Torquay United Fans Forum

If we could bring in Stanley, Robinson and Oastler then I think they'd be terrific signings for this level and it would be an excellent start to the summer if we could land even a few of them. Gilligan I haven't seen play yet and hasn't started a game, so it's hard to give an opinion on him, but his career record suggests he could be a good signing too.

Personally I like loan players at this level, it's a chance to bring in players well above the level you could permanently. In the past we've had some big names (Sturridge, Roberts...), and saved ourselves from real trouble by adding to our squad late in the season with some quality - players like Danny Hollands and Branston in particular really turned our season around when we needed it. Players like Adam Smith and Jake Thomson last season also came in and made an impact, Somma saved Lincoln last season etc

A player or two now could be the difference between 7th and 13th, just for the cost of a few months wages.

I think having six loanees would be ok too, as with two games a week it wouldn't be too hard to rest one of them for a game at a time. Oastler and GIlligan haven't been guarenteed starters anyway.

Sign Stanley & Robinson (as a winger though). I think Oastler will be staying at QPR, if not sign him too. Im just not sure about Gilligan yet. Strikes me as a EoK type player. Not quick enough to be an out and out winger, not physically strong enough for a CM slot. Probably suited to "in the hole" type role but we've already got players that can do that well....

Out of Stanley Oastler Giligan Robinson would anyone like to sign them permanently? id like all 4 in L1 or L2!

A couple of points:

The maximum number of loan players we can play in a league game is 5 in the squad. Considering we are using Oastler, Gilligan, Robinson and Stanley we only really have room for one more loanee in the squad, unless we are planning on shipping out one of the above.

I agree that we need to bring in a bigger forward player who is more of a target man. I don't care if he's not the best finisher in the world, last night showed that we needed someone who would hold the ball up, chase things down and generally be a nuicence. We gave the Cheltenham back-line far too little to do in the last 10 last night, and it hit us hard. Like I said, I don't care if any new forward isn't the greatest finisher as we already have Kee, Robinson, Zebroski, O'kane who can all do that. Just a bit of bulk up front. Like what Gritton was meant to do, but seeing as he has fallen a further 2 divisions down the ladder than the BSN, it shows how limited he was in his time with us!

I don't have any problem with us picking up loanees at this stage - after all we aren't going to be making any permanent signings now the window is shut. It seems that Buckle has now changed his approach to targeting more experienced players who have fallen out of favour and are out of contract in the summer. This is a shrewd move - we all know that a player playing for a contract is more likely to turn in performances. If you look at the MOTM stats, since the transfer window shut Stanley and Oastler have been 2 of our most consistent good performers. Both on loan, both out of contract in the summer. Almost any loan player available now is playing for a future. I hope we only bother looking for one player, as we only have room for one!

If the squad is considered short of numbers, i'm not sure how signing permanently those loan players already here would remedy the situation...?

I understand that rationale behind bringing in loanees. I'm just concerned that too many of our squad are here on a temporary basis. Look at the 'first team' (or what I would consider it to be):

Bevan ours

Mansell ours
Branston ours
Ellis ours
Nicho ours

Stanley loan
Oastler loan
Giligan loan

Robinson loan
Zebroski ours
Kee ours

Ok so not everyone will agree that is our first team at present. But whichever way you look at it we seem more reliant on loanees than we have been in previous seasons, I'm not sure we need any more. I would rather see a few of the above sign on a permanent basis.

There are always loads of quality players who are available on loan for a multitude of reasons. Recovering from Injury, other players bought in, new manager, new tactics, perhaps even a row with another player or the manager....

There is a massive risk to clubs, with players potentially worth a fee, to having them sat on the bench. Take Jake Robinson for example, we can only assume he will be released or sold on by Shrewsbury come close season, well if he bangs a few goals in for Torquay then they should get a higher price for him.

Wages can be negotiated, I suspect in many cases we share the wage bill if the player plays, not if he doesn't.

The question really is can we truely justify spending a large amount of money on a player who may or may not turn out good when there are rich pickings for free.

There is no doubt Buckle has bught in some quality loan signings in recent years, Guy Branston being just one example , but would we have risked signing Guy on full time before seeing if his temperment was, well temprered? The chap just signed from Morecambe has a similar reputation, but you would not know it seeing hime play for Torquay

Likeways that chap from Plymouth last year was totally useless, but is now banging the goals in at a higher level

Clubs of Torquay's size are always going to be attracted to a "try before you buy" situation, that is what it is like in the 4th division

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 405672.stm

Not sure they are really what is needed in the present situation. I would much rather see a couple of our current loanees sign permanent deals than bring in a few more players who won't be around for very long. We need players playing for the Torquay shirt, not for their parent club's.

Having said that if the loanees are going to be of the same quality as we have had recently then we can't complain. It seems Gilligan, Stanley and Robinson have made a massive difference to the team since arriving.

Where do we think the squad needs strengthening? I would say another RB or CB to cover injury/loss of form and to free up Mansell to concentrate on being a CM each and every week. It must be disconcerting for him to keep swapping position. I think Robbo does the job at RB very well, and should be focussing on adapting to that. We could do with another out and out winger too, we shouldn't be starting with the likes of Macklin.

Thoughts?