Forwards like these...

hector · Post by **hector** » 14 Apr 2014, 08:09

I really think that there is a player somewhere, that if the club were proactive enough, they could sign with next season in mind - I have used the example of Michael Gash before - still scoring in the Conference who came from Cambridge City.

The following goalscorers chart http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/confnorth/goalscorers surely has someone who could step up to Conference National level. Indeed Elliott Durrell, who got those goals from midfield, already has signed for Wrexham. James Walshaw is probably too advanced in years.

Boston forward, Ricky Miller, probably would fit the bill http://www.bostontarget.co.uk/stand-Ric ... story.html whilst Stefan Moore is a former Villa youngster who has done well at non-league level. Omar Bogle of Solihull Moors has had trials with Bournemouth.

In the South http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/confsouth/goalscorers Bradley Goldberg has been loaned out by Dagenham, whilst Jamie Taylor of Sutton United is probably too old. Louie Theophanous of Staines Town is a body double for Ronaldo and I suspect that is where the comparison ends but he might do for us.

In the recent past players like George Boyd, Aaron McLean, Lee Novak, Jamie Vardy, Craig Mackail-Smith, Charlie Austin, among many, many others, have come from non-league. Surely, if Torquay were brave enough, there is someone amongs those lists - and perhaps even lower down - that if we were quick and proactive enough, we could get for a lot less than we are probably paying Hawley and Benyon to fire blanks.

Post by **Dave** » 14 Apr 2014, 08:17

Totally agree, just got to look at John Still and his achievements at Dagenham and now , and number of players he brought through the ranks at both those clubs from the lower reaches of the non-league, including Paul Benson from Swindon suprermarine, he has a 6 ft unit up front at Luton scored a great goal Saturday called Wall he signed from Dartford, the players are out there if you look for them.

gullno4 · Post by **gullno4** » 14 Apr 2014, 09:59

Sutton centre back charlie clough would be a great signing! released by buckle at rovers, signed for Dorchester and scored 12 goals from centre back, same amount as kieffer Moore, who is now playing upfront for yeovil in the championship! would definitely be worth a look!

but we all know full well that Benyon and hawley will be our first choice strike pairing next season

tufcbrett · Post by **tufcbrett** » 14 Apr 2014, 10:03

I played with charlie and I dont think he would be good enough for torquay. Hes a good lad but I believe he is at his level

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » 14 Apr 2014, 10:53

It's a nice idea, but don't be fooled into thinking some of these players are cheap and available just because they are plying their trade below the conference.

Bear in mind they will be under contract, so even if that expires at the end of the year I guess their clubs will be making token offers so any movement will go to tribunal (if they are young enough). Plus, these guys are possibly part time and taking in a half decent salary outside of football. If we want them to play for us, we have to make it worth their while.

I totally agree that this is a route we need to explore, but players who are young and proven at Conf South level probably won't be the answer. We will need to either gamble on a young lad released from further up the pyramid, and hope he comes good. Or we go way out left-field and look at the sort of player who hits 50-odd goals a year in the South Devon league and hope they can make the grade.

Think Swindon signing Charlie Austin from then-Wessex league Poole.

PlainmoorRoar · Post by **PlainmoorRoar** » 14 Apr 2014, 11:08

What about looking towards Ireland again what a discovery Okane was

Needed the game time to develop but the potential was always there!

Scorpion · Post by **Scorpion** » 14 Apr 2014, 12:39

hector wrote:I really think that there is a player somewhere, that if the club were proactive enough, they could sign with next season in mind - I have used the example of Michael Gash before - still scoring in the Conference who came from Cambridge City.

The following goalscorers chart http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/confnorth/goalscorers surely has someone who could step up to Conference National level. Indeed Elliott Durrell, who got those goals from midfield, already has signed for Wrexham. James Walshaw is probably too advanced in years.

Boston forward, Ricky Miller, probably would fit the bill http://www.bostontarget.co.uk/stand-Ric ... story.html whilst Stefan Moore is a former Villa youngster who has done well at non-league level. Omar Bogle of Solihull Moors has had trials with Bournemouth.

In the South http://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/confsouth/goalscorers Bradley Goldberg has been loaned out by Dagenham, whilst Jamie Taylor of Sutton United is probably too old. Louie Theophanous of Staines Town is a body double for Ronaldo and I suspect that is where the comparison ends but he might do for us.

In the recent past players like George Boyd, Aaron McLean, Lee Novak, Jamie Vardy, Craig Mackail-Smith, Charlie Austin, among many, many others, have come from non-league. Surely, if Torquay were brave enough, there is someone amongs those lists - and perhaps even lower down - that if we were quick and proactive enough, we could get for a lot less than we are probably paying Hawley and Benyon to fire blanks.

EXACTLY. The whole reason that clubs like Accrington Stanley and Dagenham & Redbridge are still in the Football League is because they have consistently used their smaller budgets very well. I suspect this is why the club appointed Hargreaves as Manager - in the hope that he will have an eye for young talent outside of the League who can be brought in at a lower cost and then developed in to a player that can be sold on, in the same way that Joe Lolley joined Kidderminster Harriers from a side in the Midland Combination and was then sold on to championship side Huddersfield Town this season.

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 14 Apr 2014, 13:08

Yeah, great, Ian Wright and all that...

Except for every Charlie thingy and Kieffer whatsit, there are about 150,000 absolute nobodies. We haven't got the money to take a chance on some totally unproven kid from the Dog and Duck, we can't sign proven league goalscorers, so we need to stick with the sort of journeymen that we normally get and just hope we can find the right formula. It worked for over 100 years and now, this year, it's failed. A 1% failure rate is absolutely no reason to change the way we do things.

The best prep we can make for next season is to keep our back 5 together. We concede precious few chances in a match, but manage to concede goals from almost all of them. That won't happen in the Conference, so all those 1-0 losses become 0-0 draws (more than enough to keep us up this year). If we're going to spend money, that would be where mine would go.

Matt.

tufcbrett · Post by **tufcbrett** » 14 Apr 2014, 15:31

What ever league we are in, we need to go out and get a stiker that knows where the goal is. Even if we have to pay a bit more for them.

we gone out and gambled in benners and hawley who have scored goals in the past but never set the world alight and not done it here.

Look at argyle with reid and even fletcher at york and even harrison at Cheltenham. Them goals have kept them away from the drop zone. Even zebroski at newport.

I dont care if it cost 2 players wages for one striker, lets get someone who will score goals and has done consistently over a few seasons.

Ideally I would like to see an experienced goal scorer and then try find a young lad in non league who has scored goals and make a gamble.

Lets be honest if we are in the conference we will create chances and to have someone who will put them away and has the confidence we will be alot happier.

yellowforever · Post by **yellowforever** » 14 Apr 2014, 15:39

Another problem is that the non-league system around us is atrocious, mainly because of the lack of big clubs in Devon and a proportionally smaller amount of young men of the footballing age than the rest of the country, especially London.

Still at Dagenham had the advantage that the Essex/London non-league system is relatively strong, full of players released from League teams that have decided to drop further down the footballing pyramid in order to remain close to where they live, crucially near/in London.

Using the previous example of Paul Benson; he was released by then Championship/League 1 Southend, only to join local team White Ensign in the Essex Olympian league - not far from Southend. He could then join Dagenham and Redbridge without any concerns about relocation, or what it might do for his career. If he failed, he need only return to part time play and find another job in the same area, remaining where he previously lived.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » 14 Apr 2014, 17:19

The best hope we had of pulling off a coup was signing Michael Nardiello a few years back - grew up locally, been on the books at Man Utd, Liverpool and West Brom I think before injuries took its toll and sent him down the leagues. We trialled him, possibly even a couple of times, but nothing ever game from it. He still seems to bang in a goal or two quite often for Tiverton.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blo ... uay-united

Another trialist I remembered we had a few years back was Marc Berry (?) from Ivybridge. He'd scored a ridiculous number of goals in the South Devon League, so was worth a look. As it was, wasn't L2 standard but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

tufcbrett · Post by **tufcbrett** » 14 Apr 2014, 18:01

Im still convinced that rendell will be in a yellow and white shirt if we go down.
Had his trial few months ago which obviously didnt work out for league 2 football. Has scored a good amount of goals for woking. I can just see CH bringing him in.

Post by **Dave** » 14 Apr 2014, 18:12

Not a bad thing to be honest Brett. Rendell clearly is fit now, is, has been a proven goalscorer in the conference, could work out for us.

Post by **Gulliball** » 14 Apr 2014, 19:26

Rendell, with a full pre-season, would be a good signing. He's scored goals this season for Woking, and worked well with Benyon in his last spell. He's also played against most of the sides we'll face next season, which should benefit the squad.

tufcbrett · Post by **tufcbrett** » 14 Apr 2014, 19:40

forevertufc wrote:Not a bad thing to be honest Brett. Rendell clearly is fit now, is, has been a proven goalscorer in the conference, could work out for us.

Im not saying it is. With a full pre season im sure he would be a good signing. I would happily see him back as he has a decent goal scoring record in the conference. With a mate as manager im sure he would play most games and should get the goals with the game time.

plus you would hope we would have a better side than woking to give him more chances to score more.

I was only saying as im sure he would be a target for CH and im sure scott would rather come to us than say woking (the reason he came for a trial)

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