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Any word on CH's mystery trialists yet?

Had a look at Joma (never heard of them before), seems they make quite smart kits, they're the main kit supplier for Fiorentina (Serie A) and Valencia (La Liga) and both of those teams kits are quite tidy.

goodluckgull wrote:and for some completely useless information.....

Karl Hawley has shaved off his beard, Ben Harding has shaved off the hair on his head and Greavsie has a lot more grey hair.

Without the beard, I'm not sure what Hawley will contribute to the team.

Didn't even notice Harding, that was obviously why. I had my glasses on and everything.

gullintwoplaces wrote: Glad to hear about Hawley. I found his beard very scary indeed. Don't want to be scared at a footie match.

The trouble is that Hargreaves picked it up and is wearing it.

Did Tom Cruise take part in the training? He was supposed to be back for a "prove your fitness period"?

He did.

Matt.

I believe Karl Baker the striker who we had at the club a few years back has been invited back for a trial. Hargreaves quite liked him when he was last here. He has been scoring hat fulls of goals further down the football pyramid over the last few seasons.

Scoring goals in the south Devon league isn't the same. Good player at that level but not at Torquay's.

Joma have been around for a while although I wasn't aware they did major shirt sponsors.

I always liked Baker. A trial can't hurt and nor could having him as an option. A front line of Bowman, Cureton, Benyon, Hawley, Yeoman and Sullivan is marvellous (well, if you like that sort of thing and not that our front line will look anything like that), but there's one key element missing... Pace.

I think it's right to say that Baker would outpace every single player on that list. It's all well and good having flying wingers skinning fullbacks, but that pace is wasted if every cross is floated straight into an empty penalty area. Against a tiring, Conference level defence, bringing on Thompson and Baker could well win us a penalty or even score us a goal.

No, he's probably not the next Charlie Austin, nor is he likely to get into double figures, but as a cheap option for a dozen sub appearances a season, there are worse players available for more money.
People have been begging us to look further down the leagues for a rough diamond. All the kid Cavan do is score goals. The diamonds-in-hiding aren't the ones getting 6 goals/season, they're the ones getting 30 or 40 goals a season. You can only beat what's put in front of you. If he plays v Totnes and gets 6 goals, then we move him on to play against whoever we play next until we find the opposition against whom he looks completely lost. If that's Salisbury or whoever, then he's out the door. If it's Plymouth, then he's worth a shot.

If true, I think this is lovely news. Happy days.

Matt.

Trailists confirmed by Herald Express as Angus McDonald,Duane O'Achie(striker) and Toby Ajala(winger).

Behind-the-Gulls wrote:Trailists confirmed by Herald Express as Angus McDonald,Duane O'Achie(striker) and Toby Ajala(winger).

Karl Baker would make 4, does the herald confirm 6 trialists? Just 2 to find out!

Yes-they say these are amongst 6 on trial. http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/A ... story.html

CH has, on more than one occasion, stated that he has three experienced midfielders joining for pre-season, so can only presume this Baker rumour is spurious or he is in addition to the six currently here.

The trialist situation is uninspiring given CH had said he was bringing in surprising, experienced players on trial. Ajala and O'achie we knew about (and aren't experienced), Baker is a novice and MacDonald is known to us and hardly experienced either. As Kit_robin says, hopefully Baker is an extra otherwise its disappointing

Perhaps some of those that were invited for Pre Season have found deals elsewhere. Always a risk if you don't nail them to a contract.