Pile 'em high, sell 'em cheap

Just about every striker that United possesses has been put up for sale by Denis Smith in a desparate attempt, presumably, to cut United's wage bill in order to try and bring in someone who can actually score. Ben Abbey, Steve Anthrobus, Kevin Francis and Derek Lilley have all had their names circulated to all other league clubs asking for offers.
Abbey's purchase was a panic move by Malcolm Shotton in a futile attempt to solve the club's stiker shortage, but he has failed to make the step up to league level and hasn't even started a first team game. He has only scored one goal, against non-league Morecambe in the FA Cup. Anthrobus has similarly disappointed, hitting the net just twice this season (the friendly against Derby doesn't count), although he started off spectacularly with a goal at Stoke on the opening day of the season.
Francis's time at the club has been blighted with injury since his arrival as part of the deal which took Darren Purse to Birmingham. Noteworthy mainly for being the tallest player in the football league Francis started off at United scoring many of the goals which made Shotton's first season a success. Unfortunately he was then injured and his return to action was marked by conceding that Chelsea penalty, and it hasn't really got much better for him. It's not that surprising that he has been put up for sale as his wages are amongst the highest at the club.
Lilley is also a high earner, having come from Premiership Leeds United, and whilst his might be the most surprising name to be touted as his recent form puts him into the “not that bad really” category, he is also probably the most marketable of the four. Of course, whether or not any money received for these players is spent on anyone better remains to be seen, but it is kind of comforting that Smith realises that the strikers at the club are not doing the business.

Shotton's shadow into the sun

Mark Harrison has been appointed as manager of Bangladesh in time to oversee their campaign in the “Four-Nation Tournament” to be held in the Maldive Islands in May. The tournament features Bangladesh, the Maldives, Nepal and India. The Bengalis probably have no idea what's about to hit them, but perhaps this shows that there is life after Shotton after all.