Chris McPhee - Formerly: Loan options

[Richinns]

Ling is in the press again regards McPhee and his loan:
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I wonder if he has to offload McPhee to be able to bring another player into his '24'. Once a new CB is in place this equals 24 in the squad but if we lose McPhee (and to a lesser chance Macklin) does this mean he can add another/s?

I hope this is the case so he can re-inforce the striker options as this is the place we look a little short IMO.

[Richinns]

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It also seems that he is might be off to Hereford if he accepts it. Good luck to him and them if this is the case. Seems a very strong BSP player so would be a good move for all if it happens.

[CP Gull]

It seems only a matter of time before Chris McPhee goes out on loan, with Hereford being a likely destination it appears.

A bit surprised that the club haven't gone down the road of settling up his contract in order for him to find a permanent (and most likely less well paid) position elsewhere but hopefully any loan deal would involve the other club paying most of, if not all, of his wages for the next 6 months and possibly beyond until his contract runs out next summer.

As suggested by Richinns I would hope that CMPs departure might free up enough wages in the playing budget for one more striker in the squad, even if it's someone coming in on loan as it's the one are of the squad where we don't have a lot of cover (that is of course assuming we bring in another centre half this week) particularly if Rene Howe is out injured/suspended for any length of time as I don't really see Ryan Jarvis as ideal for that particular role as he lacks the physical presence of Rene and isn't blessed with any great pace either, which are the sort of attributes needed to play in that role in my opinion.

[Dave]

I actually think a loan move for Chris McPhee would suit all parties and would be the best way forward, don't see the point of settling up his contract if the buying club are paying some or all of his wages while he is out on loan, also , say he goes to Hereford it would give them and Chris a chance to try before you buy so to speak, and if that move works out for both, maybe the move would be made permanent at the end of the loan period, whichever way he goes CMP is a proven conference player and will do well.

As for options with the squad, Martin Ling made it clear he viewed football as a squad game, and would only use the loan market to top up the squad when or if needed, he was good to his word last season, I see no difference this coming season.

I don't think in the first instance Lingy needs to bring in another striker, there seems to be plenty of flexibilty in the squad, obviously there is Ryan Jarvis, also Billy Bodin can and has played as a central striker, if push came to the shove even some one like Ian Morris could go up top, I would imagine Lingy would only dip into the loan market if we lost Rene and prehaps one other mentioned.

[AlexGulls]

I think this will be similar to Palmer last season. We wont replace McPhee we will just put a recall clause in the deal..

[cambgull]

I'm not sure how much McPhee is on but I can't see it being a huge amount. If he were to go out on loan, it wouldn't be that easy to find a squad player who was much better, unless it were a young player who had potential. Either way, we might end up with 2 players wages to pay for after January. Not a good time of the year to be paying for 2 players who either aren't ready for the first team or aren't good enough.

[Richinns]

I'm not sure how much McPhee is on but I can't see it being a huge amount. If he were to go out on loan, it wouldn't be that easy to find a squad player who was much better, unless it were a young player who had potential. Either way, we might end up with 2 players wages to pay for after January. Not a good time of the year to be paying for 2 players who either aren't ready for the first team or aren't good enough.

If I was Ling I would have a raw but pace attacking option to bring off the bench. May be a young lad who has just been released from a PL/Championship club. Cost wise he would not be over and above what McPhee was being paid. Gives us more options as currently Jarvis and Howe do not have the pace option. I know you could play Bodin there but that would be at a cost to the position he moves from.

[cambgull]

You still end up with 2 players wages to pay for in January and that has to be compensated for now. Also, the trouble with many youngsters coming from the PL/Championship is that if they're coming down to League 2, they're probably rubbish. How many times have you seen a loanee playing for another team and they play 20 games, put in decent performances but score 1 or 0 goals and off they go back to the parent club?

I'd rather we buy a proven player who can compete with Rene for a place than get a kid in who doesn't know how to score.

[Richinns]

You still end up with 2 players wages to pay for in January and that has to be compensated for now. Also, the trouble with many youngsters coming from the PL/Championship is that if they're coming down to League 2, they're probably rubbish. How many times have you seen a loanee playing for another team and they play 20 games, put in decent performances but score 1 or 0 goals and off they go back to the parent club?

I'd rather we buy a proven player who can compete with Rene for a place than get a kid in who doesn't know how to score.

Finding the jewel in the rough - a Eunan for example. We lack pace and that does not come cheapily for an established player at this level. An option on the bench is what we are talking about - I doubt there is the coffers for a proven player.

Ling says he wants 24 and McPhee out for 6-12 months = 23. Might be reading this wrong but suspect he has someone in mind but needs to find room in the budget and squad to bring him in.

[cambgull]

You make it sound so easy! The trouble with 'jewels in the rough' is that they aren't always the jewels that you hoped they would become. You only have to look at Macklin and Leadbitter for that. So other than Eunan, who else have we had like this in the last 10 years? Mike Williamson (although we didn't really get much use out of him). Nathan Craig we're all hoping to be one. Ellis is another. Any others, considering it's debatable whether Williamson and Ellis really count as they came through our youth team rather than someone elses. I suppose it depends how vaguely you wish to use the term.

Finding 'jewels in the rough' is not as easy as scanning the free ads, it takes a lot of scouting and time. They can easily be missed as well, a scout turning up at a Premier League team's training ground on a lad's bad day might be the difference between a team finding their next big thing and not. I should imagine that Eunan was probably on Buckle's radar for at least 6 months to a year before he moved for him. Nathan Craig was probably recommended to Ling last summer before his January move. These things take their time and the club being on a limited budget, it must make the right moves.

[Richinns]

You make it sound so easy! The trouble with 'jewels in the rough' is that they aren't always the jewels that you hoped they would become. You only have to look at Macklin and Leadbitter for that. So other than Eunan, who else have we had like this in the last 10 years? Mike Williamson (although we didn't really get much use out of him). Nathan Craig we're all hoping to be one. Ellis is another. Any others, considering it's debatable whether Williamson and Ellis really count as they came through our youth team rather than someone elses. I suppose it depends how vaguely you wish to use the term.

Finding 'jewels in the rough' is not as easy as scanning the free ads, it takes a lot of scouting and time. They can easily be missed as well, a scout turning up at a Premier League team's training ground on a lad's bad day might be the difference between a team finding their next big thing and not. I should imagine that Eunan was probably on Buckle's radar for at least 6 months to a year before he moved for him. Nathan Craig was probably recommended to Ling last summer before his January move. These things take their time and the club being on a limited budget, it must make the right moves.

Yes this is true but this is one of Ling's strongest areas. If he has a target that he thinks can do a job then that is good enough for me! Of course this is all hypothetical!

[Gulliball]

I'm not sure why a team our size needs 24 players in the squad, especially given Martin Ling's style of management. You can basically pick our starting XI and substitutes, which leaves 6 players not making the bench and between 10 and 13 not getting any game time. I know we need some youngsters to work on and develop in the hope that they can be next year's first teamers, but I can think of at least 4 players that aren't really offering anything and we'd be much better off with one extra first team player and a squad of 20 ish.

[Kernowgull]

Not saying you are wrong about his management style, but it is possible that his hands were,tied last year, and therefore he didnt rotate. A quick, hungry young player would arguably be more use than Mcphee, who was bought in as an extra number to fit our budget. I guess his 2 year contract qas good negotiating on his behalf. If the youngster doesnt do his job, he will fall out of the football league, and join macklin in the wastebin, but in sacrificing Mcphee, we wont have lost much. If he plays well, we have gained. Win/no loss situation

[Jerry]

Any others, considering it's debatable whether Williamson and Ellis really count as they came through our youth team rather than someone elses. I suppose it depends how vaguely you wish to use the term.

Ellis didn't come through our youth system, we signed him from Bolton. He joined them from the Greeks youth system!

[jonnyfive]

Also, the trouble with many youngsters coming from the PL/Championship is that if they're coming down to League 2, they're probably rubbish. How many times have you seen a loanee playing for another team and they play 20 games, put in decent performances but score 1 or 0 goals and off they go back to the parent club?

Jermaine Defoe did pretty well for Bournemouth a few years back

Also, in terms of taking on players who've been released by clubs higher-up, we have done rather well out of Eunan, Jamie Ward and Sir David Graham, to name but 3...