Olaf Koszela

[Southampton Gull]

That's the proper way to introduce a young player. Unfortunately I can't see us having the opportunity of affording ourselves that luxury. Would be nice though.

[Dave]

For a young player to be considered old enough, he first has to 'prove' he's good enough, scoring 36 goals in the JLP, barely a cut above local youth football, isn't proof of anything, other than this lad does clearly have some potential.


With respect, giving him the odd 10 minutes here and there, is not the right way to introduce a young player like Olaf Koszela, who has not been subjected to a proper development programme, like, for instance a young player who'd come through an EPPP academy. When I did my first two coaching badges, the one thing that was drummed into us time and time again, was, when working with young players 'let the game be the teacher' putting an U18 with no experience of adult football up against street wise regional non-players for a few minutes here and there. Trust me on this, the game wouldn't teach him jack squat.


As an U18 what he needs more than ever is, game time (at the right level) good coaching and advice, he isn't going to get that at TUFC, he'd be better off in a development squad at a much bigger club.

That's why the correct thing to do right now, would be to place him at a club who did have the luxury of introducing him to adult football, where he could get proper game time. If he continued to develop, grow, and score goals, then he would have proven himself good enough, and then old enough for the first team at Torquay.

[Southampton Gull]

If we were a Football League club I'd agree, Dave. The simple fact is we're now a regional club whether we like it or not. If he's thought good enough he'll get his character.

[Dave]

I see where your coming from. Stating the obvious, but the first team, need to gain promotion at the first attempt, they need to win games, it is far to early in the season, to be turning, to a untried, untested youngster.

This why I'm suggested being at TUFC presents a set of problems for Olaf Koszela, the one thing we will all agree on is, at his age, he needs to playing, but in line with ' let the game be the teacher' he needs to be allowed to make mistakes both on and off the field, and run through those mistakes with the guidance of good coaching,.


The problem at our club, there's no reserve team, no development squad, the first team isn't a kids club where you rotate everyone around to give them all pitch time, there isn't the time or luxury to put this lad in the first team, and give him the time, space, and afford him the patience to get it wrong, not saying he would of course, so how, or where can he get the pitch he needs right now.


His time will come, and maybe towards the end of season, when our fate is known, stuck in the play-off's, or stuck in mid-table say, the manager could blood a few youngsters, but it's to early right now in my humble opinion.

[MellowYellow]

I see where your coming from. Stating the obvious, but the first team, need to gain promotion at the first attempt, they need to win games, it is far to early in the season, to be turning, to a untried, untested youngster.

This is your most valid point and I would find it hard to see many people disagreeing with it.

[Yorkieandy]

Some great points made and i agree with all that Dave (forever) has said.

All of it kind of highlights though what a total cock and balls up Owers is making if we are seriously considering flinging a 16 year old kid into a primary striking role a handful of games in.

Piss off Owers.

[Swatcat]

Trevor Francis as a 16 year old in the old Division 2, (Championship now), scored 15 goals in 22 games in his debut season at Birmingham City- from memory there was an amazing run like 12 goals in his first 12 games in that. I saw him score 2 against Swindon Town at the County Ground that season. So whilst I see your point of view, (Forever, Mellow and Yorkie etc), I say maybe OK to bring him on from the bench whenever possible and let's see what he's made of.

(Young Liam Prynn from Constantine in Cornwall (my old haunt) comes to mind. Didn't Villa offer £50K for him at one time but he didn't break through - where is he now I wonder, St Austell ?)

[SIDGULL]

Liam is currently with Tavistock. Scored 12 from 16 matches last season.

[PhilGull]

I remember Prynn going to Villa and then leaving after a few months, did he come back to Plainmoor or am I imagining that?

[arcadia]

Prynn came back and struggled.

[kiwigull]

I am new to the forum and a regular follower of the posts made. Having been a regular on the popside for many years before moving to New Zealand.
Continuing the thread for Olaf being young enough - good enough etc, I would like to recall that a certain Lee Sharpe came out of nowhere and was thrust into his debut v Exeter City. He certainly seemed to do all right!

[brucie]

Sharpe was something special. I saw that game and he turned Gordon Nisbet inside out. The first time he got the ball you knew he wasn't going to be at Torquay long.

[arcadia]

Yes Brucie great player wish he was here now he certainly enjoys life as well.

[portugull]

Well after 3 goals in 7 games I say again bring on Olaf.
10 of the 22 Clubs in NLS have scored 10 goals or more compared to our 3.
Only East Thurrock have scored less with 2.
Something must be done QUICKLY.

[Gulliball]

I agree with Dave that if Olaf is to be introduced, it needs to be planned as part of his development and because the management think he's ready.

The first TUFC forum I was part of was when it was still linked to the official site and Mike Bateson used to post on it. We were getting relegated from League One in 2004/05 and losing most weeks, and the calls were for Kain Bond, as the youth team's top scorer, to be given a chance. He never did break into the first team, or make it as a professional. The simple fact is that the overwhelming vast majority of youth players won't make the step up. If we think we have someone who does have a shot, it should be based on merit and the judgement of the management, and not because we're going through a rough patch.

If Williams, Keating, Reid and Wright aren't scoring goals, the problem may be slightly deeper than simply the personnel up front. Throwing a 16 year old into the same situation, and with a toxic atmosphere in the crowd, has the potential to backfire quite badly - so you can't do that just because we're not currently scoring goals, not unless you think he's doing to do something different and score goals by himself - and if you do think that he should be in the side regardless of our current lack of goals.