Wood Joins Tykes on Loan

Chris Wood has today joined Barnsley on loan for an initial three month spell at Oakwell.

Wood goes straight into the weekend squad for the match against Reading at the Madjeski Stadium. Barnsley currently sit 10th in the Championship, mainly as a result of their strong home form.

Wood will join a (semi-) illustrious list of All Whites who have played at the South Yorkshire club, Allan Pearce, Leo Bertos, David Mulligan, Jeremy Christie and Rory Fallon all started their careers there more than a decade ago. Signed after impressing during the U17 World Cup held in New Zealand in 1999, the Tykes proved a spring board into the English game for each player. Pearce never appeared for the first team and eventually moved on to Lincoln City before returning home. Bertos made twelve appearances before his best period in England at Rochdale followed by spells at a number of lower league outfits prior to his move to the Glory. Rory Fallon had the most success at Barnsley playing 52 times for the first team and scoring 11 goals before moving to Swindon. Mulligan was also a moderate success at Barnsley playing 66 times for the first team before moving to Doncaster after being released at the end of 2003/04 (despite being offered a new contract just 5 months earlier). Christie managed just 10 appearances before signing with the Football Kingz.

Back to Mr Wood - it appears that a rumoured loan deal with Derby was agreed before the close of the transfer window, but injuries to first team players scuppered that move and Barnsley have now swooped.

Good luck to Chris, we'll be watching with interest.

Surgery for Fallon

Rory Fallon had surgery on a hernia on his groin on Friday. Manager Peter Reid indicated to the club website that it was yet unclear how long Fallon would be out of action. "We'll wait for the doctors on that one."

It could well mean Fallon is unavailable for the upcoming All Whites matches versus Honduras and Paraguay. At the very least, he is likey to be short of match fitness.

Fallon Plymouth Departure Brewing

Overnight it was reported that Rotherham United Manager Ronnie Moore has spoken with Plymouth gaffer Peter Reid about taking Rory Fallon away from Home Park. According to Moore "It would be nice to have somebody like him with all his experience."

At this stage however it seems - fortunately (and no disrespect to League 2's Rotherham) there may be some other clubs interested in securing the Kiwi target man. "There's a bit of interest from First Division [League 1] clubs and a Championship club ... but  to be honest, Fallon's on decent money and if these other clubs do come in for him we havent a chance."

Whether the Rotherham approach has any real wheels, it seems increasingly clear that Fallon is on the market as far as Plymouth is concerned and if somebody is prepared to take his wages off Peter Reid's hands he is a good chance to go. Furthermore, with the Plymouth Herald continuing to report that Reid's number one priority is to bring another striker to the club and with Fallon unlikely to make the team for the weekend after featuring in the Reserves 4 nil loss midweek, the reasons for Fallon to stay are also diminishing it would seem.

No Fifa Window For Fallon

Relegation just got even more niggly for Rory Fallon. While the Premier League and Championship competitions - in which All Whites Ryan Nelsen, Chris Wood, Winston Reid and Tommy Smith are involved - both observe Fifa's international windows, there will be no such break for Rory Fallon's League 1 Plymouth Argyle. The obvious reason being that not so many international footballers ply their trade in English football's third tier (although there are more than you might expect).

So, on October 9, when the All Whites step out against Honduras at North Harbour stadium the Pilgrims will be getting set to host Charlton Athletic (also set for October 9). Given Fallon has lost the confidence of many Plymouth fans after a lack of goals and seems set for a tough battle trying to hold onto a starting position (after being subbed in the 37th minute last week) this club versus country clash isn't going to be particularly welcome.

While Fallon should be able to get back for the following fixture against Nott County (16 October), it is quite likely he will be overlooked for a start given the travel involved in getting back to the UK after the Paraguay fixture in Wellington on the 12th (a problem he will share with other British-based All Whites).