Torquay United Fans Forum

Warren is on loan.
If we can’t keep him till the end of season we need another experienced C/H so we can get a back line who play together every week.

The side is young and in my experience I would say too many are playing at full stretch all the time causing injuries. Once those players have had the knock back of bad injuries it takes a team a long time to build up what they had. The younger players tend to get silly bookings answering back to the referee when things go wrong, is a good example. If this side is kept together with a few experienced players added there is no reason why we cannot get back up there for the play-offs but they have got to start believing that they can do it.

Tommy17 wrote: 09 Feb 2020, 19:21 Agree desperado.
Cameron was excellent for us last season, I think when we get Wynter, Davis and a experienced C/H along side of him we will see a big improvement.
We only need a few experienced additions and we will be fine.
Fingers crossed our bad injury run is now over.

We have Warren... why do we need another?

DWB wrote: 09 Feb 2020, 17:58 Wow as you say ‘controversial’ but I would agree with you apart from 2. I personally would keep Andrews (makes things happen) and Hall for his know how, experience, and overall leadership?

Yeah, I’d keep Hall for another year, too. Would keep Andrews as he has a very good goals/assists record for us, makes things happen as you say and is still young.

Agree desperado.
Cameron was excellent for us last season, I think when we get Wynter, Davis and a experienced C/H along side of him we will see a big improvement.
We only need a few experienced additions and we will be fine.
Fingers crossed our bad injury run is now over.

Just seen Mellow that you said release Cameron ! - have you been drinking ?!

That certainly is drastic Mellow and ruthless ! Not so sure we need a culling
like that. They are young players who will learn from this season and improve next, and as you said got us to within 2 points, actually, of the top before the injuries got a grip. I think more of a tweaking than culling is required, as SG said , add 2 or 3 experienced players down the spine and we should be ok.

MellowYellow wrote: 09 Feb 2020, 16:59 Back in Nov three points off the league leaders it is clear we were punching above our weight. The squad have done reasonably well in a tough division, but it is fairly clear the current squad is not promotion material. Hence why I am going to be ruthless in my choices:

Keep; Wynter, Davis, Little, Reid, Whitfield.
Extend-Loans: Lemonhaigh-Evans, Vincent, Warren,

Release: Hall, Buse, Andrews, Covolan, MacDonald, Lewington, Nemane, Cameron,

End loans: Lewis, Cundy, Longridge, Edwards

Loan out: Slough, Koszela

Undecided: Kalala - so much natural talent just needs to be taught how to play the game of football. Could keep one of the goalies as second choice.

Whilst the above will not meet the approval of many and probley won't happen, something drastic will have to occur next season if the squad is to 'step up to the plate' and become promotional material rather than a team making up the league in mid-table.

Wow as you say ‘controversial’ but I would agree with you apart from 2. I personally would keep Andrews (makes things happen) and Hall for his know how, experience, and overall leadership?

Back in Nov three points off the league leaders it is clear we were punching above our weight. The squad have done reasonably well in a tough division, but it is fairly clear the current squad is not promotion material. Hence why I am going to be ruthless in my choices:

Keep; Wynter, Davis, Little, Reid, Whitfield.
Extend-Loans: Lemonhaigh-Evans, Vincent, Warren,

Release: Hall, Buse, Andrews, Covolan, MacDonald, Lewington, Nemane, Cameron,

End loans: Lewis, Cundy, Longridge, Edwards

Loan out: Slough, Koszela

Undecided: Kalala - so much natural talent just needs to be taught how to play the game of football. Could keep one of the goalies as second choice.

Whilst the above will not meet the approval of many and probley won't happen, something drastic will have to occur next season if the squad is to 'step up to the plate' and become promotional material rather than a team making up the league in mid-table.

desperado wrote: 08 Feb 2020, 17:58 Let's hope people saying only 3 going down will be what is going to happen.

Since only one club will be relegated from the EFL, there are only three ways the NLP can maintain its numbers:
1) only demote three teams at end of season.
2) only promote one team at end of season, ie scrap play offs
3) promote extra team from NLS or NLN.

Since option 2 would probably lead to legal challenges and mean the Conference loses its day out at Wembley I very much doubt that will happen.
Option 3 would mean the aggro of arranging an extra two leg fixture between the two sides concerned and would be giving two losers from NLN\S play off final a second bite of the cherry.
So given all that option 1 is the most likely scenario, UNLESS the Conference decide to admit Bury FC and I haven't heard any suggestion of that happening.

At this moment in time I would be quite happy if we are in the National League next season. Let's hope people saying only 3 going down will be what is going to happen.
Otherwise 5 points off the bottom 4 , we can't afford a defeat at Wrexham

Keep Shaun MacDonald as a number two, look for a senior experienced keeper who can be first choice and mentor MacDonald.
Keep Ben Wynter, Liam Davis (assuming he can prove his fitness) and Kyle Cameron. Try to sign Warren permanently and Joe Lewis on loan again. Try and get Longridge back on loan again too.
Keep Hall, Buse, Little, Andrews.
Keep Whitfield and Kalala
Keep Jamie Reid
Keep Slough, Koszela and Lewington and continue their development.


Lemonhaigh-Evans seems to have stalled of late, would be happy to see him back, maybe permanently if he can rediscover his form between now and the end of the season.
Let Covolan go. Age is not on his side and he just isn't good enough for a promotion chasing side.
Let Nemane go. I don't think we can carry him and Kalala and I think on his day Kalala does more.
Let Cundy go. He has potential but needs more work and we can't afford to be the team to do that if we are chasing promotion.

You are correct as usual CP, I forgot Cundy wasn't playing and Nemane is not a loan and that 5 is the maximum.

Personally, with Keating, Niate and Dickson gone, I don’t think we need to release too many more.I do think one of the keepers should go, so that a new, more experienced number 1 is brought in in the summer. I would keep the rest of our defence that is under contract - Wynter, Davis, Cameron and Slough. Likewise in midfield, I would keep Andrews, Hall, Little, Kalala, Whitfield and Buse but would reserve judgment on Nemane at the moment. Up front, keep Reid and Koszela but reserve judgment on Lewington. We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that this squad (when fully fit) got us to within two points of the summit a couple of months back - like SG says, we just need to strengthen the spine - with more muscularity and more experience - if we can do that we wouldn’t be far off, in my opinion.

Next season - in view of the continuing alarming losses, admission prices will have to be increased. You have to ask how a club like Barrow is managing to survive and be top of the league?

Much depends on what budget Gary Johnson is allowed, but an experienced 'keeper, central defender and striker to partner Jamie Reid have to be a 'must'. It would be great if Conor Lemonheigh-Evans became available, but I doubt that very much. Frankie Vincent would be a good addition to the squad if he became available. I basically agree with Hammdog, except I would offer contracts to Nemane and Hall. Nemane seems to be improving with each game and could prove to be a very good signing, and although Asa is knocking on a bit, he's still good enough. That leaves Kalala. If only he could add better decision making and consistency to his game, what a player he would be ...... if only.

The thing is - and we've seen it season after season - players are released and new players brought in who in most cases are no better than the players who have left, although Armani Little and Ben Whitfield have strengthened the team this season. It's the dilemma GJ has to face, and he's well paid to do so.