United boss Adkins scours the loan market to fill the void
MANAGER Nigel Adkins is desperately trying to strengthen his squad with a new young loan striker from the Premier League before Saturday's home game with Crystal Palace.
"We have got a bid in for a couple of young players," he confirmed.
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ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Young Tottenham striker Jon Obika, a likely loan target of United, who has opted for a loan switch instead to Crystal Palace. He is pictured playing on loan last season in League One with Yeovil.
It follows a couple of setbacks in the loan market last week – and another yesterday.
Adkins has been forced to take action following an injury to striker Garry Thompson that could keep him out for the next two months.
That leaves Jonathan Forte and summer signing Chris Dagnall as the only experienced strikers on United's books.
And it's Premier League youngsters who Adkins is now looking to fill the void.
"We tried to bring in a couple of young players from the Premier League on loan last week," the United boss confirmed.
"One was from a London club, who has instead gone on loan to another London club in the Championship."
That is likely to be Tottenham teenager Jon Obika who last week joined Crystal Palace – and could end up facing the Iron at Glanford Park at the weekend.
The 19-year-old striker had spells on loan last season at both Yeovil and Millwall.
"I thought we were very, very close to getting one of the players," said Adkins.
"But we didn't – and we have to move on.
"We also had a setback yesterday morning with a player we have tracked closely during the summer.
"We had hoped to bring him here on loan – but he is going somewhere else.
"The big clubs are at a stage now where they are looking to get their young players out on loan – and they want to get them at the best places they can.
"Yes, that is frustrating, but it is also fantastically challenging.
"But we will keep chipping away. We now have bids on the table to bring in another couple of young players from clubs in the Premier League.
"One was on the bench at the weekend for his club.
"We are working desperately hard to strengthen the group we already have here.
"I think we have shown in the past that we can identify the right players.
"We put in a bid of £200,000 for Jon Walters when he was at Chester. He went instead to Ipswich and has now just moved to Stoke for more than £3million.
"We also tried twice to bring in Grant Holt when he was at Nottingham Forest.
"We are looking in the right places and trying to bring in the right players.
"We are trying really, really hard to bring in players who can improve the team and not just make up the numbers."
United's need for a new striker follows the injury blow for Thompson, who missed last Saturday's visit to QPR with a groin injury.
"He has now had a scan on the injury and faces being out for six to eight weeks," said Adkins.
"That is a massive blow for us. But it is nothing connected to the previous groin problems he has had.
"It is something he picked up during the last home game against Norwich.
"Garry seemed fine after the game but was then in a lot of discomfort when he woke up the following morning."
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by Scunny Bunny, Still Waving at 3,000 fans
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 8:19PM
“I'm gutted - having followed SUFC for 30 years, the first 25 years were always in the hope that one day we might return to this level and improve the crowds, ground and finally lose the 'joke' tag that we have always had...now it looks as if we have simply rode our luck and cashed in at every opportunity...going back to the Chelsea game IU dont recall heaingle penny being attributed from any TV, Cup run or transfer...it all disapears into a black hole - it's one thing making certain the club is solvent but another subsiding the boards lack of any financial input whatsoever.
RUBBISH IRON”
by P.Doff, Attemptsville
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 5:43PM
“At least the clappers will be over the moon with this perception of attempt.
The wallet was closed 3 weeks ago and this missing out is smoke and mirrors in an attempt to say that they tried.
I am afraid losing Hayes has lost us Championship status and unless we get anyone in of his quality then we are on an omni-directional roller coaster.
We haven't, we won't so we will have many more defeats on top of the pummeling we will get tonight when our chairman sees a round three potential moneyspinner go to South Yorkshire.
DISGRACEFUL”
by 1500club, Lincs
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 3:55PM
“Surely Kristian Pearce, Bondz N'Gala, Jordan Spence etc all had a point to prove and were hungry?
One would appear nieve to believe that the arrival of any player to GP is down to anything but money...one thing we have failed at is actually attempting to sign players after successful loan periods like Kelly Youga, McDermott etc...releaseing players within our range, in the hope we can replace them with other loanees only lasts so long.
Nevermind though - as long as there are 'supporters' (and I use that term lightly) who preach about not spending a penny to survive, we are giving a big thumbs up to a board clearly lacking money, ideals or the good business sense to take a PROPER punt on a decent/proven youngster (unlike the type of Adam Boyes/Bobby Grant signing we pray turns out as a winner).
Let hope we get lucky in the loan market because we are still well short on last seasons squad.
Up the Iron!”
by Rich, London
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 1:59PM
“John from London hits the nail on the head. We need players who've got a point to prove, not players who've had a couple of good seasons elsewhere and are out of our reach financially. Is it a coincidence that our all-time record signing wasn't up to scratch last season, whilst players like Sharp and Hooper were virtual unknowns but went on to become multi-million players? I always draw a parallel with the England team. Did any one really expect England to win the World Cup with multi-millionaires like Lampard, Barry and Terry playing in the team? What have these guys got to prove? Capello's failure to get rid of this lot guarantees England's failure for the forseeable future. In much the same way, buying a couple more Rob Jones's would guarantee our failure for a couple of seasons at least.”
by Eddie Murphy, wondering
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 1:54PM
“Why aren't we playing Dagnall as the out-and-out striker? And after the pre-season talk of Collins being a potential Hayes replacement, why haven't we seen him "in the hole"? And what of Grant?”
by Dan, Scunny
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 11:45AM
“I notice Adkins doesn't mention the fact that Holt etc didn't sign for us!!!
I think it is worrying that we are saying we only have two fit experienced strikers and so we are looking at bringing in youngsters! Are there not any players on the fringe =s for their club who have experience. Not saying he is a signing for us but I notice Palace have enough to sell one of theirs.”
by jimmy krankie, crackerjack
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 11:44AM
“We're probably like many fans throughout the country who's dreams for the season have been doused with very cold water. The departures of our better players was always going to cause problems and they've not been replaced. Banging on about players in the past who you've tried to sign, and didn't, is pathetic. I think it'll be a long, fruitless season...be happy to be proved wrong though!!”
by john, london
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 11:03AM
“i think we have to remember it's not just about money. We have to gamble on these kids as they are at big clubs and hyped for a reason. If we want to sign players, even good players in league 1 would rather earn more money else where or move to a city. Also why throw money at a player to convince him to come? We've had players who dont care before and it's horrible to see. Our whole recent success has been built on hungrt players, be them young like hooper or experinced like Thompson, grabbing their chance.
I for one do not want Adkins to 'break the bank' and the board would not let him. One transfer too big for the club and we could be on the road to ruin.”
by jingles, Bottesford
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 10:27AM
“Arsenal are letting Lansbury out on loan again any chance we could get him ?”
by 1500club, Scunny
Tuesday, August 24 2010, 10:25AM
“Nevermind eh - maybe we could sell the entire squad, use the youth team to achieve our goal of relegation/not having to re-build GP? Think of the savings 'happy clappers' - bask in the glory of being solvent and be happy to exist in Div 2!
Seriously - Forte? Dagnall? Grant? Hardly Hayes and Hooper - we had a decent side last year but the board failed in losing Macann/Williams/Sparrow/Hayes/Hooper ... no cash for replacemnts despite Hoopers windfall? Something not quite right there...
Come on Iron - it's nort just raining, it's been siling it down since May so get the ceque book out and show some intent!
Up the Iron!”