Alhagi Touray Sisay

Picture of him and Ollie on twitter. Announced shortly I would imagine. BIG MAN

Fancy naming it Cheapside plastered in big letters..

The Waltham training academy would have been much more upmarket and much better for photo opportunities.

Low level but looks a handful here:

https://youtu.be/VlULbE7KpxY

Odd that his agent decided to announce it on Twitter before letting the club do a proper reveal.

He looks enormous. Good luck to him.

Guess he is the Hanson understudy? Need one as you wonder how many games JH will manage though hopefully a good break will have sorted that calf problem out.

Looks huge!! Welcome!

Quoted from Hagrid

Looks huge!! Welcome!

But he is standing next to Ollie!!

Stand him next to Hanson and then we can judge if he's tall.

I want one of those trainingshirts!!

Just been announced. 6ft 4 and 20 years young.

[tweet]1294215716686761985[/tweet]

Blimey....certainly looks a big lad!
Last one I remember who looked as big was Damian Spencer. Mind u that’s about all there was to remember about him...
We look like we’ll have a lot of different options up front that’s for sure

Looks like we are building a squad that could match an Eddie Hearn fight camp squad lol.
Wonder if you can get odds on most yellows and reds for a team in league football.

Gonna be exciting thats for certain.

Interesting to see that he has only been offered a 1 year contract with possible extension, compared to 2 and 3 years for the other 2 lads.

If all these new lads click we certainly will be a force to be reckon with.

Just hope that bloody virus goes away.

Welcome young man can we call you Al  ?

Reports on matches he has played in before call him Touray rather than Sisay

A creative midfield is just as important as a striker to score goals
Hopefully Williams is that guy

Another striker to keep Green off the bench, watching those highlights Rodley put up, low level or not that second goal takes skill. I'm starting to get excited now, just hope he can make the jump up.

Quoted from mariners1

Blimey....certainly looks a big lad!
Last one I remember who looked as big was Damian Spencer. Mind u that’s about all there was to remember about him...
We look like we’ll have a lot of different options up front that’s for sure

I think we had James Alabi on loan who was a big lad.

Noice!

Is it pronounced Sissy or See-say though?

Quoted from 139881

Noice!

Is it pronounced Sissy or See-say though?

I'll let you ask him that one    

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

Fancy naming it Cheapside plastered in big letters..

The Waltham training academy would have been much more upmarket and much better for photo opportunities.

I always windered about renaming it, I mean Cheapside does sound Cheap to anyone unaware of the location.
Waltham Training Centre or something like that does sound more professional and classy.

Quoted from Azimuth

I always windered about renaming it, I mean Cheapside does sound Cheap to anyone unaware of the location.
Waltham Training Centre or something like that does sound more professional and classy.

I know it sounds like a music hall joke but you would think that someone in marketing would have thought better than simply naming it after the road it is situated in.

It is another small example of things not being thought through but I sincerely hope this era is coming to an end to be replaced by success on and off the field.

According to Ollie he has “two good feet” which is quite useful when you need to keep 6’4” upright.

I just hope he doesn’t do a Bernard Bresslaw and “walk to Scunforpe”.

When you see such a striker signing everyone for Town, you just hope against hope that he may just be another Jamie Vardy - who played at a lesser level with Stocksbridge Park Steel. Welcome to the fold young man.

Can you just imagine........Hanson injured (again)

Touray Sisay in the middle as the target man, with Jackson Jr and Gibson running at defenders and all knowing where the back of the net is.

Im drooling just at the thought.

I wonder how many times visiting teams will play 5 at the back?

All signings so far seem to have good skills and are keen to prove themselves. Each one has a good touch and are prepared to attack defences.

https://clwbpeldroed.org/2020/08/14/what-grismsby-fans-except-touray-sisay-aberystwyth/

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

I know it sounds like a music hall joke but you would think that someone in marketing would have thought better than simply naming it after the road it is situated in.

It is another small example of things not being thought through but I sincerely hope this era is coming to an end to be replaced by success on and off the field.

Perhaps they could get John Turners to sponsor it, then they could call it Topside.

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Can you just imagine........Hanson injured (again)

Touray Sisay in the middle as the target man, with Jackson Jr and Gibson running at defenders and all knowing where the back of the net is.

Im drooling just at the thought.

I wonder how many times visiting teams will play 5 at the back?

The thought of Wayne Burnetts jockstrap drooling makes me feel a bit sick

is this the big man from Aberystwith? Least he'll be used to playing in front of no fans!

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Perhaps they could get John Turners to sponsor it, then they could call it Topside.

Exactly.  That is the sort of creative thinking we need!

Quoted from grimsby pete

If all these new lads click we certainly will be a force to be reckon with.

Just hope that bloody virus goes away.

Welcome young man can we call you Al  ?

You can call me Betty....I will call you Al

Quoted from WayneBurnettsJockstrap

Can you just imagine........Hanson injured (again)

Touray Sisay in the middle as the target man, with Jackson Jr and Gibson running at defenders and all knowing where the back of the net is.

Im drooling just at the thought.

I wonder how many times visiting teams will play 5 at the back?

hope you are right, but i would urge caution and expectation on players with little or no real experience of the game at this level.

Indeed. If Scunny or another club in our division had signed the players we have, I am not sure we would be quite so convinced they are going to tear League 2 apart.

On a side note... I am liking that training top he is wearing, not seen it before nor can I see it in the online store. Does anyone know if it will be available or if it is in the club shop? (not been in myself yet).

Quoted from Meza

[tweet]1294215716686761985[/tweet]

Not sure we’d be reacting like this if any of our previous few managers had signed these guys...

Time will tell but I think a fair few will proceed with caution until proven otherwise.

As PSG said, I suspect had Scunny made these signings we’d be having a chuckle to ourselves at the over confidence from some.

Side note...the lad is a flipping unit

I'd say I'm far more happy with us signing a bunch of players who are still early in their career and have something to prove. It sounds like they all want to play for the manager and that's a good thing. Maybe sometimes it doesn't work out signing a player from non league but in many cases it does, how many times have we signed an experienced player who has played way higher up that just came to pick up a pay cheque?

Quoted from Kris2

I'd say I'm far more happy with us signing a bunch of players who are still early in their career and have something to prove. It sounds like they all want to play for the manager and that's a good thing. Maybe sometimes it doesn't work out signing a player from non league but in many cases it does, how many times have we signed an experienced player who has played way higher up that just came to pick up a pay cheque?

You mean like Hanson?

Quoted from Boris Johnson

hope you are right, but i would urge caution and expectation on players with little or no real experience of the game at this level.

I don't know these players, apart from Williams who I think would be an asset to any team in this league and could be outstanding if he is fully fit.

But I was thinking while reading some of these cautionary comments about how many previous close season signing threads in years past have had posters wanting a manager to sign a goalscorer from a lower league. Well now we have done that and it remains to be seen if they are really any good. Personally I would rather see us take a punt on some lads who are not going to be much of a financial risk but who might earn us a few bob Bogle/Dembele style. Better building a squad that way than a paceless bunch of journeymen who would command higher wages as well.

As long as people don't expect miracles these signings may well be OK, and in any case Ollie may have more players in mind.

Quoted from pizzzza

On a side note... I am liking that training top he is wearing, not seen it before nor can I see it in the online store. Does anyone know if it will be available or if it is in the club shop? (not been in myself yet).

Club have just tweeted new training kits will be available to buy from the weekend 👍

https://twitter.com/officialgtfc/status/1294287817884008449?s=19

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

I don't know these players, apart from Williams who I think would be an asset to any team in this league and could be outstanding if he is fully fit.

But I was thinking while reading some of these cautionary comments about how many previous close season signing threads in years past have had posters wanting a manager to sign a goalscorer from a lower league. Well now we have done that and it remains to be seen if they are really any good. Personally I would rather see us take a punt on some lads who are not going to be much of a financial risk but who might earn us a few bob Bogle/Dembele style. Better building a squad that way than a paceless bunch of journeymen who would command higher wages as well.

As long as people don't expect miracles these signings may well be OK, and in any case Ollie may have more players in mind.

Yes couldnt agree more. Given the current situation I am quite interested/excited to watch and see if these new lads can develop and step up more so than a perhaps signing  the proverbial "journeyman". We will have to give them time but could be an interesting ride. In addition it will be also interesting test of Ollie's managerial capabilities. He has gone on about his ability to spot talent and develop players into "what he wants" - we will now see first hand of him doing just that. Like I say interesting times in still somewhat strange times!!

Quoted from Mighty_Mariner

Club have just tweeted new training kits will be available to buy from the weekend 👍

https://twitter.com/officialgtfc/status/1294287817884008449?s=19

Nice, thanks!  

Of I am honest if Jolley has signed these five I would not be thinking I promotion.

BUT

He didn't  Ollie did so I am more than happy that he will turn them into a play off team or even better.

Quoted from aldi_01

Not sure we’d be reacting like this if any of our previous few managers had signed these guys...

Time will tell but I think a fair few will proceed with caution until proven otherwise.

As PSG said, I suspect had Scunny made these signings we’d be having a chuckle to ourselves at the over confidence from some.

Side note...the lad is a flipping unit

Alan Buckley raided the lower leagues when he first came here to great success though.

I'm open minded but not nearly as excited as others seem to be - Aberystwyth Town and Folkestone Invicta aren't even decent non-league sides.

But Omar came from Solihull.......

John Cockerill - wasn't he from Kettering Town ?

No mean signing that one !! So, who knows ??

Quoted from acko338

John Cockerill - wasn't he from Kettering Town ?

No mean signing that one !! So, who knows ??

In some ways this supports my point. Kettering were the equivalent of about 2 divisions above where Folkestone and Aberystwith are now when we signed him. As were Town!

Quoted from aldi_01

You mean like Hanson?

Paul Dixon, Simeon Jackson, Peter Beagrie,Paul Warhurst,Des Hamilton and a bunch of names that came in having played at higher levels than where we were at and were either mediocre mercenaries who didn't care or a total failure.

Quoted from Kris2

Paul Dixon, Simeon Jackson, Peter Beagrie,Paul Warhurst,Des Hamilton and a bunch of names that came in having played at higher levels than where we were at and were either mediocre mercenaries who didn't care or a total failure.

Let's not forget Neil Webb...🤔🤔...less blubber on a blue whale than when he rocked up here!!..

I wouldn’t put Paul Warhurst in that category. He did well for Town whatever position he played in a dire team

Quoted from Les Brechin

Alan Buckley raided the lower leagues when he first came here to great success though.

Having been operating at that level before he came here so picked players he knew first hand as such as he had come across them.  

Lets face it, these signings are driven by budget, we have to shop cheap which means shopping lower down the League, some may work, some may not, some may not even get a chance if a couple of the strikers hit it off early then the others may not even get a look in.

I do wonder if the club may also secretly be looking to off load Hanson as no doubt he will be a top earner, ramping up in the striking department with lower price players makes me wonder.

Quoted from acko338

John Cockerill - wasn't he from Kettering Town ?

No mean signing that one !! So, who knows ??

No, Stafford Rangers i believe.

Quoted from Meza

No, Stafford Rangers i believe.

Correct.

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I wouldn’t put Paul Warhurst in that category. He did well for Town whatever position he played in a dire team

Seem to recall him marking his debut with an own goal and being pretty anonymous afterwards.

Quoted from Kris2

Seem to recall him marking his debut with an own goal and being pretty anonymous afterwards.

Age and injuries long caught up with him by the time he arrived, was a very classy and capable player in his early Sheff Weds days.

Quoted from moosey_club

Having been operating at that level before he came here so picked players he knew first hand as such as he had come across them.  

Lets face it, these signings are driven by budget, we have to shop cheap which means shopping lower down the League, some may work, some may not, some may not even get a chance if a couple of the strikers hit it off early then the others may not even get a look in.

I do wonder if the club may also secretly be looking to off load Hanson as no doubt he will be a top earner, ramping up in the striking department with lower price players makes me wonder.

There is no doubt  

Quoted from grimsby pete

Of I am honest if Jolley has signed these five I would not be thinking I promotion.

BUT

He didn't  Ollie did so I am more than happy that he will turn them into a play off team or even better.

In fairness a good point this.

Quoted from Kris2

Seem to recall him marking his debut with an own goal and being pretty anonymous afterwards.

Agreed, equalised for Bournemouth in a 1-1 draw and was dogshit afterwards

Very unlucky own goal iirc which would’ve gone in anyway and 6 good games after before being unluckily released

Memories, eh  

I made that up ..

Quoted from louth_in_the_south

I wouldn’t put Paul Warhurst in that category. He did well for Town whatever position he played in a dire team

Too much was expected from him. He was a class player in his earlier career as an attacking full back and as a striker, but if I remember correctly he had a bad injury and was never the same when he tried to come back.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Too much was expected from him. He was a class player in his earlier career as an attacking full back and as a striker, but if I remember correctly he had a bad injury and was never the same when he tried to come back.

I remember him as a CB that was move up top and then started banging them in, which made him a bit famous.

We do need to be careful about how excited we get at signing a lot of unproven players. We say the ‘up and coming’ model works but there are a lot more bad examples than there are good. For every Omar Bogle there’s 10 Louis Robles.

Don’t put too much pressure on them, they’ll need patience and full backing from the fans. They’re not all going to work out, but if one of them does then bingo.

I’d certainly like to see us mix it up with some proven players, George Williams is a great example of this, 24 years old but a fantastic pedigree.

I’ve no doubt Holloway will get the very best out of whoever comes in though.

Quoted from moosey_club

Having been operating at that level before he came here so picked players he knew first hand as such as he had come across them.  

Lets face it, these signings are driven by budget, we have to shop cheap which means shopping lower down the League, some may work, some may not, some may not even get a chance if a couple of the strikers hit it off early then the others may not even get a look in.

I do wonder if the club may also secretly be looking to off load Hanson as no doubt he will be a top earner, ramping up in the striking department with lower price players makes me wonder.

Yes we are operating within a budget, which means we can continiue to operate as a football club.  Someone recently said that Lincoln's playing budget was around 4.5 million who are in league 1. It would be impossible for most teams in in league 2 to go out and purchase a 20+ goal scorer under 30 year from a club above league 2, without breaking the bank.
Shop cheap (how do you know) or smart, some of these players had opportunities to sign for other clubs, but choose Grimsby to work with Mr Holloway and his coaching team. Mr Holloway mentioned that he was following the Brentford model, finding players, working with them, improving them , making them sellable assets, so that the club can move forward, to me be thats smart.
I am only guessing that Hanson, is important part of cake recipe to Mr Holloway as a senior pro, to suggest we are trying to get rid of Hanson because he is a high earner, is silly. Hanson is under contract, so would cost to offload.
When making a cake, some ingredients cost more than some other, its the bend, that's counts to final outcome.
The only have to look at yesterdays game between Barcelona and Bayen. Barcelona's team full of stars costing a fortune, but the wrong side 30, made to look like a National League side, by a dynamic Bayen side, a blend of  youth and experience in the right areas.
Yes Bayen, could have been 3-1 down, but they back themselves to out score the opponents.
The day have gone, when we set up for a 1-0 win, they going to be goals in our games.  Plaice Promotion will be looking down on the pitch, rather than looking out to sea, good job, they is less to see these days out on the Humber.

Exciting times ahead, bring it on.
UTMM

Quoted from The Yard Dog

The only have to look at yesterdays game between Barcelona and Bayen. Barcelona's team full of stars costing a fortune, but the wrong side 30, made to look like a National League side, by a dynamic Bayen side, a blend of  youth and experience in the right areas.

We'll be fine when we play Barca then (Jackson 3 (1 pen) Sisay, Gibson, Hanson, Green, 1 og)

I think they’re exciting signings.

Realistically, Williams is as good of a replacement for Vernam as we could have hoped for, and has the potential to be a really important player.

After that, we only lost Akheem Rose and Cardwell from our attacking options, and with no disrespect to them, they hardly made an impact. So if anything we’ve gained an extra attacking option, and if you had offered if you offered me a choice of getting 3 promising non league players in in exchange for rose and cards at the end of last season, i definitely would have taken it.

Plus, with the low wages they’re inevitably be on, it only takes one to be a success for it to have been worthwhile.

We lost Cook too

Quoted from sam gy

We lost Cook too

Christ I'd even forgotten that he played for us, he was that anonymous

Quoted from Meza

I remember him as a CB that was move up top and then started banging them in, which made him a bit famous.

You are right, he was more of a CB, I was probably thinking of Mel Sterland as full back.

Sad really that Warhurst had a very long career and more clubs than Tiger Woods but played less than 400 league games because of injuries.

Quoted from Mariner93er

Realistically, Williams is as good of a replacement for Vernam as we could have hoped for, and has the potential to be a really important .

I think heismore of a replacement for Whitehouse isn't He? It's nearly a direct swap really

Quoted from sam gy

We lost Cook too

Hardly a loss though eh

Regardless of the level these lads have come from they are goal scorers. As long as we provide chances they will score.

Regardless of the level these lads have come from they are goal scorers. As long as we provide chances they will score.

Quoted from psgmariner

Indeed. If Scunny or another club in our division had signed the players we have, I am not sure we would be quite so convinced they are going to tear League 2 apart.

A bit like signing three versions of Tom Bolarinwa? You never know - one of them may come good, but it's a big step up to League 2.

Serge Makofo

Holloway is an absolute footballing genius, signing 3 youngsters who are brimming with confidence after scoring 61 goals between them in a shortened season. He can sharpen them and shape them, imagine bringing them on at the end of the game with their pace. Or starting them and changing it up by bringing Hanson or Sisay on. Gibson is naughty I want him to shred defences UTFM!!!  

Not naughty in an Ashley Sestanovich or Andy Love sense, I hope.

The spread of opinions is one of the great things about football, and it's going to be fun reading this back at Christmas when we know if Olly has pulled  rabbit out of the hat or not.
John Still the old Luton manager had a theory that if a man knows where the net is, and how to get into goalscoring positions he can probably do it at any level. Its defenders that need the brains as they climb the leagues. Lets hope he was right

Quoted from buckstown

The spread of opinions is one of the great things about football, and it's going to be fun reading this back at Christmas when we know if Olly has pulled  rabbit out of the hat or not.
John Still the old Luton manager had a theory that if a man knows where the net is, and how to get into goalscoring positions he can probably do it at any level. Its defenders that need the brains as they climb the leagues. Lets hope he was right

Ah! John Still, he knew a thing or two, ex prem manager and European cup winner, wasn't he?

Yeah, if John Still was right abour that, every league club would be signing every Tom/male private/Harry who knocks 30 goals in for the Dog & Duck in local sunday leagues wouldn't they.

As defenders get better higher up the leagues, of course the strikers need to be better too. I get what he probably means is the actual finishing technique (shooting action) but theres far more to being able to score goals than that really.

That's not to say players can't step up. Of course some can. I just mean it doesn't automatically mean that ANY player scoring goals can do it at higher levels.

Spot on Tommy. One out of these three making the step up successfully would be a result.