Should Gatting Start on Saturday?

[JohnnyJet]

It comes to something when we are pinning our hopes on someone this young and unproven.

 

[Easy 10]

What EXPECTATIONS?

Can you see anyone saying he WILL undoubtedly be our SAVIOUR?

The lad has got 30 goals this season, might as well give him a go, at least on the bench.

No, I'm not saying people will be looking to him to be our SAVIOUR. But if he's included in the 1st team in our current situation, there would inevitably be MASSIVE pressure for him to perform. I'm all for giving youth a chance under the right circmustances, but chucking this young lad in the deep end, up front against Championship defenders in a relegation dogfight is not the way to go about integrating him into the 1st team squad in my opinion. He may well be banging them in for the youth, but there is a humungous step-up to the 1st team playing in this division.

Spoon a couple of shots over (to the usual Withdean groans) get muscled out of things, disappear without a trace, and his confidence could get shot to bits. Course we'd all like a "Roy of the Rovers" style debut for him, where he comes on when we're 2-0 down, scores a hattrick and gets carried off the field shoulder high. But lets get real. He's a young lad who is developing very nicely as it is by the sounds. Piling unfair pressure on him now to get the goals to keep us up would be counter-productive.

Having said that, its Wilkins/McGhee who actually know the lad. If they think he could handle it then it'll be a case of backing their judgement. But from the outside looking in, I think its too big a risk and would be too soon for him.

 

[Black Country Seagull]

Never to young to play, worth ago, but like the other strikers at the club, they need to be given a fair run of at least 3 games. Fowler, Rooney, Owen, Theo Walcot were all Gattings age when they emerged into first team football.

 

[saltash seagull]

But surely if Lynch is not able to play for the kids on Wednesday and the firsts on Saturday, how can Gatting?

cos lynch is having a rest 120 mins at blackburn plus the trip there and back not what i'd call a rest

 

[saltash seagull]

put gatts on the bench ckr and hart up front jake and gatts as back up

 

[Yorkie]

He got two goals last night but had way more space that he would from Championship defenders.
The first was a huge mistake by the keeper which he capitalised on. That won't happen against Leicester, or it shouldn't.


Another prospect imo is Wes Fogden. He had a terrific game in midfield. His positioning off the ball and awareness is good for such a young one. His work rate is good too.

 

[Silent Bob]

The first was a huge mistake by the keeper which he capitalised on. That won't happen against Leicester, or it shouldn't.

Leicester's keep is awful.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Leicester's keep is awful.

He's Scottish...

 

[WATFORD zero]

I voted for the bench but seeing Easy's well thought out logical post above, he has changed my mind and made me think it's too early

Do you think someone has nicked Easy's logon