The last loan?

This morning will see our squad return to training and assessments made on the fitness of Deon Burton and Rob Elliot. Both have been carrying injuries and both succumbed on Saturday during the first half. We have been unfortunate with injuries this season and this latest two threaten to undermine the most critical phase of this make-or-break season. 


The transfer window for loan signings closes on Thursday and it looks like the Board may have to stretch their fingers for the final coppers in a final bid to save their investment of £7m made earlier this season to support a promotion campaign which offers us the only realistic hope of avoiding an impending financial meltdown.


Darren Randolph had a steady forty-five in goal and I would be confident enough that he can perform the Sasa Ilic role and see the season out. If Rob Elliot is going to be out for more than a couple of games, we are going to have to contemplate a loan signing to provide cover for Randolph. 


Our pockets might not stretch to a second player but serious consideration must be given to getting an impact striker in. With Burton and McKenzie injured and Dickson and  Fleetwood on loan elsewhere, we are really only left with Sodje and Mooney and they don't look like firing enough goals to get us promoted. Good strikers are like hen's teeth but this is probably the best time to get one when other clubs are more likely to know who they can reasonably dispense with for the final matches of the season, especially if they might be looking to off-load someone come the Summer. 


On the subject of Mooney and Sodje, things would appear to have fallen flat for them as they play for new deals. Akpo looked a real threat when he first arrived on loan but he has ambled his way through the last few games since returning and looks short of something. Mooney has given it everything since he arrived but is very inexperienced and has missed more than he has scored which has angered the more impatient Addicks amongst us. I didn't see the Millwall game but he appears to have been singled-out for his powder-puff showing and his detractors booed him as he lined-up on Saturday. He responded in the best possible way by smashing the equaliser but might have thought twice about cupping his ear as he ran the length of the pitch to celebrate. His next bad miss will be the cue for a cacophony of boos.


I can't let the weekend pass without mentioning two personal highlights. Having finally written off Scotland's chances of a 6 Nations victory, they only went and beat Ireland in their back-yard thereby avoiding the Wooden Spoon and proving Lawrence Dallaglio wrong - always a good thing. The significance of the victory may become more apparent next Spring as Ireland's ageing squad takes a step backwards and Scotland's developing side a step forward. 


Oh, and the other a delicious case of schadenfreude as Crystal Palace move into the Championship relegation zone. They face third place Forest away during the week as their nearest rivals play winnable home games. Crumbs of comfort and all that...