The right decision for Dani, but should it have come earlier?

Pacheco stated last summer that he wanted more game time and he was linked with loan moves to Real Sociedad and Malaga. The moves didn’t materialise once he was convinced to sign a new contract but neither Hodgson nor Dalglish have been convinced enough to make him a first team regular. Perhaps the move to Norwich, and the prospect of first team football, will give the player the game time he needs to prove his much lauded talents. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague believes the Norwich move will benefit the player. He told Norwich City’s official website:

“It’s a great idea to have him on loan for a bit. What you will find with him is that he is a player that plays between the lines, which if he is cleverly used can be a player who is very difficult to defend against in the Premiership, never mind in the Championship. Norwich is a great club, a really great club for him to go to. Once again the expectations are high and the atmosphere is fantastic. He has an aura and flair to play good football and he is going to a Club where that is respected. Fans will respect that combination, although it is only for eight games.”

The fact that it is only eight games, and the fact that he has gone on an emergency loan to a Championship club now with two months left of the season, begs the question as to why he wasn’t sent out on loan in January. The Europa League would have certainly influenced the club’s decision on the matter, but considering he didn’t even come on as a sub in recent Europa League ties, in hindsight it may have been best to send him out on loan earlier.

In January, he could have gone out on loan to another Premier League club, which could have assisted his development even further. Perhaps if he performs well in the last eight matches of the season for Norwich, and the Canaries get promoted, he could have a season with the Norfolk club to gain first team experience in the Premier League, rather than staying at Anfield where opportunities maybe limited by the many new signings expected in the summer. In that scenario, Pacheco could learn just as much as Jack Wilshere did at Bolton Wanderers last campaign and return to Liverpool a much better player. Hopefully he will get the chance at Norwich to prove his worth, and we see the development that Kenny Dalglish obviously feels the player’s need.

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