Pre Season Friendly: Torquay v Walsall

Dutchgull · Post by **Dutchgull** » 20 Jul 2014, 01:14

Expecting a reply from MATT saying that he knew that all along !!

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 20 Jul 2014, 01:17

Kit_robin wrote: Eh? Sounds pretty accurate to me!

Aside from the fact that he didn't pick up the ball from anywhere or go past anyone, that Harding gave it to Ajala who passed it into space before Bowman poked it home, it's bang on...

Matt.

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 20 Jul 2014, 01:22

I'm not convinced it's true. In fact, I'm pretty much certain that it's not true, but I'm happy to be proven wrong. Over to you, Cloggy.

Matt.

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 20 Jul 2014, 07:54

Dutchgull wrote: No because he has left the building !!

At the beginning of May, Billy was reported to be needing a knee operation as a result of an injury which could keep him out of action for six months. As far as I was aware he was going to remain a Gulls player for at least that period. I didn't know he left the club. According to the Squad Overview the club has offered him a new contract. Did he turn this down?

Bearne1 · Post by **Bearne1** » 20 Jul 2014, 09:27

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27251588

Post by **Dave** » 20 Jul 2014, 09:38

ferrarilover wrote: Aside from the fact that he didn't pick up the ball from anywhere or go past anyone, that Harding gave it to Ajala who passed it into space before Bowman poked it home, it's bang on...

Matt.

Almost right matt, was right in front of it in the first half, Ajala won the ball himself and then played it in to Bowman.

brooker · Post by **brooker** » 20 Jul 2014, 10:54

Has he? I thought he was injured and rehabbing here until fit? We remembered about him yesterday, and had this discussion at ht. i would have quite happily left him on the bench. Chaney looked better for us yesterday than Bodin did all season. On Jordan Chappel, i agree with most others here, and have seen no lack of desire. His attitude last year was shocking, at one point he near enough refused to play. This pre season he has ran his legs off in every game, and has been given as much pitch time as anyone else. This may be my imagination, but im really hoping that the two have sorted things out and Jord has committed himself to earning his ticket out of here by helping the cause. Does anyone know why CC didn't play, is he off?

rooster · Post by **rooster** » 20 Jul 2014, 11:41

Its my understanding that Bodin has left, not sure why club have not mentioned it.........

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 20 Jul 2014, 12:36

I'm not convinced that we'd just let seventy grand walk out the door. I'm not sure he'd be dumb enough to leave, knowing that he'd have no way of getting fit (aside from paying privately). I don't think he'd burn his only viable bridge. I'm not sure he'd want to lose everything that comes with being a registered player. I can't see his name on the transfer list. No one has mentioned it at the club, the HE or anywhere else. Billy's not said anything and still has "TUFC player" in his Twitter biography.

I'm just not sure he's gone based on weighing all that against the uncorroborated say so of a man who shares an accent with Goldmember.

Matt.

Markh84 · Post by **Markh84** » 20 Jul 2014, 13:24

I watched the game from The Bench yesterday and firstly I have to say the pitch looked great! Well done to the ground staff for there efforts.

Our first half display was excellent, we put a lot of pressure on Walsall when they had the ball and they just couldn't cope with it. Rice was virtually a spectator in the first half. The centre half pairing of Downes and McDonald looked very solid with Downes at his best throughout the game. Tonge had a poor game and had to consistently foul his winger to stop him getting past him. Cruise was very average, he didn't do a lot going forward and seemed afraid to make a tackle at times. I don't think he has done enough to earn any sort of contract. I thought Harding had a very good game and he does give us more of a physical presence in midfield. I think he could certainly do a job for us if he does stay. Young had another good game but he did dwell on the ball on occasion and lost possession but fair play to him he tried his hardest to get the ball back when he did lose it. I was impressed by Chappell's attitude he seemed up for it and had a good game. If he does stay he would be an asset. Ajala was a class above! Great skill, not afraid to put his foot in, can cross the ball and has decent pace. I'm glad we have now managed to get him tied down to a contract. Bowman had a very good game! He has a great leap and can finish. He should get 15-20 goals easily this season. Yeoman took his goal well and would be my preferred partner for Bowman at the moment.

The second half became slightly disjointed with all the subs that were made. But i thought we limited them to only a few chances. Although we did look less organised at the back once Downes departed. Richards had lots of energy when came on and certainly has potential. Baker-Richards was very poor and should be let go. Chaney and Ives impressed when they came on. Thompson still has some defensive work to do if he is to convert to a wing back. Both Benyon and Sullivan didn't do much.
Seabright made a couple of good saves but doesn't have the presence as Rice.

Full backs are our weak areas but I'm confident that our starting 11 will be very competitive this season.

CP Gull · Post by **CP Gull** » 20 Jul 2014, 14:08

ferrarilover wrote:I'm not convinced that we'd just let seventy grand walk out the door. I'm not sure he'd be dumb enough to leave, knowing that he'd have no way of getting fit (aside from paying privately). I don't think he'd burn his only viable bridge. I'm not sure he'd want to lose everything that comes with being a registered player. I can't see his name on the transfer list. No one has mentioned it at the club, the HE or anywhere else. Billy's not said anything and still has "TUFC player" in his Twitter biography.

I'm just not sure he's gone based on weighing all that against the uncorroborated say so of a man who shares an accent with Goldmember.

Matt.

But Matt, we all know he isn't worth that is he? Based on his performances last season, I think quite honestly we would struggle to get any of our money back ... let alone what we paid for him. It's unfortunate given that £70k is a lot of money for a club like ours but it happens, we only got a fraction back of the £70k we blew on Leon Constantine, £20k was it and likewise with Effion Williams it was a similar story if memory serves me right.

We should not forget that the ONLY way we could ensure that we get any money back on him was to offer him a contract at or above what he was earning. Never ever going to happen, based on the fact that 1) we simply cannot afford it and 2) his performances haven't justified it.

As for being on the transfer list, what would be the point of that? He is likely crocked for another 6 months in all probability and so no side is going to sign a player who in the worst case scenario might never be fit enough to play pro football again or might never fully recover his speed/mobility which can happen after a serious injury.

What we MAY have done is offered him a contract on quite literally peanuts just so as to ensure we kept his registration! I'm thinking like a hundred quid a week for the next 6 months say just to tide him over during his recuperation and recovery and then renegotiate a "proper" deal when (and if) he is fully fit. If he would have agreed to that then he would still be our player and we could ask a fee for him as he is under 24 and under contract. The fact that there has been no news on this suggests to me that, if there ever was such an offer, he has declined it and is instead probably sat at home with Mum and Dad with his feet up, living off his savings no doubt, and will then consider all his options when he is fully fit. Of course, he MAY still feel a certain obligation to come back to us, but he may not and certainly if he were to get a better offer elsewhere then as a free agent I would expect him to take it.

So, I imagine Dutch is right when he says that he has left the building. That's not to say that he may not turn up again in January trying to earn a new deal with us but unless we offered him a new deal when his contract expired at the end of June on the same terms he is now no longer our player and is a free agent. Just guessing but he could easily have been on £1200 per week, possibly even more I really don't know, but is there anyone connected with the club who would think that would represent good business given that he won't kick a ball until January in all likelihood ... just to protect our "investment". I don't think so!

No one likes the fact that we have "lost" this sort of money, but it happens. Swings and roundabouts really as we sold Mark Ellis for £75k to Crewe a couple of summers back and yet they saw fit to release him for nothing in May and Shrewsbury picked him up for free.

As for Bodin, based on what I have seen of our wingers so far this season I am not at all convinced that a fully fit Bodin would get anywhere near our first team over the likes of Cameron, Ajala, Briscoe and Chapell anyway!!!!

rooster · Post by **rooster** » 20 Jul 2014, 14:31

In general terms a player who is injured and then his contract expires is looked after by the original club until he is fit again, this happens just about everywhere. If a new contract isn't agreed then he is free to go and whilst may not be best for all concerned does happen and has probably happened in this case with him training elsewhere to get himself fit and back into the game. Shame but good luck to him, good player but we never saw the best of him under previous management etc as was the case with several players.........i'm sure he will bounce back and be a regular fixture wherever he turns up.......

supergulls · Post by **supergulls** » 20 Jul 2014, 14:39

Billy Bodin is currently rehibilitating at Bristol City.

arcadia · Post by **arcadia** » 20 Jul 2014, 17:15

If I remember Bodin was going to be paid by Torquay until fit again if he can't ever play again then surely insurance comes into play for the player and the club.
I thought I read this on the forum in May, am I right or wrong Matt?
I expect the City are helping him as it's near his home.

rooster · Post by **rooster** » 20 Jul 2014, 17:52

He would have been had he stayed at TUFC, but he has chosen to leave and secured services elsewhere to get his fitness levels back and train. Insurance is a long way off as he will be expecting to regain full fitness and return to playing.

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