Arsenal’s loanees are some of the most talked about and debated players at the club, with thousands of fans using websites, blogs and social media to put their points across on potential stars of the future.
However, few truly know the daily goings on of players at their loan clubs like the actual supporters of that particular outfit. To get the full perspective on another crop of exciting youngsters, Young Guns’ Loanee Analysis sees me catch up with journalists who follow their club closely.
To get the low-down on Mark Randall, I caught up with football writer and passion Rotherham fan Caz Neale, who is the editor of Rotherham’s Vital Football website. She spared some time to give me the Millers’ perspective on Mark’s spell in Yorkshire.
What was the feeling when Mark signed for Rotherham?
“Excited to be honest. I mean an Arsenal player, albeit a youngster, coming to Rotherham. It’s really exciting. Arsenal don’t just sign anyone.”
How has the season been, and what part did Randall played in it?
“Our season has been a disappointment. We really needed to be in the play-offs at least. Young Mark only made a handful of appearances for us and I don’t think he was given much of a chance to be honest. His first game ended after twenty minutes when he got injured and was out for three months.”
What would you consider his highlights this season?
“I suppose his one and only goal for the Millers; on New Years Day in our 5-0 win over Port Vale.”
What would you consider his low-lights this season?
“Not being picked. I can’t really understand why he was left out so much. I’ve heard good things about him when he’s played for our reserve side, but that wasn’t really what he came to do. When he first came he did look a little out of his depth, and needed to be told that he wasn’t playing in the Premier League, and that he needed to fight for balls and not panic when faced with big, strong defenders. However, I’m sure that would have come to him if he’d got more games”
What does the future hold and do you think he’ll make the grade at Arsenal?
“What I saw of him I thought he was okay. He needs a bit of ‘beefing up’ perhaps and I wouldn’t be disappointed to see him get another loan period with us, though we have a new manager in now and he seems to want to ring the changes. I do think Mark needs to go somewhere that will make use of him for at least another season.”
Any other stats, facts or little pieces of extra information?
“Stockport County away. Mark was named in the squad to play. We heard on the grapevine that something had happened and we were one short on the bench because one of the players hadn’t turned up. It was Mr Randall. He was supposed to be staying in a hotel in Rotherham that the club were paying for while he was here, but unbeknown to the club, kept going home to Milton Keynes. We’d probably never have found out if his car hadn’t broken down on the way back to Rotherham.
“He was told to get himself to Stockport for the game, but his car insurance company refused to take him there, saying he only had cover to take him back home, which was listed as Milton Keynes. I understand he not only got a rollocking from Ronnie Moore, but Pat Rice demanded he got himself back to London to explain himself.”
“Of his ten appearances for the Millers, he started three games and came from the bench for seven. He got two yellow cards. His last game was against Oxford in February.”
You can read all the articles in this series in our loanees area.
I feel kind of sorry for mark randall.
He really was a sublime talent whos been dogged with injuries and then played in the reserves last year which basically killed him.
He played well for Burnley. I wonder if Owen coyle will try and buy he could get the best out of him!
With the quality in front of him at the Emirates in central midfield he won’t make it. We can’t keep everyone and if someone has to go then surely it’s Randall.
This guys seems to have a really bad attitude
Bullsh!t !!!! He’s an angel compared to some of our players. Even Jack’s been in more trouble than Randall. I don’t think it comes down to a “bad attitude”, more like he’s been put on a pedestal and everyone expects him to live up to it. So when he has a bad run of luck, injuries and form he seems to give up. And why not? He’s human !!!
‘When he first came he did look a little out of his depth, and needed to be told that he wasn’t playing in the Premier League, and that he needed to fight for balls and not panic when faced with big, strong defenders’
Sadly, this is an indication of the lack of fight and winning mentality that’s instilled in the Arsenal players right through the club. It also indicates an excrutiating arrogance that has swept through our club over the past few years that is all too apparent in the likes of Randall, Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, etc. Not a good look at all – hasn’t been for too long now.
I agree it seems to be the norm now for all our players to expect to be treated nicely by opposition players. And why ???
It’s installed in them by the club. From the top unfortunately :(
I am a big fan of Wenger and always stand by his decisions but his constant moaning about “rough” teams is wearing a bit thin. It’s the way football is played in England so get used to it !! Deal with it and stop bagging other teams for playing that way. Does Ferguson moan about the way teams play against Manure? No he just uses “tactics” to deal with it. Wenger doesn’t, the team doesn’t. It’s sad but it’s true !!!
Sell him hes shit!
And you are the greatest footballer ever?
Simply randall can’t make it at arsenal because there are many better players ahead of him that have still not get their chance.
“I feel kind of sorry for mark randall”.-
thats bcos hes one of your favourites like freeman lansbury etc lets get rid, hes not good enough unless your happy for him to get his wages and play in Rotherham reserves. if this was afobe would you still be crying in your tissues.
Through a friend that knew a youth coach of a championship club, 5-6 years ago this coach gave my mate the heads up about a player in the arsenal youth team that was very highly thought of… None other than Mr Randall.
Maybe why he’s been given the chances he has even though his attitude lets him down.
I’m sure I’ve read Sanchez watt was a world beater at a younger age.
Just goes to show kids shouldn’t be over hyped until they’ve proved it
Hopefully spurs sign him…apparently he kept getting caught smoking when he was at arsenal as well and to be honest his attitude stinks,ship him out,he is definately not needed at the arsenal.Thing I hate most about him is when he loses the ball rather than try and win it back he will try and ‘do’ the other player as if he thinks an injustice is done,he’s a nasty little git that thinks he’s better than he is,pure and simple
I’m a Gills fan (so amusingly the pic at the top is actually of our home game vs Rotherham) and being an Arsenal fan I was looking forward to seeing Randall.
He was, er rather average. No chance of making it at Arsenal whatsoever.
What some people need to remember are players are human; some are honest, humble and hardworking, whereas some are just spoilt dicks. Go to some of the academy of top clubs, and you will find them.
Randall may be the former; a misunderstood, scared boy trying to make his way in a tough industry. However, all anecdotal points to him being the latter; a spoilt dick.
Is spoilt dick a type of steamed sponge pudding ?
But was he always a “spoilt dick” or did our youth system make him like that?
this guy is rubbish! dunno y we still wasting our resourses on him an a few others, we all know he’s not gonna make it @ the club so y r we still wasting his an our time? if this guy is not let go this summer ill cut my own leg off!
From what I’ve heard he’s getting paid silly money for a reserve player that’s proved nothing and obviously like most people would do in his position he’s decided he don’t want to leave permanently as he’d lose alot in earnings,so he’ll be here till his contract ends,hopefully this season.The reason for the loans ain’t for experience but purely to try and recoup a bit of his wages by getting the loan club to pay a percentage,put mildy in the words of badaman,he’s a dick
It is obvious that not all players will make it at a big club so we should not act surprised when one doesn’t. To be honest, I thought it has been pretty apparent for a few years now that he is not Arsenal quality. This in know way means he can’t prove himself at a lower level though if his attitude is right which from what we hear, it is not. Hopefully he comes good at some point and best of luck to him.
randall could be world class if he wasn’t so shit.
Classic comment Goomba… Denilson and Vela are in the same bracket!
Never be horrible to an Arsenal player. Whilst they wear our shirt they are the same as Dennis Bergkamp. Teenagers are moody, it’s nothing new. If you want people who will always behave perfectly in their youth then you perhaps should hold off having any children.
But yes, it has seemed for a long time that his time was up. He has too many players above, below, and at the same stage as him that are simply a lot better.
I wish him all the best wherever he goes and that any hyped attitude problems can be worked out.
I understand when I go on goal.com or some other site like that, that I will read ass whole comments but for our own fans to call players on our team horrible and treat them with such disrespect makes me sick. ALL of these players are better than every single one of us on here so to call them shit is really ignorant and pathetic. You can have your opinion on whether you think they are of Arsenal quality or what level you think they are suited for but come on people.
All those thumbs down on my comment? Damn, I’m heartbroken. Here’s me, all thinking i’m never wrong and all and then BAM!!!! 16 (sixteen) thumbs down!! Ha ha! AKB’s need to learn to read between the lines like smart people do. For example, maybe you should go read Alex Song’s recent comments published earlier today where he talks about our victory over Manure and our defeat the following week to Bolton. He pretty much admits that there is complacency within the squad. I know there is complacency within the whole club itself – from the boardroom down. Still, let’s pretend it doesn’t exist yeah? Ironic thing is, if Song did what he did in the Manure game all season long, against all those ‘weaker’ teams that he indirectly says we underestimated, namely, hold his position (DM), then i can almost guarantee we would have won this league, leaky defence or not! Our attitude and mental strength is the very worst i have EVER witnessed from any football team. I cannot accept this from my Club! Things have to improve – and they will as your numbers diminish slowly but surely AKB’s (whether it means he goes or just rectifies what has been patently obvious for the past few years now).
maybe they didn’t thumbs down because of the content of what you said but cos you come across as a knob? im my humble opinion :)
and guys what i said about randall was just a joke… was being sarcastic. wish him all the best in his fiture career of course!!!
I saw him a couple of times in the reserves and he looked good. He played a few Carling Cup games and looked like he was trying too hard to impress, with too many flicks that didnt come off. His first loan spell went ok, but rather than gaining experience i think he has lost confidence and his head is shot. He needs to find a club that will play him and make him feel wanted and appreciated. All the best to the lad.
Mark Randall is the story of my life. A player with potential and technical ability, who tries too hard to impress and can’t consistently perform at a high level.
Mark undoubtedly had, and has, the talent but lacks the mentality and perhaps some understanding.