Torquay United Fans Forum

Watching the FLS last night it was plain to see how much happier Kee is at Burton. I don't think we can say with confidence that we've lost out because he wouldn't be the same player if he'd stayed. I would have loved him to be scoring goals for us, but I'd rather see a player unlock their potential (which I always believed Kee had and still do), than stay with us and waste away his career.
Good luck to the lad.

Non-league players don't come cheaply. Of the ones I can think of, Jon Main left Tonbridge Angels for £22k (good for AFC Wimbledon in the non-leagues, but hasn't made it to the football league), Jordan Connerton left Lancaster for £30k (scored 30 goals before Christmas, but has been at Crewe for 2 years and hasn't got anywhere near their first team). Jamie Vardy was undisclosed, but was upwards of £50k. Ross Hannah isn't a starter at Bradford, and his record at Matlock is as good as they come. A non-league player is a bargain if they turn into Charlie Austin, but for every one that works, there's four that don't - and clubs that have a 40 goal forward under contract don't let them go cheaply, making it a big risk.

If you want an England example, Chris Smalling was playing non-league 3/4 years ago.

[quote="usagullmichigan"]I have said this many times and I will say it again. I think we should going through the non-leagues to look for a young striker who could have potential. They are out there, they just need to be found. That would fit our budget. There is that risk of course but it would be less of a risk that what twatieno is.[/quote]

I've banged the drum long enough on this subject too USAGull. I don't see the point of offering someone like Atieno a contract . He is someone who has done nothing in the game and looks like he doesn't WANT to do anything in the game. It is sad that someone is afforded an opportunity of playing professional football but just can't be arsed. I know he is the type of player who can be a bit lethargic and drift in and out of games but at our level we just can't afford to carry passengers. In other words if his game plan has been stifled and things aren't going for him on the pitch then i expect him to get his head down and work on behalf of his team mates. Give me a raw untried youngster plucked from non-league obscurity over players like Atieno (there are others so i don't just want to single out Taiwo here). They will work hard and they will want to impress. I'd rather have that any day of the week. They are few and far between talented youngsters but if we don't bother trying to unearth them then we are just going to continue recycling old has-been journeymen or 'he's got ability but he's had his problems' type players. You get about ten different managers signing players like that for 10 different clubs and at each one they are shite but they continue to get opportunities at clubs because they have 'ability'. Pathetic. Ship them out and get new blood in. If they aren't good enough then fine, get some more in and so on. Clubs just can't be arsed to look for these new players which is staggering because if that club churns out player after player that goes on to play at a higher level it benefits us financially instead of our finances being drained by players who have had their chances and should change careers. Just look at Charlie Austin at Burnley. Call me insane or like Bixie but i'm considering having a bet that he plays for England one day. Ok I KNOW England are hilarious when it comes to international football but this lad can finish. Someone tell me who they would rather have in their team, Danny Graham at Swansea or Charlie Austin who is only playing in the Championship. These players are out there and just need a break.

I have said this many times and I will say it again. I think we should going through the non-leagues to look for a young striker who could have potential. They are out there, they just need to be found. That would fit our budget. There is that risk of course but it would be less of a risk that what twatieno is.

Every player in an individual at the end of the day and theres loads of factors why certain players dont work in certain teams!! Prime example is Branno as well, came to us as a proper journeyman and fans from most of his previous clubs often slated him for his discipline issues, attitude problems, etc!!! But as we all know, look at how that one turned out - massive fans favourite and was a key factor in us getting to the brink of promotion!!

But as Danny says above, I'm dead happy for Kee as well!! He's obviously the right player to fit in at Burton and from his goal tally we can all see that!!

I for one am happy for Billy Kee. He just didn't fit with us (I think Buckle has something to do with that as AJ and Andy mentioned :@ ) but sometimes players just don't work with certain teams. Now he's back in the midlands, lost a massive amount of weight, looks fit and (as Andy also mentioned) Peschisolido is obviously bringing out the best of him.

I wish him the best (even though 7 goals in 10 games and getting a hat-trick today I don't think he'll need it) and I hope he keeps playing well, but not agaisnt us Bill alright? ;-)

No doubt Martin Ling will bring in players, probably on loan, as and when he feels it necessary. But I think we are worrying too much. We have a good squad, but form and fitness can never be taken for granted, they come and go, and players of whom we previously had some doubts, such as Saah and Stevens, have seen their form improve of late. Yes, an injury or two may bring short-term concerns, but also provide opportunities for others to step in, such as Ellis and Lathrope, and Bodin today. Atieno's form will improve, as will the others. In fact, the recent run of games without a win may have been a blessing in disguise. Having got it out of the way with two good wins, we can look upon it as a springboard for an improving squad to begin an unstoppable rise up the table.

Echo many sentiments on here. Firstly Billy was often played out of position by the tactical genius that is Paul Buckle, well done to AJ for making that point. If he had been allowed a more regular central role then we might have squeezed a bit more out of him. Secondly he didn't want to be in Devon and in his short time in the Midlands he is showing what a settled, contented player can do. He no doubt has a lot of ability and i think Peschisolido will bring out more of that than Buckle ever did. Burton for me are a more direct side also so the style of play may suit him more. Regardless of that we still lost a quality player and replaced him with McPhee and some other bloke called Taiwo who masquerades as a footballer when in fact he would be more effective modelling clothes in shop windows! I'd rather have a 20 stone Billy played on the wing than him! Message to Tai, Dimitar Berbatov can get away with the workrate of a council worker because he can put the ball in the back of the net in nearly every game at the top level. You don't have this ability even in league 2 therefore you should at the very least look as if you are interested in playing professional football because if not i've heard Royal Mail are desperate for Christmas staff. :lol:

Billy Kee goalscoring record for Burton is fantastic , for them , and him as a player, however all roads lead back to the same thing for me.

Billy Kee was not happy here at Torquay, he did not want to be here, and that was reflected in his performances, maybe his attitude aswell, purely on the Billy kee that we had, no great loss, he made himself into the player who mainly started of the bench for us, and the transfer fee our club got could only reflect that.

I tend to agree with you on Atieno, he is turning into a real worry for me, again though all roads lead back to the player budget Martin Ling is working off, McPhee is a sensible signing, we all know our club is not flush with cash right now, and in McPhee we have aplayer who can play as a striker/Midfield central and wide right, even played right back in his time.

think today highlighted a need for a striker as many chances went begging in the second half, however Lingy must bring a player that is better than what we already have, can our club afford such a player right now ?

"Undisclosed" - but I think was in the region of £20,000?

Problem was, he wanted to move back home, so we were in a no-win situation with this one. But I agree, if we happen to be without Howe for a period of time, then at the moment we are up the creek without a paddle!

Also, in regards to Kee.....Thanks Buckle!! For clearly playing a striker out on the wing for most of last season!

..

Is Billy Kee's record for Burton so far.

How much did we get for him again? I didn't think it at the time, but losing him could potentially be a big blow - for the fact that he can hit the net, and also the fact that without Rene Howe, we are unbelievably weak upfront. Taiwoeful is nowhere near good enough, as is McPhee, unfortunately. I think these two are passengers, of which we can't afford to carry in our squad.

=Z