan has been terminated it has not been communicated and he was still with Walsall earlier this month.
 
Very surprised he didn’t get more minutes on his loan. Seems like a player that’s a hard worker, tall and very quick. Great composure too
 
If his loan with Walsall has been terminated, he'd be eligible for the Europa squad on List B right? Since he meets the age criteria and has only been on one loan?

We desperately need some striking depth in that competition, even if it's youth.
 
JezChan said:
If his loan with Walsall has been terminated, he'd be eligible for the Europa squad on List B right? Since he meets the age criteria and has only been on one loan?

We desperately need some striking depth in that competition, even if it's youth.
Click to expand...
Apparently he's only allowed to play youth matches for us.
 
JezChan said:
If his loan with Walsall has been terminated, he'd be eligible for the Europa squad on List B right? Since he meets the age criteria and has only been on one loan?

We desperately need some striking depth in that competition, even if it's youth.
Click to expand...
No, you can’t change registration between transfer windows. He’s registered to Walsall until the summer. A loan “termination” means nothing at this point.
 
limerickcitykid said:
No, you can’t change registration between transfer windows. He’s registered to Walsall until the summer. A loan “termination” means nothing at this point.
Click to expand...
I see - cheers for clearing that up! Good to see him get some game time for our U21 at least. I feel that Victor Musa hasn't quite been up to speed for U21 level, so Wheatley being with the U21s from time to time as an out-and-out number 9 until the end of the season may help some of the other attackers in that group to develop.
 
Walsall's form has been so poor for months, I wouldn't be surprised if they changed manager for the play-offs so Wheatley could still have a role to play for them.
 
He's an interesting one.

You don't at first glance see a player you think will make it at the top level.

But to get his physical profile as a 9 coming through the ranks is rare. I'd imagine the club will putting more stock into him than fans might.
 
Marwood said:
He's an interesting one.

You don't at first glance see a player you think will make it at the top level.

But to get his physical profile as a 9 coming through the ranks is rare. I'd imagine the club will putting more stock into him than fans might.
Click to expand...
I have a feeling Wheatley is one of those guys that will be a slow burner in the manner of a Danny Ings or Dominic Solanke. Good youth with a promising skillset and solid foundation but will probably leave the club, maybe drop to the Championship, add bits to his game every year and all of a sudden by 25/26 he's a really physical striker with great fundamentals.
 
I was really surprised not to see him make it on the pitch during the run-in. He is obviously further along than Chido Obi, and although the latter has more potential, Ethan would do all the things Amorim would want out of his centre forward. I feel like it could have taken Rasmus out of the firing line a little bit.
 
Stobzilla said:
I was really surprised not to see him make it on the pitch during the run-in. He is obviously further along than Chido Obi, and although the latter has more potential, Ethan would do all the things Amorim would want out of his centre forward. I feel like it could have taken Rasmus out of the firing line a little bit.
Click to expand...
I don't think he was eligible to play for the senior team after the Walsall loan
 
CM said:
I don't think he was eligible to play for the senior team after the Walsall loan
Click to expand...
That'll do it then I guess. That seems weird given I though the rule was no more than 2 teams in a calendar year? That may have changed and I accept that I am almost old so I may have missed the rule change. I guess we will find out if he would have been in contention come tour time.
 
He really has improved his first time/quick finishes with minimal back lift. Seems more composed too and calm/less reactive. All good signs I’d say.
 
Stobzilla said:
That'll do it then I guess. That seems weird given I though the rule was no more than 2 teams in a calendar year? That may have changed and I accept that I am almost old so I may have missed the rule change. I guess we will find out if he would have been in contention come tour time.
Click to expand...
It was to do with registration windows. In January he was registered for Walsall and so we could not register him for our games until the window opened again in the summer. The rules do include an exception which allows a player on loan to turn out for their parent club at youth level which is why he was still able to play for the u21s.
 
Stobzilla said:
That'll do it then I guess. That seems weird given I though the rule was no more than 2 teams in a calendar year? That may have changed and I accept that I am almost old so I may have missed the rule change. I guess we will find out if he would have been in contention come tour time.
Click to expand...
I think the rule is that when he signed for Walsall on loan until the end of the season then he was registered with them and not us for the length of that loan spell - so, even if the loan is cut short and he returns to play for us at youth / U21 level, he's not allowed to play for our first team.
 
Would a loan move to Lausanne be beneficial for him you reckon? I’m not sure how many strikers they do have, but playing in the Swiss league could be beneficial for him at this stage of his career.
 
dr.twinny said:
Would a loan move to Lausanne be beneficial for him you reckon? I’m not sure how many strikers they do have, but playing in the Swiss league could be beneficial for him at this stage of his career.
Click to expand...

Yeah he won't struggle with the physical side, you'd think he could benefit by a move to a smaller league.
 
TwoSheds said:
Yeah he won't struggle with the physical side, you'd think he could benefit by a move to a smaller league.
Click to expand...
Will be interesting to see him in pre-season. It's not going to take much to get in the conversation for game time at striker if we don't start making signings soon.
 
Bertie Wooster said:
I think the rule is that when he signed for Walsall on loan until the end of the season then he was registered with them and not us for the length of that loan spell - so, even if the loan is cut short and he returns to play for us at youth / U21 level, he's not allowed to play for our first team.
Click to expand...
As you say, he wasn't available to play official matches for us until the transfer window opened and his registration reverted.

However, all the loanees were eligible to play in the post-season friendlies in Asia. In the event, United didn't take any of them. Not a good omen for their future here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.