No midfield? Then get a Grant...

01 December 2000

West Brom boss Gary Megson has brought in midfielder Tony Grant on-loan from Manchester City and he is expected to go straight into the squad. Megson has praised his squad for their performances in November which have earned him the Nationwide Division One Manager of the Month award. He said: "Since the first three matches of the season we have changed the formation slightly, brought in a few new faces and we haven't looked back. We have lost just two games in the last 17 matches which is a terrific testament to the players' commitment."

However, with the moves for James O'Connor and Igor Balis still dragging on, the fact is that we are still paper thin in the midfield area - and the loan signing, despite Megson saying a while back that he wouldn't be using the system - bolsters the squad in time for a difficult run of games against Wimbledon, Watford and Fulham. Midfielder Jordao is due a suspension in the near future, and with McInnes and Oliver absent through injury, the move is a sensible one.

Tony Grant profile from Soccernet:

Club: Man City
Shirt Number: 28
Position: Midfielder
DOB: 14/11/74
Birthplace: Liverpool
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 10.1

Joined City in January 2000 from Everton, the club where he started his career. Much vaunted in his Everton days, he has never quite lived up to the expectations made of him as a young player. Has rejoined mentor Joe Royle and was thrown straight into the midfield after his signing but failed to settle at Maine Road. A skillful and good passer of the ball whose weakness lies with his lack of pace, he also played for Swindon before joining the Blues from Tranmere.

Completely out of the first team picture at Maine Road at the beginning of the 2000/01 season, appearing only once as a substitute before December 2000, he went out on loan to First Division promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion.

[ Note the use of the phrase "First Division promotion hopefuls"... that makes a change!  ]

Previous Stories:

  30 November 2000:  Megson is Manager of the Month!

  28 November 2000:  Baggies live on TV again!

  28 November 2000:  Balis red-tape slashed?

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