The Trialists

[CP Gull]

Thought this was worth a separate topic given that we know three of those due to attend on Friday and in the hope and expectation that there might be a few more over the coming weeks.

Personally, I think the three names we have so far are pretty encouraging.

Jordan Robertson - what we saw of him in his brief loan spell back in 2006-7 suggested that this was a young striker that was destined to play at a much higher level than League 2. Sadly, his career has constantly faltered at every turn since then not least through his own (well documented) actions but also through his injuries. At just 25 he is already pretty much at the last chance saloon and yet who better to give him that chance than a Manager who supported him through his trial and was the first to offer him an opportunity to rebuild his career when he came out of prison. Without question, a fit and healthy Jordan Robertson is more than good enough for League 2.

Aristote Nsiala - at one time considered a very exciting prospect at Everton he failed to make the grade there (but so did Eunan O'Kane!) and yet he did have a very promising loan spell at Accrington Stanley which subsequently led to them signing him on a permanent basis last summer. By all accounts, he seemed to be well received by the Accy fans when he first signed and all the talk was of his great potential, athleticism, pace and physique (he is 6'4" I believe). On the downside, his discipline was very poor, racking up a yellow card on an almost every other game basis and his concentration levels occassionally let him down with the odd mistake costing his team goals. It all eneded disappointingly with him leaving Accy 6 months ahead of schedule in January of this year by "mutual consent", but from what I can gather he is still considered to have undoubted potential and with all the other natural attributes he possesses he could still go far in the game it would seem. Quite an interesting character too ... http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/fo ... la-3352917

Steven Leslie - spent several years at Shrewsbury under Graham Turner who rated him highly for most of his time there. He appears to be a player blessed with an awful lot of natural ability, great left foot, good delivery from set pieces, ability to pick a pass and weighs in with his fair share of (often spectacular) goals but it seems a lack of consistency and confidence, perhaps even a lack of application at times, let him down. Again, he appears to be someone who is in danger of throwing his undoubted talent away unless he pulls it all together pretty quickly, but he still has youth on his side and again maybe a spell at Plainmoor - which often seems to have the effect of revitalising some players careers - might just be all that he needs at this stage of his career.

The overwhelming opinion I have got from my limited "research" of these trialists is that all undoubtedly have some ability at this level and maybe, just maybe, they could find a "home" at TQ1 to finally achieve something, which admittedly has been missing so far, in their professional careers.

[Plymgull]

Steven Leslie was released by Telford. and Wrexham before that. He can't cut it at BSP level so i can't see him standing much of a chance at league two level.

[cambgull]

I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do.

Has it all gone quiet on the Jernade Meade front?

[Magpiegull]

I believe that Jernade Meade is currently on trial at Club Brugge in Belgium.

[exiledgull]

If there good they will be signed, if they are not up to standard they will be released.

It's a win win situation for us.

[PhilGull]

Thought this was worth a separate topic given that we know three of those due to attend on Friday and in the hope and expectation that there might be a few more over the coming weeks.

Personally, I think the three names we have so far are pretty encouraging.

Jordan Robertson - what we saw of him in his brief loan spell back in 2006-7 suggested that this was a young striker that was destined to play at a much higher level than League 2. Sadly, his career has constantly faltered at every turn since then not least through his own (well documented) actions but also through his injuries. At just 25 he is already pretty much at the last chance saloon and yet who better to give him that chance than a Manager who supported him through his trial and was the first to offer him an opportunity to rebuild his career when he came out of prison. Without question, a fit and healthy Jordan Robertson is more than good enough for League 2.

Aristote Nsiala - at one time considered a very exciting prospect at Everton he failed to make the grade there (but so did Eunan O'Kane!) and yet he did have a very promising loan spell at Accrington Stanley which subsequently led to them signing him on a permanent basis last summer. By all accounts, he seemed to be well received by the Accy fans when he first signed and all the talk was of his great potential, athleticism, pace and physique (he is 6'4" I believe). On the downside, his discipline was very poor, racking up a yellow card on an almost every other game basis and his concentration levels occassionally let him down with the odd mistake costing his team goals. It all eneded disappointingly with him leaving Accy 6 months ahead of schedule in January of this year by "mutual consent", but from what I can gather he is still considered to have undoubted potential and with all the other natural attributes he possesses he could still go far in the game it would seem. Quite an interesting character too ... http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/fo ... la-3352917

Steven Leslie - spent several years at Shrewsbury under Graham Turner who rated him highly for most of his time there. He appears to be a player blessed with an awful lot of natural ability, great left foot, good delivery from set pieces, ability to pick a pass and weighs in with his fair share of (often spectacular) goals but it seems a lack of consistency and confidence, perhaps even a lack of application at times, let him down. Again, he appears to be someone who is in danger of throwing his undoubted talent away unless he pulls it all together pretty quickly, but he still has youth on his side and again maybe a spell at Plainmoor - which often seems to have the effect of revitalising some players careers - might just be all that he needs at this stage of his career.

The overwhelming opinion I have got from my limited "research" of these trialists is that all undoubtedly have some ability at this level and maybe, just maybe, they could find a "home" at TQ1 to finally achieve something, which admittedly has been missing so far, in their professional careers.

Thanks for that CPGull, good luck to them all.

[Fonda]

Robertson, is a quality player at this level. Other clubs have obviously avoided him because of the baggage. We evidently don't feel we can afford to be that principled. Shame. I have to be honest, when players of such chequered history go elsewhere, i'm critical of the motives and lack of morals. It's hypocritical to suddenly forget that because it's us.

Leslie doesn't excite me at all. A failed conference player? He might have talent, but if application has let him down previously, it's likely it will do again.

Nsiala is potentially the find of that trio. Hopefully there's a player there, that with the right mentoring can develop.

[CP Gull]

Anyone know how Leslie and Nsiala are getting on? I think I can spot them in the background from the training day photos at Seale Hayne.... are they still here? As we know, Jordan Robertson has chosen to go on trial with Yeovil instead and I'm not aware of anyone else being on trial ... unless anyone knows different!

[miltonkeynesgull]

Jordan Robertson has chosen to go on trial with Yeovil instead

I don't think we should totally rule Robertson out just yet. I could be wrong, but I wouldn't mind betting that if he doesn't get offered anything at Yeovil (and from what I remember of him, I'm not certain he's Championship quality), he will still end up trialling with us at some point this summer.

[supergulls]

Nsiala has been ok in training nothing spectacular, Nathan Craig knows him from their Everton days but I think we can do better.

[CP Gull]

Jordan Robertson could be back on as he has been " shown the door" by Yeovil it seems ...

http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/news/ne ... emId=19768

I guess it depends whether Alan Knill feels in any way slighted by Robertson's decision to go to Yeovil over us in the first place.

[Richinns]

Jordan Robertson could be back on as he has been " shown the door" by Yeovil it seems ...

http://www.ciderspace.co.uk/ASP/news/ne ... emId=19768

I guess it depends whether Alan Knill feels in any way slighted by Robertson's decision to go to Yeovil over us in the first place.

Much might depend on the outcome of the 'mystery' French striker as I doubt we could afford him, Benyon and Robertson

[ferrarilover]

Looks like the clamour regarding that Kieffer Moore chap might have been justified, judging from the article linked above.

Matt.