Torquay United Fans Forum

Well Matt, that's obviously the 130+k question, don't you think?

Dave,

You say about PB keeping a chunk of playing budget back to facilitate the signing of a striker (the specifics are largely unimportant), my question is this: had he not been so prudent and the playing budget was stretched thin, where would the Colin Lee money have come from?

Matt.

The offer for Ellis was somewhat lower than that, Tommy. No surprise there that it was turned down.

Bucks did well to keep a large chunk of his budget back, probably in the hope that he could land a quality forward in January, as others have already alluded to, he'll now have to sell to bring in anyone else and my favourite to be first out of the door is Wroe. Eunan is progressing very well and no doubt the contrast between the enthusiasm he shows compared to that of Wroe is going to be a deciding factor in who gets chosen.

Fonda wrote: The ironic (and unfortunate) thing being, other clubs will be aware of our financial woes now and will have some bargaining power. Can we expect to recieve similar fess to those being mooted in August?

I would hope the club realised the financial situation we were in when they rejected the Ellis offer at the end of August. Five weeks is a long time in football, but I'm sure they were aware even back then that they were going to have to cut the playing budget. I guess this is the drawback of being honest with the fans.

I think the Ellis offer was 100k? I think something closer to 150k plus a sell-on-fee would represent good business for the club.

I can't see many teams higher up the ladder than us queuing up to sign Wroe, while Benyon's form and goal-rate over the next few months will determine the interest in him from other clubs. The only other major saleable asset is Zebroski. I know Nigel Adkins sent someone down to watch him while at Scunthorpe and I assume there are a fair few managers watching him closely.

Realistically I can see us losing two of the above in January.

Wroe is on the list isn't he? Barnsleygull will be supporting another northern team before long

HardofHerringGull wrote:I would imagine Ellis moving on is pretty much "Written in Stone" with the latest budget cuts! So hopefully, this guy can do a job for us there.

He might even give SNW a run for his money in midfield!

I assume that SNW refers to: off form for at least the last 12 months, & now missing pens. N.Wroe.

If we get Oaster then N.W. could be rested & or loaned out if considered necessary.

happytorq wrote: Is 'the reserves' a euphemism for something? it sounds painful.

Don't be daft, our lot couldn't hit a target if they tried!

RussianGull wrote:whack him in the reserves for a bit of practice then if he gets some goals or we get done over by injury put him in the squad, simple!

Is 'the reserves' a euphemism for something? it sounds painful.

whack him in the reserves for a bit of practice then if he gets some goals or we get done over by injury put him in the squad, simple!

ferrarilover wrote:Ok, I shall bow to your superior knowledge on this CP, but I'm not ENTIRELY convinced by the "Northy knew him when he was 6 months old" story. Nor am I particularly impressed (sight unseen) with the signing of a defender/defensive midfielder when WE CAN'T BUY A GOAL!!!

Matt.

Matt

I think we (and I include Paul Buckle in that!) all want a striker but I think we'll just have to be patient for a bit longer. But if Oastler turns out to be the tough tackling, ball winning central midfielder type (rather than the centre half I thought he was) then that will also please quite a few on here who have been crying out for just such a player for quite a long time.

Ok, I shall bow to your superior knowledge on this CP, but I'm not ENTIRELY convinced by the "Northy knew him when he was 6 months old" story. Nor am I particularly impressed (sight unseen) with the signing of a defender/defensive midfielder when WE CAN'T BUY A GOAL!!!

Matt.

In fairness I think their might have been a bit more thought gone into it than "ooh, he's free we'll have him"! I reckon there's a pretty good chance that he is very well known to Sean North as Oastler was at Pompey from the age of 9 and was only released by them when he turned 18. At the same time, North was in charge of their academy if memory serves me right - but had left before he was released by them.

A quick check on Google reveals that he (Oastler) apparently played well enough at the Premier League exit trials that are held each summer, a couple of years back, to have 13 offers from clubs - only choosing QPR over the others because they were the first to make a firm offer of a contract. He got another year at QPR in the summer - but I wouldn't be surprised if he is available for a full transfer.

He appears to be able to play as centre half, right back and centre midfield (holding type I would imagine) and so certainly is a versatile addition to what is essentially a pretty small squad. Not only that but the way Bucks is now talking suggests to me that he is fully expecting to lose one or two in January (if not before), I guess Mark Ellis is probably top of most peoples list to move on given the level of interest recently - and likewise Elliot Benyon. However, I reckon Nicky Wroe may well be one of those who moves on, not least because his contract runs out next summer and he will be over 24 - so if we want a fee for him we need to sell him soon - or get him on an extended contract.

Hmmm, ordinarily, I really don't mind signing guys, he's free and from a couple of divisions above and he might be ok, but.......

With: Zedders, Danny, Useless Nicky Wroe, EoK, Lathrope (he's only injured for a week or so), Manse and Carlisle, does this really class as an 'emgergency'?

Equally, do we really need some wholly untried midfielder who has never scored a goal in his life?

I don't wanna bash Joe or Bucks until I have just cause to do so, but, on first evidence, it just seems like this might be another of those "Oooh, he's free, we'll have him" regardless of whether we need him, or if he's any good or what we are lacking.

Come on Joe son, save me having to have to fight your corner against Brucie et al and score a hat trick tomorrow.

Matt.

I think he can play right back aswell. (I'm only really basing this on FM, which is realistic so I'd imagine it's no different for this guy).

Versatile and I'd imagine he has a hunger for the game.

Its a shame, but as others have said, players will be going in January, Ellis, Benyon, maybe even players like Zebs..

1 month emergency loan completed now on dot.com. Is this the combative midfield type a lot on here (including me) have been crying out for?