Torquay United Fans Forum

Admiral wrote: ↑10 Mar 2023, 10:57 Look at the bloke’s history of asset stripping ffs, it was always going to end in tears. He backed us when we almost went up, he could have probably then sold the club on for a profit and made it ‘sustainable’ if we had got promoted. Now it’s probably plan B… A little bit of communication would be appreciated!

There is certainly a lot of assets being stripped but on this occasion they are going from Clarke Osborne to Torquay United.

If you think Torquay United with its current balance sheet could be sold for anything above zero, even if it gets into league two you are in cloud cuckoo land.

I'm not sure it makes much difference to the current season whether he stays or goes now, I don't believe anyone can dig this squad out of relegation. However someone new needs to be in now to start rebuilding the team next season.

The recruitment last season was wrong - you simply cannot build a team to compete at this level amongst cast offs from league clubs in their early 20s. You might get lucky with max one in six to ten and those players need to be alongside experienced players. Last season didn't work but there was still enough experience around to carry the team to midtable. This season was just a huge gamble to try and do it with 75% of the squad and its shown to be a shambles. It needed a mix of youth and experience, even if that experience was just middle of the road National League experience, enough to stay out of trouble and allow the chance for one or two of the young players to find their feet and show they have actual potential other than just nice technical ability from academy coaching.

Southampton Gull wrote: ↑24 Jun 2022, 12:03 Nonsense! His name is Gary, Johnson is his family name so why would using his given name be insulting?

Thats just dangerous talk, Gull

Wouldn't have thought it so unlikely - he clearly enjoyed his time and Johnson can point to players like CLE, Little and Lewis who have moved to Torquay, got regular football and now jumped back to play in the league. He needs game time at this point in his career and we would like offer a good option.

I'm NOT trying to get into this Halstead bashing..

rivieratouch wrote: ↑02 Jun 2022, 20:02 He was a,20 y/o kid keeper ffs. Can't think of many that age starting in the Prem, especially keepers.
Try a bit harder and hound him out, or back him if selected.

I'm trying to get into this Halstead bashing, if he becomes first choice he deserves backing. However, I don't putting any stock whatsoever in him playing a few minutes in a premier league game as a young kid. There are lots of young keepers who show promise and make higher level appearances that ultimately never cut it - look at Matt Gregg and Dan Lavercombe.

My main question with CLE playing at a higher level is where he would play. He really has played with us as a classic number 10 with a very free role behind Wright who was a focal point. Both him and Wright have been good enough at this level for Johnson to build the style around those two. Are there many clubs in league 2 playing that style and is he good enough at that level for a system to be built around that. Otherwise he's not an out and out striker and not a classic central midfielder.

He definitely has talent and a great work ethic and I wish him well.

Holman was known to Gary Johnson so can't really be laid at Pete Johnson's door, Lolos was a pretty well known prospect in the South West and there was quite some surprise he was released by Plymouth and I think most here were delighted to sign him and I'd say Halstead was a fairly known quantity having made a decent number of league appearances and supposed to be the prime for a keeper.

More sorry to see Whitfield go as Nemane - Whitfield had much more end product. I did like Nemane's work rate and he did show good improvement, but I think he's far from the finished article.

desperado wrote: ↑07 Jul 2021, 07:42 Probably very likely Nemane will go too as he's obviously looking for a new club
They did well for us first half of the season but Gary will replace and adapt. We went 15 games undefeated at the end without them after all . Think Adam Randell is the biggest loss, we will do well to get a loanee of his calibre this season.

Totally agree, Randell was superb, one of the best loan signings the club has ever made. I think Plymouth have a real talent there.

Shame, he really was one of the key players in the superb first part of the season. Always offered really good width and tied up two opposition players in most matches.

Think this will be a bigger miss than a couple of the comments here suggest especially with him going to a key rival.

I think the away kit is designed so if there is a floodlight failure the players can carry on in the dark with no problems.

culmstockgull wrote: ↑23 Jun 2021, 15:41 Waters,Umerah, Nelson, Buse,Warren plus two first year pros released

Shame about Buse - not that I think its the wrong decision, but last season he had decent spell in the team and looked to be developing well. Unfortunately he never reestablished himself after picking up and never really got into it this season.

smw1989 wrote: ↑21 Jun 2021, 21:07 I’m of the understanding that part of his company or one of his companies has a business venture worth £100 million deal to do with broadband or something along those lines… so am I correct in thinking that he can write off tax against a company that is loosing money so he doesn’t have to pay as much tax in his profitable business?

I doubt it is part of the same corporate structure so unlikely to be possible, but even if it is, its not particularly smart parting with £3-4million in order to save 20% of that in taxes. If allowable losses are created through non-cash accounting losses that can work, but this is hard cash that Osborne is burning through.

Right lads - how do we make Gary time even more exciting??

Covolan "Hold my beer"