Non League Strikers

[portugull]

I am convinced that if we look hard enough there are some real diamonds in non league. Charlie Austin is a great example. He scored 146 goals in 159 games between 2004 and 2009. Hescored 48 goals in 43 games for Poole Town in 2008/09.
Why did we never show any interest?
If Martin Ling checks every semi professional league in the country he will find prolific scorers.
I know the doubters will say its a different story at Football League level but Charlie is now at Burnley in the Championship.
How many players can WE find who scored 40 or more last season excluding Ross Hannah!!

[AustrianAndyGull]

I said this mate a few months ago and got shot down in flames. I totally agree with you 100%. There are millions of players at non league level who have ability and might be worth a punt. They can't be any worse than Stevens and he has got a contract! Devon and Cornwall is a huge catchment area and we would have the edge over some other clubs. If attracting players from other parts of the country is problematic then take a chance with some on your doorstep. I know they don't have league experience but neither did Austin. Somebody even posted that the leading scorer for Truro City ( don't know his name ) would be better of staying at Truro than go to a league2 club like Torquay!! I know we need experience but if you don't take gambles in lfe you don't find things out.

[happytorq]

The problem is, for every Charlie Austin, there are 10 non-league strikers who don't step up. I don't think we're in a position to be able to afford to take a punt on somebody who turns out not to be good enough.

[Southampton Gull]

The problem is, for every Charlie Austin, there are 10 non-league strikers who don't step up. I don't think we're in a position to be able to afford to take a punt on somebody who turns out not to be good enough.

I disagree, Chris. We're in exactly the position where that kind of thing has to be tried.

[AustrianAndyGull]

We have a manager who is a professional and has been in the game a long time. Even scouting for scottish clubs. If he truly has the ability to spot talent in his locker then he shouldn't need to offer every tom, dick and harry a contract. He could trial a load and see something in an individual that warrants a gamble.

[happytorq]

I disagree, Chris. We're in exactly the position where that kind of thing has to be tried.

Hmm. Think we'll have to agree to disagree, then (But I'm right )

If the fiscal situation is as bad as it seems, I don't know if bringing in a non-league striker or two is the way to go, especially given that it is scoring goals that would appear to be our main deficiency in the current squad. I mean, I'm sure it'd be a pretty easy thing to do to invite 4 or 5 'potentials' down to training with us, then offer a contract to the best 1 or 2, but even if you assume they'd be fairly cheap (which isn't necessarily a good idea - we saw with Hannah that it'd take a few quid to get him to turn pro) that's still money out of the budget that could be used to secure the services of a proven striker. It'd make more sense to me to take a flier on a player in a position that we already have cover for.

All that being said, it'd be much more exciting to a couple of entirely new faces potentially light up the division (and then get sold for huge profit later on) than seeing a face we've seen against us in the past few seasons, aware that this is probably the top level they'll ever reach.

so...I'm not really sure what I'm saying

[Southampton Gull]

You may think you're right but what would a Yank know about football anyway?

When I played for Eastleigh I came across a lot of good players, players that were plucked out of non-league and went on to have good careers. I had 4 stuck past me by a player who was obviously too good for that level, later went on to sign for Oxford and ended up playing for a host of League Clubs. There were plenty about like him who never got the opportunity but could just as easily have succeeded if given a chance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Moody_(footballer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;-)

[royalgull]

It's definitely an area we should look at. It's not Football Manager though and just because Torquay are a league club doesn't mean they can pick and choose who they want. Lots of lads in non league like playing football as a second job and aren't willing to commit full time. Especially for a club where they could end up earning less money than they'll be on now doing 2 jobs coupled with the fact they may well have to move to Devon etc.

There is talent out there, the examples are endless and there would be some interested naturally.

[usagullmichigan]

SG thats harsh :~D I have said a million times before thats if we are not in a position to pay the BUCKS (see what I did there) then we need to trawl th non leagues for a gem or two. They are there they just need to be found. Chris Smalling is another example of a fine find. We need to find a player like Smalling so we can sell him for 10k and a packet of chewits.

[Glostergull]

I disagree, Chris. We're in exactly the position where that kind of thing has to be tried.

Granted there may be 9 duffers for every true gem but show me a player in the basement who when approached by a league club, even a lowly one like ours who would not bite the hand off to get two or three games to show what they can do.
Bristol Rovers did that some years ago with a non league player Called Mark johns. I remember him playing at Twerton Axteca. and he scored a brilliant goal. only played 2 games and then decided he didn't want to play proffesional football after all. But he had a go.
We must have had a few like him. I can't name one right now but I bet some of you could. Many didn't make it but some may have.
There are hundreds out there who would love to have a go. and many of them would want to be proffessional if they could see they had it in them. it wouldn't cots us much at all. If they were no good then let them go back to whence they came. No harm done and thanks for the effort.
we can only try!

[portugull]

Here is a good example. Mike Norton of FC United of Manchester scored 32 goals from 52 starts last season. Evo stik League. Might fancy League football. Devon is a lot nicer than Manchester!

[yellowforever]

One who I would like us to sign is Craig Hammond. Very prolific striker, strong, decent in the air. He had a trial at QPR earlier in the season but obviously he's not quite that good, but I think he'd be more than worth a punt at league 2.

He plays for Cambridge City, so I imagine Ling may have heard of him.

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Sport/C ... 052011.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[portugull]

Just the sort of striker I had in mind. However just signed a new deal at Cmbridge City .

[Regiment]

i think it's worth a punt. at the very least, we should be scouting these clubs on a regular basis. DJ Campbell is another example. Played for my old club Yeading (pre Hayes & Yeading Utd), got his break on TV when they played in the FA Cup (tie played at Loftus Road against Newcastle), and is now a reasonably established Premiership player.

in the modern day and age, it's not hard to track the progress of these players. i think when you look at the success of the BSP clubs coming up, the days of teams dropping straight back down, seem long gone. the players are moving up, and coping. At the end of the day, look at the established league clubs that have dropped down - are stockport & lincoln players more worthy signings because they've Div2 experience, or do you look to sign players on the up, playing well, regardless of current club ?? Another reason i think the criticism from some of Chris McPhee is out of order. i'm convinced he's going to prove a good signing for us.

[yellowforever]

Just the sort of striker I had in mind. However just signed a new deal at Cmbridge City .

True, though I don't think he'd cost that much regardless of having a 1 year deal?