Torquay United Fans Forum

Richinns wrote: I am worried about Lathrope. I don't see too much in him if I am honest. A Matt Hockley type for me. Hope he proves me wrong.

We need players like this in the midfield though to allow Eunan the space to thrive. One creative player and another to sit back and guard the defence. If we had two attacking central midfield players our defence would be under the cosh. Although not the prettiest players to watch they do a very important job for the team and are often the least appreciated, which is why I believe someone like Lathrope or Oastler could be the right partner to allow Eunan to flourish next season. Hockley wasn't the greatest footballer but when we went up under Leroy it was his role to allow the likes of Russell and Fowler to go forward. As much as I like Manse, I don't think he's as good a midfielder as people have been saying. Lets remember he played that role in the season we went down and hasn't played it regularly for a fair while now. I would keep him at right back for now and try one of the other in alongside Eunan.

I definitely wouldn't panic yet. Defence is the key area to sort, which Ling has done. Then comes the midfield which seems pretty settled. Last of all you add the strikers which he's doing now. I also think he's had to wait til now to see the outcome of the Zebs talks. If Zebs had stayed he'd have been looking at different types of players so he's had to wait to see what he needs and how much money is available.

Completely agree with the OP. We've been focussing too much on Buckle/Rovers recently. How well/badly they do next season will probably have very little effect on us other than the games against them and their games against teams around us. We need to move on and give our full support to our players and manager, who want to be at this club, and not those who clearly don't give two hoots about us.

I like the way Ling has done his business so far. I would argue his signings look pretty shrewd so far and could do a very good job for us next season. I know there have been several posts worrying that we have very little up front and Ling is taking too much time signing up players, but I would have been more worried if he had come in and signed up ten players in the space of a week. We may well have had a full squad but I reckon that he wouldn't have scouted properly and would have just been signing anyone, possibly on extortionate wages. At least this way he's doing his homework and signing hopefully the right players at a good price to us. If we're in this situation in three weeks then lets panic.

Final note, Torquay really need to sort out the OS. Its ridiculous seeing a squad of players with only half of them still at the club. I doubt it takes much to update the site yet we hardly see any movement other than the occasional three paragraph article. Get someone on the job. All it would take is half hour to an hour a day for someone, even Torquay can spare that time/cost.

I don't see the problem with having Stevens in the squad, I doubt he's a high earner and there's every chance that he may perform better under a new management team. He looks like a confidence player, and Buckle isn't the type of manager to inspire confidence in a player, especially by chucking him for just 5-10 mins every weeks. Maybe Ling is the type of guy to put his arm round the players and give them a boost. I would also like to see him playing on the right wing for once, seeing as the guy started out as a right-winger and is predominantly right footed. Another of Buckle's great ideas of not playing someone in their favoured position.

With regard to his crossing, I personally don't have too much of an issue with wingers who cannot cross when we don't have any players in the middle who are great in the air. THere's no point swinging balls into the box if we've got Kee in the middle. Would rather the wingers ran at someone into the box or pulled the ball back along the ground. Unless we sign a target man/tall striker then pumping crosses in will be fruitless so its irrelavant.

Ellis is a decent defender at this level, and clearly has the ability to probably play higher, but he needs a lot of work. Hopefully Taylor will be the man to do that. He looks good but prone to mistakes and errors which need working out of his current game. If he can improve on those areas then I think we have a very good player on our books. As it stands though I would play Robbo and Saah as clearly Saah has been brought in to replace Branno, and given Robbo's performances towards the end of the season, see no reason dropping him. Hopefully that will make Ellis strive to improve and provide a challenge for the CB spots

The world rankings are a farce, England 4th lost 1st round at WC and not doing great in Euro quals, same with Portugal in 7th. Italy 6th lost in WC groups but doing better in quals, Croatia 8th didn't even make WC and same quals performance as us so far.

No doubt England will drop down again after the Copa America has been played. Brazil and Argentine have had no competitive games since 2010 WC which is why we've moved above them.

I think we need to cut ML some slack with regard to the lack of attacking signings so far. He's obviously had a fairly busy few days, with five signings, negotiating with Stevens and trying to deal with the Zebs business. I imagine he's possibly been waiting to see the outcome of the Zebs negotiations before delving into the market for a striker. If we had kept Zebs then he'll be looking for probably a back-up striker, but losing him means Ling's got to find a back-up and a new man to lead the line. That's assuming he sees Kee as first-choice, otherwise he's probably looking for two first-choice, probably experienced, strikers.

I also agree with Jeff, that I would rather see the defence and centre midfield sorted. It gives the defence time to gel and get to know how eachother work, plus it provides the back-bone of the team. As they say, if you keep a clean sheet you've guarenteed yourself a point. I think thats the best way to work when starting out at a new club, especially one which lost their POTS and defensive leader as we have. Now Ling has all the defence covered, most of the centre midfield, except for possibly Easton, and he can focus on bringing in players to do the business at the other end of the field.

With regard to the O'Kane position debate, I think he plays best in the centre, and has the ability to really control a game, in a way Torquay possibly haven't seen since Alex Russell was here, so would rather see him in there. However, he also makes a very decent winger, and considering the other options we've got there at present, unless they show they're worthy of a regular starting place, I reckon we may be seeing Eunan out on the wings fairly often this season.

I feel this is a really good signing, and along with Olejnik makes a really good day in the transfer market for ML. IMO he's had a good week for bringing in players, Saah, Olejnik, Oastler and McPhee look very solid additions to our squad. Its shame about Zebs asking for a transfer, but he's not irreplaceable, and if we can get decent money for him, hope ML can use it wisely on a couple of attacking additions. I believe he's shown with Olejnik he's got some decent contacts so lets hope he can keep using these to add to our squad

Fantastic signing if he pulls this one off! A decent keeper with good experience, yet also a young age where he can still develop. Fantastic signing ML if this one goes through!

I cannot see this being true, definitely not as a permanent signing. It sounds like Burton want good money for the lad, and we aren't in the business of splashing good cash on players. If we did i would rather it on a qulaity striker than a GK. The deal of Derby signing him then loaning him to us also sounds a bit of a stretch. Cannot imagine Derby doing a deal that complicated, imagine they would sign him then try loaning him out if they wanted him to get experience next season, not sign him and arrange a loan deal at the same time.

Would love to be proved wrong, but at the moment, I will only trust transfer rumours from teeboo (ML in disguise?)

Had the rumour for a few days now. Someone mentioned it as speculation, now that it's been in the press up your end the story has come up again. Would be interesting to hear your views on Easton as a player? He sounds like a very good free transfer at this level, and that you're only losing him because you can no longer afford his wages. Will wait and see if it turns out to be true though.

Can I just say as well what a pleasure it is to have a rival fan on here with positive input, rather than just insulting comments. Take note some of the Rovers fans on here.

Although I wasn't massively please about this signing earlier, having had a bit more time to reflect, I don't necessarily see it as too bad a signing. He wasn't great first time around for us, and i actually included him in my worst ever XI, but looking back it was an awful team he played in at the time, and it's been several years since that time. In those years he's performed very well, admittedly at a lower level, but scoring 18 goals last season is still an achievement, especially as he wasn't used as a striker in all those games. At 28 he's got more experience now, and he clearly wants to be at the club which in my eyes is only a good thing.

As someone else put it earlier, if we had signed another player who had scored 18 goals for an average BSP team, having played predominantly midfield, we'd have been saying what a promising sign that was. Lets give McPhee a chance to repay Lings faith and atone for his earlier poor spell. Welcome back Chris.

Would love to see Russell back at the club, one of my all time favourite Torquay players. Could still do a decent job in this league, though see him more as a bit part player, possibly off the bench to change/control a game rather than a starter if he does come back. Sort of how Man Utd used Scholes last season. This could potentially be a very busy week transfer wise, with Oastler signing back, the supposed GK, RB and CB plus rumours of Easton as well. Lets hope it shows to be true and not just speculation, and put some fans (not myself i must add) at ease with finally having some players in.

Glad to get this deal signed and sealed. Good addition to the squad, adds much needed versatility and will hopefully continue to develop. Very happy. Welcome back Joe

Don't know anything about the young lad at right-back, would hopefully provide good cover at right back, presumably from Oastler, and one we could hopefully develop in the future. Not entirely convinced that McPhee would be a great signing, wasn't particularly good when he played for us first time round, but that was for an awful Torquay team, and he normally played out on the wing, not his favoured upfront position. If he came back I would hope it wouldn't be on a megabucks deal and used as a squad player. Would be very worried if he was signed as a first-choice striker.

Excellent news, glad we've managed to finally sort out the assistant manager position. Seems like a good appointment, was a leader on the pitch in his playing days and will hopefully bring those same skills to the changing room. He and Ling could compliment each other well. Hope we can tie up the Russell deal soon as well. He would be a good addition to not only the backroom but on the pitch too. He's getting on now so doubt his legs could cope with every game, but good for a few or some experience off of the bench to see out/change a game.