Current 11

[Richinns]

I must admit - I was expecting Cox to increase the average age of the squad and an experienced player for each of the four positions. Seems he has other ideas about it though! I guess experience costs and we have only chump change to play with!

[Gullscorer]

Instead of doubt and gloom and negativity when the manager has been in the job for only five weeks or so and is building his squad patiently without a budget, we should listen to what he has to say: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33633090

[PhilGull]

I guess the big thing with these players is, if they are a bit pants they can be let go without to much worry about money they have cost the club in wages but if they are any good they can be moved on for a profit to be ploughed back in to the club. I wouldn't be surprised if Cox has been told he has a minimum budget and it's up to him to increase it by developing young players and selling them on.
No matter how good a 30 year old is, unless he guarantees promotion he's only ever going to be adding red numbers to the balance sheet.

[Richinns]

Instead of doubt and gloom and negativity when the manager has been in the job for only five weeks or so and is building his squad patiently without a budget, we should listen to what he has to say: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33633090

I'm not having that. It is a reasonable discussion with a sense of realism. Nothing wrong in being honest as to where we think the club is. No irrational claims or expectations within the posts and no irrational anger is present and you jumping on it like you have some kind of better moral standing is nothing short of desperate and short sighted.

[ROADRUNNER]

they cant be any worse than, tonge, cruise, cameron,harding,benyon, these guys were overpaid and they under preformed. lets have some positivity eh chaps!

[happytorq]

I guess the big thing with these players is, if they are a bit pants they can be let go without to much worry about money they have cost the club in wages but if they are any good they can be moved on for a profit to be ploughed back in to the club. I wouldn't be surprised if Cox has been told he has a minimum budget and it's up to him to increase it by developing young players and selling them on.
No matter how good a 30 year old is, unless he guarantees promotion he's only ever going to be adding red numbers to the balance sheet.

This is basically what I wanted to say; minimal downside, potentially huge upside. Exactly the way a club in our position should be operating. We'll naturally need an experienced head or two, but loading the side with journeymen players - who we naturally know pretty everything about by now - is not going to get us anywhere.

[Kit_robin]

Current 11

It isn't very good is it? With the exception of Butler I seriously think we are weaker in every position than we were last year, read today Cox expects to make 4 signings, now I know finances are tight and we should be grateful for having a team to support but I'm hopeful those 4 come from the Butler background of having a bit even if it's just a little bit of proven quality as I presume these 4 areas are the spine of the team rather than all these even lower non league gambles. If we are lucky we'll get 1 maybe 2 of them to pay off, the majority won't. History says that to be the case and we've seen with the youngsters/lads with a point to prove or however you want to dress it up that most fall by the wayside for a reason, it worries me slightly that every signing we've made apart from 2 fall into this category.

Not sure I actually agree with this.

Full backs are both better than last year, from what I've seen. Lavercombe is better than rice almost certainly. Richards, young, macdonald and briscoe were all around last year.

I actually prefer Geohagen to Downes at the moment. Less cultured than Downes but he is a leader, and this is where Downes was seriously deficienct.

Ajala was good for us, but I was less of a fan than lots of others as I seriously questioned the amount of end product from him. However he is probably a better bet than murombedzi because he is more experienced if nothing else.

would rather have fairhurst and Marsh than Benyon and Hawley. Only place were seriously down is no Bowman replacement yet.

Two problems: we have no depth to the squad because we have no money. Also, we don't need a squad as good as last year, because we were crap last year. We need to build a team. I believe Cox has made a good start at this but it needs time.

[tommyg]

If Exodus is less cultured than Downes then we could be in trouble! Downes was brilliant with his head but less so with his feet. Aside from the odd over-the-top through ball, I always used to panic when he had possession. I actually thought he was a good leader - his deficiencies were his lack of pace and positional sense.

I do worry a bit about the spine of our team but hopefully Cox will fix that over the next week or so. We need a couple of older heads and a bit more physical presence.

[Gullscorer]

For those who haven't read that report of what the manager said, it's basically this:

Cox who took over at Plainmoor last month , says there could be more additions before the weekend.
"I'd like to think even before Saturday there might be four," he said.
Cox has so far brought in Exodus Geohaghon, Waide Fairhurst, Shepherd Murombedzi, Dan Butler, Tyrone Marsh and James Hurst.
"I've looked at the squad, I've been very patient," he added.
"I've seen where I think we need strengthening and now is the time to act so I've got a bit of time to bed people in.
"It's more or less down the spine of the side where I think we need strengthening, not just with better players, but players with a bit more about them mentally and character-wise."

[leetufc]

Current 11

It isn't very good is it? With the exception of Butler I seriously think we are weaker in every position than we were last year, read today Cox expects to make 4 signings, now I know finances are tight and we should be grateful for having a team to support but I'm hopeful those 4 come from the Butler background of having a bit even if it's just a little bit of proven quality as I presume these 4 areas are the spine of the team rather than all these even lower non league gambles. If we are lucky we'll get 1 maybe 2 of them to pay off, the majority won't. History says that to be the case and we've seen with the youngsters/lads with a point to prove or however you want to dress it up that most fall by the wayside for a reason, it worries me slightly that every signing we've made apart from 2 fall into this category.

I disagree with the idea that we are weaker in every category

Goalkeeper - Rice was widely criticised last year, and I based on his performances at the end of the season Lavercombe could be a good replacement.

Full backs - I think both have the potential to be better than anything we had last season. Possible exceptions to Berry, who was only with us a short period, and Ives, who was not fantastic when played but has obvious potential.

Centre back - We have kept hold of our best CB from last year, and got rid of a player who was starting to give away goals and one who on paper is excellent and has ability, but who was clearly disinterested.

Centre Mid - Our main two players from last season are still with us, so at worst in the same position as last year

Wing - One area we made need to strengthen. Marsh can play here and so can Briscoe, so we have a decent couple. Losing Ajala is a shame, but not fussed on Chappell or Cameron. Both showed glimpses of talent, but lack of consistency and desire means they aren't a huge loss.

Up Front - We have lost Bowman who was our best player last season, but we have brought in a player with a similar goalscoring record in Fairhurst, plus Marsh had a good record last year with Welling.

Manager - We have swapped an inexperienced manager with one relegation to his name, to an experienced one at our level with three promotions under his belt.

Overall I am happy with Cox's dealings and transfers, particularly given the budget he is likely to be working with. I think we are in a decent position in comparison to last year.

Clamouring for players with league experience isn't the way to go, we have had plenty of players in the last few seasons who had good league records and looked decent signings who never showed up for us.

Our best signing last season was arguably Ajala, who the season before had been underwhelming at Welling.

We have some experience in the squad already with Exodus, Briscoe, Young and Butler, and we have hopefully added to this hungry youngsters who want a shot at still achieving a career as a pro footballer. Most players who fail at Torquay won't get a shot at pro football elsewhere, so this a last chance for most of these guys. Lets hope that's a good reason to spur them on.

We do lack depth at the moment, but that can be rectified. Cox doesn't appear to be rushing into signings which is good. At our level there are plenty of decent free transfers around, it's about having a manager who is able to spot them and mould them into a team.

[Kit_robin]

If Exodus is less cultured than Downes then we could be in trouble! Downes was brilliant with his head but less so with his feet. Aside from the odd over-the-top through ball, I always used to panic when he had possession. I actually thought he was a good leader - his deficiencies were his lack of pace and positional sense.

I do worry a bit about the spine of our team but hopefully Cox will fix that over the next week or so. We need a couple of older heads and a bit more physical presence.

Not sure how anyone could arrive at downes being a good leader; possibly the quietest CB I've ever seen play for us, bar teenagers. All the organising of our defence was done by macdonald. I even saw Ives order him about in one game! The fact young was chosen as captain ahead of him speaks volumes, especially as he was already established at the club.

When I said exodus was less cultured, I meant more that he uses his brute strength as his main asset. I actually think this works well in the middle of three CBs.

[brucie]

What an absolute load of rubbish. Give the bloke a chance, he has only been in the job for five weeks. So where are all our good players from last year?
Ives has gone to Bristol City but he was basically crap - Butler is a better player. Having seen James Hurst - he is the best right back we have had for years.
Err Downes is at Cheltenham, Harding has gone to Gosport, even our "star" player Ajala can't get a better club than Dover.
Our "star" striker Bowman has gone to the mighty Gateshead.
We don't appear to have a first team keeper yet, mind you we didn't have one last year either.
On this evidence all our has beens from last year don't appear to be in great demand.
Sure we have a fair few players who need to prove themselves - but lets be fair we were bloody awful last year.

[wivelgull]

brucie is right!

[tomogull]

Current 11
It isn't very good is it? With the exception of Butler I seriously think we are weaker in every position than we were last year, read today Cox expects to make 4 signings, now I know finances are tight and we should be grateful for having a team to support but I'm hopeful those 4 come from the Butler background of having a bit even if it's just a little bit of proven quality as I presume these 4 areas are the spine of the team rather than all these even lower non league gambles. If we are lucky we'll get 1 maybe 2 of them to pay off, the majority won't. History says that to be the case and we've seen with the youngsters/lads with a point to prove or however you want to dress it up that most fall by the wayside for a reason, it worries me slightly that every signing we've made apart from 2 fall into this category.

I agree with Brucie and Wivel except on one point - we do have a first choice keeper - Dan Lavercombe. I havern't looked back to the starting 11 for last season's first match but let's look at the players then and now -
Goalkeeper: Rice ...... Lavecombe
Full Backs: Cruise, Tonge ....... Hurst, Butler
Central Defenders: McDonald, Downes ...... Angus still with us, Geoghaghon at least on a par with Downes (not convinced Jamie Richards - if signed - will match Krystian Pearce)
Midfield: Harding, Richards, Young ...... Richards & Young still with us, anyone would be an improvemment on Harding (Fenwick looks a good bet and Sam Cheyney has shown up well in pre-season games)
Front Men: Cameron, Ajala, Briscoe, Yeoman, Bowman, Benyon .......... Briscoe & Yeoman still with us, Murombedzi looks a better all round player than Cameron, we will miss Bowman's goals but I suspect the players won't miss his scowling presence, Fairhust & Marsh surely must be better than Benyon. Ajala - often let himself down with his decision making but I think it's a pity he's left.

There's probably one or two I've missed (I'm still catching up with the new signings) but overall I think Paul Cox is putting together a competitive side. We need cover for Lavercombe, probably another central defender and a target man but then, 10,000 other clubs are looking for a decent target man. Some of the new signings might fall short of expectations but overall I feel fairly confident for the season ahead. Bring it on !

[Gullscorer]

Interesting to speculate who Chris Hargreaves would have brought in if he were still in charge, and how the respective squads might compare. However, given the events of the past two months and the necessary cuts the new consortium had to make, we have to be well satisfied with how things have turned out and reasonably optimistic for the future. A long way to go yet, but bring back the crowds and the Plainmoor Roar, and we can look forward to some exciting games.