Cod Almighty | Article

by Simon Wilson

5 January 2004

Bought by David Moyes (when he was still the most promising young manager outside of the Premiership) for half a million quid in the summer of 2000, Anderson helped the Lilywhites to a fourth-place finish in Division One the following season. Boo for the play-offs, eh. Moyes left for Everton, Craig Brown came in, and with only ten appearances for North End, Anderson drifted out on loan to Tranmere to see out the season. There the wee Scotsman (he's only 5'8" you know) played seven games, scored twice, and set up a couple more. Tranmere finished a so-near-so-far one point outside the play-offs - and 15 ahead of Plymouth just below them. Town won what was presented as a tussle between themselves and Tranmere. 

A Tranmere mate of mine told me had signed "a kind of Chris Waddle in reverse". What he was getting at is that Anderson is right-footed but likes to play on the left, cutting inside to hit shots in (not that he likes running backwards). For me he's more like a lower-league Marc Overmars. And he's shown that, knocking in three goals in the first four games of the season, all from just outside of the area from the inside-left position. It's been steady-ish since then if not spectacular. While he has good close control, he's not the fastest; nor has he shown that he can be a constant threat down the left, his form showing in fits and starts. And whether Iain can keep a place in the team with Phil Jevons relocated to the left wing remains to be seen.

Is there any other league club with two Iains in their team?