The Torquay United squad.

[dawlishmatt]

Over the last several weeks I've been closely looking at the team, knowing that most of these players have recently signed contracts until the end of next season. My worry is that I personally think that the squad we will have next season, IF we get promoted, will struggle in the National league next season. The goalkeeper seems to make many mistakes, his indisision at welling last week was one example. The central defenders lack pace, the two fullbacks are great going forward but not so good defending and rauri keating who has been with us for 3 years hasn't progressed as hoped for and Jamie Reid is inconsistent and has also been with us for 3 years.
In the National league most of the teams are full time and I expect several of the clubs will have many very experienced former football league players. This season in our league we are playing some very poor teams as our results have shown and so I ask myself are we so good or are the opposition so poor.

[Dave]

You have to see the bigger picture, and remember some of our better performing players are on loan. All GJ has done here is got the base of the squad to sign new contracts, which is a luxury almost every team at our level, and many from the league above do not have, they'll be faced on an annual basis of building and rebuilding their squads, it was the right thing to do.

Whilst its looking highly likely the club will get promoted it's not guaranteed. Look at last season with Havant and Dartford, both a country mile clear of the rest Dartford lost in the play-offs, so at the end of the season when the management sit down to asses what they've got and what they need, first they will need to know what level we'll be playing at next term, then when the loanees return to their parent clubs, GJ can then work on what is needed to add strength to what we have to cope with the relevant level, within what ever budget he has work with.

I share your concerns on MacDonald, I've always maintained Bass was the better all round keeper, however MacDonald is only young, and both he, and Phil Osbourne deserved a huge amount of credit, if look at MacDonald at the start of the season to where he is now, the improvement has been night and day, and he'll only get better, same as Reid.

[standupsitdown]

Whilst its looking highly likely the club will get promoted it's not guaranteed. Look at last season with Havant and Dartford, both a country mile clear of the rest Dartford lost in the play-offs, so at the end of the season when the management sit down to asses what they've got and what they need, first they will need to know what level we'll be playing at next term, then when the loanees return to their parent clubs, GJ can then work on what is needed to add strength to what we have to cope with the relevant level, within what ever budget he has work with.

I'd say 'hopeful' not 'highly likely'.
Maybe 50:50 between us or Woking for top spot.
Play offs are very hard to predict and often the team just missing out on automatic promotion doesn't win the play offs.

Regarding the squad, the focus must be on promotion, then look to next season, hopefully in the National League, which is a much harder league to win.

[desperado]

Don't agree with Dawlishmatt that we would struggle with this squad next season IF promoted and more importantly neither does Gary Johnson due to the fact that he has signed them on for next year. I wasn't there but weren't we well on top v Boreham Wood with 10 men in the Trophy
The belief and team spirit and the way we press and score goals would make me be thinking of the play offs IF we were promoted especially if we were able to keep a couple of the loanees .A winning mentality and momentum can take you s long way
Anyway let's get there first, probably not the time for negative comments about the players

[Southampton Gull]

As forever rightly says, the basis of the squad with a couple of quality loanees is easily good enough for the next level that we're highly likely (almost certainly in my opinion) to be playing at next season.

I also shared my concerns over MacDonald on a matchday thread a few weeks ago. Great potential but needs to be more commanding and assertive in his decision making but that's what you get with young keepers so I'm certainly not writing him off.

[Teigngull]

As forever rightly says, the basis of the squad with a couple of quality loanees is easily good enough for the next level that we're highly likely (almost certainly in my opinion) to be playing at next season.

I also shared my concerns over MacDonald on a matchday thread a few weeks ago. Great potential but needs to be more commanding and assertive in his decision making but that's what you get with young keepers so I'm certainly not writing him off.

Quality keeper in my opinion , but could do with a bit of competition for his place in the side,
He knows he's nailed on for a start week in week out, and that promotes complacency.
His best games for me was when Bass was breathing down his neck for the no' 1 spot.

[Whydoibother]

Having seen the new lad from Bournemouth he looks too small and lightweight. I know Edward's wasnt that big but he did have blistering pace. This guy doesn't and like at Welling when he came on easily pushed off the ball.

[culmstockgull]

I have to agree in the main with the comments of Desperado on the squad. Those that have signed, I think its nine or ten will form the nucleus of a squad for next season, some we like and some we don't, but rarely agree on, which indicates to me that they are not consistent enough week in week out to command our universal support, with Johnson's acumen and contacts we will sign some really good players in the summer, capable and proven of playing at a higher level together with some shrewd loans, and not as we have done in the past couple of seasons signing players that someone's mothers uncles cousin has recommended .Certainly an experienced keeper and two each from the central defender, midfield and forward variety should make up a competent if not promotion challenging squad in the national league. I think We will go from big hitters to also rans in the next season unless there is a major investment of cash which on current experiences of the likes of Billericay and Salford is not an automatic formula for success. We will get promotion this season without the play offs, next season should be interesting!!!!!

[Southampton Gull]

Eastleigh are doing well for a team that was going out of business when Stewart Donald left according to a few on here. Harrogate, slaughtered by brucie going well too. As culmstock says, a few experienced heads in the right positions will go a long way to keeping the momentum going. In my view a team used to winning (as we are now) could hit the ground running next season and that could yet lead us back to the promised land. Money isn't the be all, team spirit, momentum and a good manager will see us ok for next season if we do get promoted.

[Teigngull]

As a certain Mr A Merson has always stated....
Fit for purpose players for the division you're competing in is a good way to start & have a chance of doing something special.
Journey men footballers looking for a last decent payday is a road we should no longer explore & with GJ at the helm I don't think it'll happen . If the Bristol City connection is still available I'm sure we'll be part of more of their little gems footballing education for the good of both clubs.

[arcadia]

Does anyone know what happened to Jordon Lee after his illness where is he playing now?

[Rjc70]

Does anyone know what happened to Jordon Lee after his illness where is he playing now?

Went to Wimborne Town. Last I can see he played for them was January 26th.

[dawlishmatt]

Following on from my posting on 23rd February concerning my fears that this present squad is not good enough to mount a serious promotion push next season in the national league, IF we get promoted this season, following our recent displays and the fact that virtually all the Torquay players signed contract extentions in january until the end of next season, my fears are quickly becoming a reality. since most of these players signed contract extentions, the teams form has changed dramatically. The last 7 fixtures prove this. We lost 3-2 at Bath, beat Oxford city 7-2, won 4-1 at Hemel Hempstead, lost 2-0 at Welling, beat Dulwich Hamlet 5-2, were very lucky to win last Tuesday 2-1 at East Thurrock and today have lost at home to the leagues bottom side 2-1. That is now 3 defeats in our last 7 games which is hardly championship winning form. In my opinion it was a big mistake to extend these players contracts as the pressure to preform consistantly has now been removed as these players know that they have secure employment for the next 18 months. How many times have we seen a player come to Torquay on loan, score lots of goals which seem to dry up once they sign a permanant contract. Efion williams, Leon constantine, Billy Bowden are just 3 that spring to mind. I'm sure most of you can remember many others. In my opinion, Torquay United are top of the league for 2 reasons. Firstly, being the only full time club in the league means the fitness levels are much higher, secondly, we are top of the league not because we are a good side, rather most of the teams in this league are rubbish.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Following on from my posting on 23rd February concerning my fears that this present squad is not good enough to mount a serious promotion push next season in the national league, IF we get promoted this season, following our recent displays and the fact that virtually all the Torquay players signed contract extentions in january until the end of next season, my fears are quickly becoming a reality. since most of these players signed contract extentions, the teams form has changed dramatically. The last 7 fixtures prove this. We lost 3-2 at Bath, beat Oxford city 7-2, won 4-1 at Hemel Hempstead, lost 2-0 at Welling, beat Dulwich Hamlet 5-2, were very lucky to win last Tuesday 2-1 at East Thurrock and today have lost at home to the leagues bottom side 2-1. That is now 3 defeats in our last 7 games which is hardly championship winning form. In my opinion it was a big mistake to extend these players contracts as the pressure to preform consistantly has now been removed as these players know that they have secure employment for the next 18 months. How many times have we seen a player come to Torquay on loan, score lots of goals which seem to dry up once they sign a permanant contract. Efion williams, Leon constantine, [highlight=yellow]Billy Bowden [/highlight]are just 3 that spring to mind. I'm sure most of you can remember many others. In my opinion, Torquay United are top of the league for 2 reasons. Firstly, being the only full time club in the league means the fitness levels are much higher, secondly, we are top of the league not because we are a good side, rather most of the teams in this league are rubbish.

God he was sh1t.
Mind you, that's because he's a Cricket Umpire from New Zealand.....

[dawlishmatt]

Billy Bowden, the cricket umpire with the crocked finger!!!!!!!