Cash Wasted?

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 20/01/2003

WHEN I read the report in the Grimsby Telegraph that Birmingham City midfielder Curtis Woodhouse is a loan target for Grimsby Town, I did not know whether to be pleased or dismayed.

Paul Groves is reported as wanting the former England Under 21 international at Blundell Park in time for Saturday's clash with Bradford.

The report states that injuries to Stacy Coldicott, Alan Pouton and George Santos have left Town desperately short in midfield and Woodhouse's busy style is exactly what Groves has been looking for.

I am unfortunate (or fortunate as the case may be) in that I am unable to see the Mariners play as I live too far away. But I do listen to every commentary and see all the televised games (albeit later when the video arrives).

Now I may be wrong but I thought that if we were to take on new loan players, we would be looking for someone to shore up the defence, which is the worst in division one, if one believes stat mail.

It appears to be standard practise by our defence to concede at least one goal before half time, no matter how well we have been playing and the shortage in midfield cuts no ice with me. We have been short in attack and defence many times and have had to make up the squad by using our younger players. So why cannot we do that in midfield?

It appears to me that if we loaned Ryan Giggs for a month, he could do little to stop the flow of goals that seem to appear just before half time. So why not spend the money on a defender?

As I say it is difficult for me to judge but on the commentaries and the feedback I get from reports etc., it seems that the greatest problem we have is in the back 4, (ably assisted by bizarre substitution decisions).

I am not saying I am right. The best people to judge are the ones who go to the games regularly. So what do you think? Would the cash have been better spent on defence rather than midfield?

Answers on the Message Board please. No postcards!!

I am not questioning the ability of the proposed player. If he is good enough for Paul Groves, that suits me.

Curtis Woodhouse

England Under-18 and Under-21
Sheffield United Player of the Year: 1998/99.
Moved to Birmingham City in February 2001.
Age: 28
Position: Midfielder
Nationality: English
D.O.B.:17/ 08/ 1980
Height: 1.73m
Weight: 69.92kg

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