Torquay United Fans Forum

I didn't mean be careful in that sense, Davidoff, but I know what you're saying. Look no further than Crawford at Dartford for some non league talent.

Matt.

[quote="ferrarilover"]Hmmm, Dave, be a little bit careful about the Ross Hannah allegations (for no reason other than I have exceptional cause to believe you're completely wrong).

True, he was getting goals for Grimsby, but he didn't get near the first team at Bradford (not in any meaningful sense) and Grimsby are an exceptional team in the Conference this year. I went to watch Kiddiminster v Dartford on Saturday once our game was off and the standard of the football from both sides (although, as you'd expect from a 5-1 home win, Kiddi did have rather more of it) would not look out of place in middle of L2 (or perhaps higher). For Grimsby to be heading that pack is an achievement and really shows just how exceptional a team they must be in that division.

As for Dutch's suggestion that Gulli doesn't know what he's on about, it seems that D&R have had him since the start of 2011/12, which is 18 months. A time frame which one could reasonably argue is accurately described as "a while".

Matt.[/quote]

Indeed Matt I might be wrong on Ross Hannah, however you most realise something that I fully grasp, when speaking to either someone at the club or someone who is linked to the club in a working capacity you will often be told what they think you want to hear or a version of events that suits all concerned may not allways be the full truth.

I don't feel the need to be careful, I did not post about Ross Hannah to re-open old wounds, I posted a version of events that I don't know to be true however fully believe is the truth, the point about the lad is he scoring a lot of goals in the bsp and as I fully believe we had the option to sign him before he went to Bradford, as many like Jamie Vardy etc, etc if they can score at that level you can go higher up and score, my suggestion is go to back to the level he was playing at and see if there is another Ross Hannah there waiting for a chance.

When you have a small budget signing players is a massive gamble, if we want to kick on the next level then we start to take the odd gamble, done it before.

Hmmm, Dave, be a little bit careful about the Ross Hannah allegations (for no reason other than I have exceptional cause to believe you're completely wrong).

True, he was getting goals for Grimsby, but he didn't get near the first team at Bradford (not in any meaningful sense) and Grimsby are an exceptional team in the Conference this year. I went to watch Kiddiminster v Dartford on Saturday once our game was off and the standard of the football from both sides (although, as you'd expect from a 5-1 home win, Kiddi did have rather more of it) would not look out of place in middle of L2 (or perhaps higher). For Grimsby to be heading that pack is an achievement and really shows just how exceptional a team they must be in that division.

As for Dutch's suggestion that Gulli doesn't know what he's on about, it seems that D&R have had him since the start of 2011/12, which is 18 months. A time frame which one could reasonably argue is accurately described as "a while".

Matt.

Indeed a good post from Jeff, however its nothing new , its something that I and many others have suggested on here a number of times. Jermaine Beckford was signed by Leeds form Wealdstone..now on loan at Huddersfield from Leicester, Charlie Austin signed by Swindon from Poole Town..now with Burnley.

Ross Hannah a player we were a hell of a lot closer to signing than was ever admitted to is now banging the goals for Grimsby on loan from Bradford, these players are indeed out there and very much is the way forward for our club.

As Gulliball points out a good goalscorer tends to cost more, did our club get there valuations for Bobby.O and Eunan O'Kane wrong.In the case of Bobby.O I think the reported fee was spot on for a goalkeeper, many complained myself included about the O'Kane fee however with his failure to make a real impact on League 1 with Bournemouth so far, maybe the club wern't so wrong after all, who knows.

Well said Jeff. Thank God someone knows what they are talking about !! :clap: :clap: :clap:

[quote="Gulliball"][b]Gayle has been at Daggers for a while[/b], he was out on loan last season, so not a few months work. Strikers have a higher value, if Bobby had banged in 40 goals last season, we'd have got 3x the fee for him as a goalkeeper.[/quote]

Not strictly true - he scored a hatful with Stansted back in 2010/11, was then picked up by the Daggers and immediately sent out on loan to Bishops Stortford where they keep documenting he scored 42 goals - which is a skewed statistic as he hit loads in the Herts Senior Cup which don't really count, he scored around 18 or so in the league - then he went back to the Daggers this season and played a few times in the first team before Posh came calling.

He didn't particularly look Championship standard playing for Stortford last season, so it just goes to show what gems can be picked up from Non-league. This is why I'd always be in favour of us getting somebody in for a trial regardless of the level they played at - if a player hit 40 or 50 goals playing for the likes of Buckland, its worth having a look as with the right coaching and guidance, we could have our own Dwight Gayle on our hands.

Gayle has been at Daggers for a while, he was out on loan last season, so not a few months work. Strikers have a higher value, if Bobby had banged in 40 goals last season, we'd have got 3x the fee for him as a goalkeeper.

Dwight Gale (never heard of him before now) played non-league for Bishop's Stortford last season, moved to Dagenham & Redbridge and played about thirteen games for them this season. They have sold him to Peterborough, for £500k plus add-ons which would take the total to over £700k, plus a 20% sell-on clause..!! Nice little earner for the Daggers after only a few months..

I know the subject of transfer fees was discussed at the time Bobby Olejnik (et al) moved, that market forces are involved, and that valuations of players are to a large extent subjective, but it irks me to think that if other clubs had sold the players we sold, they might have received much larger fees for them..!! And I'm probably wrong to think so. I'm sure we did in fact get the best possible price for our players. And that we are also scouting the non-league clubs and elsewhere for good players with potential. It's the way small clubs survive.

Even so, I can't get rid of a small misgiving, a niggling feeling in the back of my mind, which I've had for years, about the players we miss out on, and about the fees we get when our players move on...

Anyway, a Merry Christmas to one and all, and here's to a successful 2013...!!