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Richinns wrote:Seems the majority have got their wish:
http://www.torquayunited.com/news/artic ... eView=full" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All the best to him - hope he has as good a debut as Niall did.

Just makes sense to do it now. clubs are unlikely to want to loan a player out to sit on our bench which is what will happen after Saturday, we've got a young lad we have some hope for lets put him in and see what happens. if he's not quite up to it yet we can mix it up during the game and Downes is back for the week after.

It's the same importance as game 46 or game 1 or whatever but it's not do or die like a possible game 45 or 46. It's early days in the season it's not going to make or break the year lets do it now. If he isn't good enough then we will have to get a defender in for the rest of the season, if he is then it's a wage saved.

My spies tell me that Vale supporters are expecting a tough match for their team because they feel that Torquay is one of the best teams in the division (which is true)! I think Port Vale will also have a reasonable season with an outside chance of the play-offs, and it will probably be a close game which could go either way, but I have a good feeling that the Gulls will prove too good for them Saturday and that we'll win this one..!

I'm sure I'm taking the correct tablets...

With Mackenzie getting a start and our current injuries I think there will be a place or two on the bench who do you think will fill these as we have to have 7 subs its a possibility that it will be more youth players.

supergulls wrote:With Mackenzie getting a start and our current injuries I think there will be a place or two on the bench who do you think will fill these as we have to have 7 subs its a possibility that it will be more youth players.

supergulls - you know more than most about the lads in the youth team. Are you confident Mackenzie will step up and who else (other than Thompson) should we keep an eye out for over the coming months/years?

Sexy_Gulls wrote:I browse TFF and there fans are saying that the "We should be beating teams like Torquay" attitude is either from idiots, or those who feel PV should be making a promotion challenge and therefore need to beat teams like us at home. So I wouldn't get too upset by it.

TFF is just full of kids, morons and illiterates. They're from the Football Manager generation where all you have to do is download a programme and your team has £400 million quid. They don't understand that their team is skint and can't fund a big promotion campaign, let alone afford to get promoted.

I watched the youth team all last year and I can honestly say from what I Have seen this year we are alot stronger, Geoff Harrop looked more nationally than just local boys and it showed as only one lad from the under 16s was offered a scholarship. the majority of this years intake are from London or the M25 area.The lads try to play football and get out from the back and play one touch while keeping possession. In the games I have seen this year and from talking to people at the club they are confident good things are on the horizon. Danny Sullivan has moved from midfield to upfront with really great results the lad has pace and definitely an eye for goal. Out of the first years the pick of the bunch for me is Jake Hutchings who played a couple of pre season games. this lad looks a player I have never seen a center half with as much natural ability and skill as this boy he is so cool on the ball and never gives away possession. I think this lad is the one to watch although there's another boy called Freddie Palmer who plays just behind the forward who has a lovely left peg and an eye for goal. The youth set up is in really good shape and we will all start seeing the benefits soon.

Great decision to go with McKenzie, and Ling's words make perfect sense.

If the best we could have got in on loan was another league debutant, then we are no better or worse off for blooding McKenzie. And as Daniel Leadbitters career "progression" has shown, players from higher level youth/reserve teams aren't neccessariy better than what we have!

Furthermore, I'm a big believer that one of the most important attributes of a good defence is understanding. As Ling says, Mckenzie has trained and played with Saah and rest of the lads all season so they'll all know what each other are about and have built up some sort of rapport. There is also the factor that McKenzie is "one of us" rather than some fly-by-night loanee, so you'd hope the senior players in the squad would do that little bit extra to ease McKenzie through his debut. Back on the understanding front, it would be a massively tough ask for any centre half to come into a settled side and deliver at this short notice - bearing in mind I guess we're travelling tomorrow any new signing now probably wouldn't get a chance to train.

Let's hope that McKenzie can join Thompson in being given a standing ovation on his debut!

Andy, that's bloody good mate, had no idea you were zoophilic.

With the strength of the division this year, there is no way PV will be mounting a promotion bid. Nothing against them, but they're in administration. If they couldn't do it in the last couple of years with no financial restrictions, how do they propose to do it this year?

SuperGulls, I know you don't have a crystal ball, but would you expect to see a number of the youth team involved against Nike Academy on Tuesday?

Matt.

Because, Matt, they've managed to better their squad. They've rid themselves of Marc Richards who was a deadcert to start every match, and they had to play a certain way to get him playing well. Now they don't, they've got Tom Pope scoring a couple, some quick attackers in Myrie-Willaims (who apparently caused us lots of problems last year) and Dodds and co.

They're a better proposition this time around, and remember they'd only have finished 3 points outside the playoffs last year if it weren't for the -10. Personally this year I think they'll fall short of the top 7 BUT I do think they'll be in the top half, at the very least.

Matt I would think a few will definately be involved seeing that we only have 17 fit first team players. I cant see Martin risking too many first team players just in case, but maybe a few of the lads coming back from knocks such as Stevens may get a run out.

This was Morecambe last time out:
somewhere here:
http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,,16479,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Echo what supergulls says about the youth set up, my lads coach for his sunday team is Tony Herrara, Robbie's brother and in charge of the admin side of the youth set up.
He's not a bloke to get too carried away as a rule, but when I remarked that Thompson had a good debut the other night, he said their was even better than him coming through!

Top draw SuperG, thanks for the info.

Nick, you say they've got better, but then say that they finished (effectively) 3 points outside the playoffs, but will fall short again this year. Make up your mind, old boy.

I'm just not scared of Vale, they're a nice enough side, I'm sure, but I don't think they're anything to get excited about. At the risk of sounding silly, I think that, really, if we are to be up there at the end of the year, Vale are the sort of team we should be beating. They're no push overs (Barnet), but they're no Cheltenham either.

Matt.

Agree Matt. Vale are a useful outfit on their day and have some good players but then so do we and we have the experience of the last couple of seasons behind us whereas they are faced with uncertain times and that can affect their players over the course of a season. I would be disappointed if we didn't try and go and beat a side like Vale because we are easily capable of doing it. As Matt is eluding to, they are nothing special, just like Accrington really but with more fans and a bigger ground.

As many of you know I referee the youth team often, I am refereeing the 18's at plainmoor Saturday so it will be interesting who isn't there, as that means their be with the first team!

Beattie (U18 captain) is a CB but is doubtful to play as he has been suffering from a virus, Sullivan; a bright winger could also have a chance on the bench as well as Washburn another CB option!