Loan bid made for a striker

[Spilsby Red]

Meant to say TSL

[colincramb]

Meant to say TSL

Can’t agree regarding the keeper. TSL has improved, that’s not in question. But he’s not yet the level of TLT in my opinion

[Plumbster]

Agree with this, although that doesn’t mean TSL has been poor, and also think Maxwell, Bailey and Luke are not performing as well as last season. I don’t know if Luke feels that he has to replace the Adelakun xfactor but he is forever attempting the impossible shot or pass that comes off once in a blue moon; Gibson was better tonight but has been prone to the same.  The net result is that the service to Joe and Billy is a lot poorer than last season. We are still a decent team, and deserved to win tonight on the basis of the first 75 mins, but their subs were far more effective than ours.

[drfchound]

For me one of the biggest disappointments has been Gibson.
He was very good in the first game of the season and then again at Grimsby, but otherwise I haven’t seen much from him.
He appears to have lost confidence and very rarely is able to beat his man.
I really hope he can raise his game again but am doubtful that he can be consistently better.

[Usher wide.]

For me one of the biggest disappointments has been Gibson.
He was very good in the first game of the season and then again at Grimsby, but otherwise I haven’t seen much from him.
He appears to have lost confidence and very rarely is able to beat his man.
I really hope he can raise his game again but am doubtful that he can be consistently better.

I have to disagree & say that Gibson ‘beats his man’ nine times out of ten, has a good touch, great feet but it’s his decision making in that final third that lets him down.

He either scores a worldie or hits row Z when there might be another touch to take or a better chance made for a team mate with a decent pass. That’s what frustrates the fans, that’s what frustrates his manager.

[Nudga]

He's a 1 good game in 12 player. Not what we need.

[mushRTID]

Gibson is easy on the eye, good feet and a bit of skill.

Not much end product and very little heart though.

A huge disappointment. 3 year deal wasn’t it?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Most players are able to go up another level when confidence is high. We're in a much better position than we were last season so we don't have a huge mountain to climb.

It doesn't take much to turn things around, we're still striving for more consistency individually and collectively, particularly at home.

We don't need wholesale changes in personnel in January, just a couple of tweaks here and there.. Until then, our next four games will be tough for McCann to steer us through to get at least two wins, three would be excellent. We're going to need strong characters which might shape some of McCann's thinking come January. Clearly, he thinks another goalscorer is one priority and if that turns out to be our only incoming signing, I wouldn't be devastated.  I think we have enough ability in that squad but whether we have the mentality is another question.

[danumdon]

Most players are able to go up another level when confidence is high. We're in a much better position than we were last season so we don't have a huge mountain to climb.

It doesn't take much to turn things around, we're still striving for more consistency individually and collectively, particularly at home.

We don't need wholesale changes in personnel in January, just a couple of tweaks here and there.. Until then, our next four games will be tough for McCann to steer us through to get at least two wins, three would be excellent. We're going to need strong characters which might shape some of McCann's thinking come January. Clearly, he thinks another goalscorer is one priority and if that turns out to be our only incoming signing, I wouldn't be devastated.  I think we have enough ability in that squad but whether we have the mentality is another question.

Agreed, if we can get the final 10% up top working smoothly we have the players who should be able to really push on.

[ncRover]

We just need a quick, strong, direct forward to make runs off Joe /Billy.

[Barmby Rover]

I don't like saying it but if we get a half decent striker then Joe Ironside can disappear on loan somewhere. His main personal game plan seems to be to grab hold of centre halves, have a wrestling match and claim he has been fouled. If he stood off them more and ran in on crosses he might do better, but it seems he is incapable of change, if that is the case move on.

[karldew]

I don't like saying it but if we get a half decent striker then Joe Ironside can disappear on loan somewhere. His main personal game plan seems to be to grab hold of centre halves, have a wrestling match and claim he has been fouled. If he stood off them more and ran in on crosses he might do better, but it seems he is incapable of change, if that is the case move on.

I know it’s a forum and you have your opinion, but get a grip. He’s one of the best forwards in the league, many other clubs would love to have him.

[Alan Southstand]

Ironside was top scorer last season! The reason he isn’t this season is not entirely down to him. You need to look elsewhere in the team/squad, if you want to criticise. The midfield, in particular, has been average at best and whatever combination Grant picks seems to offer the same. Workmanlike but devoid of quality. The 2 wide men are not doing it consistently, either. Gibson isn’t a patch on Adelakun and Yeboah is not at this level at all.
For me, we need a Gibson replacement, a quality midfielder and a third option striker, minimum.

[i_ateallthepies]

We just need a quick, strong, direct forward to make runs off Joe /Billy.

This ^^  We don't need more goal scorers we have possibly the best two in the division, it's creating the chances for them that is missing.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I don't like saying it but if we get a half decent striker then Joe Ironside can disappear on loan somewhere. His main personal game plan seems to be to grab hold of centre halves, have a wrestling match and claim he has been fouled. If he stood off them more and ran in on crosses he might do better, but it seems he is incapable of change, if that is the case move on.

I certainly wouldn't be loaning him out although I agree about him wrestling too often. However, recently, particularly noticeable at Fleetwood, he was getting free of his marker and looked alot more dangerous.

[drfchound]

Ironside was top scorer last season! The reason he isn’t this season is not entirely down to him. You need to look elsewhere in the team/squad, if you want to criticise. The midfield, in particular, has been average at best and whatever combination Grant picks seems to offer the same. Workmanlike but devoid of quality. The 2 wide men are not doing it consistently, either. Gibson isn’t a patch on Adelakun and Yeboah is not at this level at all.
For me, we need a Gibson replacement, a quality midfielder and a third option striker, minimum.

I’m with you on all of those points Alan.

[Ian Nimmo]

Totally agree, it’s ludicrous to suggest Ironside should be sent on loan, he is not the problem. A proven goalscorer as well as his work rate for the team.
We also have to be thinking about who can play at L1 level once we are promoted, Joe certainly can.
However I am struggling at present to see how others could play at the level, Gibson Sabarra and Clifton have consistently underperformed, when Grant must have felt they would be able to perform at that level given the contracts offered.

[i_ateallthepies]

I thought Clifton was excellent last night breaking up their play.

[Plumbster]

We often talk about who could be effective, rather than just cope, in L1- I would say Maxwell (when back to form), Olowu, McGrath and Ironside. No doubt some may disagree with these and it is possible to make a case for a couple of others but you would like to think that a top 3 side had 8 or 9 who we all agreed would be good L1 players.

[Ian Nimmo]

Given the investment into the team, I would consider they would be looking at around 15 thus not needing to add more than about 7/8 players on gaining promotion to L1
The club management would be considering if these 7/8 could potentially play at higher level.

[selby]

 Mickey Mellon anyone, put him up ages ago, and did well at Morecambe and ran  us ragged last season at home.

[normal rules]

Joe Gardner

[graingrover]

We can trust that Grant knows full well what he needs in January and there can be little doubt that he will get the backing of Terry  Bramall and Gavin  B .I bet they have more than just a Loanee striker in mind.

[ncRover]

Are people starting to come round to the idea that we should have signed a younger, more physical and mobile centre forward before we had a rush of blood to the head and signed Sharp?

That being said, Gibson was the bigger mistake. Pancho is correct in that Grant couldn’t get Adelakun, but he should have at least looked to get someone similar to him.

[Draytonian III]

Did Adelakun get a two year contract at Salford ? If so I bet he puts in some really good performances from January 2026 onwards .

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Are people starting to come round to the idea that we should have signed a younger, more physical and mobile centre forward before we had a rush of blood to the head and signed Sharp?

That being said, Gibson was the bigger mistake. Pancho is correct in that Grant couldn’t get Adelakun, but he should have at least looked to get someone similar to him.

Well at the time we had Miller and I was happy with that with 3 good options.

Too early for me to be writing Gibson off. He's got ability, it's probably just between the ears that he needs help and coaching. We'll see if he's the type who's willing to learn. We don't always get the best from players in their first season until they've fully settled.

[RoversInSpain]

I have a lot more confidence in our coaching team at the moment to improve players, McGrath has got better and better, Joseph O is simply another person. He’s improved incredibly. Molyneux took time but now is our key attacker/creator, Gibson could follow suit in a year, he needs a little time. TSL is improving too and is good enough.
My main wish is for a physical and athletic presence on the opposite side to Molly. Emmanuel’s physicality stood out a mile and was very good v Port Vale who struggled with him.
We seem to be too small and tippy tappy around the box, we are in need of a powerful player unsettling defences. Same applies for midfield, a strong no nonsense player.
We are very close to being very good, not losing many, and turning those draws into wins.

[Ryaldinhio]

Are people starting to come round to the idea that we should have signed a younger, more physical and mobile centre forward before we had a rush of blood to the head and signed Sharp?

That being said, Gibson was the bigger mistake. Pancho is correct in that Grant couldn’t get Adelakun, but he should have at least looked to get someone similar to him.

Rush of blood? Really? Without his 9 goals and assist where would we be? Out the fa cup potentially for one?

On his current stats per game he is on track to get 15 league goals and a couple more assists so direct contribution to potentially 16-20 goals? If Miller had stayed and got them numbers you would all be blowing the trumpet.

The issue is NOT Billy or Joe, they can both score goals. The issue is the lack of service and the build up play we just haven't got right.

We have probably two of the best forwards in the league IMO and in theory should work perfectly as a pair but only if we get the play right.

[Padge_DRFC]

Our wide players have been far too inconsistent this season.

[danumdon]

Id be very surprised if GM had brought BS in to play the lone striker role that JI had carried out very successfully by himself last season.

If that's the case then what was the thinking in how to play these two together as a pair?

I feel that failings elsewhere in the side (midfield) have led GM to have to delay or curtail what he wanted from these strikers, if we can't get the ammunition forward for them to feed off then its always going to be very hard to justify the pair together.

If we can get the dynamic midfielder we seem to have been without for eons then we may have the calibre of player alongside the usual prospects in the midfield to service there two together.

Jan is going to make or break our season i suspect.