Don't panic

[exilegull]

While the last few weeks have been disappointing with the loss of several key players and replacements signings have been solid but not spectacular I don't think there is any reason to panic.

We still seem to have a solid defensive unit (even if Robbo does go) and have signed and excellent keeper. With Mansell, Lathrope, Oastler and O'Kane we have the basis for a midfield unit that can compete at this level. Kee certainly has enough to be a first choice striker and Mcphee is returning to us as a more established and versatile player - 17 goals from a deep lying role is pretty decent even if it was a division below. Who knows even Macklin might surprise us with a run of games.

We also now have some free budget and seemingly a small amount of cash that could be used to bring in a quality additional.

However if we look back to last season we had Stanley, Robinson, Tomlin and Oastler who all made substantial contributions and arrived through the season via the loan market. Pringle and Gilligan also looked decent players in their short spells at the club.

The loan market doesn't really get moving until the start of the season when teams have more or less completed their squads and have young players and contracted players who have become surplus to requirements. 2 or 3 good loan signings in the right positions and added to the reasonable base we already have and all of sudden we could end up with a pretty decent team again.

So I'm certainly not panicking at the moment

[AustrianAndyGull]

Agree exilegull. I panicked before Ling was appointed, probably because we were rudderless and haemhorraging players but we've brought in some good promising signings in Olejnik and Saah and with a few more forward additions i feel stabilising the club once again after all the disruption of the summer is not too far off. If Robbo went then i would be concerned but i'm not even bothered about zebs or bevan going. Our defence looks solid, we have a decent midfield, could do with a bit more beef though and really its just up top we lack quality. Kee is superb on his day but he looks unfit and will struggle to complete many games so we need alternatives AND NOT DANNY STEVENS!! Offering Stevens a contract is the biggest mistake since the government building the millennium dome and i stand by that 100%. He is truly awful. It appears Lings only mistake thus far. I am not confident about McPhee being a success but am prepared to support him and hope he proves us wrong. Stevens i just can't support as he is stealing a living. I am really confident about the new season and also confident that Bristol Rovers will not get a play off spot and Bucks will be sacked. I am prepared to put money on that too and will do so. Rotherham to win the league for me.

[northharrowgull]

Agree wholeheartedly with the thrust of your post Exilegull but feel you are wrong about Danny Stevens. Despite his diminutive stature he clearly has considerable skill and can be very effective as a winger, cutting in, and has scored some tremendous goals.I thought he complemented Nicky Wroe really well and could still be a real asset in midfield. The Board obviously feel the same otherwise we would not have offered a 2 year deal. I thought Martin Ling's take on the subject was spot on.Basically, now is the time to stand up and be counted. So come on danny boy ,lets see what you are made of.

[northharrowgull]

Sorry exilegull, it wasnt you it, was Andygullagain i was replying to

[TCP]

Having just spent the last 2 years having to endure clueless Ling's 'management style', I'd certainly be very concerned if I was a TUFC supporter at the moment.

He's a nice chap, and an ok talker, but more importantly he's a thoroughly incompetent manager.

Good luck this season, as I suspect you may very well need it with him in charge.

Saah is a class act though, and will prove to be an excellent signing.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Cheers TCP. I'm guessing you are a regular at the Abbey? Thanks for your concern but i feel we had the core of a sound team before Ling took over and even now after players have left. With the addition of Saah and Olejnik, both impressive signings, i hope he doesn't look upon the squad as i do - defensively well equipped, offensively poor and start every game by trying not to concede rather than try and score ( ala Hodgson at Liverpool). If he does that we are in trouble.

[tufcbrett]

Having just spent the last 2 years having to endure clueless Ling's 'management style', I'd certainly be very concerned if I was a TUFC supporter at the moment.

He's a nice chap, and an ok talker, but more importantly he's a thoroughly incompetent manager.

Good luck this season, as I suspect you may very well need it with him in charge.

Saah is a class act though, and will prove to be an excellent signing.

The cambridge job would have been hard for anyone to take over. The guys had two jobs one real decent one and one bad one. To take over any team in the BSP in money trouble with the expectation and size of cambridge would be hard for any manager. Im honestly still suprised we got out as quick as we did, thats one thing i will always thank Buckle for.

[Richinns]

The thing I am most worried about is the fact everything on the transfer front has gone completely quiet (apart from departures/possible departures that is!).

The lead stories for the Herald is about the groundsman doing a triathlon and the lead story from the OS is about how pleased Ling is about getting out the office and off the phone for training. I realise this is important and he needs to gel with the squad but it hardly fill you with confidence when you desperately need 2 quality additions up top as well as a decent winger and a 2nd keeper!

[TCP]

The cambridge job would have been hard for anyone to take over. The guys had two jobs one real decent one and one bad one. To take over any team in the BSP in money trouble with the expectation and size of cambridge would be hard for any manager. Im honestly still suprised we got out as quick as we did, thats one thing i will always thank Buckle for.

Nope, Ling was fully backed by the board last season, and had a healthy top 8 budget.

He was given all the tools to succeed, and failed miserably. He seems to have a habit of blaming everyone else and not taking any responsibility for his own failures, but you'll find this out for yourself soon enough.

[Dave]

I do appreciate what your saying TCP, however why did Ling walk out on your club after i think 10 days when he first arrived? Closely followed by George Rolls.

Did it not go something like,player budget argeed Ling takes job,player budget reduced straight away by £100k,then by a further £50k.

Ling walks out,closely followed by Rolls,board persuade Ling to return, Rolls votes himself back in as Chairman,Ling and Rolls never get on.

[TCP]

Nope, Rolls left the club inbetween Ling resigning and returning. It was Paul Barry who actually reappointed Ling after the original Rolls/Ling debacle.

The annoying thing is that we could've had Liam Daish over Ling, had it not been for Rolls' monumental f*ck up in offering the job to him in the first place.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Dave]

Back to the thread,i agree,it is not time yet to panic,although i admit to being concerned right now,yes they were mainly loan players,however to lose the quailty of Stanley,Tomlin,Robinson and Zebroski leaves huge hole up front and through midfield.

Our back four if anything is looking stronger than last season,our midfield looks competative there is enogh in there for league 2, then you look upfront and thats where the finger nails start to go,and this where all eye's are on Ling,he does not have a massive player budget as we know,however if he can find the right combination up front then i can see us being ok next season.

I am more worried about Stevens abilty to cut it in this league then Macklin,i think Macklin is a confidence player,he is the type that needs a run of games,i have allways thought this lad has something,however under Buckle he was never going to have the chance to shine, i would not dismiss Macklin as rubbish just yet,this lad deserves a chance.

[Dave]

Nope, Rolls left the club inbetween Ling resigning and returning. It was Paul Barry who actually reappointed Ling after the original Rolls/Ling debacle.

The annoying thing is that we could've had Liam Daish over Ling, had it not been for Rolls' monumental f*ck up in offering the job to him in the first place.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Fair enough ,but i am right about Ling being screwed over with the player budget's am i not? All we can do as TUFC fans is wait and see which Ling turns up,the Orient one,or the Cambridge one.

Hopefully the first of those two.

[Richinns]

After my initial reaction (it was not a positive one!) to Ling's appointment, I think it is important to give him a chance. He is the manager and comes to the club when times are tough for us. It can go one of two ways, he will secure the club and stabilise us as a league side or we could drop into relegation trouble. We need to give him the support to help avoid the latter. Lets not judge him before a ball is kicked and his side is assembled (I am worried this seems to be taking more time than would be ideal however).

[tufcbrett]

The thing I am most worried about is the fact everything on the transfer front has gone completely quiet (apart from departures/possible departures that is!).

The lead stories for the Herald is about the groundsman doing a triathlon and the lead story from the OS is about how pleased Ling is about getting out the office and off the phone for training. I realise this is important and he needs to gel with the squad but it hardly fill you with confidence when you desperately need 2 quality additions up top as well as a decent winger and a 2nd keeper!

There are things in the pipe line (fingers in pies ) I expect something to be sorted next week. Thats all i can say, regarding who is in the pipe i dont know. All i know is something should be sorted. Maybe Teeboo can clear that bit up?