Nicky To Exit?

Last updated : 22 March 2006 By Tom Kirk
Sky Sports have today reported on Oldham Athletic's effort to secure Argyle frontman Nick Chadwick on loan before the final transfer deadline of the season.

In a surprisingly open admission, Latics manager Ronnie Moore went into great detail in listing exact names of players he's been targetting in attempt to show fans the calibre of player he has tried, in vain, to bring to Boundary Park.

Nick Chadwick was one of his first targets, along with Warren Feeney of Luton and Michael Chopra of Newcastle United. Eight strikers' names were mentioned by Moore, including son Ian (Leeds United), but talks with their respective clubs have come to no avail. As well as bring desperate to land some reinforcements up front, four further names were relayed with regards to possible summer transfers.

The story is likely to accumulate an abundance of speculation over Chadwick's future, after his surprise exile from Saturday's squad of 16. Argyle and Tony Pulis, therefore, will surely be unhappy with the additional, undesriable media interest the story will generate.

It is coupled with the fact that Vincent Pericard appears to be Pulis' preferred partner for targetman Mickey Evans, despite misfiring since his hat-trick versus Coventry. Since then, Plymouth have scored just once in five outings and the team have been critisised for their passive mentality, lack of creation and failure to convert what chances they've had. Generally, the consensus is that the Pilgrims have become quite dull, boring even to watch.

Where fans might have thought that 6-goal Chadwick might have been recalled to try and break the drought, he made way for youngster Chris Zebroski on the substitutes' bench for the visit of Cardiff City. Zebroski is one of three academy products, another being fellow frontman Reuben Reid, to sign their first professional deals with the club last week.

Youth is definately getting a chance under Tony Pulis' reign, homegrown talent at that, though seasoned veterans such as Lilian Nails and Lee Hodges too have been in favour of late. Whilst the goals have dried up, fans won't be too sympathic if recognised creators like Bojan Djordjic and Akos Buzsaky continue to be left out of the starting line-up.

Chadwick seemed fine however at yesterday's link-up at the races, the squad's day-trip also featured on Sky Sports News. These are conclusions drawn purely from evidence noticeable from the stands. Whether they have real foundation remains to be seen, but perhaps Pulis should be asking Ronnie Moore whether they are necessary.

The source article will be of great interest to the other 10 clubs, excluding Oldham and Argyle, with stake interests in Ronnie Moore's comments. It is unlikely that any of 10 other clubs will appreciate such a disclosure either. Moore, though, is renowned for being a fairly outspoken football coach. He was once heavily linked with the Home Park manager's post, when Paul Sturrock departed in 2004, but denied his interest, claiming the geograhical aspect put him off. "I'd might as well manage a team on the moon", he remarked at the time. However, he could well now be eating his words, as bringing players to the populus north has proven difficult also.



The latest addition to the team, Marc Knight (green_argyll77).
Here, Marc looks into Argyle's goal drought and slump in form.