Exciting Times Ahead...

[tufcfans]

Although at the moment it may seem that Torquay is in a bit of a hole, I think the future has a lot to hold. We may have lost some key influential players to Buckle, but this only makes new opportunities for other people. In a way, in this situation I am kind of glad that we have are going to have a manager, whoever he may be. He will know players, and then bring them in. People who play well under him. Players such as Robinson, Stanley, Bevan, Potter etc. who are leaving may not be suited to the new boss. Therefore as soon as we get this manager role sorted out I believe that he can build another great squad. Also, of course there are developments with the Grandstand and things are looking good for the future in my opinion,
anyone agree?

[ferrarilover]

I agree that, provided we don't do something catastrophic (such as appoint Issy Hargreaves or Mr Bean), then the future will look somewhat more pleasant once a new manager is in place.
Given today's news regarding the financial state of the club and the fact that some 80% of the negativity on the board at present (to which I have duly contributed my share, no doubt) is based upon the loss of two loanees, an eminently replaceable goalkeeper or two and a manager none of us was overly enamoured with, allied to the perceived inevitability of the loss of a further two or three of our better players.
I guess we will all feel a deal better once the new man is in and he has nailed down Pickles, Zedders and Eunan to the club for next season.

I love silly season, new men coming in, exciting and sometimes absurd rumours aplenty, wild speculation and the never-ending pursuit of that final piece of the jigsaw to make Yours the perfect team.

We will recover from the terrific but not insurmountable loss of our manager and some elements of our squad and staff, it will take time, but it WILL happen.

Matt.

[hector]

It could be exciting or depressing depending on who is appointed. The fact that Chris Hargreaves is on the shortlist suggests that he is actually being taken seriously above at least 44 of the 'serious' candidates.

Bearing in mind that really, Hargreaves should not be anywhere near the post, just how poor were the people who did not make it onto the shortlist?

It sort of worries me about the board's judgement a little, so I cannot get excited yet. It is more like a sharp intake of breath before the wince of possible pain.

[tauntongull]

Clearly from a heart rules the head perspective, I think most Torquay fans have had a knee jerk reaction to the prospect of Chris Hargreaves getting the job and the fairytale success that may follow. I too when I heard went a little dizzy at the thought (my wife too incidentally but for other reasons!).

However, the reality is at the moment everyone is a little down and anything that is going to fuel our passion for the club (i.e. Someone who certainly seemed to love the club/playing for us) is just the tonic we 'think' we need to lift our spirits. The reality is, with only a small amount of coaching experience, manager is clearly not an option. Chris is clearly motivational and somewhat of a leader and has a great deal of experience, so having a presence like this at the club (in the dressing room) to support the younger players would clearly be a good move. I am not sure what he has achieved in terms of badges coaching wise and in terms of the actual role of coaching, there may be better candidates.

If Chris wants to enter into management (and I am not sure he does exactly!) then obviously getting some foundation experience in for example the conference would show he was serious and would improve his suitability perhaps next time around.

Personally I am coming around to the Nicky Forster option.

[tufcbrett]

Keepers

Defenders
Chris Robertson
Mark Ellis
Kevin Nicholson
Lathanial Rowe-Turner

Midfielders
Lee Mansell
Eunan O'kane
Lloyd Macklin
Saul Halpin
Damon Lathrope

Strikers
Billy Kee
Chris Zebroski

Then we got Guy Branston and Danny Stevens which we dont know what there doing?
The we got some of the young boys like Palmer, yeoman and spear?

So with a new manager to come in and a fair few players are needed, times will get better just like everyone else i hope no more is taken and makes it worse for us.

[cambgull]

There is the basis of a decent team there. If we lose Zebs and O'Kane, I might take that back though.

It's fair to say we NEED 2 keepers, a right back, 2 wingers. Anything else would be cover. I'd be fairly confident with Manse, Lathrope and O'Kane in the middle but I'd prefer a bit of back-up. I'd also like to see some back-up for the defence, you can't expect them to play every game like Bucks did. A Benyon type striker and a targetman would make the perfect versatile strikeforce.

[tufcbrett]

There is the basis of a decent team there. If we lose Zebs and O'Kane, I might take that back though.

It's fair to say we NEED 2 keepers, a right back, 2 wingers. Anything else would be cover. I'd be fairly confident with Manse, Lathrope and O'Kane in the middle but I'd prefer a bit of back-up. I'd also like to see some back-up for the defence, you can't expect them to play every game like Bucks did. A Benyon type striker and a targetman would make the perfect versatile strikeforce.

I agree with you there. If we can keep the squad as it is with or without branno (with i hope) i feel that is a good base for a new manager to work with. Add a few players like you said and i dont see no reason why we cant have a good season again.

Im going to be bold here but..

- The two keepers can be replaced easy enough. Which we could find a better one than bevan i really do.
- If Branno goes there are two decent centre backs at our club and there are good ones on a free out there.
- Stanley was good, but again theres other players out there plus i feel O'Kane is the important one in the team to keep.
- Wingers we do need, that will replace robinson and the space we had on the right.
- A striker or two to replace Tomlin, and add to kee and Zebs.

Its not as bad as i first though, but like you said cambgull, if Zebs and O'kane go there il change my mind

(My 100th post to, I feel like a england batsman in the ashes, never thought i would see the day )

[Dave]

I have always believed that Macklin has something about him as a player, I believe us fans have never seen the best of him, as we know he came to us loan of the back of a long injury, he then clearly failed to settle here under Buckle, he had a bit part but always looked short of games and confidence, he really could flourish under a new manager.

I think that s why it is even more important that the right man gets the job, looking above we do have the base of a competitive league 2 team, the right man with the right contacts should be able to make a few decent additions within budget, and have the ability to use the loan market, hopefully our team should finish higher up the league than us as a fans group currently fear.

[cambgull]

Depends how much we get for either of them I suppose. If we can get £300k for O'Kane and £100k for Zebs, I'd like to see at least £100k put into the transfer kitty. I think we could build a very good team for this league with £100k to spend in a season.

We could also utilise the 4 long term loans rule. We could effectively get 4 U23 players on loan for the entire season. Many Premiership/Championship teams are happy to pay the wages too, so potentially 4 long term loans for free!

[Trucker49]

Careful now, all this positivity will bring SG out in a rash. I got roundly shouted down for making similar suggestions and called a lap dog obeying blindly.

[cambgull]

My apologies, I take back the positivity, lets get a little more realistic on this matter.

If Zebs and O'Kane go, not only are we f*cked as a football club as there will literally be no players who could come close to replacing them, but also, the entire town would tear and break the space/time continuum and would be sucked into a black hole forever.

This is not just the death of the club here ladies and gents, but the deaths of our friends, families and homes...

Of course, I'll be okay because I live 200 odd miles away. :na:

[royalgull]

It's going to be difficult for the new man but I expect to see a flurry of transfer activity. We have 13 pro's left at the club, no keepers and 2 of those are out of contract. So he has to make 7 signings minimum really be it full time deals or loans. So that's soemthing to be excited about. It obviously hasn't started yet and we're going through the annoyance and waiting game of having no manager and seeing just what is left from the vultures picking at our squad but there will be positive news soon.

We do still have the makings of a competitive League 2 team here providing Zebroski, Mansell, Nicho and OKane are here. We've got 2 good centre halfs as well so the spine is there. I think we started to see LAthrope come of age last year i also agree with forever about MAcklin, there is a player there. he reminds me of Carayol who frustrated and annoyed for a season and a bit before flourishing. You could see he had something and I feel the same about Macklin. he needs a run of games, either for us or on loan somewhere just to get him in that habit and to learn the game more. Kee is a good young striker, he's another that showed his naievity at times and his link play is pretty crap but he can score a goal and you'd hope the rest of his game will improve with time/games.

It's all geared on who gets the gig as manager. The board either makes the ambitious big decision in Hughes or maybe Forster, the sentiment decision in Hargreaves or the cheap wrong move in Holdsworth/Russell. It's over to them.

[Southampton Gull]

Careful now, all this positivity will bring SG out in a rash. I got roundly shouted down for making similar suggestions and called a lap dog obeying blindly.

How ridiculous, you made your point of view known, I disagreed with it. Debating a point of view isn't shouting down and I didn't call you a lapdog either, at least try being honest.

[hector]

Keepers

Defenders
Chris Robertson
Mark Ellis
Kevin Nicholson
Lathanial Rowe-Turner

Midfielders
Lee Mansell
Eunan O'kane
Lloyd Macklin
Saul Halpin
Damon Lathrope

Strikers
Billy Kee
Chris Zebroski

Then we got Guy Branston and Danny Stevens which we dont know what there doing?
The we got some of the young boys like Palmer, yeoman and spear?

So with a new manager to come in and a fair few players are needed, times will get better just like everyone else i hope no more is taken and makes it worse for us.

Its funny really. I see this squad, bereft of Bevan, Branston, Stanley, Robinson and Tomlin and it seems lightweight and weak. Especially midfield. Those 5 players were essentiall to our promotion push. The squad as it stands is heading for a relegation battle - especially if the wrong manager is appointed. It is a shame we let Charnock go really.

Obviously we need 2 keepers, a right-back, a further central defender, a central midfielder plus 2 wide midfielders and one or two forwards. That is 8 players. Cannot see that happening at all. I really do not rate Rowe-Turner or Macklin and whilst I see promise in Lathrope, he is no Wroe or Stanley. Not yet. The way he was at fault for the Stevenage goal looked like someone a bit slow and easily drawn out of position.

If the new manager has any sense he will build the team around O'Kane but I would see Mansell or someone else in midfield alongside him. Not Lathrope. For me, he is still a squad player, as is Halpin and Macklin.

That defence at the moment looks like it could easily go AWOL. Branston is a must.