Torquay United Fans Forum

Well Scott, I, sincerely hope he has an absolute blinder, we need to win this game.

Lavercombe will be starting tomorrow, so we will see how he copes again.

To take this back to our current goalkeeping situation, last season it has to be remembered, Lavercombe came in for the last 5 games and had a very experienced centre back partnership in front of him (Pearce/Downes) the importance of this for a very young inexperienced goalkeeper should not be underestimated, to have players who've been through the game at a much higher level, been there done it, worn the tee-shirt in the game would have been a massive plus for Lavercombe, two defenders who would have found it comfortable talking and helping Dan through the game.

Now with MacDonald and Smith, we're talking about two relative babies as far as the game is concerned. Football is a game of opinions, do I, personally think Lavercombe has the potential to go on, and enjoy a successful career in the game, yes I, very much do believe that . Do I, personally think Lavercombe is ready to take the no 1 shirt at Torquay, no, not at the moment, the evidence was there for all see during and especially after the Bromley game, when the young lad looked distressed.

For Lavercombe to develop in the game, what he doesn't need is putting back in the first team and chucked to the lions again, it will do him more harm than good, what he does need is for an opportunity to move to a club further up the food chain as said, for development football, such an opportunity was nearly found a couple of weeks ago (apparently) I'm led to believe a new opportunity for Lavercombe to move may be on the horizon, if gets such a move I will only wish him well, I'm for youngsters making it in the game, I worked with lads up to 18 years old who were in academies and didn't make it, seen first hand just what an effect it can have on some of these lads.

arcadia wrote: Lavercombe was not at fault for the 3-7 defeat it was the two people running the side they did not have a clue. The formation allowed McDonald look an idiot as he ended up at right back causing the problems. Dean should have altered this after twenty minutes but did nothing. Lavercombe is a confident young man and believes in himself.
Can I ask at what age did you started playing at this level, Jack Butland was playing for Clevedon and played against us for Cheltenham age only matters if maturityis not there Dan has shewn he is ready.

I didn't say he was at fault I said he was left exposed. Speiss had a poor game at Basingstoke and I'm pretty sure he'll be rested on Saturday giving Lavercombe a chance to stake a claim for a regular place in the starting eleven.

forevertufc wrote:Lavercombe played in the last 5 games, of which our squad was a lot stronger and more confident, it was in a period of games when our squad finishing the season strongly, unlike right now.

I didn't blame him at the time, and still don't, he should never of played, Lavercombe's performance v Bromley was nothing short of embarrassing.

I would not fault him for the defeat and maybe only blame him for one of the goals I don't know what game you were watching. I know this conversation with you will go know where but as I've said before Hargreaves gave Lavercombe his chance and he took it with both hands.

Lavercombe played in the last 5 games, of which our squad was a lot stronger and more confident, it was in a period of games when our squad finishing the season strongly, unlike right now.

I didn't blame him at the time, and still don't, he should never of played, Lavercombe's performance v Bromley was nothing short of embarrassing.

Nobody seemed to criticise when Lavercombe played the last 7 games last season as No.1 keeper; in fact he was praised for his performances, so much so that Liverpool were interested.

Southampton Gull wrote:I don't doubt Lavercombe as a genuine prospect but as was shown against Bromley, if he's thrown into the team we have right now then he is too exposed and you know as well as I do how that can dent the confidence of a young keeper.

Lavercombe was not at fault for the 3-7 defeat it was the two people running the side they did not have a clue. The formation allowed McDonald look an idiot as he ended up at right back causing the problems. Dean should have altered this after twenty minutes but did nothing. Lavercombe is a confident young man and believes in himself.
Can I ask at what age did you started playing at this level, Jack Butland was playing for Clevedon and played against us for Cheltenham age only matters if maturityis not there Dan has shewn he is ready.

I share the view that there's no difference between Lavercombe and Spiess . Lavercombe is in no way a better goalkeeper than Spiess, in my opinion there both not good enough currently, not fault of either of them, they're both very young and inexperienced, the problem is our club currently does not have a proper, clear no 1 keeper, nor can it afford one.

Lavercombe no doubt has huge potential, why risk that by playing him this team, evidence v Bromley, he looked a like scared rabbit in headlights, I also share the view, Lavercombe will be better off signing for a club further up the food chain and playing development football, he'll be exposed some top coaching and get game time at a more relevant level for where he is at this time.

I don't doubt Lavercombe as a genuine prospect but as was shown against Bromley, if he's thrown into the team we have right now then he is too exposed and you know as well as I do how that can dent the confidence of a young keeper.

Southampton Gull wrote:And Lavercombe won't improve the team. It's unfair to think a lad with his potential and at this stage of his career would improve a team like ours. He will move to a club at a higher level and they will develop him, we don't even have a senior keeper to help him let alone a specialised coach.

In all fairness a keeper has to have natural ability. Lavercombe has this in abundance.
Lavercombe needs first team football at this level and would improve the team. I beg to differ.

Scott Brehaut wrote:Without wishing to sound rude, I can't believe people are getting that worried about the St Lukes Bowl. We never do well in it ........

The trouble is, Scott - St Luke's Bowl, F.A. Cup, National League ....... at present, we're not doing well in ANYTHING !!!!!!

Scott Brehaut wrote:Without wishing to sound rude, I can't believe people are getting that worried about the St Lukes Bowl.
We never do well in it, simply because it has zero priority for us as a club (rightly or wrongly) - nobody ever seemed to moan when we were being knocked out by "lesser teams" when we were in League One and Two....or even the last couple of season in the conference.

As if to highlight the point, we got beaten by Tiverton in the Devon Bowl Final - at Plainmoor! - the year we got promoted under Leroy. And that was with a full strength side out. I certainly don't remember people getting over excited then.

No. The FA Trophy barely generates any real prize money unless you go all the way to the final.

The Devon Bowl is a local tournament. Most counties get it out the way in pre-season. We've used it to give reserve and youth players a run out for the last ten years, as we did this year.

Does it not add a source of income from winning rounds from Devon FA??