Craig Stanley

[JamieE]

This could easily be a thread about his fantastic performances for us since his arrival but it's not. Craig's booking today means he is out of our next two matches. His loan also ends before the Rotherham game. So out of the last six games, he is only available for three.

Big blow, but opportunity for Eunan to step up?

[Plymouth Gull]

whatttttt?!?!?

I can only assume then that the yellows have carried through from his time at Morecambe!? FFS, just what we need.

Isn't the date for all cards to be cleared next weekend? I bloody hope so anyway, as Branston could easily pick up one more then he's out aswell.

[Dave]

Yep,Craig Stanley has been imense for us,there is no doubt about that,however the club knew Stanners would not be available for the play-off's should the team quailfy,and would have known he was not a million miles away from a suspension.

There is not a lot of point crying over spilt milk,we have O'kane,and the very capble Oastler to call on,not concerned as they are decent footballer's.

[ferrarilover]

It's a blow, doubtless, but as has been mentioned, we have two of the best players in the division (one, in O'Kane, arguably the best overall) to replace him.
Shame, since it looked a very soft booking from a referee who backed himself into a corner which resulted in 6 bookings in a match with barely a tackle in it.

Not that I disbelieve the OP, but is the suspension confirmed anywhere reliable (thus, NOT the BBC!)?

Matt.

[JamieE]

Buckle post match interview.

[mcgull1]

PB said it in the post-match interview. And he should know, its not as if the club ever make any admin errors that i can think of...........

[ferrarilover]

Thanks for info and, also, for amusingness from Mr McColl.

Matt.

[kbgull]

Maybe Lee Mansell will move back into the middle, with Chris Robertson moving across to right back and Mark Ellis returning to Centre Back.

Mansell with experience, would be better than having 2 young players (Oastler+Lathrope, or O'kane) in the middle of the park at this important time of the season!

[Jeff]

Maybe Lee Mansell will move back into the middle, with Chris Robertson moving across to right back and Mark Ellis returning to Centre Back.

Mansell with experience, would be better than having 2 young players (Oastler+Lathrope, or O'kane) in the middle of the park at this important time of the season!

Whilst I understand your point, I feel that a central midfield partnership of Manse and Lathrope/Oastler would be too creatively devoid for what we are trying to achieve.

This is a tough call for Bucks. Does he disrupt the back 4 who have being playing well for months? Or does he stick with youngsters in centre mid and hope they step up to the plate? My personal opinion would be leave manse and the defense as they are, and go with O'kane and Oastler.

[Southampton Gull]

Away from home I think he'll be tempted to use Lathrope and Oastler from the start and have Eunan ready to come on as and when he's needed.

[JamieE]

Or 4-3-3, with Lathrope, Oastler and O'Kane in midfield and Tomlin, Zebs and Robinson up top. He's not short of options.

[Fonda]

Real shame this, as said above he's been immense in his time with us. Evidently quite a character as well as an all-action midfielder. Regardless of who'll come in for him, Stanley will be missed. It can't be denied we've played our best football with him in the team. There was a comment above about O'Kane which i though quite curious too. Like most, i'm a huge fan of his. An excellent football brain and technique to match. But the very fact he spends most weekends sat on our bench would indicate he's probably not 'the best player in the League' just yet. Oastler will come into the side - the only question is whether he'll partner Lathrope or Manse. I'm inclined to think Bucks will be loathe to mess too much with the defence at this stage, so imagine it'll be Damo.

[MidDevon]

I rate Stanley extremley highly. I think, despite being a completely different player, no-one has dominated the midfield more in a Torquay shirt since Alex Russell, and that indeed is some praise.

Having said that Stanley is a very hard player and part of his play is "gamemanship" it comes with his style of play and I do not honestly think that a player like Stanley would ever play more than 35 to 36 games in a Torquay season as he will always get himself suspended.

Having said that, just to re-iterate, he would be the first man I would try to sign on for next season if I was PB

[Southampton Gull]

Real shame this, as said above he's been immense in his time with us. Evidently quite a character as well as an all-action midfielder. Regardless of who'll come in for him, Stanley will be missed. It can't be denied we've played our best football with him in the team. There was a comment above about O'Kane which i though quite curious too. Like most, i'm a huge fan of his. An excellent football brain and technique to match. But the very fact he spends most weekends sat on our bench would indicate he's probably not 'the best player in the League' just yet. Oastler will come into the side - the only question is whether he'll partner Lathrope or Manse. I'm inclined to think Bucks will be loathe to mess too much with the defence at this stage, so imagine it'll be Damo.

Or it could be that Eunan is just being used sensibly after his first real full season of English professional football, which he's found hard going unsurprisingly.

[HRG]

I rate Stanley extremley highly. I think, despite being a completely different player, no-one has dominated the midfield more in a Torquay shirt since Alex Russell, and that indeed is some praise.

Having said that Stanley is a very hard player and part of his play is "gamemanship" it comes with his style of play and I do not honestly think that a player like Stanley would ever play more than 35 to 36 games in a Torquay season as he will always get himself suspended.

Having said that, just to re-iterate, he would be the first man I would try to sign on for next season if I was PB

This is most likely true but then I think about Branston who had a god awful reputation prior to coming our way. He's very close to a suspension based on his number of yellows but has no reds (please correct me if I'm wrong) this season although he's had about 19* throughout his career.
You never know, if he becomes a permanent fixture (yes please) he may not get into quite so much mischief.

*info came from wiki so is probably completely false since we all know the interwebs is full of lies.