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So Ollie has said he is desperate for another striker. And that he will (almost begrudgingly it would seem) give Montel Gibson a try upfront to help Green. Montel Gibson a striker we signed this summer on a 3 year deal.

Yet for weeks now I’ve not seen or heard anything of Ira Jackson (2 year deal) and Touray Sisay (1 year deal) two other strikers we signed with apparent high hopes and excitement this summer. Where are they? Why areant they involved? Surely seems a waste of resources in this current climate signing players we areant going to use?

And if they areant fit yet, why not? Two relatively young lads who have played semi pro given 2 months to get fit? Surely ready for the bench at least?

I may have missed something and happy to be put in my place but something doesn’t quite seem to add up?

Does seem odd that neither of them are even making the bench under the current circumstances.

What seems odd to me is that although they played non-league football, and only trained at most twice a week, they were still able to play full matches once or sometimes twice a week too.
So why are they both not even fit enough to make the bench.
Considering match after match Ollie bangs on about playing the youngsters.
Give Green a match off and throw Sisay in at the deep end up front, and at least stick Jackson Jnr on the bench for a 30 minute cameo.

ridiculous that they havent even been on the bench over a 15 year old kid

Jackson has only ever been part-time as far as I know and so won't be anywhere near as fit as the Town juniors. He's also only used to playing against part-timers, so he will have a long way to go.

Quoted from Welwynmariner

Jackson has only ever been part-time as far as I know and so won't be anywhere near as fit as the Town juniors. He's also only used to playing against part-timers, so he will have a long way to go.

I'm not being funny but the juniors can't be that fit for a number of reasons.

They aren't physically developed and they are sat in a classroom at school for 30 hours every week so I would expect the likes of Jackson and Sisay to be fitter than them.

In fact, Jackson claims to have trained like a pro despite being part-time.

Fully accepting that these two lads may take a bit of time to get up to speed.

But there's absolutely no chance that they should be fitter than a lad who's just entered his final year at school.

Surely, that's what we bought them for , isn't it? I was completely confused. If it's down to fitness only they should be on the bench. We could have done with some fire power last weekend. They couldn't have done much worse than Taylor. A patient straight off a CVOD ward would have put more effort in.

Have to agree with you all. And I’m sorry but if I’ve just joined a club off the back of a pretty prolific scoring record at a lower league club and I’m chomping at the bit to play league football for the first time I’d be doing everything in my power every day to get fit. What else is there to do every day if they are now “full time pro’s”?! And surely having a 15 year old picked ahead of me would be a kick in the teeth / extra motivation?

At what stage does it become Holloway’s mistake bringing them in if not capable to play?

Quoted from diehardmariner

Fully accepting that these two lads may take a bit of time to get up to speed.

But there's absolutely no chance that they should be fitter than a lad who's just entered his final year at school.

Did you miss out a 'not there? As in
theres absolutely no chance that they should not be fitter than a lad who's just entered his final year at school?

These guys were signed as cheap punts let’s face it, our fan base seem absolutely deluded about what level they’re likely to be coming in and performing at. We absolutely need a proven striker but I fear today’s news has ended that hope.

Surely to get match fit they need to play matches, even half fit they could come on with 25/30 minutes to go.

Quoted from diehardmariner

Fully accepting that these two lads may take a bit of time to get up to speed.

But there's absolutely no chance that they should be fitter than a lad who's just entered his final year at school.

I‘m pretty sure I saw the kid running presumably from Healing to Wybers earlier, so if he’s out training after school every day, maybe he’s as fit as a fiddle.

Didn't Jackson come on as a sub v Harrogate. I even think he scored one of our penalties.

Obviously couldn't have impressed Ollie enough to get in a league squad.

I like Matt Green, I know he gets criticised by many but one thing you can not accuse him of is a lack of effort. He gives his all every game.

But, and I'm sorry there is a but. He is quite simply past his best. When we signed him on a two year deal from a Conference side (at the time), he had barely played and was 32 years old. He was clearly on the decline and we brought him back into league football. He has troubled us over the years as an opponent cutting inside from the left of a three with his acceleration. That acceleration has gone now, we seem intent on playing him as a target man down the middle, a role which he isn't really suited. His touch seems to have deserted him as well, his second touch usually a tackle and he doesn't receive the ball well.

Matt Green is not the answer, anyone with eyes can see that. Not sure how far Jackson and Sisay are away but they must be seriously behind if this Matt Green is keeping them out of the side. I trust Ollies judgement and he must have brought them to the club for a reason.

Quoted from fishboyUTM

I like Matt Green, I know he gets criticised by many but one thing you can not accuse him of is a lack of effort. He gives his all every game.

But, and I'm sorry there is a but. He is quite simply past his best. When we signed him on a two year deal from a Conference side (at the time), he had barely played and was 32 years old. He was clearly on the decline and we brought him back into league football. He has troubled us over the years as an opponent cutting inside from the left of a three with his acceleration. That acceleration has gone now, we seem intent on playing him as a target man down the middle, a role which he isn't really suited. His touch seems to have deserted him as well, his second touch usually a tackle and he doesn't receive the ball well.

Matt Green is not the answer, anyone with eyes can see that. Not sure how far Jackson and Sisay are away but they must be seriously behind if this Matt Green is keeping them out of the side. I trust Ollies judgement and he must have brought them to the club for a reason.

Considering Matt Green has played most games as a target man, and that's not his game, I think he's done ok. He was bang out of form for part of last season and lacking confidence. He's still playing a role that doesn't suit his game and giving everything. He'd be much better with some support up there. Against Walsall, he got one chance with the ball on the ground and showed some good pace to get away from their man and get a shot away.

He certainly hasn't been what we wanted, but I don't think the way we played under Jolley suited anybody and he's not played in his best position since.

Given the latest news I guess we can whistle Dixie on any additions to the squad.
Ollie brought a relative shed load of strikers in during August - he sees them in training most days of the week & should know all about his new recruits ability/potential by now.
Surely he's got to be giving them game time soon - our options up front currently seem very limited.
Not sure about this lack of fitness reasoning - just give Jackson & Gibson a half each soon - particularly if we remain goalless again on Saturday. It's not like they have just arrived from a Sunday league pub team.

Maybe Town will be able to keep going on reduced income and expenditure whilst others go the way of Macclesfield?

It's going to be odd that non-League sides can admit 30% of their capacity when anyone above National league North/South can't. How will the FA Cup proceed when NLS/N clubs come in at the next round?

Quoted from Gaffer58

Surely to get match fit they need to play matches, even half fit they could come on with 25/30 minutes to go.

Unfortunately we don't know what's happening on the training ground and at the club right now, we know the major injuries but we don't know who isn't quite fit yet or not ready for games. I also don't support throwing people in at the deep end when they need development and coaching. Judging by the reactions of fans to two games I don't think it'd be fair to throw the likes of these guys at the fury of the fans before they've had the opportunity to learn more and get some coaching.

I've felt bad for Gibson who while trying his best, doesn't yet have the knowledge and ability in him to play against tougher opposition than he has in the past. Our fans do not have patience, they expect the best or they expect you to go. We unfortunately need some patience so these players can give their best but no idea if they'll get it. We are going to struggle to sign any sort of big names or experienced players in the current climate so getting some young players in the team to get experience might boost our ranks, but I don't believe in throwing people in before they are ready. Certainly shouldn't be playing a kid who still has an education to think about regularly.

With Boyd only being 15 is there a limit to how many times we can pick him in the squad legally?

Maybe Ollie is doing this early to allow the others to get “up to speed” whilst training full time.

I don’t know the answer to the dilemma but I do have faith that Ollie knows what he’s doing.

I’m still not ruling out the experienced striker he wants to bring in yet either.

Agreed. As I’ve mentioned on here previously, if they are significantly worse than Green then what’s the point in signing them? Waste of money

Why feel bad for Gibson, he looks like he is clearly up to it to me, Ollie seems to think he's deserving a start too from the last interview.

Throw him in I say, he's like 23, give him a run of games not 10-15 mins here and there

Quoted from Henryscat

With Boyd only being 15 is there a limit to how many times we can pick him in the squad legally?

Maybe Ollie is doing this early to allow the others to get “up to speed” whilst training full time.

I don’t know the answer to the dilemma but I do have faith that Ollie knows what he’s doing.

I’m still not ruling out the experienced striker he wants to bring in yet either.

I don't think there's a limit to how much he can play, but obviously we need to put his best interests first.

I believe there's a bit of interest in him from big clubs and I'm wondering if Ollie is trying to increase his value when it goes to a tribunal by putting him in matchday squads. It will also help his confidence and development by being around the first team squad for games and is a reward for his good goal, even if it was more likely a one off than likely to be a regular thing.

Quoted from pen penfras

I don't think there's a limit to how much he can play, but obviously we need to put his best interests first.

I believe there's a bit of interest in him from big clubs and I'm wondering if Ollie is trying to increase his value when it goes to a tribunal by putting him in matchday squads. It will also help his confidence and development by being around the first team squad for games and is a reward for his good goal, even if it was more likely a one off than likely to be a regular thing.

It sends a message that you will get played if you are good enough. It would hopefully push the value up too but if it makes a couple of talented kids stay here a bit longer because they believe we are actually good for their long-term development then I am all for it.

I don't think Boyd can sign a pro deal until he's 17 so we've got a vulnerable year. The system picks up talented academy kids. Adam Drury was at Man City and currently plays for Grimsby Borough, Lewis Collins was at Reading and is now at Gainsborough via Cleethorpes Town. By playing Boyd and giving him an appetite for life around the first team, we are increasing the chances of someone coming in. If they do though, you hope the tribunal price is now pushed up but it also increases the chance of those advising him and other kids on our books that staying here is the best thing for their career.

When Pollock goes, that will help us too because it shows that we are a great platform for promising youngsters.

Just let the manager manage. He knows the players and their capabilities better than we do.

Quoted from toontown

Did you miss out a 'not there? As in
theres absolutely no chance that they should not be fitter than a lad who's just entered his final year at school?

Yes, definitely.

Thank you.

More haste less speed needed.

Quoted from Swansea_Mariner

Why feel bad for Gibson, he looks like he is clearly up to it to me, Ollie seems to think he's deserving a start too from the last interview.

Throw him in I say, he's like 23, give him a run of games not 10-15 mins here and there

It's more feeling bad because he has scapegoat written all over him. People were already turning on him after the last game so I don't think it's long before he becomes the whipping boy however unfair that may be. Of course he's up for it but he has a lot to learn and it's hard to do that under pressure with fan rage destroying your confidence.

Quoted from Kris2

It's more feeling bad because he has scapegoat written all over him. People were already turning on him after the last game so I don't think it's long before he becomes the whipping boy however unfair that may be. Of course he's up for it but he has a lot to learn and it's hard to do that under pressure with fan rage destroying your confidence.

Who was turning on Gibson? He did well when he came on.