Both signed on one year deals.

Really happy with Pittman but seen Clay play 4 times and don't think he is any improvement on Thanoj.

At least squad almost complete now, maybe one more striker?

welll pauls maybe seen something, but as i always say, they are town players now and we have to get behind them, pitman i think is a good signing, clay, havent been too impressed but will back him all the way

Just seen this on the OS

http://www.grimsby-townfc.co.uk/news/article/duo-pen-town-deals-1787047.aspx

Haven't seen any of the pre-season friendlies myself to pass comment on them but wish both of the new boys all the best in what is hopefully our last non-league season!  :)

The hairs on the back of me neck are sticking up so much I can't get T-Shirt on  :-/

All sorted except last striker.  Sunderland lad on season loan?

Pleased we've got Pittman on board. I expect him to be a real threat up front.

I expect there's going to be plenty of negative comments about signing Clay. But let's give him a chance to show what he can do in competitive games with our stronger teams out. And also don't forget he's essentially coming here to be 4th choice centre-midfielder. We were never going to have 4 top quality CM's on decent wages with 2 always on the bench or in the stands.

Quoted from Tommy

Pleased we've got Pittman on board. I expect him to be a real threat up front.

I expect there's going to be plenty of negative comments about signing Clay. But let's give him a chance to show what he can do in competitive games with our stronger teams out. And also don't forget he's essentially coming here to be 4th choice centre-midfielder. We were never going to have 4 top quality CM's on decent wages with 2 always on the bench or in the stands.

Completely agree, we must give him a chance at our level, he is still quite a young man as well, hope they both do really well.

Quoted from Tommy

Pleased we've got Pittman on board. I expect him to be a real threat up front.

[b]I expect there's going to be plenty of negative comments about signing Clay. But let's give him a chance to show what he can do in competitive games with our stronger teams out. And also don't forget he's essentially coming here to be 4th choice centre-midfielder. We were never going to have 4 top quality CM's on decent wages with 2 always on the bench or in the stands.

[/b

exactly this! wish him all the best and hope he can do well for us

Quoted from 1739

A striker who has started 8 games since May 2011 and is not a goal scorer and a player who Worksop  and Halifax didn't even think was good enough. Clay from what I have seen in pre season games has offered nothing and I will give the lad a chance but these two signings suggest to me that it will be another season in the play-offs instead of challenging for the title.

Neither were messers futcher, tillson or Mendonca

glad pittman has signed but for clay that is a shocking signing.

I cant believe he has signed him.

Clay is very poor from what I have seen of him. Bizarre signing.

Quoted from jonnyboy82

glad pittman has signed but for clay that is a shocking signing.

I cant believe he has signed him.

You only really know if a signing is shocking after a sustained period of time, we don't know what Hurst has seen in him and we don't know how far down the pecking order he is, how much he is on or where and how he wants him to play.

It might be worth giving players a chance before writing them off completely.

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

Neither were messers futcher, tillson or Mendonca

Yes but we are in the conference premier now. Having said, I having seen Clay play once, I said I would be disappointed if we signed him and I am. I cannot believe there are no better central midfielders out there who could offer something different and could be pursuaded to join us. I agree Clay gives us a bit of height which we lack in the middle but apart from that now much. Ido hope he turns out to be ok but will need to improve a lot. If we play 442 then I guess we will perm 2 out of 3 from Disley, Brown and Paddy so clay will warm the bench for a good number of games.
Pittman is a gamble but if he comes good then he might get back on the goal trail. Personally, I think Nathan Arnold could useful playing in a more central striking role, if the others are not finding the net.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

You only really know if a signing is shocking after a sustained period of time, we don't know what Hurst has seen in him and we don't know how far down the pecking order he is, how much he is on or where and how he wants him to play.

It might be worth giving players a chance before writing them off completely.

if its alright with you I will use the judgement of me seeing him in 4 matches and the very good knowledge of a few York fans who said think jamal fyfield but in midfield when he joined on trial thankyou very much.

have you seen him play ?

waste of wages on clay , panic signing. shows again that Hurst should not be here

We'd be moaning if we were forced to play Disley/Brown in an FA Trophy match due to injuries... At this level can you expect a squad player to fill all the criteria us fans expect?

I don't expect we'll see much of him anyway, if his wage equals more to spend on the missing striker then it's a master stroke IMO. Time will tell.

A friend of mine watched Wrexham play at Hednesford on Sat and says Wrexham looked like a good team and that Jennings was excellent. The one that got away eh? I think Paul Hurst was pinning his striker hopes on signing him and was clearly disappointed when he didn't. Oh well water under the bridge as they say.

Quoted from oldun

A friend of mine watched Wrexham play at Hednesford on Sat and says Wrexham looked like a good team and that Jennings was excellent. The one that got away eh? I think Paul Hurst was pinning his striker hopes on signing him and was clearly disappointed when he didn't. Oh well water under the bridge as they say.

Don't panic, we've got LJL

Quoted from denni266

waste of wages on clay , panic signing. shows again that Hurst should not be here

yep , panic signing ..

why not just wait to see if better comes along, we have paddy, brown and disley in the centre of midfield anyway..

pauls favourite line is " I wont bring players into the football club for the sake of it "

well paul you just have.

Can't help but think this is the result of Hurst not securing his targets and panicking. Not only are the hairs on my neck not standing up, I'd go so far as to say this is prehaps the most disappointing summer of signings yet. The best is by far Mackreth but other than that it's a huge anti climax.

Anybody think we've got a team that's going to win a title?

Quoted from oldun

A friend of mine watched Wrexham play at Hednesford on Sat and says Wrexham looked like a good team and that Jennings was excellent. The one that got away eh? I think Paul Hurst was pinning his striker hopes on signing him and was clearly disappointed when he didn't. Oh well water under the bridge as they say.

I think he thought that out of Jennings, Bogle and Williamson he'd end up with one. Beyond those 3, nothing else on the horizon it would seem....

Quoted from ackomariner

Don't panic, we've got LJL

clay feeding LJL all the way to promotion.

Like the idea of Pittman signing, I was a critic of Clay but now he is on board lets support him all the way, I said Big Jones was like Bambi on ice when he arrived, he turned out to be our star defender before his transfer

Quoted from pontoonlew

Can't help but think this is the result of Hurst not securing his targets and panicking. Not only are the hairs on my neck not standing up, I'd go so far as to say this is prehaps the most disappointing summer of signings yet. The best is by far Mackreth but other than that it's a huge anti climax.

Anybody think we've got a team that's going to win a title?

Lew I would have said we were on the way to putting the excrement behind us and I was thinking im gonna give paul this season as the majority were saying some on here are too negative and doom merchants..

after signing clay I feel the old hurst is back in town that's if he even left in the first place.

I get optimistic when we bring in mackreth and toto, then that all drains when we cant sign a striker who has a proven record bring one in on trial with a record which states he cant score at a lower level than were we are and we sign the worst midfielder I have seen play at BP and believe me I have seen some bad un`s eg terry barwick Jamie Clarke etc..

Quoted from oldun

A friend of mine watched Wrexham play at Hednesford on Sat and says Wrexham looked like a good team and that Jennings was excellent. The one that got away eh? I think Paul Hurst was pinning his striker hopes on signing him and was clearly disappointed when he didn't. Oh well water under the bridge as they say.

Not possible, the people on the Fishy assured me Jennings isn't that good...

I have not seen them play ,

BUT

If they put on a town shirt and do their best, I will back them,

All the negatives on here, what would YOU feel like if You started a new job,

AND

YOU read on the internet that YOU were rubbish at YOUR job.

Footballers have feelings and to get the best out of them they need confidence,

Please do not knock it out of them before they kick a ball.

Quoted from grimsby pete

I have not seen them play ,

BUT

If they put on a town shirt and do their best, I will back them,

All the negatives on here, what would YOU feel like if You started a new job,

AND

YOU read on the internet that YOU were rubbish at YOUR job.

Footballers have feelings and to get the best out of them they need confidence,

Please do not knock it out of them before they kick a ball.

I would say I know im excrement and thanks for the 700 quid a week.

Luton won the league last season because they pushed the boat out and bolstered their midfield with high quality players like Pelly Ruddock. Craig Clay has been absolutely hopeless in every pre-season friendly - half of which were against lower ranked opposition. How on Earth does Hurst think a player of his quality is going to contribute to a team gunning for promotion? Desperate stuff from Hurst who yet again has been shown up in the transfer / free-agent market.

And before anyone gets on my back, i'll be backing Clay when he plays for us and certainly won't be booing him because I want Grimsby Town to be successful.

Quoted from jonnyboy82

Lew I would have said we were on the way to putting the excrement behind us and I was thinking im gonna give paul this season as the majority were saying some on here are too negative and doom merchants..

after signing clay I feel the old hurst is back in town that's if he even left in the first place.

I get optimistic when we bring in mackreth and toto, then that all drains when we cant sign a striker who has a proven record bring one in on trial with a record which states he cant score at a lower level than were we are and we sign the worst midfielder I have seen play at BP and believe me I have seen some bad un`s eg terry barwick Jamie Clarke etc..

My gripe is that people just totally forget the way we played last season and act like it didn't happen.

Let's not forget this either, when Hurst had his transfer window on his own in January, he signed shite and never addressed key issues. This window we've not signed a goalscorer yet again. He's too happy to try and see his best mate suddenly turn into a goalscorer. The only thing I can say is that he's got us pace on the wings but when you've very little firepower how far is that realistically going to get you? Scraping into play-offs then realising you're not actually good enough to beat the best teams (again)

Quoted from grimsby pete

I have not seen them play ,

BUT

If they put on a town shirt and do their best, I will back them,

All the negatives on here, what would YOU feel like if You started a new job,

AND

YOU read on the internet that YOU were rubbish at YOUR job.

Footballers have feelings and to get the best out of them they need confidence,

Please do not knock it out of them before they kick a ball.

A team full of 'triers' never won anybody a league Pete.

Granted that every team needs bodies in the squad and allowing for the fact I haven't seen Clay play, PH's reasoning makes sense on one level. But there was an alternative and I cannot understand why he and JF didn't take it - if we need temporary reinforcement we can use the loan system. Cheaper and quite possibly better. Why pay someone to be your third or fourth reserve midfield player on a contract to do nothing most of the time but sit in the stand?

We never will get out of this league with Hurst in charge. Does Marinette still do those prediction box things these days? Will if so then stick this in.

Quoted from jonnyboy82

if its alright with you I will use the judgement of me seeing him in 4 matches and the very good knowledge of a few York fans who said think jamal fyfield but in midfield when he joined on trial thankyou very much.

have you seen him play ?

i certainly have and to be honest i wasn't impressed, that said he didnt do a lot wrong, he certainly doesn't look a spectacular player but i would rather make my mind up after seeing him play when it counts. He's not going to be a starter, that i am pretty much sure of but he might be a useful squad player.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Granted that every team needs bodies in the squad and allowing for the fact I haven't seen Clay play, PH's reasoning makes sense on one level. But there was an alternative and I cannot understand why he and JF didn't take it - if we need temporary reinforcement we can use the loan system. Cheaper and quite possibly better. Why pay someone to be your third or fourth reserve midfield player on a contract to do nothing most of the time but sit in the stand?

Maybe we missed out on Hinchclift (sp) who most thought was a decent player

Quoted from pontoonlew

A team full of 'triers' never won anybody a league Pete.

I agree but knocking the confidence out of them before the season starts,

Is helping no one.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

i certainly have and to be honest i wasn't impressed, that said he didnt do a lot wrong, he certainly doesn't look a spectacular player but i would rather make my mind up after seeing him play when it counts. He's not going to be a starter, that i am pretty much sure of but he might be a useful squad player.

ok, but don't you find it just a waste of a wage which could be put towards that goalscorer which we all want but paul cant seem to get.

if we have injuries in the midfield then fine look at someone but I am positive there would have been better out there.

Quoted from jonnyboy82

ok, but don't you find it just a waste of a wage which could be put towards that goalscorer which we all want but paul cant seem to get.

if we have injuries in the midfield then fine look at someone but I am positive there would have been better out there.

I am hoping pittman will be decent, it's about not panicking and finding the right striker, it might be a loan or a late move that might not come till just before the season, even successful teams need the odd squad player, look at David May's medal collection!

Quoted from headingly_mariner

You only really know if a signing is shocking after a sustained period of time, we don't know what Hurst has seen in him and we don't know how far down the pecking order he is, how much he is on or where and how he wants him to play.

It might be worth giving players a chance before writing them off completely.

I think there are a lot of fans who have been watching town for years and years that know a good footballer when they see one, likewise a footballer who offers the team nothing and is unfairly heading for a barracking at some point if the team fails.
I think it's an insult to these fans when hurst panic buys a poor player of such ilk, a player who in games on trial when he will play his heart out to gain a contract and still look excrement.
Since hust as been in charge it's been us fans that have seen his stubborn formations not working only to change things around and work due to fan pressure, it was also fan pressure that got players like Thanoj amongst others back in the team.
I will give mr hurst the benefit of the doubt and get behind him and the team but this player Clay is on a hiding to nothing I fear, if I'm wrong and he turns out out to be a conference wizard that gets us out of this shithole then I will eat my own bollox.

Quoted from Tommy

Pleased we've got Pittman on board. I expect him to be a real threat up front.

I expect there's going to be plenty of negative comments about signing Clay. But let's give him a chance to show what he can do in competitive games with our stronger teams out. And also don't forget he's essentially coming here to be 4th choice centre-midfielder. We were never going to have 4 top quality CM's on decent wages with 2 always on the bench or in the stands.

Think this opinion is to level headed for The Fishy mate.

An astute signing is Clay.......LJL is instantly no longer the focus of everybodies attention and the sh1t can fly somewhere else, leaving him to relax and score thousands of goals.

Well done Paul and yet again you have out foxed us all with this signing, despite the lad being right under our noses no fvcker actually thought you would give a professional football contract to him.

I haven't seen Clay play so I'll reserve my judgement on him for now. But I honestly don't know what some people were expecting? I know we expect the best players and we want the best players to sign, but isn't the budget a little bit less than last year? So basically he's a replacement for Thanoj. I think we all know it'll be Disley and Brown as 1st choice with Paddy as back up. I'm sure, as may have being the case with Hinchcliffe we can't offer the guarantee of 1st team football to other targets in that position. He's a squad player, not saying I agree with it, but you'd all be moaning alot more if we started the season 3 CM instead of 4. Look at it as a positive, we've got more wages to spend on a goal scorer.

Glad we have signed Pittman, at times when I have seen him he has shown bursts of pace and skill which would scare a lot of defenders in this league. As for Clay, I'n not sure but I will reserve proper judgement after a few more times I have seen him play. Need to back him though, just like any other player. UTM

Quoted from grimsby pete

I agree but knocking the confidence out of them before the season starts,

Is helping no one.

I don't think many people are slagging him off and as always i'll support him as any other player when they're out there on the pitch. I think the criticism is aimed at Hurst and his transfer policy.

Quoted from pontoonlew

I don't think many people are slagging him off and as always i'll support him as any other player when they're out there on the pitch. I think the criticism is aimed at Hurst and his transfer policy.

Absolutely, I hope the lad doesn't brilliantly for us and I'll be cheering him on.

Are we to assume Ironside will not be signed?

Quoted from oldun

Are we to assume Ironside will not be signed?

No he wont be signed.

Maybe Hurst thinks he can mould Clay into a decent player?

Quoted from pizzzza

Maybe Hurst thinks he can mould Clay into a decent player?

Hope he does not 'throw' him in at the deep end.

He could be hoping to 'fire' him up.

Hope there are no 'slip' ups.



I'll get my coat. LOL

http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/WATCH-New-Grimsby-Town-duo-Craig-Clay-Jon-Paul/story-21962818-detail/story.html

video there if anyone wants to see it, dont know what clay is smiling about at the start but what strikes me is he a tall lad, maybe thats why we've got him, his height could be a bonus too us, both say that the lads have made them feel welcome, but from me as well welcome to GTFC! only thing shocking about this episode is the flipping useless interview! the wind means you can barely hear the lads

Also, with us signing Clay, how many ex York midfielders have we had in the past 2 years?! Kerr, Rodman, Brown, McLaughlin, Clay!

Just need Connell now and the title is in the bag  ;)

I'm surprised that we've signed Clay who hasn't looked up to much against higher opposition in the last two games. He was a little better in the second half against Donny (though still average), but I suppose he must be pretty cheap. Hopefully he'll not need to play too often as a 4th choice player.

I thought we'd probably sign Pittman and reckon his pace ought to be an asset this season, providing he manages to stay fit most of the time. Just depends if he can form a good partnership with any of the other players.

Clay is only 22 he has loads of time to improve hopefully he will be a good addition to the sqaud.

Interesting that quite a few people have said Clay is "only 22" and has time to develop.

Yet Southwell was written off by the majority despite being younger.

If Pittman stays fit he should be a good signing and we'll finally have a quick signing. Find the signing of Clay a bit bizarre but I would imagine he's only on about £200 a week so we can't expect much for that. Still think we need another striker, preferably one who's an exciting signing.

Quoted from Grantham_Mariner

Hope he does not 'throw' him in at the deep end.

He could be hoping to 'fire' him up.

Hope there are no 'slip' ups.
I'll get my coat. LOL

I GLAZED over reading that... 8)

Seen Clay in 2 or 3 games and not really impressed, but he is now a GTFC player and will get my backing whenever he plays. Good luck to the lad he is going to need it as he is the new whipping boy before he has kicked a ball in anger. :-/ 8)
UTMM

Quoted from moosey_club

I GLAZED over reading that... 8)

You lot are kilning me  :o

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

You lot are kilning me  :o

If Clay turns out to be a poor signing then maybe Hurst should be.... fired.

Quoted from brad_gtfc

No he wont be signed.

I don't believe it !!!

He was the 20+ goal a season striker who was going to make our neck hairs stand up.(sorry)

Maybe Town should sign Villa captain 'Concrete Ron Vlaar'.  Then we would have 'concrete and clay'  ;D









Unit 4+2...showing my age now...hey its before my time...only by 3 years though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ougF5Q78tyo
Bet this was one of your grooves Pete  ;D

Quoted from pontoonlew

A team full of 'triers' never won anybody a league Pete.

Did Pete say he wanted a team of tries?

Sometimes your posts are complete and utter bill hillocks.

Quoted from pontoonlew

. I think the criticism is aimed at Hurst and his transfer policy.

Transfer policy in general over the summer or just the clay signing?

I think we are one top quality goal scorer away from having a very good summer of signings.

We have re recruited
Mckeown (player of the year)
Thomas
Disley (double figure goals from midfield!)
Neilson

We were lacking pace and energy in abundance last year. Hursts policy- or guideline has clearly specifically gone for this. I thought we had good players individually but collectively we lacked certain attributes that would allow us to alter tactics last season. In particular get up the pitch and in other teams faces. Hursts transfer policy/goal looks like it was to change this, and by looking at it so far it looks like he has, by adding the needed pace and energy

Toto
Macreath
Arnold
Brown
Pittman.

The only signing that doesn't fit this strategy is clay. Who is a fourth choice back up and most probably on a small piece of our budget.

What type of transfer policy were you hoping for? What is wrong with this one? And before you say it... Yeah we are still lacking a goal scorer - but we are still in the market for one I believe.

The manager has seen these 2 new players play a few times and knows their background, attitude and character.  We should trust his judgement and see how they settle in.  A little encouragement will not go amiss.  (We did not question his judgement on the first 3 signings).

Quoted from 3610

Transfer policy in general over the summer or just the clay signing?

I think we are one top quality goal scorer away from having a very good summer of signings.

We have re recruited
Mckeown (player of the year)
Thomas
Disley (double figure goals from midfield!)
Neilson

We were lacking pace and energy in abundance last year. Hursts policy- or guideline has clearly specifically gone for this. I thought we had good players individually but collectively we lacked certain attributes that would allow us to alter tactics last season. In particular get up the pitch and in other teams faces. Hursts transfer policy/goal looks like it was to change this, and by looking at it so far it looks like he has, by adding the needed pace and energy

Toto
Macreath
Arnold
Brown
Pittman.

The only signing that doesn't fit this strategy is clay. Who is a fourth choice back up and most probably on a small piece of our budget.

What type of transfer policy were you hoping for? What is wrong with this one? And before you say it... Yeah we are still lacking a goal scorer - but we are still in the market for one I believe.

Got to agree with this. We all knew we were lacking pace and energy, that has been addressed. So you'd hope we'd be slightly improved on last season already.

Quoted from 3610

Transfer policy in general over the summer or just the clay signing?

I think we are one top quality goal scorer away from having a very good summer of signings.

We have re recruited
Mckeown (player of the year)
Thomas
Disley (double figure goals from midfield!)
Neilson

We were lacking pace and energy in abundance last year. Hursts policy- or guideline has clearly specifically gone for this. I thought we had good players individually but collectively we lacked certain attributes that would allow us to alter tactics last season. In particular get up the pitch and in other teams faces. Hursts transfer policy/goal looks like it was to change this, and by looking at it so far it looks like he has, by adding the needed pace and energy

Toto
Macreath
Arnold
Brown
Pittman.

The only signing that doesn't fit this strategy is clay. Who is a fourth choice back up and most probably on a small piece of our budget.

What type of transfer policy were you hoping for? What is wrong with this one? And before you say it... Yeah we are still lacking a goal scorer - but we are still in the market for one I believe.

Very good post.

Quoted from denni266

waste of wages on clay , panic signing. shows again that Hurst should not be here

FFS

Clay actually reminds me of one of the first signings they made....Anthony Church.

Quoted from pizzzza

If Clay turns out to be a poor signing then maybe Hurst should be.... fired.

Wedgewood be a shame

Quoted from moosey_club

Clay actually reminds me of one of the first signings they made....Anthony Church.

The first time I saw him I thought that's Anthony church in disguise.

As a side musing, was JPP a team mate of Doig at Forest?

according to soccerbase doig left forest on 30.6.05, whilst pittman officially joined them as a trainee on 1.7.05, so possibly doig saw him in the distance as he picked up his kit and belongings! ;D

Can anyone lend me a towel, I need to wipe this egg off my face...

Oh well, at least your man enough to admit it and hopefully get off his back. Good luck to the lad. :)

Quoted from 1739

Can anyone lend me a towel, I need to wipe this egg off my face...

Respect.

Just had a good laugh at these comments! How times change!  ;D

Quoted from denni266

waste of wages on clay , panic signing. shows again that Hurst should not be here

Best one

Quoted from jonnyboy82

glad pittman has signed but for clay that is a shocking signing.

I cant believe he has signed him.

:)

Haha what do we know eh lol

Pleased the lad (and manager to some extent) has proved the doubters wrong.

I swore out loud when I heard Clay had a knock and would be missing a couple of weeks ago. He's surely one of the first names on the teamsheet now.

I just hope that the lessons learnt from this thread are remembered... don´t write a player off before he´s been given a proper chance. Obviously though football fans are reactionary and fickle and I´m sure it´ll be the same reaction the next time a signing doesn´t immediately inspire everyone...

Like wise with Paddy and Mackreth - still have squad parts to play if not in the 1st 11 chosen to play - different opponents can mean differing formations... both home & away in mind....and who can fit into them - it's a 16 man squad game now and we need to save some players' legs, like Disley, for games where they will REALLY make the impact needed.