Torquay United Fans Forum

If they lose any more men, we might be getting our appearance-related money sooner than anyone imagined.

Matt.

The way they are leaking players at the moment I doubt it

The move, could open up a good relationship between us and Southampton in regards we get some loan deals our way

I understand all the concerns above, these are all aspects that Geoff Harrop would have gone through with the player and his family, and his school, I'm sure they'll all be aware of the pros and cons not just for his future career and development prospects but his schooling as well, by joining Southampton., it sounds that both our club and his parents have done and will continue to a great job for this lad.

As for the quality of coaching at different levels, I think the point may have missed some what here. You can have two school teachers both equally qualified in the same school, one is achieving great results with their students the other not, it's likely that the teaching style and delivery of one is better than the other.

Agreed, it doesn't always follow that the coaching at a premier league club is better, Crewe are the proof, been mainly a lower division and have a widely recognised and successful youth development programme. But as well all know premier league club will pay top money for youth development coach's, it's certain their coach's will have a proven track record and wide ranging C.V's , where as a lower division club can have coach's equally as qualified, but likely to be either in-experienced or not quite so successful, or have one foot in the grave.

Obviously premier league clubs have youth development budgets that dwarf us clubs at the lower end, they have faculties and equipment that our club could only dream of having, more coach's as well, not just football, but also those that will help with mental and lifestyle development as well, think this is good move for Neal, know a goalkeeper coach who has worked in a number of clubs youth development programmes and he rates Southampton's as one of best around. Of course he might not make it at the highest level and I'm sure Neal is only to well aware of that, but he could have been cut loose by us at 18 as well, there no guarantees, and TUFC has little or no money, so cant afford to hang on to players like bigger clubs can, so he has better chance of making it in the game at some level by joining Southampton.

PhilGull wrote:Firstly may I say congratulations to Neal and everyone involved in his career to date, I am happy for him.
But(!) This is everything that is wrong with modern professional football. It may seem great today but in five years time there is every chance he will leave Southampton on a free having never made a first team appearance for them with only perhaps (if he is lucky) a few loan appearances for someone further down the pyramid and Torquay will only get the basic £40k.
In my opinion it is much better for these young players to stay with clubs like us and develop their potential in a smaller squad where there is a genuine chance of first team football. I don't get all the 'coaching is better in the premiership' rubbish. The first teams coaches may be better but the quality of youth coaches varies wildly from club to club regardless of level.
It is this problem of the big teams poaching players from the small teams that Dyke needs to look at rather than League Three as a way to improve English footballing talent.
Rant over.

I agree with most of this, but in fairness Southampton does have an incredible reputation in terms of developing young players from its academy.

I have mixed feelings on this one.
I congratulate Neal for getting this far. But it doesnt really bode well for the future.
Yes its great for the few who get signed. but that's assuming he gets into their first team . if not there is a danger he essentialy loses sight of the important things in life and gets sidetracked assuming he has made it
its not so great for us. When i first read this. it told me that we had recieved a significant fee for him. 40k call that a significant fee. you can add all the add ons you like but prem clubs are getting more and more greedy. they have ways and means of making sure the clubs that have effectivly dontated that player dont get their add ons. The biggest one that brings to mind is Scott Sinclair. Yes he went a long way. but Bristol Rovers lost out big time. They invested the money to get him to a stage where he made his first team debut very very quickly. But did Rovers get their Add ons. Did they heck. all they got was about £100.000.
We have only Got £40k If we dont get any more where is that going to pay for what we invested in him. I'm not sure how old he was but wouldnt it have been better to let him have a year or so more here. Get a stab at the first team. and most of all. let us the fans see something for the money we pay to make it worth investing in the youth set up.
Whats the point in having a youth set up and sell all the best players. we get left with the second best. Its no good going on about how that can be invested in the youth set up. Very well it might but the youth set up is there to bring up players for us to be entertained while watching the first team.
We pay our money each week and want to see some entertaining play. if we can rise up the league too. then more the better.
So what is the point of going on about these players coming through our youth system. we will never get to see them. 40k will go no where in getting any new player to replace him later on when a player is needed. and i bet we dont get the add ons.
We need to see our players play for the first team. otherwise all the youth system to us will be, is an employment shop for others.

ferrarilover wrote:Forty K is lovely, but will he make it to the first team and net us (and himself) big money? Does he really have that magic cocktail of ability and luck?

Matt.

Well, I guess it is win-win for us. If he doesn't make it and returns to local leagues, we get money for a player in ways we didn't with the likes of Ed Palmer, Saul Halpin and if he does make it, we stand to make something more substantial.

Firstly may I say congratulations to Neal and everyone involved in his career to date, I am happy for him.
But(!) This is everything that is wrong with modern professional football. It may seem great today but in five years time there is every chance he will leave Southampton on a free having never made a first team appearance for them with only perhaps (if he is lucky) a few loan appearances for someone further down the pyramid and Torquay will only get the basic £40k.
In my opinion it is much better for these young players to stay with clubs like us and develop their potential in a smaller squad where there is a genuine chance of first team football. I don't get all the 'coaching is better in the premiership' rubbish. The first teams coaches may be better but the quality of youth coaches varies wildly from club to club regardless of level.
It is this problem of the big teams poaching players from the small teams that Dyke needs to look at rather than League Three as a way to improve English footballing talent.
Rant over.

Many congratulations to Neal and his family. It's hard to imagine a better option for a young aspiring professional footballer than the Saints, given the club's long-standing record in developing home-grown, English talent. Congratulations also to the TUFC Board for having the courage to continue investing in the youth set-up, without which the long-term future for a club like Torquay would be bleak in the extreme.

Dave

brooker wrote:I'm really proud. Neal is my half brother, and deserves this. Really good point made about the parents, every weekend they have been taking him around the country to trials and away games, but the club has also really done him well. We are a family of Torquay fans anyway, but Neal started out at 8(ish) with Exeter City. At 11 they released him, telling him that as a keeper he would need to be braver and get his teeth kicked out a couple of times before he would be any good. He then signed for Torquay, and in the first game against his old side, he went into feet and cut his leg open. Torquay have stuck by him, and Geoff Harrop has played the whole thing (especially recently) fantastically well. A few prem clubs were interested, and two more have made offers, which have now obviously been turned down. Geoff has managed the whole thing with ease, and I think has got Neal, and the club, the best deal possible. I'm really proud of my brother, he is a great lad, and hopefully the money can help the first team gain another signing. Just one last point, his name is Osborn (without the e on the end!) Well done wagon wheel.

This is very, very good news with the added satisfaction that we have benefited financially and not City !! I'm sure all of us on here wish your brother well, Brooker. Southampton have a good record of developing young players and it's just 'up the road' (not too far from home). Hope all works out well for him - sounds from those who know him that he's a sensible and well balanced lad so he'll be okay.

Forty K is lovely, but will he make it to the first team and net us (and himself) big money? Does he really have that magic cocktail of ability and luck?

Matt.

I'm really proud. Neal is my half brother, and deserves this. Really good point made about the parents, every weekend they have been taking him around the country to trials and away games, but the club has also really done him well. We are a family of Torquay fans anyway, but Neal started out at 8(ish) with Exeter City. At 11 they released him, telling him that as a keeper he would need to be braver and get his teeth kicked out a couple of times before he would be any good. He then signed for Torquay, and in the first game against his old side, he went into feet and cut his leg open. Torquay have stuck by him, and Geoff Harrop has played the whole thing (especially recently) fantastically well. A few prem clubs were interested, and two more have made offers, which have now obviously been turned down. Geoff has managed the whole thing with ease, and I think has got Neal, and the club, the best deal possible. I'm really proud of my brother, he is a great lad, and hopefully the money can help the first team gain another signing. Just one last point, his name is Osborn (without the e on the end!) Well done wagon wheel.

congratulations to Neal, good news for the young lad and the club, and proof there is the talent right here in the local area, do not know Neal personally, but have know about him for a few years now.

He is an example not just for aspiring young players, but there families as well, and lessons can be learnt by our club, with out the right parental support and guidance, no matter how talented the young player is he will not make it in the game, also a young players mentality has to be right, which just doesn't come from the coaching staff, it comes as much from the parents.

As an U12 Neal was often played down an age group and the priority was given to another young keeper, who has since been released, while Neal has clearly improved out of sight, and well done to him for that, it shows just how quick with the right support the picture at youth development level.

Youth development is not an exact science, clubs at all levels let young players go and the odd will come back bite them in the rear, you cant odds that, but our club has been guilty in the past of jumping the gun and letting players go to early, this is proof that they must hang to young players and give every chance to develop.

Good luck to the kid, it would be great for him to make it to the top, great for Torbay to have some talent to be proud of and great for United if we can generate some money from add ons.

The Academy has done well

Seems our Youth set-up beginning to pay dividends-good news!