Torquay United Fans Forum

Gullscorer wrote:In an interview when he was first appointed manager 14 months ago, CH presented his vision of expansive, passing, flowing football. A commendable ambition, if perhaps naive for a new manager in the lower divisions of football.

Today, in a preview of the Chester game, he admits the reality of the Conference: ‘A lot of the teams we’re playing are getting success by doing the ugly things and that’s the league we are in. We’re trying to do things that are sometimes a bit naive.’
http://www.torquayunited.com/news/artic ... 26203.aspx

Of necessity working with young, mostly free-transfer, players, he also perhaps understands that these youngsters, who tend to get easily discouraged when something goes against them in a game, need older, experienced heads playing alongside them to instill a calmer but tougher, more determined, never-give-up approach into their collective subconscious. Perhaps the Guy Branston type of player. These older players will not work here for free. They cost money which is currently not available to the manager.

The current season will have been a massive learning experience for CH, and the squad will finish in a safe enough position, but it will be well into next season, following the summer’s activities, budget decisions, new signings, and any changes suggested by Kelvin Thomas, before we see a new direction and change in fortunes for the club and improvements in the team. In twelve months time we should be either seeing the beginnings of some new success or be able to confidently foresee a brighter future in 2016.

Until then, the only sensible thing for the club and supporters to do is to continue to fully support CH in the work he is doing.

Burnhamgull wrote:I'm sick of hearing how CH has struggled because he's been tied by financial constraints etc.

He has struggled because he cannot motivate a team. Simple.

I've said it before on a previous thread. At this level you need to be a good coach and work with what you have, not go out and spend money bringing in new players because you can't improve the players you have. This is where CH has failed. He has a number of youngsters who have shown sparks of ability at various times this season but I truly believe CH thinks he's better than he actually is and has a stubbornness about him that reminds me of Buckle. The difference with Buckle was that he was a good coach and got his team playing a system that worked.

CH is now desperately trying different systems because after 18 months in charge (lets not forget he's also had three transfer windows) he still doesn't know what his best team is or what his best system is.

Time to go Chris and admit that this job was not for you.

Southampton Gull wrote: Correct. The fact he gets little if any service is why he hasn't scored more.

Burnhamgull wrote:I'm sick of hearing how CH has struggled because he's been tied by financial constraints etc.

He has struggled because he cannot motivate a team. Simple.

I've said it before on a previous thread. At this level you need to be a good coach and work with what you have, not go out and spend money bringing in new players because you can't improve the players you have. This is where CH has failed. He has a number of youngsters who have shown sparks of ability at various times this season but I truly believe CH thinks he's better than he actually is and has a stubborness about him that reminds me of Buckle. The difference with Buckle was that he was a good coach and got his team playing a system that worked.

CH is now desperately trying different systems because after 18 months in charge (lets not forget he's also had three transfer windows) he still doesn't know what his best team is or what his best system is.


Time to go Chris and admit that this job was not for you.

notnow wrote:bring back Ling, he's got influence.

Whose going to come here and do the biz for Hargreaves? he dose not have the contacts which play a big part. I agree everyone has to start some where, just not here Chris, sorry.

Gullscorer wrote:What we should remember is that whoever had come in as manager last year, whether CH or anybody else, they would have had the same budgetary problems and, unless they were extremely lucky, the same lack of success. And lack of success, given the financial situation at Plainmoor, does not amount to failure. The impatience and frustration of fans hungry for success is understandable, but is misplaced. Calling for CH to resign or be sacked at this stage is not the answer. We must support him and the team for what is left of the season, and then see what transpires thereafter.

Dutchgull wrote:Bowman despite all his failures is the ONLY person in this squad likely to score a goal and that is why he stays on the pitch. A sad indictment of the rest of the squad.