I dont see any possibility to control 16x2 LCD panel with 8052 without appropriate controller.

16x2 LCD has 32 characters and each charactor is 8x5 matrix. That means you need 16 rows into (16x5) = 80 columns. total 96 io lines. moreover you need other interface related io. All together will be around 110 lines or more.

you can see how many pins 44780 controller has. They are not just for exhibition, the LCD needs those io lines in order to scan through all.

Why dont you get 44780 from salvage, there maybe some LCD panels those LCDs are destroyed due to the heat or extra ordinary pressure or some liqued leak on the panel!!

Try you luck.

Rauf