Which of the loan brigade will stay?

Albion blogger Jarrod Hill gives his honest assessment on which of the club's loan brigade will be able to cut it in the Premier League.

The final Championship game of the season against Barnsley at the Hawthorns may have been a lukewarm version of a pre-season friendly, but the send off the fans gave the boys in stripes on Sunday was superb.

Not much to add to the match reports you have already seen, the game was played at a slower pace than we have become accustomed to, but it was good to see the determination of the boys not to go out on a loss.

The question I want to throw out there today is regarding the players we have had on loan this season and which ones you would like to see back here next term.

Let's start with Gabriel Tamas, for me a definite yes. He has gradually grown into a very useful partner to Jonas 'Mr Angry' Olsson.

In fact it is his similarity to Jonas that makes me like him so much, both players are decent defenders but it is their ability to pass the ball that I find refreshing to find within two lads that obviously enjoy the physical side of the game.

His reported price tag is just £800,000 and at that price I would take two of him! Another gem for next nothing in my opinion, and his price tag adds no risk to the deal for us and adds no pressure to the shoulders of the player.

Steven Reid had possibly one of his best games in an Albion shirt on Sunday against Barnsley and has been a useful addition to the squad since the loss of Gonzalo Jara.

I am going to upset a few among you when I say I am nudging towards thinking he cannot cut it playing right back at Premier League level at right back.

But I do believe we need to sign two specialist full backs, one left and one right, so when I see Reid play he looks like what he is - a midfielder doing a decent job at right-back.

I do not dislike the player, but I feel we should be looking at players who are natural full backs, yet on the other hand if his wage demands are reasonable and we sign him on a free he would strengthen the squad.

But I would see him more as cover than a first team starter, and a lot will depend on where boss Roberto Di Matteo sees Gonzalo Jara's future position within the team.

Rumour has it that Ben Watson wants to come back to the Hawthorns, as he enjoyed his short spell here so much.

It took him a couple of games to get up and running, but once he was in his stride his all energy displays complimented our midfield well.

By the end of his spell with us he looked match fit and playing very well, so much so he was recalled to a struggling Wigan side and helped keep them up. Would I like to see him at the Hawthorns?

The answer is yes, but I think his form since returning to Wigan will mean their manager Roberto Martinez will want to keep him a while longer and give him another chance next season.

Frank Nouble, I actually feel a little sorry for the lad. He came in and was asked to play out of position on the wing and he is much more comfortable as a striker.

Certainly wouldn't sign him as a winger and haven't seen enough of him to make a decision on him as a striker. Fact is he would be a possible one for the future and next season we will need a striker to come in and hit the ground running, so for that reason I would say no.

So that is my honest assessment of the loan players we have had this season, and it will be interesting to see what happens. I would be disappointed if Tamas isn't an Albion player in the very near future, as for Reid and Watson I will watch with interest.

This is my last regular blog of the season and I would like to thank all of you who have taken the time to read them. Even bigger thanks go out to those of you who have left messages and made the blog a lot of fun this season, you know who you are.

I will be sporadically throwing a blog in as and when there is something to discuss, which probably means that like last year and the year before I will be writing once or twice a week!

Have a great summer see you all soon.

Up the Baggies!