Grimsby Fans on Twitter raving about him tonight Says he commanded his box won every cross and looked good with his feet and his kicking was good
He is decent - when we played Mallorca, he looked assured and decent kicking too. However, there’s a reason why we’re not rushing him yet, still needs to develop.
So does Slonina who looks massively below standard for a goalkeeper at the moment. Great natural shot stopper but zero ability in the box which is all learned through experience. What frustrates the **** out of me is that as with lots of other positions we seem more than happy to blood someone else's kid who makes **** ups regularly because they're young and learning but we do it at the expense of our own.
I’ll come at that with a different angle: Blood your youth too quickly, when not fully ready, and they eventually get hammered by the press and fans, and ultimately leave the club and drop down the leagues. By using other youth, from Prem clubs, you build up good relationships with clubs, and occasionally drop on brilliant players who really contribute. You protect your own youth, who can play bits or go out on loan to gain experience at a lower level under the radar, with no pressure. I’ll not list past youth players - but we know who they are and how it didn’t work out with us at 1st team level. Jalo and Marsh are two current examples where we need to be careful about their use as well - which is what Bobby Hassell said too.
I agree. However, dipping Smith in and out of the side of at least putting him on the bench regularly isn't going to do him any harm.
I can’t remember many if any of our players of late other than Jacob Brown who have had loan spells at lower league clubs and come back to us and really kicked on.
I noted this and thought that was a great clean sheet, as Grimsby Town are playing poorly at the moment and were away at Gillingham, who were top of the league 2. It looks as though he only had to make two saves, but it bodes well and, if the Grimsby fans rate his performance, that will do for me. It will also have done his confidence good. Get him on the bench at least. It is only a seven-day loan, so he return with renewed confidence. Well done, Jackson!
Think he's been fine last 2 games. He was excellent against Stockport. That double save was exceptional. Hes had some mistakes but he's also saved us points. Was always going yo be the case having such a young goalkeeper mind.
Agree with Jalo but Marsh is 21 years old now and doesn't need the cotton wool treatment. If anything he needs toughening up.
i’s deffo be using Marsh sparingly for a whole can’t of reasons. Jalo needs the experience of playing week in week out. Outstanding players play at his age.
I have no idea if he needs to develop, as I have not seen him play. Perhaps you have? He's 22, a couple of years older than Slonina, who definitely is far from being the finished article. If Smith's performance at Gillingham was as good as the Grimsby fans say, I'd be inclined to pick him for us ahead of Slonina.
