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Penney ponders striker loan bid
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date online: 25/11/2009
ATHLETIC boss Dave Penney will pick out loan transfer targets today as he bids to inject new life into a faltering campaign.
A disappointing 3-0 reverse at Walsall last night sunk Athletic to 16th place in Coca-Cola Football League One, five points clear of the relegation places but with tough games against Leeds United and Norwich City up next.
Scoring goals is a big problem for Penney’s men, who have racked up only 15 in 18 matches — the joint lowest total in the division along with bottom two sides Stockport and Tranmere.
Another blank last night — albeit without the ill Chris Taylor — would indicate that he will look to bring in a striker before the transfer window shuts at 5pm tomorrow.
“We have had better days,” Penney admitted following a game in which Lee Hills was sent off before half-time for a late and dangerous tackle on scorer Steve Jones.
“We had the disruption of Chris Taylor and Alex Marrow being ill, so that set us back. But we just weren’t ruthless in both boxes. We conceded two poor goals in the first half, particularly the one before half-time after we had gone down to 10 men.
“We had to hang in the game just to make sure we didn’t get a good hiding, to be fair.”
Left-back Hills will be handed an automatic three-match ban for his red card, effectively drawing to a close his loan spell from Crystal Palace.
Penney was left unsure over the decision made by referee Andy Woolmer after the incident, which happened right in front of the Walsall dug-out.
“I will have to have a look again and I just don’t know, to be honest,” he added. “I think that Lee got something on the ball and caught the man as well, so I will have a look.
“There were a couple of incidents before it, similar scenarios. But it was just naivety on behalf of the young boy. You should stand up and get the ball, not even give the referee the chance to send you off.”
Kelvin Lomax made an unexpected return to action at the Banks’s Stadium after missing the last four games with a slight leg fracture, coming on after half-time to replace the injured Reuben Hazell, who pulled a calf muscle.
Summer signing Joe Jacobson made his first-team debut from the bench in the defensive reshuffle that followed when Hills was dismissed.
ATHLETIC’S young stars have the chance of glory tonight at Boundary Park when they take on Rochdale in the second round of the FA Youth Cup (7pm kick-off).
Coach Tony Philliskirk’s side are playing for the chance to turn out against Aston Villa at Villa Park in the next stage.
Concern surrounds the fitness of top scorer Tom Eaves, who went home ill from training on Monday. He will be back at the ground today for an assessment before any decision is made on his availability.
Have Your Say
lee Hughes is a good striker 11 goals this year so far. chris o'grady is ok he has 6 goals so far. maybe we should have them in our team?
"I think finding, a problem in itself, adding yet another striker to the squad is just one big cop out by DP! Its the team he has put together he wants to look at?!..
..Can someone shed some light on why Taylor is suddenly always ill all the time?!
Loan strikers are a bad idea in my opinion, we should be trying to score goals from all positions, and not only from upfront, a little like high flying Chesterfield have been doing this season.
its no use sacking penny and his staff it would cost too much to get rid then bring in some one else that would want to bring in his own saff and players hopefully dave will get it right in the end with the help of a little money , i am glad hes found out what every surporter new at the begining of the season that we need strikers,if we dont get some one in we wont score again in a month of sundays unless
we play against 10 men every week, we live in hope, only need 10 wins
I would like to see some of you put together a team with the funding Mr Penny has had from the three Amigos, and expect them to play Brazilian football, we have put together what we are paying for "dregs and rubbish" even the bin men would refuse to take. Put the blame where it lies with the directors, its them that off loaded every decent player we have had.
They have cut the staff on the pitch but the growing minions behind the scenes and the new appointments, must add to the wage bill, that money could have been better spent on player on the pitch to improve performance, win games and increase crowds and revenues, and perhaps sell a few more pies, providing they can order enough, as even the basics they cannot get right.
'Lets be realistic we have to except that we are an average LG1 side who have had a couple of good seasons recently and were we had a good manager who knew how to get the best out of players. Unfortunatley he let the club down with the Belle Vue incident' and the 3'Os' who i think initially were a little naive by going for it and splashing out on high profile players are counting the costs this season..
Why would they put in any more money when the club is operating at a huge loss every year. We're a small club... deal with it.
leedslatic - because if you don't put any more money in, you'll lose even more money and then go out of business.
Paul Heffernan is to join us soon on loan until january with a view to extending it until the end of the season after falling out of favor at Doncaster. Thought ud like to know!!
The club tryed getting Benjani in on loan but the move broken down.
By Ibby786 @ 25/11/2009 13:51:08
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