Torquay United Fans Forum

ferrarilover wrote: This is true, we were viewing Cooper as a CB and he was never going to fill that role. Unfortunately, we didn't hear about Pearce quite early enough. It's a shame, because Cooper is obviously a talent, we just didn't have a space for him in the squad.

Matt.

We did, it was a space in the budget we were lacking

brucie wrote:At the end of the day we were in need of a specialist centre half which Cooper wasn't so Knill cannot really be accused of making a mistake.

This is true, we were viewing Cooper as a CB and he was never going to fill that role. Unfortunately, we didn't hear about Pearce quite early enough. It's a shame, because Cooper is obviously a talent, we just didn't have a space for him in the squad.

Matt.

brucie wrote:At the end of the day we were in need of a specialist centre half which Cooper wasn't so Knill cannot really be accused of making a mistake.

I think if he had the choice now he would have Cooper (who is a specialised central midfielder and can play at right-back and also centre half) over Harding.

At the end of the day we were in need of a specialist centre half which Cooper wasn't so Knill cannot really be accused of making a mistake.

supergulls wrote:The annoying thing is Matt, Alan knill said they were arguing over £100

Are you saying that they were arguing over £100 per week. £100 per month or £100 per game or £100 in total?.

Or was Al holding out for £1000 as he felt that Matts autograph was worth more.

The annoying thing is Matt, Alan knill said they were arguing over £100

Well, that's the first proper mistake that Knill could be accused of making. I'm sure there's more to it than meets the eye (probably money-based), but the decision to let Cooper go just keeps getting dumber and dumber.

Matt.

I bet Knill wished he had signed him and not Harding now.

Shaun Cooper has today signed for Portsmouth

Think they would both do you a decent job

If there is room in the budget Cooper sounds like the sort of player most teams would like to have. A versatile 'footballer', someone comfortable on the ball who can play in a few positions. I'm just not convinced he is right as a first choice centre-half.

Shaun Cooper looks to have a good "football brain" and is an experienced versatile player. What more could we ask for ? I hope he impresses tomorrow and we sign him up !

Rendell's clearly not match-fit so it will be difficult for him to impress tomorrow-particularly in the heat of the afternoon.
Hard then to see how he can do enough to be offered a contract on the basis of two appearances.

I know very little about Cooper. Have to say his height isn't of massive concern to me, if he's good enough he's tall enough (or something like that). I agree with Royal though - I don't necessarily see his versatility as a benefit. We need a Centre Back. He's not likely to get shifted from there to fill in somewhere else, simply because CB is the position we're shortest in (so to speak). If he's a CB, that can play elsewhere, fine. If he's a footballer that can play anywhere included CB, I'd rather we looked elsewhere.

Yes the concern is that Cooper is not an out and out centre half. If he is best suited to playing in central midfield he isn't alot of good to us.
You just sort of wonder whether Knill is maybe struggling to fill a couple of key positions in centre half and centre forward perhaps.
As for Rendell his main attribute is his ability to get on the end of things in around the six yard box where he seems to get most of his goals so perhaps if our wingers are pretty good this will make him effective.