The Capital One Cup campaigns of Yeovil Town and Plymouth Argyle both came to an end as they went down against higher league opposition.
Yeovil, famed for the cup giant-killing exploits during their non-league days, came close to causing an upset against West Bromwich Albion.
Reuben Reid gave the Glovers an early lead against one of his former clubs, but the Baggies struck back through Chris Brunt before Shane Long gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Early in the second half, Reid bagged a second before Yassine El Ghanassy edged the Baggies ahead with a shot that deflected in off Team GB defender Craig Dawson before Long added a fourth to complete his brace.
Reid’s former club, Plymouth Argyle, also bowed out despite putting up brave resistance against Championship side.
After 90 minutes, the match, which saw Pilgrims boss Carl Fletcher pit his managerial wits against his former Bournemouth teammate, Eddie Howe, remained level at 1-1, after a late Robbie Williams penalty cancelled out Charlie Austin’s opener for the Clarets, thus forcing the tie into extra time.
Following the 30 minutes time added, the scores still remained equal and the tie was eventually settled by a penalty shoot out.
The Clarets came out on top, winning 3-2 as Brian Stock converted the decisive spot-kick after keeper Brian Jensen had saved three Argyle penalties. Matt Lecointe and Maxime Blanchard were the successful spot-kick takers for the Pilgrims.
Wednesday 29 August 2012
Monday 27 August 2012
A TALE OF TWO DEBUTS
The date August 25th 2012 will go down as the day Torquay United recorded their first win of the 2012-13 campaign, against Rochdale.
It will also be remembered as the date Niall Thompson and Nathan Craig made their debuts for the Gulls.
Niall, a first year pro at 18, started the game and played 75 minutes, whilst Nathan came off the bench for the last ten minutes as Torquay beat their East Lancashire opponents 4-2.
When Torquay axed their youth scheme in 2004, a system that had unearthed the likes of Mark Loram, Robbie Herrera, Lee Sharpe, Darren Moore, Garry Monk and Mike Williamson, it seemed as though the Plainmoor talent well had run dry.
However, the newly relaunched youth set up, which came into being in 2007, is starting to bear fruit following Niall's promising showing of in his first league outing.
The youngster had previously been used as a substitute against Championship side Leicester City in the Capital One Cup by Martin Ling, who was quick to praise his young charge.
"Niall Thompson had one of those debuts you dream about, it could have gone either way for him, but it went the right way and he was outstanding:" said Ling.
"I've not seen many better in terms of debuts, the lad has got to move onto the next level and keep on going.
"He's got something that we all dream about and that's scintillating pace."
Niall, who hails from Derby, is one of four youth products in the Gulls squad alongwith Kirtys MacKenzie, Ashley Yeoman and Saul Halpin.
Also making his first appearance in a Torquay United shirt in the Gulls' victory over Rochdale was Nathan Craig when he came on as a substitute for Billy Bodin.
Whereas Niall had progressed through the youth ranks at Plainmoor, Nathan's journey to South Devon was similar to that of the recently departed Eunan O'Kane, who made the switch from Torquay to AFC Bournemouth in the summer for a fee of £175,000.
Like Eunan before him, Nathan had been on the books of Premiership side Everton and had received international recognition with Wales at youth and Under-21 level with Wales, just as Eunan had been capped up Northern Ireland, prior to his switch to the Republic.
Nathan's teammates in Brian Flynn's young Dragons side included Darcy Blake, Neil Taylor and Andy King, all of whom have since earned full international honours, and despite being the youngest player in the side, at 19, he was handed the responsibility of taking all of the team's set pieces.
In the 2010-11 season, he was also handed his debut for the Toffees by David Moyes in a Europa League game against BATE Borisov.
However, at the end of the campaign, Nathan was released by Everton and on leaving Goodison Park, he encountered a number of the issues which had faced Eunan O'Kane had also encountered as many lower league clubs, now operating on tighter budgets in the recession, weren't prepared to give the time to nurture and develop his talents.
He was then forced to return to roots and signed for his hometown club, Lock Stock Welsh Alliance side, Caernarfon Town.
Luckily for Nathan, Martin Ling was alerted to his talents, in a similar way that Paul Buckle was tipped of about the talents of Eunan O'Kane after he returned home to Ireland to play for Coleraine, and he was offered a six-month deal until the end of the 2011-12 campaign.
During this time, he significantly expressed Ling enough to be offered a two-year deal, which will keep him at Plainmoor until the end of the 2013-2014 season.
Although both Niall Thompson and Nathan Craig may have taken different routes to join Torquay United, the pair both made their debuts on the same day and their time at Plainmoor could yet play a crucial role in helping to kickstart their careers in the game.
It will also be remembered as the date Niall Thompson and Nathan Craig made their debuts for the Gulls.
Niall, a first year pro at 18, started the game and played 75 minutes, whilst Nathan came off the bench for the last ten minutes as Torquay beat their East Lancashire opponents 4-2.
When Torquay axed their youth scheme in 2004, a system that had unearthed the likes of Mark Loram, Robbie Herrera, Lee Sharpe, Darren Moore, Garry Monk and Mike Williamson, it seemed as though the Plainmoor talent well had run dry.
However, the newly relaunched youth set up, which came into being in 2007, is starting to bear fruit following Niall's promising showing of in his first league outing.
The youngster had previously been used as a substitute against Championship side Leicester City in the Capital One Cup by Martin Ling, who was quick to praise his young charge.
"Niall Thompson had one of those debuts you dream about, it could have gone either way for him, but it went the right way and he was outstanding:" said Ling.
"I've not seen many better in terms of debuts, the lad has got to move onto the next level and keep on going.
"He's got something that we all dream about and that's scintillating pace."
Niall, who hails from Derby, is one of four youth products in the Gulls squad alongwith Kirtys MacKenzie, Ashley Yeoman and Saul Halpin.
Also making his first appearance in a Torquay United shirt in the Gulls' victory over Rochdale was Nathan Craig when he came on as a substitute for Billy Bodin.
Whereas Niall had progressed through the youth ranks at Plainmoor, Nathan's journey to South Devon was similar to that of the recently departed Eunan O'Kane, who made the switch from Torquay to AFC Bournemouth in the summer for a fee of £175,000.
Like Eunan before him, Nathan had been on the books of Premiership side Everton and had received international recognition with Wales at youth and Under-21 level with Wales, just as Eunan had been capped up Northern Ireland, prior to his switch to the Republic.
Nathan's teammates in Brian Flynn's young Dragons side included Darcy Blake, Neil Taylor and Andy King, all of whom have since earned full international honours, and despite being the youngest player in the side, at 19, he was handed the responsibility of taking all of the team's set pieces.
In the 2010-11 season, he was also handed his debut for the Toffees by David Moyes in a Europa League game against BATE Borisov.
However, at the end of the campaign, Nathan was released by Everton and on leaving Goodison Park, he encountered a number of the issues which had faced Eunan O'Kane had also encountered as many lower league clubs, now operating on tighter budgets in the recession, weren't prepared to give the time to nurture and develop his talents.
He was then forced to return to roots and signed for his hometown club, Lock Stock Welsh Alliance side, Caernarfon Town.
Luckily for Nathan, Martin Ling was alerted to his talents, in a similar way that Paul Buckle was tipped of about the talents of Eunan O'Kane after he returned home to Ireland to play for Coleraine, and he was offered a six-month deal until the end of the 2011-12 campaign.
During this time, he significantly expressed Ling enough to be offered a two-year deal, which will keep him at Plainmoor until the end of the 2013-2014 season.
Although both Niall Thompson and Nathan Craig may have taken different routes to join Torquay United, the pair both made their debuts on the same day and their time at Plainmoor could yet play a crucial role in helping to kickstart their careers in the game.
Friday 17 August 2012
SOUTH WEST TRANSFER ACTIVITY
Ins: Jamie McAllister
(Bristol City), Reuben Reid & Keanu Marsh-Brown (Oldham Athletic), James
Hayter (Doncaster Rovers) Marek Stech (West Ham United), Sam Foley (Newport
County), Rohan Ince (Chelsea) Loan, Lewis Young & Byron Webster (Northampton
Town), Nathan Ralph (Peterborough United), Gozie Ugwu (Reading) Loan
Outs: Paul Huntington
(Preston North End), Andrew Williams (Swindon
Town ), Bondz N’gala (Stevenage), Billy
Gibson (Cambridge United), Kieran Agard (Rotherham United)
Torquay United:
Ins: Ryan Jarvis
(Walsall), Craig Easton (Unattached), Michael
Poke (Brighton & Hove Albion), Thomas Cruise (Arsenal), Billy Bodin (Swindon Town ),
Aaron Downes (Chesterfield
Outs: Bobby Olejnik (Peterborough United), Mark Ellis (Crewe Alexandra), Eunan
O’Kane (AFC Bournemouth, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner (Luton
Town ), Ed Palmer (Kettering
Ins: Pat Baldwin
(Southend United), Craig Woodman (Brentford), Kevin Amankwaah (Rochdale), Jamie
Cureton (Leyton Orient), Matt Oakley (Leicester City), Arron Davies
(Northampton Town), Tommy Doherty (Bath City)
Outs: Daniel Nardiello
& David Noble (Rotherham United), Troy Archibald-Henville (Swindon Town),
Richard Logan (Wycombe Wanderers), Lenny Pidgeley (Newport County), James Dunne
(Stevenage), Billy Jones (Cheltenham Town), Callum Goss (Manchester United),
Callum McNish (Braintree Town), Tom Nicholls (Hereford United) Loan
Ins: Paris Cowan-Hall
(Woking), Jamie Lowry (Chesterfield), Rene Gilmartin (Watford), Andres Gurreri (Burton
Albion), Rhys Griffiths (Port Talbot Town), Johnny Gorman (Wolves) Loan,
Outs: Damien Johnson (Fleetwood Town ),
Luke Daley (Lincoln City ), Simon Walton (Hartlepool
United)
SEASON PREVIEW # LEAGUE TWO
For the first time in
over ten years, all three of Devon’s professional sides, Exeter City
Each club has
experienced ups and downs during that time. The Pilgrims have won two
promotions (2002 & 2004) and back-to-back relegations (2010 & 2011),
coupled with a financial meltdown which saw the club’s players and staff go
unpaid during a lengthy spell in Administration.
Torquay United have
both enjoyed promotions from League Two and both have experienced relegations
from the Football League before making glorious returns via the Play-Offs.
Now all three side’s
have different ambitions going into the 2012-13 campaign.
After missing out in
the Play-Off Semi-Finals last season, Torquay United will be looking to go one
better this time around.
Following the
departures of Bobby Olejnik, Mark Ellis and Eunan O’Kane, moves which have
earned the Gulls £555,000, manager Martin Ling has moved to bring in Billy
Bodin, for £70,000 from Swindon Town, Ryan Jarvis, Craig Easton, Thomas Cruise,
Michael Poke and Aaron Downes.
Overachievement is a
word that has been used to describe Torquay’s achievements in recent seasons,
they have finished 7th and 5th in the last two campaigns
and were still in with a shout of automatic promotion up until the final day of
the 2011-12 season.
However, if the Gulls
can unearth a 25-30-a-season combination between a forward roster that includes
Rene Howe, Jarvis and Bodin, probably the best collection of strikers seen at
Plainmoor since the automatic promotion winning side of 2004-when then manager
Leroy Rosenior could have called upon David Graham, Jo Kuffour and Martin
Gritton-then Torquay could be set for another Play-Off challenge.
Following their
relegation last term-after finishing 8th in League One the season
before-Paul Tisdale is facing a rebuilding job at St James Park after seeing a
number of his star performers, including Daniel Nardiello, David Noble and Troy
Archibald Henville to name but a few, leave the Grecians.
Nevertheless, Tisdale
has developed a fine reputation for developing young players in recent years and
it would not be a huge shock to see midfielder Liam Sercombe follow in the footsteps
of Dean Moxey, George Friend and Dan Seaborne and leave St James Park for
bigger things this season.
In future years, he
could be joined on the list by Scott Bennett and Elliot Frear.
A mid-table finish
looks most likely for the Grecians at this stage, who have also added plenty of
know how to their squad in the shape of Kevin Amankwaah, Craig Woodman and the
returning Matt Oakley and Jamie Cureton.
Meanwhile, Plymouth
Argyle manager Carl Fletcher will be looking to continue the rebuilding job he
started last season after taking over from Peter Reid. At the time of his
initial appointment, the Pilgrims only had one point to their name and were
still in Administration.
At this point Fletcher
himself had been set to lead the players on strike after they were forced to
defer their wages during the lengthy Administration process, which was finally
resolved in October last year when James Brent completed his takeover of the
club.
During the close
season, the Pilgrims said goodbye to captain Simon Walton who returned north to
sign for Hartlepool United. He has since been replaced as captain by
experienced defender Darren Purse.
Other new arrivals
Newquay born midfielder Jamie Lowry, striker Paris Cowan-Hall, Andres Gurreri,
the first South America player ever to sign for the Pilgrims, goalkeeper Rene
Gilmartin, Rhys Griffiths, a fireman who has topped the League of Wales scoring
charts for the last seven years and loanee midfielder Johnny Gorman.
With Purse, Frenchman
Maxime Blanchard and Curtis Nelson to choose from in the centre of defence, the
Pilgrims are likely to be a difficult side to beat, especially at Home Park,
but the main target for Fletcher will be to continue to build solid foundations
to help the Pilgrims move forward in the future.
Youngsters Luke Young
and Matt Lecointe will also be looking to continue to build on the promise they
both showed last season.
SEASON PREVIEW # LEAGUE ONE
If you were to turn
the clock back ten years, Gary Johnson was plotting Yeovil Town
Fast forward to 2012
and Johnson, who returned to Huish
Park
In strikers James
Hayter and Reuben Reid, the Glovers have a strike partnership which is capable
of scoring goals in League One. Reid has led a somewhat journeyman career since
he left Plymouth Argyle in 2008 with a career that has seen him take in spells
at Rotherham United, West Bromwich Albion and Oldham Athletic amongst others.
However, a hat-trick
against the Pilgrims in the Glovers’ 5-0 win over the Devon side illustrates
that the Bristol born, but Somerset educated (he is a former pupil of Millfield
School), has the potential to fill left by the departure of last season’s
leading scorer, Andrew Williams, to Swindon Town.
Elsewhere, the Glovers
have also acquired their first full-time number one choice keeper since 2009 in
the form of Czech Marek Stech, who was one of several on loan custodians used
by Yeovil last season, who joined the club permanently following his release by
West Ham.
Loan signings Rohan
Ince and Gozie Ugwu, signed from Chelsea and Reading
One person who will be
looking to make a big impression this season is Johnson himself.
Since he first left Huish Park
in 2006 to take charge of Bristol
City
His spell at Ashton
Gate, which included a promotion from League One in 2007, was followed by
indifferent spells at Peterborough United and Northampton Town
In recent seasons, the
Glovers have found themselves competing against a number of ‘fallen giants’,
such as Leeds United, Leicester City, Norwich City, Charlton Athletic,
Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday.
However, this season,
Npower League One will be a more level playing field as the only clubs fitting
the aforementioned criteria being Sheffield United; last season’s losing
Play-Off finalists, Coventry City and Portsmouth Portsmouth
This could open up
opportunities for smaller clubs like Yeovil to challenge for a top half finish,
or depending on form and injuries, they could emulate the achievements of their
2006-07 side who, under the guidance of Russell Slade, reached the Play-Off
final.
Wednesday 15 August 2012
FLETCHER SET TO FACE FORMER TEAMMATE IN CAPITAL ONE CUP
Carl Fletcher's reward for steering Plymouth Argyle to victory over Portsmouth in the Capital One Cup is a trip to Burnley in the second round and a chance to pit his managerial wits against his ex Bournemouth teammate Eddie Howe.
The Pilgrims defeated Portsmouth 3-0 with goals from Johnny Gorman, Paris Cowan-Hall and Nick Chadwick which ensured their passage into the next round.
Both Fletcher and Howe played together for the Cherries at the turn of the century and this connection proved useful to Fletcher last season when he brought Alex MacDonald to Home Park on loan from the Clarets.
Yeovil Town also joined the Pilgrims in the next round as they defeated fellow League One side Colchester United 3-0 at Huish Park. Defender Richard Hinds bagged a brace before Keanu Marsh-Brown added a third.
The Glovers will play host to Premiership side West Bromwich Albion in round two, a tie that will see new signing Reuben Reid face one of his former clubs.
Exeter City and Torquay United both exited the competition as they both succumbed to home defeats at hands of Championship opposition.
The Grecians were beaten 2-1 by Exeter City in a game that saw former City starlet Dean Moxey return to face his former club and Torquay went down 4-0 against a highly fancied Leicester City at Plainmoor.
The Pilgrims defeated Portsmouth 3-0 with goals from Johnny Gorman, Paris Cowan-Hall and Nick Chadwick which ensured their passage into the next round.
Both Fletcher and Howe played together for the Cherries at the turn of the century and this connection proved useful to Fletcher last season when he brought Alex MacDonald to Home Park on loan from the Clarets.
Yeovil Town also joined the Pilgrims in the next round as they defeated fellow League One side Colchester United 3-0 at Huish Park. Defender Richard Hinds bagged a brace before Keanu Marsh-Brown added a third.
The Glovers will play host to Premiership side West Bromwich Albion in round two, a tie that will see new signing Reuben Reid face one of his former clubs.
Exeter City and Torquay United both exited the competition as they both succumbed to home defeats at hands of Championship opposition.
The Grecians were beaten 2-1 by Exeter City in a game that saw former City starlet Dean Moxey return to face his former club and Torquay went down 4-0 against a highly fancied Leicester City at Plainmoor.
Wednesday 8 August 2012
BODIN CALLED UP FOR WALES UNDER-21'S
Torquay United will have to make do without the services of summer signing Billy Bodin for their opening competitive fixture of the season after he was selected in the Wales Under-21 squad to face Armenia.
Bodin, who joined the Gulls from Swindon Town for £70,000 during the close season, will miss Torquay's Capital One Cup clash with Leicester City next Tuesday before returning to the Gulls squad for their opening league encounter at Fleetwood Town.
Gulls boss Martin Ling was disappointed to lose Billy's services, especially after he scored the equalising goal in Torquay's 1-1 draw with Premier League side Stoke City on Monday night, which marked the opening of Bristow's Bench.
“He will be away from Sunday to Wednesday and that’s why he only played half-hour against Stoke and he will do the same at Weston-super-Mare on Friday." said Ling.
“It is a little bit disappointing to lose him, especially when you look at the goal against Stoke and some of his touches were very good, but he will be ready for the league campaign at Fleetwood.”
If selected, Bodin will become the second contracted Torquay United player to play Wales Under-21's after Alex Lawless, who was selected in February 2006.
The qualfier will be played at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on 15th August 2012 and the full squad is as follows:
Bodin, who joined the Gulls from Swindon Town for £70,000 during the close season, will miss Torquay's Capital One Cup clash with Leicester City next Tuesday before returning to the Gulls squad for their opening league encounter at Fleetwood Town.
Gulls boss Martin Ling was disappointed to lose Billy's services, especially after he scored the equalising goal in Torquay's 1-1 draw with Premier League side Stoke City on Monday night, which marked the opening of Bristow's Bench.
“He will be away from Sunday to Wednesday and that’s why he only played half-hour against Stoke and he will do the same at Weston-super-Mare on Friday." said Ling.
“It is a little bit disappointing to lose him, especially when you look at the goal against Stoke and some of his touches were very good, but he will be ready for the league campaign at Fleetwood.”
If selected, Bodin will become the second contracted Torquay United player to play Wales Under-21's after Alex Lawless, who was selected in February 2006.
The qualfier will be played at Wrexham's Racecourse Ground on 15th August 2012 and the full squad is as follows:
Christopher MAXWELL - Fleetwood Town
Daniel WARD - Liverpool
Kieron FREEMAN - Nottingham Forest
Ashley RICHARDS - Swansea City
Daniel ALFEI - Swansea City
David STEPHENS - Hibernians
Troy BROWN - Aldershot Town
Adam HENLEY - Blackburn Rovers
Lee LUCAS - Swansea City
Jake HOWELLS - Luton Town
Ryan DOBLE - Shrewsbury Town
Billy BODIN - Torquay United
Ashton TAYLOR - Tranmere Rovers
Jake CASSIDY - Wolverhampton Wanderers
Eliot RICHARDS - Bristol Rovers
Jonathan WILLIAMS - Crystal Palace
Tom BRADSHAW - Shrewsbury Town
Jake TAYLOR - Reading
FLETCHER BOOSTS SQUAD WITH DOUBLE SIGNING
Plymouth Argyle manager Carl Fletcher has moved to strengthen his squad ahead of the 2012-13 season with the signings of striker Rhys Griffiths and midfielder Johnny Gorman.
Welshman Griffiths, 32, has been on trial at Home Park during the close season from League of Wales side Port Talbot and is putting his career as a firefighter on hold in a bid to have one last shot at playing in the Football League.
Prior to his move to the Pilgrims, he had topped the scoring charts in the Welsh Premier League side for seven seasons in a row, firstly for Port Talbot and then for six years running with Llanelli.
Gorman, 19, who has won nine caps for Northern Ireland, joins on a youth loan from Wolves until January 6th 2013, following in the footsteps of Ashley Hemmings, who came to Home Park on loan from Wolves last season.
He also joins a number of Northern Ireland internationals who have represented the Pilgrims in recent seasons, including Tony Capaldi, Damien Johnson, Rory Patterson and current squad member Warren Feeney.
Despite only making one senior for Wolves, Gorman made his Northern Ireland debut on 26th May 2010 in a friendly against Turkey and made his competitive debut later that year against Slovenia in a Euro 2012 qualifier.
His sole senior appearance for Wolves came last March when he made a substitute appearance again Norwich City in the Premier League.
Welshman Griffiths, 32, has been on trial at Home Park during the close season from League of Wales side Port Talbot and is putting his career as a firefighter on hold in a bid to have one last shot at playing in the Football League.
Prior to his move to the Pilgrims, he had topped the scoring charts in the Welsh Premier League side for seven seasons in a row, firstly for Port Talbot and then for six years running with Llanelli.
Gorman, 19, who has won nine caps for Northern Ireland, joins on a youth loan from Wolves until January 6th 2013, following in the footsteps of Ashley Hemmings, who came to Home Park on loan from Wolves last season.
He also joins a number of Northern Ireland internationals who have represented the Pilgrims in recent seasons, including Tony Capaldi, Damien Johnson, Rory Patterson and current squad member Warren Feeney.
Despite only making one senior for Wolves, Gorman made his Northern Ireland debut on 26th May 2010 in a friendly against Turkey and made his competitive debut later that year against Slovenia in a Euro 2012 qualifier.
His sole senior appearance for Wolves came last March when he made a substitute appearance again Norwich City in the Premier League.
Sunday 5 August 2012
EX GLOVERS LOANEE HOPING OLYMPIC DISPLAYS WILL HELP EARN HIS SPURS
Despite Team GB's exit on penalties from the Men's Olympic Football tournament, former Yeovil Town loanee Steven Caulker will be hoping his displays in the heart of their defence haven't gone unnoticed by new Spurs manager Andre Villas Boas.
Caulker, 20, who spent last season on loan in the Premiership with Swansea City, was ever present for Stuart Pearce's side in the competition in a team which also featured his former Swans' teammates Joe Allen, Neil Taylor and ex-Plymouth Argyle loanee, Scott Sinclair.
Just as in his 44 league appearances for Yeovil during the 2009-10 season, when, as an 17 to 18 year-old, he never gave the impression to the Huish Park faithful that they were watching a teenager in action, his performances for Team GB didn't equate to that of a player barely in his twenties appearing in his first major tournament.
The next challenge awaiting Caulker will be to build on his performances at Old Trafford, Wembley and the Millennium Stadium during Spurs' pre-season training ahead of the start of the 2012-13 season on August 18th.
This is when he will be looking to convince AVB that he is a better bet in the centre of the Spurs defence than Jan Vertonghen, Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul or William Gallas.
Time will tell whether Caulker gets the nod or not, but he has agreed a new contract which will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2016, which indicates AVB could be prepared to give him the chance to fill the boots of the recently retired Ledley King.
Caulker, 20, who spent last season on loan in the Premiership with Swansea City, was ever present for Stuart Pearce's side in the competition in a team which also featured his former Swans' teammates Joe Allen, Neil Taylor and ex-Plymouth Argyle loanee, Scott Sinclair.
Just as in his 44 league appearances for Yeovil during the 2009-10 season, when, as an 17 to 18 year-old, he never gave the impression to the Huish Park faithful that they were watching a teenager in action, his performances for Team GB didn't equate to that of a player barely in his twenties appearing in his first major tournament.
The next challenge awaiting Caulker will be to build on his performances at Old Trafford, Wembley and the Millennium Stadium during Spurs' pre-season training ahead of the start of the 2012-13 season on August 18th.
This is when he will be looking to convince AVB that he is a better bet in the centre of the Spurs defence than Jan Vertonghen, Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul or William Gallas.
Time will tell whether Caulker gets the nod or not, but he has agreed a new contract which will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2016, which indicates AVB could be prepared to give him the chance to fill the boots of the recently retired Ledley King.
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