Stronger than we were: Jim
JIM Gannon welcomed new goal scorer Jason Oswell and insisted: “I am confident we will have a stronger team than last season.”
Gannon landed Oswell from Welsh Premier League side Newtown after the 24-year-old netted 51 goals in 91 games for the Welsh outfit.
“I’m really pleased to have Jason join our team. I like my main forward to be an all round, well-equipped point attacker. And the more I considered Jason and assessed his attributes the more I felt he would be a great fit in our new look frontline. I also felt that we would be a good fit for him as he strives to progress his game.
“Unfortunately, the options of goal scoring centre forwards at our level of non-league is becoming quite limited. There are some solid players at this level who have some strong characteristics, but with a lack of good young players coming through I feel the pool of attacking players is getting a little stale at National North level.
“Therefore, we have searched a little wider for something more fresh, exciting and perhaps a better fit for my ideal point attacker.
“Jason has the height and aerial strength to be a target man for getting up the pitch or attacking crosses. But he has a good turn of pace and very good mobility and athleticism for a big lad.
“The modern number nine has to have more than just a physical presence. He has to provide a platform to build attacks, craft to create and score around the box, and a penetrator from deep when required.
“Jason has matured well as a player over the last three years and the array of goals he has scored suggests he has sharpened a lot of those different attacking attributes.
“Whether he plays in a one or two-man central attack I feel he can operate effectively independently or with team mates in close support.
“When discussing the possible recruitment we had to consider his ability to move back to this level of English non-league, but more than 50 goals in less than 100 games at Newtown FC shows a consistency in goalscoring that has to be respected at any level.
“As mentioned before he has matured very well and his performance has improved to the point that he is considered the best in the Welsh Premier League by his peers along with being the league’s top scorer.
“Along with Matty Warburton and Stephen O’Halloran I feel we have added another great professional and person to the team. The right recruitment is essential to our success this season.”
And Jim says there are going to be more signings arriving at Edgeley Park over the coming days and weeks, to add to the three he has already brought into the club so far this summer: “We are far from finished and we have been working hard on adding other targets,” he said. “The team is starting to take shape but we feel we need to add another two attackers and a strong creative midfielder and an experienced defender.
“We are closing in on another attacker, and narrowed down targets for the extra defender, midfielder and attacker. We may need to be patient to get the right quality but I am confident that we will have a team and squad stronger than last season.”