Torquay United Fans Forum

Sunnysideup wrote: Though Carl F started at Ballmouth, you're probably thinking of Steve F who is a legend there...Something like 600 appearances over 20 years and even a stand named after him...

Gullscorer wrote:Yep. Fletcher was a favourite at Bournemouth as a player.

Neal wrote:Who knows if its the right choice.
If he keeps us up yes
If we go down and we come up in the 1st or 2nd season yes.
If we go down to conf then have a relegation battle to stay out of conf south or get releagated to conf south then no

ferrarilover wrote:Carl Fletcher, ex-Plymouth boss?
Matt.

Gullscorer wrote:We ought to have a link to the BBC interview with Chris Hargreaves here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25642828

AustrianAntheaGull wrote:Such 'vitriol' knocking about on here about the board and the suitability of Hargreaves before a ball has even been kicked.

The board appointed Knill on the basis that he kept us up last season, was prepared to show his commitment by moving his family down and also because he was an experienced league manager. I would say that the majority of the fanbase were not necessarily happy with his appointment but believed that the football couldn't be any worse than under Ling, so they (I) went along with it with the expectation of probably mid table but some good attacking positive football. We didn't get any of what we expected and were badly let down. By Knill NOT the board. They could be accused of not conducting a proper interview process and taking the easy option but just how could they and us have known just how incompetent and unsuitable for the job Knill would turn out to be? Blaming them for Knill is idiocy just like doing so for the Hargreaves appointment.

Hargreaves is a rookie but if he brings renewed energy and vigour to the club and playing staff then we will stay up. I believe in this league he will be able to negate his lack of managerial experience with just getting us to play like we're a non league side in a cup tie. We'll get enough points to stay up IMO. A lot of our players are crap and a lot are good so if he can get the best out of the crap ones to make them ordinary and get the best out of the good ones to make them very good then we're in business.

What was the alternative? Appoint another 'been there, seen it, done it and got the t-shirt' manager who goes through the motions and doesn't either give a sh*t nor need the cash or motivation to do well? It's a big risk taking Hargreaves on but I honestly don't believe anybody else other than perhaps Martin Allen could come in and guide us to safety. We were going down anyway under Knill and the board have acted in good time to give us a fighting chance and so anyone castigating their decision for bringing in Hargreaves is a silly billy.

If we go down the board are absolved of any culpability in my opinion as they have done the right thing on 3 separate occasions already this season. Appointing Knill, sacking Knill and appointing Hargreaves. Relegation will be mainly the fault of Knill and some the fault of Hargreaves. Hargreaves is now a full time professional football manager and even though he has no experience he has convinced the board and the majority of fans that he has what it takes to get us out of a hole and so we must trust him. Failure will not exempt him from blame, he has been given a chance that only 91 other blokes have at any one time. To manage a football league club.

I trust him and I trust the board despite me criticising their lack of communication with fans at times. The board have done what is required in all these tricky circumstances including with Ling and people still have a dig. Unbelievable.

Fonda wrote:Don't agree with the first part. He's incredibly popular, and if he takes us down the blame would be given to his predecessor.

And I'm not sure what you'd expect his previous employers to say if asked? 'Yeah, we're pretty glad to see the back of his if I'm honest...?'