Kevin Gallen - Ian Holloway's High Praise (and Regret)

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Plymouth Official Site - MKD TRANSFER SWOOP
IAN Holloway has admitted that missing out on recruiting veteran striker Kevin Gallen has come as a disappointing blow.
The Argyle boss offered a one-year deal to Gallen, who was released from QPR at the end of the season, but the wily striker opted to join MK Dons on a two-year contract instead.
Ollie is convinced that the length of the contract and geographical factors were key factors in Gallen's decision to join the League Two outfit, who are now managed by Paul Ince.
"It was probably more geographical than anything else I would say," said Ollie
"They have offered him two years, which I was not prepared to do at this moment in time.
"Obviously, he has got to look after his family. I am disappointed because he is a good player but I am pleased we made him an offer and made him think."
Ollie has been discussing different options with chief scout Gary Penrice, but he did concede that there are not many players with similar attributes to Gallen.
Ollie said: "Gary [Penrice] and I have discussed it for quite a while and, unfortunately, there are not may of Kevin's type around.
"He could have covered a number of different areas for us. He is a very intelligent, clever footballer with a lot of guile.
"He comes off in little pockets and holes. He sees little gaps that other people don't see and we will have a look for that type of player.
"We will also be looking at some of the ones we have got and see if they can do that job as well."
Ollie has known Gallen for a number of years, having played alongside him during his time at QPR.
Gallen is a legend at Loftus Road and he showed his class to the Green Army during his loan spell at Home Park last season.
The former England Under-21 striker scored twice in 16 appearances for the Pilgrims and Ollie will be looking for one of his current squad to step up to the plate.
Ollie said: "It has left me with a slight problem but we have got a good number of players this year. It was certainly not like this last year.
"I enjoyed working with Kevin. He is a fantastic player, a great person and there are no hard feelings.
"I played with him for a number of years and I always felt he should have played at a higher level than he did." Plymouth Official

IAN HOLLOWAY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF GARY PENRICE

This is Plymouth - PENRICE ROLE IS CRUCIAL - OLLIE CHRIS ERRINGTON
Plymouth Argyle manager Ian Holloway has underlined the importance of chief scout Gary Penrice in the club's pursuit of future success.Penrice's main responsibility is to recommend potential transfer targets to Holloway, and that will remain the case.
The 43-year-old has travelled widely, both in this country and Europe, to check out players since he was appointed as chief scout by Holloway last September.
But Holloway also wants Bristol-based Penrice to work with Argyle's strikers from time to time - in particular Rory Fallon - to develop their potential.
Fallon was a £300,000 signing from League One club Swansea City during the January transfer window, but made only five starts for the Pilgrims between then and the end of the season.
The 25-year-old scored only once, in a 2-1 defeat away to West Bromwich Albion.
Holloway said: "Gary Penrice is out and about all the time. He has done very well for me, I have to say.
"He's going to be coming down in the next couple of weeks with some of our strikers.
"I have given him the DVDs of nearly every game last season and there are one or two things he wants to talk about, particularly with Rory about what a number nine should be, rather than a number 10."
Penrice, though, will not be part of Argyle's coaching staff on their pre-season tour to Loipersdorf, Austria, from July 22 to 29.
Instead, Penrice will be scouting for new players, not only for now, but also for 2008.
Of the current Argyle squad, 16 will be out of contract next summer, including defenders Paul Connolly and Mathias Doumbe, midfielders Akos Buzsaky and Paul Wotton, plus striker Barry Hayles.
So it is possible there could be a considerable turnover in the playing personnel before the start of the 2008/09 season.
Holloway said: "His (Penrice) job is quite simple. He has got to replace every single player I have got. That might sound harsh, but he needs to be able to do that and bring me better.
"Then if I get offers (for players) from somebody, sometimes it makes sense to take £4 million for someone and then spend £300,000 on someone else and work with them, like Charlton have done over the years.
"I'm not saying we are going to be a selling club. We are not that at all. What we are trying to do is be a sensible club."
Holloway added: "I need to be very diligent and Penny needs to be out there looking because I could need a load of new players by the end of next season."
Penrice has already recommended 'five or six' young Premiership players to Holloway who could be available for loan moves next season.
Holloway said: "Obviously, we are not going to take all of them, but I need competition for places in a few areas.
"I don't think you would have to be a genius to see that Paul Connolly has had the monopoly at right-back.
"Marcel Seip could play there, Mattie Doumbe has played there and I might adapt Dan Gosling to play there. It's about having strength in depth."
Meanwhile, Holloway confirmed Argyle's five new first-year professionals will not be training with the senior squad until after they return from Austria.
"They haven't earned that right yet," said Holloway. "They have got to show me a good attitude, training with the young fellas (the club's apprentices), and we will see."
The quintet are defender Paul Kendall, midfield trio Jake Moult, Dan Smith and Martin Watts and striker Anthony Mason.
Holloway continued: "Our ambition is to try to get through pre-season without any injuries whatsoever, unless it's a knock. You can't control that." This is Plymouth