The Guessing Game Revisited

By: Dan Humphrey
Date: 17/11/2002

DEJA vu! In February I wrote an article on Grimsby Town's potential loan signings, and another Premiership striker could be arriving at Blundell Park soon, with Mariners' fans once more speculating as to who this mystery person could be.

The gaffer has already gone public regarding his unsuccessful pursuit of Sunderland's young Scottish international Kevin Kyle, but what about the rest of the possibilities in the Premiership?

Arsenal: Graham Barrett (left) has been loaned out to Brighton this season and has done well enough to make the Republic of Ireland full squad. Is he still at Brighton???

Aston Villa: Villa have more strikers than most, but under pressure boss Graham Taylor is struggling to find the best pairing. Teenager Stefan Moore (right) has broken through from the Youth Cup winning side, perhaps Town could get him or his strike partner, his brother Luke, on loan?

Newly promoted - Birmingham, Man City and West Brom: Groves likes tall strikers...Danny Dichio from West Brom?

Blackburn and Leeds: Both these sides seem likely to want to keep their various big name strikers, who are on massive wages, and unlikely to want to come to Town.

Charlton: are having enough problems of their own with scoring Premiership goals. They released Martin Pringle (left), so if Town want him, he would not even count as a loan signing. But what about his fitness??

Everton: Campbell, Radzinski and Rooney may be on form at the moment, but that does not mean Nick Chadwick will be allowed out on loan, as Duncan Ferguson is STILL injured, and Joe Max Moore out of favour. However, Leon Osman is earning rave reviews on loan to Carlisle....

Fulham: Luke Cornwall (right) is traditionally mentioned in these discussions. Does Grovesy rate him?

Liverpool: Apparently youngster Neil Mellor is a goal grabber, but needs first team experience. The Reds also have a young Finnish forward, Daniel Sjolund, in their reserves.

Man Utd: Their youngsters tend to go to Wigan or Preston on loan... but this year the kids aren't even getting a Worthington Cup run-out.

Middlesbro': Perhaps current loanee Jason Gavin could recommend someone?

Newcastle: Like Sunderland, their young strikers are close to first team action (Chopra) or entirely unproven (Offiong)

Southampton and West Ham: Small squads, plus too far away? It doesn't look likely. Then again, we have had players on loan from Denmark and Holland.....

Sunderland: Groves has already tried and failed with Kyle. Ex-Bradford loanee Michael Proctor (left) has also broken into the first XI recently.

Tottenham: seem to have loads of old strikers, not many younger ones....

Conclusion: Mr.Groves has a difficult job here, with Town's limited finances leaving him to consider whether to gamble on an inexperienced Premiership reserve striker who might hit it off like Kabba did, or might be out of his depth.

Assuming Pringle is some way off fitness, vote in our new poll!

The original The Guessing Game

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