rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jun 30, 2012 11:55:24 GMT
Come on United, take the plunge and put a bid to Swindon that they will take seriously (get him for the club). I f its Crewe we are up against I think the Robins would rarer he came here than see him go to one of their divisional rivals!!! Lets do it must have some cash? It's all a bit of a poker game really. Billy made the break through to league 2 last year but probably not quite ready to contribute to a league 1 side looking to gain promotion. Therefore, Swindon probably want him off the wage bill and with a few clubs interested want to maximize their investment in him. Crewe are interested as they can see his potential but need to establish themselves in a higher league first. How much should they invest in him at the expense of say a league 1 established player? With manager's getting sacked at the drop of a hat these days, the short term view is going to prevail. As for us, Billy can come in and do a job from the word go. In fact, his 5 goals from 19 games is a better ratio than Danny's 10 on the opposite wing over the whole season and he would fit very well in our formation. However, we need to invest in infrastructure and without Bobby's /Mark's transfer fees, would not have had the money to develop our training facilities. If Mark was 80k to go to league 1, then how much is Billy to go to league 2? I think Billy has got more potential but he still needs to develop this and after getting the taste of league football last year wants to continue to improve by playing in regular games. However, I suspect Ling has got similar targets he is tracking that may not be subject to a fee, so how much does he bid for someone he knows and how long does he wait for?
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petef
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Post by petef on Jun 30, 2012 12:00:13 GMT
Even if Billy doesn't come here I think we still need a right sided winger who will beat a full back. We wont be squandering large sums of money either and I think Lingys got it right to let it go to tribunal where he will be valued fairly and he will be able to make his own choice of club. When he was with us we looked far more balanced and threatening up front and although I have time for Ian Morris he just didn't pose enough threat. I see Ashley Hemmings is available,( left sided I know) we could do a lot worse and he did well at Argyle in a struggling side and most of their fans want him back. Now that would be a laugh to steel him form under our neighbours noses.
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Post by ohtobeatplainmoor on Jun 30, 2012 12:52:20 GMT
Hemmings?! I hope his mentality had improved since he was here last time!! Did nothing when he was here on loan first time, admittedly he was a very young man with a girlfriend and baby back in the Midlands but like Macklin, he might have a bit of talent but I think thee must be plenty of players out there.
I believe that Fletcher is not returning for Hemmings (it isn't the other way round), given that the plymouth squad Plymouth squad are no better than they were in the second half of last season as a squad then I think that says a lot.
As for Bodin and his fee - to put it into perspective, Macklin's wasted two years to date has no doubt cost far more (in terms of salary, associated on-casts, as well as the less tangible costs of wasted coaching time, kit etc )than the first offer of £40k.
I would hope that Ling would have an indication as to whether Billy wants to kick-start his career with us - and I expect that his current personal terms are well know to our club. If we can get close to the price that Swindon want then there is a great chance that he will join us. I don't think that he will join any other League Two club.
One way or another this will be sorted before we come back for pre-season training. Ling hasn't done badly this summer to say the least - so if it isn't Billy joining us then it will be someone else that will do a job.
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Post by loyalgull on Jun 30, 2012 13:28:50 GMT
agree with it all above,if he does sign great,if he doesnt lingy targets another player,he may well of already,40k tops i reckon,swindon can take it or leave it imho,i wasnt overstruck with bodin at times but he has potential,not enough to lose any sleep over though,just as good or better out there imho
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petef
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Post by petef on Jun 30, 2012 13:45:44 GMT
Thought Hemmings had plenty of potential and needed games at this level to harden him up. I disagree that he did nothing when he was with us but is by no means the finished article its rare to get that at 20 years of age.. Ask the Bristol Rovers manager Mcgee and there fans how much they value Mussy now. With the right coaching and support he is now consistently a real threat and asset and they are NOT listening to any offers. Written off as a useless waste of space by many here. Shame a player of his technical ability should already be written off by some at on 20 years of age. I guess that's why so many technically gifted players are left on the scrap heap in this country, we just dont have the patience and always demand the "Quick Fix" type of player. Tom Cruise is supposed to be very good technically though I do wonder whether supporters will give him a chance to play football despite mistakes he is bound to make. Pretty sure Lingy can see something or he wouldn't waste the clubs precious money. Sure, Billy would be first choice for us but not at any price. I trust ML to make the right choice he seems to have a very good eye for talent.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Jun 30, 2012 14:36:42 GMT
Thought Hemmings played well over the games against us last season and would be a useful addition to the squad.
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Post by ohtobeatplainmoor on Jun 30, 2012 15:31:30 GMT
I think that is something that we can agree on - Ling certainly does have an eye for talent. I happen to know that he really does his background research on the players that he goes for in terms of their personalities as well as ability.
In addition to this, he certainly hasn't been backward about coming forward publicly about giving a foot up the backside of Macklin - as well as Leadbetter and Halpin too.
On the subject of Muzzy, it was a shame that we lost him - he really got his act together (and it isn't easy when you're stuck miles away from home in what might be a nice place for anyone over the age of 35 but is fairly dull and dead-end for many youngsters) . Sadly, he had a reason to get away that wasn't football related - I think we might have seen a real player on a consistent basis if he had stayed and I think following the move to Lincoln it was lucky for him that Buckle popped-up at Bristol Rovers.
It is a very make or break time for youngsters when they leave the kids' pool of the academy and go into the shark infested open seas of hardened professionals - we've seen plenty of technically excellent players come to TUFC with good reputations and they've fallen flat on their faces - Mark Platts was destined for great things at one point, come the end he could only manage a few keepy-ups in the centre-circle as he was a perennial bench-warmer for us - and I don't put that down to the lack of ability, that was down to lack of determination and when he was sat on the scrapheap at the age of 21/22 he could only have him self to blame.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jul 2, 2012 6:44:57 GMT
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Post by register on Jul 2, 2012 7:25:12 GMT
I think £70.000 is somewhat on the steep side, if we were the selling side would we have got that price! I would imagine he will get a three year contract to protect our purchase. When was the last time we had someone on a three year contract...oh yea, nuff said there then. Anyway, can't wait to see his full potential released on league two this season.
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Post by bristolgull on Jul 2, 2012 8:02:26 GMT
Expensive, but if true great news that he is going to sign. I was impressed by him when he was on loan last season. He knows what the club and the squad are about and obviously wants to return. I think he could be a real handful for league two defences and link up well with Howe. Ling obviously must have faith in him to be willing to part with that amount of cash. If he does sign then there will be a certain degree of pressure on him to justify it- over to you billy boy!!!! Anyway, am happy with the news, let's hope it happens.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jul 2, 2012 8:46:40 GMT
Yep, 70k would be top end for us but hard to plead poverty after a couple of decent sales and Billy for Mark with about 10k change isn't that bad business.
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Post by bristolgull on Jul 2, 2012 8:52:52 GMT
Agreed rjd. Poke, Easton, Craig, cruise and potentially Bodin are all making the squad more competitive, and if eunan does stay, we could have the makings of another good side. Now, if only somebody would take Macklin off our hands!!!!
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petef
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Post by petef on Jul 2, 2012 9:15:21 GMT
Agreed rjd. Poke, Easton, Craig, cruise and potentially Bodin are all making the squad more competitive, and if eunan does stay, we could have the makings of another good side. Now, if only somebody would take Macklin off our hands!!!! Conversely I would love to think Maklin would create even more competition. For whatever reason only he can answer he has wasted an opportunity and a great deal of time in the last two seasons. But to right him off now could be a mistake. Last chance and rightly so - he may be a surprise package if he gets his head right. Pretty sure Lingy knows as most of us do that IF it is a 70 k deall its a great investment for us he is a an undoubted talent and could reap profit for the club in the future. Some keen wheeling and dealing going on the like of which is pretty unheard of at this club.
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Post by bristolgull on Jul 2, 2012 11:57:52 GMT
Fair point about Macklin petef, he's certainly drinking in the last chance saloon so to speak! I just feel that there must be something fundamentally wrong when he has been so marginalized in the past year or so. It would be great if he responded to ling's verbal kick up the backside, sadly I just don't see it happening. Great if I'm proved wrong though!!!
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jul 3, 2012 6:16:12 GMT
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