On-loan Taylor eager to step out of comfort zone

Nov 24 2007 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

ANDREW TAYLOR is the kind of young professional footballer that Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie Moore fears is becoming a disappearing breed in the modern game.

The reluctance of many of the current generation of Premiership prospects to step outside the well-paid comfort zone of their mother club has prompted Moore to label them as “spoiled”.

Frustrated by Tranmere’s failure in a series of attempts to recruit top flight players on loan, Moore talked about youngsters no longer measuring their careers by the number of games played but how much money they earn.

So Taylor’s enthusiasm about joining Tranmere on a month’s loan from Blackburn went down particularly well with the management at Prenton Park this week. The 21-year-old clearly believes in putting his football first.

“When I heard that Tranmere were interested in taking me on loan my obvious answer was yes please,” he said. “I was delighted to come.”

Taylor says the priority is to gain the first team experience that has so far been denied him in five years as a professional at his home town club.

For all of the potential marked by England caps at youth and under-21 level, Taylor has not been able to break through the daunting competition in a Blackburn squad numbering more than 40 professionals.

He said: “I have been on the bench once for a Premiership game and played in a few pre-season friendlies but that’s as far as it goes.

“It’s very difficult to break in because we have such a large and high-quality squad at Blackburn. It especially tough in the defensive positions, where there is a lot of cover.

“So whenever I do get the chance to go out on loan and get some first team experience, I snap it up straight away.”

Taylor said yes three times to spells at Crewe and Huddersfield last season and at Queens Park Rangers the season before.

He says he understands that other players in his situation may not take the same view.

“It is up to the individual,” Taylor says. “Some may prefer to stay in the comfort zone and play with the reserves.

“But from my point of view there is nothing better than running out on a Saturday afternoon in front of a big crowd and playing in a league match. That is what football is all about.

“You’re not under the same pressure to get results in reserve team football. It’s more about performances and developing players at that level.

“The best thing about playing league games is the pressure – like hanging on in the last five minutes to get a result, like we did at Doncaster last Saturday.”

Taylor made a belated Tranmere debut as a substitute at the Keepmoat Stadium.

He was intended to start after signing and training with his new team-mates the day before. But the youngster was struck by a virus and sick for much of the night before the game and rather than risk a Taylor from the start in a weakened condition, Moore selected Carl Tremarco, who had been troubled by a stomach strain during the week.

However, Tremarco’s dismissal for a tackle two minutes into the second half brought Taylor into the action and his enterprising contribution in helping Rovers secure a goalless draw delighted Moore.

Taylor said: “I would say that getting forward is probably the main strength of my game.

“Of course you have to do your defensive work first. That’s the number one priority. But if there are any opportunities to get forward and do a bit of damage to the opposition, I like to do it.

“At Blackburn they like to play attacking football and in the modern game full-back is one of the key positions in taking a team from defensive to attacking mode.”

Taylor says he is enjoying his new surroundings and the close-knit spirit of camaraderie that comes from being part of a squad that is half the size of Blackburn’s.

He said: “The aim is to play as much football as I can while I’m here and help Tranmere pick as many points as possible.”