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It seems we are about to sign him:

http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/T ... story.html

Haven't seen him play, so all I can say is welcome Duane.

A target man who might be seen as back-up to Bowman but could also be played up top with him.

Will be interesting to see how he goes and gives us other options which is great.

Need to sort out the LB spot and still think we are still light a central mid but might have to utilise the loan market as and when it is needed.

We are also a bit top heavy:
FW: Ashley Yeoman
FW: Danny Sullivan
FW: Elliot Benyon
FW: Karl Hawley
FW: Ryan Bowman
FW: Duane O'achie

Hopefully we might (somehow!) be able to move one or two of the unwanted players on!

Does this mean Hawley and Benyon are on their way out?

We do seem to have quite a few in the squad now and to be fair I would like to see 2 new fullbacks because at this point that is what we need desperately, surely.

chunkygull wrote:Does this mean Hawley and Benyon are on their way out?

We do seem to have quite a few in the squad now and to be fair I would like to see 2 new fullbacks because at this point that is what we need desperately, surely.

I looks to me like Tonge and (yet to be confirmed as signed) Cruise will occupy these positions with Ives and Thompson/MacDonald as back-ups. I suspect we will only recruit (due to budget constraints) if we offload Tonge or/and do not sign Cruise.

Welcome Duane. That helps our lack of strength and height mentioned on another thread (if he's any good that is).

Well he certainly looks solid in the HE photo.

Hmmm, I'll have to trust Chris on this one. He wouldn't necessarily have been on my list, but then, I've only seen him a couple times. Good luck to the boy.

Matt.

Richinns wrote: I looks to me like Tonge and (yet to be confirmed as signed) Cruise will occupy these positions with Ives and Thompson/MacDonald as back-ups. I suspect we will only recruit (due to budget constraints) if we offload Tonge or/and do not sign Cruise.

Christ, we cant surely continue with these 2 another season, please dont tell me we have to sign Cruise again because we cant get anyone better. A big part of how crap we were last season was how bad the fullbacks were, and we are about to do it again with 2 of the same ones. What is that expression I have read on here a few times lately about pennywise and pound foolish. :no:

Not seen any of the PSF's, but am a little surprised by the signing of O'Achie. The reviews have been mixed and - at the age of 21 - its strange that he has a very limited pedigree. A quick google search shows some talk of him being at Southend some 4-years ago but very little else. But then, sometimes these players come out from nowhere and be a success so perhaps it is our turn this year to strike gold.

With regards to the full backs, it will be interesting to see what happens in the next 10 days. As we are at the end of pre-season, some players will have tried their luck further up the pyramid, been unsuccessful and suddenly find themselves without a club. Perhaps people who wouldn't have looked twice at Torquay a month ago as they had a better trial lined up may now suddenly be interested as otherwise they face time out of the game without a wage coming in.

Similarly, some higher clubs prefer their young players to do a pre-season with the parent club before being farmed out on loan. Perhaps CH has been working on this, and we might see some movement next week. For me, full back is one of the places where you can take a gamble on a younger player, so lets see how it pans out

As Albert Einstein once said;

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

I suppose we'll have to wait to see whether Einstein was right.

cambgull wrote:As Albert Einstein once said;

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

I suppose we'll have to wait to see whether Einstein was right.

Explain?

How is CH doing the same things as last year?

With the fullbacks.

Ahhh - makes more sense. We are a bit top heavy but this is where we were weakest last year. Perhaps he had to target areas of the team as he does not have the budget for a complete overhaul (especially if he cannot move any of the listed players on).

On paper Tonge and Cruise should be above non-league level although last year proved this not to be the case.

Cruise also not confirmed as a contracted player yet - perhaps there is still time for change for the LB spot? (would think loans would now be looked at after their parent clubs have had them for pre-season).

I'll reserve judgement until I see him against Lincoln.

Must be doing something right to be offered a contract..