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Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 16:39
by Colorado Gull
I have it on very reliable authority from a source affiliated to the club that Guy Branston will be making a return to Plainmoor for possibly one season only to finish his career at Torquay United.

I personally would absolutely love Guy to make a return to TUFC even if it is only for one season. It would give ML a year to find a permanent replacement for Ellis, with a superb CB temporary replacement in the mean time.

What is your view on this? And would you be glad to see the Pickler back in a yellow shirt?

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 16:53
by cambgull
Hmm... not so sure on this one. I loved Branno and thought he was fantastic, but we've seen what a massive difference there has been with 2 fairly mobile central defenders. Branston could only have got slower since he left us and I don't want it lumped up the park every time he gets the ball.

I'd much rather have centre backs who are decent at all tasks, than ones who excel at some and are deeply flawed at others.

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 17:19
by blueboy
He was so dodgy at the mem last season. Think he's past it

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 17:21
by usagullmichigan
I can't see it myself unless it is to warm the bench.

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 17:41
by Plymouth Gull
Think we saw the best of him last time around. Bit of a hero for me, but they say you should never go back..

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 17:58
by CP Gull
That would make a lot of sense.

I believe Branno is about to become a Dad and his girlfriend is from Devon and I think it's fair to say that he enjoyed his time down here so for all sorts of reasons a move back to the Westcountry, and more particularly Torbay, would I imagine be appealing.

The only reason he left last year was because he secured a lucrative deal at Bradford when Peter Jackson was Manager but within a couple of months Jackson had moved on and he never really established himself again when Phil Parkinson took over. He has another year on his contract to run up there but Parkinson has made it clear that he doesn't figure in his plans and is available on a free transfer. No doubt he will have to take a big pay cut but given all the circumstances I doubt that money is his main motivation twelve months on, which it probably was last summer - although he would probably say it was the appeal of playing for a big club like Bradford!!!

I would hope that we still see Angus MacDonald coming in as, in effect, Mark Ellis' replacement next season and that he is given a decent chance at establishing himself as first choice with maybe Branno as back up, but we still need another centre half to bring our complement up to four(assuming Ellis goes) and Branno would make a lot of sense provided he isn't asking for too much in terms of wages and on a short (1 year) deal. Although he's getting to the end of his career we shouldn't forget that it was only 12 months ago that he was chosen by his fellow peers for the PFA League 2 team.

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 18:06
by Dave
Player coach ? Branno has coahing badges not to what level though.

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 18:13
by jonnyfive
Why not? Okay, he makes John Terry look 'nippy' but he does the simple stuff really effectively, and gives the team some bite.

A professional in every sense (including winding up opponents and buttering up the ref), he is a great guy to have around.

Come back Guy. I want to watch you kick the sh*t out of Akinfenwa again!

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 18:14
by Regiment
depends in what capacity. i loved the bloke for the impact he had during his time with us, and off the pitch he's a top man as well. if he was coming back with an eye on coaching, getting his badges etc, i think it would be great to have him back, clearly he has as much of a positive effect off the pitch as he does on it, but as a possible replacement for Ellis, no. that's nothing to do with ability, i'm purely thinking to the future, and would rather have someone coming in that's going to develop, and be there in 2, 3, 4 yrs time. would be great to have him around the place again though.

if it was the branno of two years ago, and the saah that we saw in the second half of the season, what a pairing that would be !!

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 18:15
by wivelgull
On the whole, yes. He was very good for us while he was at Plainmoor, although he may - and only may - be a little too slow now. I have to admit that I like these 'old time footballers' - you know the ones I mean, those that seems to have passed through a time tunnel directly from the 1950s. So, yes, he'd be welcomed back.

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 19:20
by northyorkshiregull
I'm sure he was at TCC last night when I was taking my boys there for teakwondo.He came jogging out of there about 6 o'clock.wish I had had the chance to ask him now!

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 19:30
by Colorado Gull
According to his twitter he was in Wellswood yesterday.

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 19:37
by knh31667
hes experience would improve brian saah even more....two centrehalve,one rightfooted,one left footed,one great in the air,one with pace..imagine that with poss m.poke in goal.pretty solid if u ask me

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 20:56
by AlexGulls
I'd love Branston to return. He was a brick against us when he came on for Bradford at there place. Maybe Parkinson couldnt get the best out of him? Coming back here might bring back some form since we'd get behind him all the way at Bradford he might have there fans on the back as they struggled last season.

Re: Welcome back Pickler?

Posted: 23 Jun 2012, 21:09
by AustrianAndyGull
Not sure how much of a progressive move it would be for us but i'd have him back at Plainmoor in a flash. An absolute TUFC legend for me and despite his limited ability he did amazing things for us and he can always be relied on to give 100% and motivate the others.