Chris Hargreaves, Has he got what it takes in the Conference

Tamargull · Post by **Tamargull** » 03 May 2014, 18:09

Hargreaves certainly made it clear what he thought about the players today in the post match radio interview. However, given the limited budget and a board which is inept and appears to lack ambition, he is not the man to get us back into the football league. Sorry, but I feel we will be in the conference for a very, very long time.

portugull · Post by **portugull** » 03 May 2014, 19:04

Chris Hargreaves was on his feet just in front of me throughout the match.

He was absolutely right to tell the honest truth on BBC Radio Devon. This bunch of players are really poor. I have run out of excuses for them.

The only players that gave any sort of performance today were Cameron,Lathrope and Cargill.

The remaining outfield players were shocking. Wycombe were so much better and it hurts me to say so but it is true.

CH has a truly massive task on his hands.

Ignoring contracts the only players worthy of playing for TUFC next season ( excluding loan players as well) are Rice,Lathrope,Pearce, Cameron and Chapell. The rest simply are not good enough.

I do not feel at all confident about next season. I do believe in CH because I see him as a winner but he has a real job on his hands.

It is so difficult when 10 or 12 players are under contract until 2015 and in his heart he knows all but 3 are not good enough. Good luck Chris because you are going to need it!!

Dave_Pougher · Post by **Dave_Pougher** » 03 May 2014, 19:07

You know what I could take a mediocre season next year if I could see building blocks in place, youth and confidence.

hector · Post by **hector** » 03 May 2014, 19:13

I was pleased with the comments that Hargreaves came out with. He didn't mince his words and the intimation that he only wants to keep 3 players is good news. Rice, Cameron, Pearce?

Rumours abound that Pearce is to be sold, Tonge is going to Hartlepool and that an unexpected retainee will be Nathan Craig.

Other than Pearce, there is nobody that I would be too upset to see go. So in terms of Hargreaves, does he have the links - other than Bournemouth - to recruit players. He needs a chance. I agree that he inherited a shambles, and I hope his recruitment is starting now and not waiting for July trials. By October, I guess we will have some idea if Ch is going to be a success or a disaster.

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 03 May 2014, 19:33

I believe CH will eventually put things in order and get the club back up, but it may take a couple of seasons. Even St. Paul Buckle couldn't get us promoted in his first season.. :~D

Sesimbra · Post by **Sesimbra** » 03 May 2014, 20:02

When Hargreaves was appointed I stated on another thread that I thought it was a big gamble due to (a) No managerial tactical experience (b) Too close to players (c) Doubtful if he has sufficient contacts.
At the end of the season I have no reason to question or alter my comments.

brucie · Post by **brucie** » 03 May 2014, 20:34

I cannot see for the life of me that he will retain Craig - he lasted the first half against Exeter and that was it.
If Tonge moves then that will be a good move for him and us.

Post by **Dave** » 03 May 2014, 20:38

Haven't voted, as not sure. What I do know, is after watching todays game CH has a truly massive job in his hands and may have to pretty much can off the entire squad, you could see it clearly today, there quite a few either not good enough or just don't want to be here any more, sadly some still under contract.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 03 May 2014, 20:43

Pretty shocking today, at least CH said it as I saw it: a disgraceful performance. Yes only three players performed this afternoon: Cameron, Cargill and Rice.
Having spoken with Cargill's dad after the game he hopes his son won't be back here.
Nico told us he has a meeting with the manager on Bank Holiday Monday and he doesn't expect to be here next season.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 03 May 2014, 21:00

I believe CH knows what it takes to get out of the Conference but he would be helped if there was a football man on the Board who has been there and done it - a mentor of some kind.
Next week's retained list will be very telling leading to a revamped squad for next season.

CP Gull · Post by **CP Gull** » 03 May 2014, 21:06

The ONLY positive to take from today's woeful performance, in my opinion, was the post match interview that Chris Hargreaves gave on Radio Devon. For once, understandably perhaps, he sounded like a REAL fan, he genuinely told it like it was and sounded as hurt as the rest of us.

I truly hope that he follows through with his comments with actions. Today, if nothing else, proved that we have a group of players who are simply not up to the task. We need to make wholesale changes to the squad and his comment that very often since he took over there have only been three or so players that he has been happy with during games speaks volumes.

I have a feeling that one or two who might have been offered a new deal before today's game may have blown it ... daft though that may seem. Most at risk, to my mind, would be the likes of Yeoman who was totally ineffectual today and Craig who likewise offered nothing when he came on.

As for the Board, I think they need to take a long hard look at themselves after the disastrous season we have had. Much as I respect many of them and will always be thankful for them stepping in at our lowest ebb and in our hour of need, I just think that there are too many of them now and I do wonder what impact that makes on the decision making process. Quite simply, it is surely not unlike any walk of life in that the idea that you can get 10 or more (quite literally I have lost count of the numbers involved) people to agree on anything in life is extremely difficult and I just feel that that is where we are at right now.

Not only that, but with the best will in the world and being totally honest, I feel like our football club is being run more along the lines of a golf club at the moment ... we need to change that ethos otherwise it will be a long, long time before we return to the Football League ... if ever.

As for Chris Hargreaves, he continues to talk a lot of sense in his media dealings and I for one am prepared to give him the chance to build HIS squad for next season. Quite simply it is not fair to judge him on what is basically the squad that he inherited. That said, I await with interest, to see what his retained list will be in this coming week and as far as I am concerned the deeper he cuts in terms of the current squad, then the more impressed I will be. His words in the RD interview gave me some encouragement ... but only following that through with actions will give me real hope for a brighter future.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 03 May 2014, 21:14

CP Gull wrote:The ONLY positive to take from today's woeful performance, in my opinion, was the post match interview that Chris Hargreaves gave on Radio Devon. For once, understandably perhaps, he sounded like a REAL fan, he genuinely told it like it was and sounded as hurt as the rest of us.

I truly hope that he follows through with his comments with actions. Today, if nothing else, proved that we have a group of players who are simply not up to the task. We need to make wholesale changes to the squad and his comment that very often since he took over there have only been three or so players that he has been happy with during games speaks volumes.

I have a feeling that one or two who might have been offered a new deal before today's game may have blown it ... daft though that may seem. Most at risk, to my mind, would be the likes of Yeoman who was totally ineffectual today and Craig who likewise offered nothing when he came on.

As for the Board, I think they need to take a long hard look at themselves after the disastrous season we have had. Much as I respect many of them and will always be thankful for them stepping in at our lowest ebb and in our hour of need, I just think that there are too many of them now and I do wonder what impact that makes on the decision making process. Quite simply, it is surely not unlike any walk of life in that the idea that you can get 10 or more (quite literally I have lost count of the numbers involved) people to agree on anything in life is extremely difficult and I just feel that that is where we are at right now.

Not only that, but with the best will in the world and being totally honest, I feel like our football club is being run more along the lines of a golf club at the moment ... we need to change that ethos otherwise it will be a long, long time before we return to the Football League ... if ever.

As for Chris Hargreaves, he continues to talk a lot of sense in his media dealings and I for one am prepared to give him the chance to build HIS squad for next season. Quite simply it is not fair to judge him on what is basically the squad that he inherited. That said, I await with interest, to see what his retained list will be in this coming week and as far as I am concerned the deeper he cuts in terms of the current squad, then the more impressed I will be. His words in the RD interview gave me some encouragement ... but only following that through with actions will give me real hope for a brighter future.

Spot on CP and as usual a thoroughly more intelligent and succinct way of getting your point across than myself could ever hope to do.

This is the kind of thing I was trying to get across on the other thread about who does what on the board. Ok so I made my point childishly but CP hits the nail on the head. It feels to me like they would have jolly boys outings and golfing holidays and all that sort of spin off from being board members.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 03 May 2014, 21:18

Agreed Chris only a cull of the current squad will give us fans the hope that next season will be different. Given the right budget I believe CH is the right man to bring back better times.
Having been at Bristol Rovers, Exeter and Mansfield I cannot believe I was watching the same team (less Coulthirst) today.
Next season could be great as long as we can return to fortress Plainmoor.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 03 May 2014, 21:27

Coulthirst made all the difference at Mansfield and his energy and tireless running rubbed off on the other players I felt. I think when Bodin plays the others know he's going to do **** all and probably lose possession and so it has a negative effect but with Coulthirst each time he got the ball he looked to do something with it and never gave up. Most of the time he was consistently productive. Once you have a player like that then the rest of the team play better. Like Spurs under Bale. They looked for him every time to receive the ball as they knew he was going to drive forward and invariably do something with the ball.

If we signed Shaq a few months back we'd be a football league club. No doubt in my mind. Never mind, we still have designs on re-signing Bodin.

As for today, I just think the players threw the towel in. It was a dead rubber, they are thick skinned and can put in another 90 minute shocker, grit their teeth and when it's game over they can forget about football and go and pick up their 'earnings'.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 03 May 2014, 21:34

The big positive about Coulthirst is that he made the opposition defend so their defence had to play deep thus allowing us to attack. Without him (or someone like him) we were impotent.

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