In 2004, Barnsley FC Manager Paul Hart made one of his most astute acquisitions; by taking Michael Chopra on loan from Newcastle United initially for one month.
Chopra was just 20 years old and went on to score 17 goals in a period with the Reds which extended to a stay for the full season.
Unable to compete with the lure of returning to his home town club and later interest from Cardiff City and Sunderland, the striking talisman has never returned to play for Barnsley FC despite the bond he had built with the Oakwell faithful.
All clubs are seeking to procure goal scorers and we hope we are no different. The rumour mill has two further Premier League reserves linked with a gig or two in front of the Ponty End.
Could either player replicate the goal tally achieved by Chopra?
Paris Cowan-Hall, signed for Portsmouth FC in 2007, having spent time on trial previously as a 16 year old with Manchester United and Chelsea. Whilst he has not yet surfaced in a senior game with Pompey, the evidence from this 19 year suggests that a glittering career may be just around the corner.
Take a look at this ...
Frank Wiafe Danquah, is Ghanese in origin, played in the Ajax academy and has been top scorer for Newcastle reserves. At 20 years of age, his previous two year contract appears to be coming to an end, having made no senior appearance yet for the North East outfit.
Sadly, there's no video out there presently to justify his talent. However the similarities in age and his record with the Magpies is conspicuously similar to Chopra.
Admittedly, this speculation is hardly a scoop, but would a similar post pre-August 2004 be written in a similar vein?
Keep dreaming folks!
As a geordie fan who used to live next to the academy and training ground at Newcastle and saw Frank Danquah on a number of occasions, I'm sure he'd be well-liked down at Barnsley. I'd love to see the lad get a chance to play some competitive games as he's been around our reserve squad for a good few years now. He's not going to get you 20 goals a season - he'll never be that player. But he is a very professional lad, brought up the right way at Ajax and is a hard-working lad that'll run all day. He's had injury problems the last couple of seasons but is definitely worth a look. Think more along the lines of Lewis Guy than Michael Chopra though.
ReplyDeleteTheres a few young lads at Newcastle who need first team football who'd do a Chopra for Barnsley. One such is big Nile Ranger. But I gather Blackpool want him on loan. He was a typical dopey bling-brat but seems to have quietened down a bit last year, being involved in the promotion push. He's just witing to explode, I reckon. Could be another Andy Cole.
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