Hands off our players

[Matster]

Graham Turner announced in a Q&A session last night that there were 17 premier league scouts at a recent game.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15836279.stm

Turner revealed 17 Premiership clubs had scouts at a recent game.

But Turner said he did not intend to break up his promotion-chasing squad.

"I've had no phone calls about any player and unless it's a stupid offer, they're not for sale," he said.

"We want promotion, you only get that if you keep your best players," Turner added.

 

[shrewdchemic]

Inevitable if you're doing well in the lower leagues. Just have to hope we can hold the squad together and develop it ourselves.

Many scouts watching the Gas these days, I wonder ...?

 

[atcham jack]

i reckon there will be many scouts spies etc from premiership, championship and L1 clubs this saturday. wenger has his eyes on jamie collins. as for the gas, i understand mr therm may be at southend as well as a myriad of essex lesser clubs.

 

[Lenny]

I think he may have been exaggerating, 17 premiership scouts is everyone in the premiership minus Man United, City and Chelsea (theoretically). As well as some of our players may be playing, I doubt they'd boost Arsenal or Tottenham's squads.

 

[Matster]

'premier scouts' could include a load of freelance ones who happen to inform premier clubs as well as others

 

[shrewdchemic]

Exactly - what's a scout's purpose? To find promising footballers. How do you do that? Watch people play football. There will always be scouts around but it doesn't necessarily mean anything. I don't see why Turner would exaggerate though; he and we have nothing to gain from that.

It's easy to dismiss the prospect of L2 players making it to the Premier League but Holt, Tierney, Fox, Hart, Edwards and Wilkinson (and Gilks last season) are all playing there having played for us down here. And don't forget there'll be young loanees getting competitive games that they might be checking out. And it might be players from our opponents they're watching!

I'd also imagine that a lot of scouts aren't necessarily acting for a single club, so 17 scouts doesn't mean one from each of 17 different clubs. They might simply be scouts who've worked for Premier League clubs by recommending a player or two.

 

[Lenny]

in the article, though, it did explicitly say "scouts from 17 premiership clubs" were at the game - so all bar three.

As for not gaining anything by exaggerating - driving up competition for players who may leave in the summer, boosting the players' morale, fans' morale... I don't really know, I'm not a football manager.

 

[tinned hats]

the three other scouts have gone down to the gas!!.......for misbehaving in class!!

 

[atcham jack]

no i do not want to lose any of the squad but it is not difficult to see who may be after whom. cardiff/swansea were allegedly watching bradshaw pre season, everton and wba have players on loan and would like an exchange deal. collins ainsworth and bradshaw and wright must be targets for negotiation, although hopefully not until next summer when uncle graham will be looking to strengten his squad for L1


on the gas front i understand their groundsman is being watched by nantwich parks dept. and paul buckle is also the subject of speculation outside football. the power of prayer and miracles are looking for a new leader. nantwich parks dept are very interested in replicating the miracle sprinkler system operating on the mem.

also on the gas front it is understood 22 of the squad are available for sale, loan or any other money making ideas. matty h is not one of them but is in talks with nantwich parks dept.

floreat salopia

 

[atcham jack]

there could be some bargains in west london in january, drogba, torres, lampard, terry, to name 4. go on graham try chelse with 250 k for the lot