Bowman to Gateshead - Confirmed

[Richinns]

If true (which now seems likely) then I think this is the first time we are really seeing the budget cuts impacting on the first team squad. It looks like a simple case of having to free some budget up in order to cover the holes we still have in the current squad. By my reckoning then (minimum) we still need a goalkeeper, two centre half's (three if Gus is off as well), a cover player for right/left back, another winger and a central midfieder. A target man might also be needed.

Goals win games and he is a goalscorer so it will be a big loss but needs must and if it is for the greater good then we will just have to wear this one.

We all knew it was going to be a tough season of re-building so let's not get ahead of that as the season approaches.

[tommyg]

I've never really warmed to Bowman. He's definitely got an an attitude problem and is frustrating to watch because he missed so many gilt-edged chances throughout the season. However, he still scored 19 goals in all comps and was our best striker against little competition. Isn't he also a Geordie? Perhaps he's requested to leave if he's Gateshead-bound. Or maybe Cox has another striker on his radar - likely a targetman - and needs to move Bowman on to bring him in.

[Dave]

Bowman is from Carlisle I believe. This may well turn out to be good news, it could turn out to be bad news, it's a risk with a 50/50 outcome, Bowman flops our forward line net a hat load, good decision, our forward line fire blanks and Bowman nets a shed load for Gateshead, this will not seem like such good news then, will it.

I felt sorry for Bowman, hopeless tactics, Bowman spent much of the game having to chase down misplaced hoof balls, never really had a chance to show what he could do, after 40 minutes of chasing down hoofed balls landing here, there and everywhere, think I'd stop running, just think there's more to come from the lad.

Always had it in the back of my mind that a player may have to go out to free up some money, for a target that perhaps PC wanted, but couldn't afford, if Bowman is going to be a makeweight for someone else, then I get this, if it turns out to be Bowman out, Fairhurst in, then , just being honest I will never understand why.

[royalgull]

Probably be finance Dave but even so I think it's a huge error, you don't let your top scorer go to rival teams unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Hearing the same things about work rate and the rest of it, how was Gary Lineker's work rate? He was paid to score goals, we pay Bowman to score goals and he got 19 in a TERRIBLE side, still only 23 or so and that may have been the first time he played 40 odd games in a season. At this level he will get 20+ in a half decent side and if he goes to Gateshead I fully expect that.

The only positive to come out of it is it may free up some space to get a target man in, it's something we lack currently and something we need under this manager.

[PhilGull]

Probably be finance Dave but even so I think it's a huge error, you don't let your top scorer go to rival teams unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Hearing the same things about work rate and the rest of it, how was Gary Lineker's work rate? He was paid to score goals, we pay Bowman to score goals and he got 19 in a TERRIBLE side, still only 23 or so and that may have been the first time he played 40 odd games in a season. At this level he will get 20+ in a half decent side and if he goes to Gateshead I fully expect that.

The only positive to come out of it is it may free up some space to get a target man in, it's something we lack currently and something we need under this manager.

I'm hoping this is the reason. We currently don't have one at all and by the sounds of it we don't have an effective one on trial so I only hope a player at another club has been identified. Maybe a loan out to bring a loan in?

[goodluckgull]

I thought Ryan looked like he was limping in some recent footage at Seale Hayne. He was at the Tivvy game and maybe the reason he didn't play was due to an injury. I wonder if it is Liam Prynn who could be going out on loan ?

[Colorado Gull]

Bowman scored 13 in the league. You can't really count the goals against teams we played in the FA Trophy, that's like saying Yeoman has already scored 9 this season.

I've never warmed to Bowman, he isn't the sort of player I like. A huge attitude problem, worries too much about how he looks or how his hair lies than getting stuck in and wanting the ball. He doesn't put in the effort like strikers did before him, i.e, Sills. Of course, if Ryan going out on loan is true, it will free up a substitutional amount of money.

It's nothing against him personally, just as a player, I'm not a fan and wouldn't be gutted seeing him out on loan.

[PhilGull]

Bowman scored 13 in the league. You can't really count the goals against teams we played in the FA Trophy, that's like saying Yeoman has already scored 9 this season.

I've never warmed to Bowman, he isn't the sort of player I like. A huge attitude problem, worries too much about how he looks or how his hair lies than getting stuck in and wanting the ball. He doesn't put in the effort like strikers did before him, i.e, Sills. Of course, if Ryan going out on loan is true, it will free up a substitutional amount of money.

It's nothing against him personally, just as a player, I'm not a fan and wouldn't be gutted seeing him out on loan.

No, you can't really count goals against teams in the bottom half of the table either. You know Christiano Ronaldo has only scored 5 goals in his career (after you discount the one against crap teams of course).
Now don't get me wrong, I love Sillsy just as much as the next rabid Gull but how many goals did he actually score?

Added in 2 minutes 10 seconds:
Okay, it was 21, 18 & 4. Better than I remember!

[Dave]

Bowman scored 13 in the league. You can't really count the goals against teams we played in the FA Trophy, that's like saying Yeoman has already scored 9 this season.

Danny, mate, I accept your not a fan of Ryan Bowman, and your entitled to an opinion. however, this statement is so far off the mark it's untrue, a competitive goal, is a competitive goal end of.

Otherwise where do you stop, goal against Grimsby counts because their a top side, but strike from the records a goal scored against Boreham Wood, Barrow etc because they're newly promoted from the level that some think doesn't count, after all North Ferriby won the F.A.T.

[OllieGull]

Although we have 5 strikers on our books atm: Bowman, Marsh, Fairhurst, Yeoman and Prynn (I think), surely Bowman should be the one to stay? The only one who has scored 10+ goals in this league so far for us and in my opinion is a safe option. He may have an attitude problem, but he still does his job to a good standard.

[Gullscorer]

If he has an attitude problem as described, he should go, otherwise poor discipline and disruption will grow and morale will diminish. The only attitude anyone in the squad should have is against opposing teams.

[DevonYellow]

It is not the style of every player to run around covering lots of ground, closing people down etc.

Agreed he did throw his toys out of the pram a few times last season but most of the time the supply he was getting was crap - this makes his goal return even more impressive for me.

His job is to score goals - which he does. So what if he's a bit lazy, if he scores a winner every game I couldn't really care less what he does for the rest of the game (well that's a bit extreme but you get my point). I'd rather have a striker that scores goals than one that runs around a lot - if you do both you'll probably be playing at a higher level.

With a bit more creativity I'd like to think he'd score even more next season.

[Dave]

This attitude problem that Bowman has, is only perceived one. If I had £1 for every time Bowman made a run, got into a good position, either not to receive the ball, or see Ajala try and skip a 3rd, 4th and 5th tackle just to lose the ball, or as said, see a long, hoofed ball land in another postcode, think there were more than a few times Bowman was justified to chuck his arms in the air.

As said in the post above Bowman at times was feeding of scraps, nothing wrong with play the long ball game if there's some purpose to it, personally was not surprised at all Bowman got so clearly frustrated last season.

[leetufc]

He scored a few goals last season but he also missed some great chances. His league return is average, decent if you consider some of our performances. However, how many of those goals came whilst we were playing well early on in the season?

I also think he does have an attitude problem. You can say it is because of the poor service, but I don't think that is a valid excuse. Your team is playing badly, you should knuckle down, not berate everyone else because you perceive them to be worse than you. Not exactly going to improve team morale. He also got sent off in his third game for retaliating, so there are definitely some temperament issues with Bowman.

We have also signed two players - Fairhurst and Marsh - who had better goal per game ratios in the conference last season.

[tktufc91]

I'm not sure how I feel about this if true.

Granted he can score goals but his attitude in games left a lot to be desired. I got the feeling he was quick to play the blame game with other players even when he made mistakes.

I think with the right person managing him, he could be a useful asset for us this season, however again I understand the financial problems we've got and if he has to go then so be it.