Torquay United Fans Forum

I don't see why we wouldn't get a similar sort of amount as Barnet when Albert Adomah left for Bristol City last summer.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/ne ... 0049C.html

We should reject anything less than that this month.

On the subject of our next generation, when is Halpin going to get a chance to play? I've heard very promising things from his performances in training. If Buckle has no intention of using him then surely he would benefit by going on loan to a BSP club.

YellowMurphy wrote:He deserves a chance I reckon, perfect chance this saturday, all weight lifted of the team's shoulders in a cup tie. (Usually)

I see it as our biggest game of the season. Normally the league should always take priority, but with our current finances, we're desperate for a win and decent draw in the fourth round. Could be the difference to keeping Benyon and co until at least the end of the campaign (and possibly even Buckle).

Watching the FL Show on Saturday I thought Ellis was more at fault for Hereford's first goal and Bevan may have been fouled for their second. That's not to say he wasn't completely blameless, but his form overall this season has been good and to drop him after a two bad games may be a little harsh. I haven't seen Potter much, but he's very short for a keeper which could pose problems given that we're not the biggest of teams.

NickGull wrote: I heard today at the game (so probably no truth in it at all) that Brizzle have offered £80k for Buckle & Benyon. Now don't moan about it too me; I don't know how factual that is, but if that was to happen, I'd be fuming.

We should get atleast £50k for compensation for PB if he went. As for Benyon, he's easily worth a 3-figure fee.

Buckle has done an absolutely fantastic job. He must have found it hard though, as there has always been a minority of fans who don't like him; I'll admit to never being his biggest fan, but you can't begrudge him the excellent work he has done.

The thing that worries me most is not that Buckle himself could go, but the damage he could do to us by taking players with him. O'Kane, Ellis, Benyon, Kee.

You're not alone in your concerns, Nick. But by all accounts, Bristol Rovers don't have much money. They would already be stretching their budget to pay us compensation for Buckle, let alone raid the core of our team. Perhaps Benners could follow him due to his contract expiring in the summer, but I think most fans are resigned to his exit anyway.

So are we all convinced that Buckle will leave? While Bristol Rovers is a step up, I don't think it's the right move for him at this time. According to their forum they are destined for relegation and have little money to spend. That raises the compensation question. Can they afford Buckle? And could they afford to give the new manager funds for transfers?

As for his overwhelming odds, it doesn't take much money to move a market as small as this. I hope he at least hangs around until after the FA Cup game. That could make or break our season.

As earlier mentioned by a poster, I think Poke has been relegated to third, or even fourth choice. I fully expect him to leave Brighton on loan in January with a view to a permanent transfer. I'm surprised Exeter haven't gone on for him given their keeper problems lately.

Ellis
Branston
Bevan
Zebs

Agree with most of Jazzy Jeff's report. Can't complain with the result. Chesterfield are strong at the back, sharp in midfield and caused problems with their intelligent link-up play and movement in attack. They were worthy winners. Though that being said, at 1-0 we could have pinched something but unfortunately left our 'A' game at home.

We actually started quite well, moved the ball around nicely and edged the first 20 minutes, but it was downhill from there. Chesterfield stepped up a gear and pegged us back in our own half. Our passing fell to pieces, we were being picked apart and Lester stuck them in front. The pattern was similar in the second half until Gritton came on and we switched to 4-4-2. We at least started exert pressure on our opponents but we lacked the killer instinct in the final third and were a little fortunate not to be caught on the Chesterfield counter.

Bevan made a few decent saves in the second half. Would have to see the goal again before I can start playing the blame game, but at first glance, it didn't look like there was much Scotty could do. Mansell was turned inside a few times by their tricky left winger, but he probably would have faired no worse than Robbo. Would still like to see him back in midfield if we can accomodate him. Nicholson wasn't at his best. Didn't get much protection, but was beaten a couple of times down his side and his set-pieces was below-par. Branston and Ellis were my choices for MOTM. Neither exceptional, but they were both solid and often exposed by our flimsy midfield. In the latter stages they coped admirably despite being left alone at the back as we searched for an equaliser.

The report cards of Oastler, O'Kane and Wroe all read the same. Started brightly, but quickly faded and struggled to compete against their opponents. Wroe survived the full 90, but he was just as ineffective as O'Kane and Oastler who probably produced their weakest performances to date in a yellow (well actually black today) shirt. But in defence of the midfield trio, it was the first time I've seen them outplayed. Credit to Chesterfield because that was probably where the game was won.

Zebroski was like a pack of Revels. Never quite sure what to expect. I had the misfortune of standing in front of a couple of people who criticised him from start to finish. "He's s**t, never scores, can't control the ball and doesn't track back." I was close to building a strong defence case for Zebs (maybe not the correct phrase to use at this particular time) but kept it locked in. I am after all a keyboard warrior. Unfortunately today, he was frustratingly inconsistent. To the delight of the aforementioned, his control was at times disappointing, and there were occasions he lost possession cheaply. But to counter those mistakes, there were times when he had the beating of the full-back and created half-chances. He was our biggest attacking threat. In fact, he was probably our only attacking threat. Most of our players don't like running with the ball. They like to go sidewards or backwards. But Zebs at least gets his head down and just runs towards goal. Sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't. But at least he sets sail in the right direction.

On the oppsite flank, Stevens had a poor game. He's the current target of the boo-boys. He looked out of his depth today. Just didn't work for him. It's not like he doesn't try. But he's just not good enough to start regularly at this level. He's more of an impact player from the bench for me. But then without Hemmings (presumably injured?), Buckle didn't have many options. Rose has looked short of match fitness since arriving, while Macklin hasn't done much at all to convince me that he's worth a place in the side. He came on today, but was barely noticeable. It's like being left with three blue boxes on Deal Or No Deal. I guess this highlights the lack of quality in depth in our squad.

In attack, on his Chris Todd, Benyon didn't get any change from Chesterfield's centre-backs. He was completely dominated. There are games when he probably even surprises himself at the amount of 50-50s he wins, but today, it was more like 99-1 in Chesterfield's favour. However, when you pump aimless high balls towards him, what do you expect? Gritton came on and made a difference. We looked much better in a 4-4-2 with Gritts winning a few flicks and taking some pressure off Benyon's shoulders. It wasn't enough, but I was pleased with his contribution. One inventive pass into the box was begging to be tucked home by Wroe, but an unaware Benyon took it away from the onrushing midfielder. The problem with Gritts is he has never been a natural goalscorer. We're struggling to replace Rendell, but then unless we beat Carlisle and get handed a trip to Old Trafford, we're not going to get a Rendell down here on a permanent contract. That's life I guess.

Perhaps the biggest plus of the afternoon was Lathrope who impressed after replacing Oaster. He was always available, passed very tidily and looks a neat player who also likes to tackle. His biggest weakness is his lack of height. Now I've been told before that size doesn't matter, but fielding the likes of Lathrope, O'Kane, Stevens and Benyon in the same team is going to pose problems. No matter they do with their shortcomings.

Two years on the trot we've come away from this fixture without any points, or even goals. But we didn't fold against one of the strongest sides in the division despite not quite being at the races. We're two players away from being a promotion-challenging side. Ironically, the two players we need are Rendell and Carayol.

That is the biggest disappointment since, erm, last year when we shafted for the umpteenth time by the fricking FA Cup.

We've punched above our weight in this competition for years but are constantly screwed by the damn third-round draw. So much promise, build-up and excitement and we're 'rewarded' with a home tie against bloody Carlisle. The only thing worst than being drawn at home to Carlisle is away to Carlisle. Carlisle! Bloody Carlisle! There goes out TV money. There goes our bumper attendance. We'll struggle to break the 2,000 barrier. Who the hell wants to travel 900 miles to visit Plainmoor in the middle of the winter? I wouldn't blame someone if they didn't want to to travel from Springfield Road.

I was like a kid at Christmas today and this is a bigger let-down than when I was given a Brut deodorant set at 16 after I'd asked Santa for a widescreen telly. I paced up and down like an expecting father as Noel 'I'm not as talented as my brother' Gallagher and some tramp who was born in Newton Abbot but supports Leicester drew out the balls. And the worst thing was that we were left until the very end, giving us false hope that we were about to land a plum tie against Man Utd or Liverpool. Then the predictable happened and we get stuck with one of the most unattractive teams in the pot.

"What a tie," Noel beams after picking out Liverpool to face Man Utd. No it's not you bum. It's the same crap that the FA Cup dishes out most years. ITV's big-wigs will be rubbing their hands together. As for Dirty Leeds. Not content with being drawn at Old Trafford and White Hart Lane last season, now they get to enjoy at day out at the Emirates. Dirty, filthy Leeds. I live in Leeds. And I hate Leeds.

I hate the FA Cup. Magic? What magic? I have more magic in my little finger than the FA Cup. Ask Dover if they think Huddersfield away is magic. You can argue that we've been handed a winnable tie. But even if we reach the fourth round we'll be given another damp home draw against someone like Coventry. Oh hang on a second...

I actually think Buckle has some semi-decent ideas in that article, but it's not his job to think about what song the cheerleaders should be dancing to at half-time. He has enough on his plate without needing to worry about ideas to boost attendances, although I do applaud him for actually trying to help the club in areas that most managers avoid.

But the goal music is a huge own-goal. Simon Baker is against the idea, so I'm not quite sure why Buckle is calling the shots. I imagine that Bucks wasn't the one who was forced to read through the tons of complaints that filtered through to the club afte the Barnet game. As already hinted on this thread, there will be a section of supporters who will jeer the music when we next score a goal. So instead of getting behind the players, which presumably is what Buckle wants, some fans will be wasting their energy protesting against tin-pot music that Buckle has forced upon us.

Baker needs to pull rank on this one. My guess is that it will be gone again by Christmas.

We can't afford to cut our nose off to spite our face on this one. Simon Baker is obviously angry as this time last week he said Zebs was pleading not guilty. But there is absolutely no way we will release him from his contract. He is (or was*) one of our most saleable assets, cost us £25,000 and has been our best player this season. All we can do his slap his wrists, fine him a couple of weeks wages and warn him that he will be sacked should he cross the line again. I'm not condoning Zebroski's actions. To punch and then kick/knee someone when they're on the ground is a cowardly act. But he's been punished by the courts and now we must move on.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, I can't see Buckle not picking Zebs. If anything his head should be cleared with the weight of not knowing his punishment lifted off his shoulders. This whole saga hasn't affected his performances to date, so I don't see why he shouldn't play. Financially, it's out most important game of the season. Lining up against Walsall without Benyon and Zebs would seriously hampen our chances of a potential money-spinning tie against one of the big boys.

My biggest concern is the 150 hours of community service. Will this mean him missing training/matches or are they flexible with the times he will have to work?

* And as selfish, inconsiderate and mistimed as this may be, one positive is that this news will probably warn off any potential suitors who have been tracking Zebroski's excellent form this season.

yellow wrote:Doesn t seem very forward looking to release a decent player who is cover for injuries, suspensions and loss of form for the centre back pairing.

Even Chelski with all their millions are finding that the loss of key defenders and inadequate replacements can be costly...

Problem is, Yellow, Charnock wants first-team football which we can't offer him right now. He's been fairly patient, but the Branston-Ellis partnership looks as strong as ever. Considering we have to cut our player budget, letting Charnock leave is probably and regretfully the right move. I would imagine he's on a decent contract considering we managed to persuade him down here from Posh.

Plus, we do have cover in Robertson, Rowe-Turner and Oastler. And we could always dip into the loan market should Buckle be unsatisfied with those options. Best of luck to him. He never threw his toys out unlike others in the past who have been glued to the bench.

Not quite sure on the timing of this 'really good, highly recommended' thread (talk about Sonya Jackson's trumpet). We're sitting pretty in the play-offs, have a decent playing squad for this level and are enjoying our most successful season for some time. There is no suggestion Thea Bristow is about to pull out, and we've shown that we won't accept peanuts for our star players. Is now the time to be questioning our board?

I'm not quite sure what some people expect. Without the Bristow's money we wouldn't be in the Football League, but the whole board deserve great credit for the progress we have made together, both on and off the pitch. We are for more professional now than we ever were under MB. Mistakes have been made, but that was always likely to happen given their inexperience. It's always going to be a struggle due to the size of our club and there will be plenty of downs along the way. But I'm happy with the direction of the club and the job that the board are doing.

That said, if we could just draw Man Utd away in the FA Cup 3rd round...

No Branston in your top five, Jeff? I personally thought he was our best performer.

Branston
Nicholson
Ellis
Zebroski
Oastler