Torquay United Fans Forum

Jack Hobbs or Glenn Loovens would fill in at CB very nicely but i would like Chris Robertson back as he was very good , any thoughts??

Naite is on 4 yellows so another one and he misses a game

Exgull Chris Robertson available on free transfer only 32 , still got it. What about Ex Exeter city player Troy Brown heard he was trying out for bury just before they went down, would make a good addition for us,

James Baillie would make a fantastic addition to are Right defense/ WB /midfield ...only 23 but very fit, can play well and bags of potential.

We may be making the odd mistake but youth and young players will make the odd mistake as a part of their learning. I'm sure it will even out as the season progresses. Garry may even be able to get an experience defender in. It's obvious that the standard is higher but the players are up for the challenge.

What I like about tomogull is that he's been going to Plainmoor longer (perhaps far longer) than me. Before I moved back up north I was always a bit in awe of those who had seen the teams of the 50s - and I kept quiet in their presence. Dennis Lewis, like Don Mills and Sammy Collins, were always names that were regularly mentioned. Up the Codgery!

[quote=brucie post_id=242627 time=1566940439 user_id=162]
Playing the way we do with an attacking game we are always going to be slightly vulnerable defensively - as has been said you can't have it all ways. [/quote]

I agree with Brucie ...... ;-)

No Culmstock - I think I go back further than you - even further back than Wivel. Yes - I well remember John Benson. Great player. But before him, I remember Dennis Lewis who was a midfield player (wing half in those days) who was a tough tackler.

Playing the way we do with an attacking game we are always going to be slightly vulnerable defensively - as has been said you can't have it all ways.

Do you seriously think that Johnson would be interested in Gerring? Blimey if he was in our attack minded team he would be a complete liability with the lack of defensive cover.

Slow as a carthorse. Fair play to him - he is playing in a team at the top of the league but he will implode like he always does.

[quote=culmstockgull post_id=242620 time=1566926727 user_id=24376]
What I have suggested is that the twin centre half's either lack confidence or ability ...... I think I go back further than you and remember Benson, well past his best in age and legs but he could still read a ball and be in the right place without outlay of energy.
[/quote]

[quote=culmstockgull post_id=242612 time=1566916569 user_id=24376]
Kalala only knows one direction and that's forward, asking him to defend would confuse the lad totally.
[/quote]

I remember Benson too - a fine player - but the game has moved on tactically since those heady days - back then a 'false 9 position' was just a bluff call in a game of poker. Our twin centre half's don't lack confidence or ability - they we're both stalwart in the Barnet game, none more so than Niate, my MOTM and a few others supporters too.

You are right about Kalala - his confusion is his problem - until he can demonstrate an understanding of his position both on and off the ball his inconsistency will continue to be a liability.

All the above is a known by GJ and he will wave his magic wand over the cracks very quickly. This team will go from strength to strength as the season goes on. The first half of the Barnet game showed what is to come. Keep the faith!

tomogull, no, no no, never would I suggest going back to the twilight days of Owers, if I ever utter that name in the same sentence as football then you have my permission to kick me senseless.
What I have suggested is that the twin centre half's either lack confidence or ability and maybe one of them needs taking out of the firing line for a time. I would hate to get to May next year knowing persistent, avoidable mistakes in defence determined our season.
Yes, perhaps a new version of Hockley would be the answer, but that again is just putting a sticking plaster over the centre halfs , it is not solving the problem. I think I go back further than you and remember Benson, well past his best in age and legs but he could still read a ball and be in the right place without outlay of energy.
Yes, Pep may not worry about how many goals are scored against them, but we do not have that luxury of knowing we can score more.

Playing devil's advocate here so don't panic but maybe Gerring has just simply improved from when he was with us last?
I'm not pro or anti-Gerring. I couldn't give a hoot frankly.
But I do wonder if GJ is aware of his geographical location? Surely he must have taken a look at him?
GJ said in one of his interviews it is difficult finding top experienced talent because you've got to house them and they have families to relocate etc..at least that wouldnt be an issue with Gerring.

Culmstock - are you suggesting we revert back to Gary Owers mind-numbing defensive play?? Gary Johnson likes to play attacking football as MellowYellow quite rightly posts. Inevitably, this will leave gaps at the back on occasion. You can't have it all ways. I recall at the start of last season, when Pep Guardiola was asked about the number of goals Man City were conceding, he replied "I'm not too concerned as long as we keep scoring more goals than we concede". I think that sums up GJ's approach, and it makes for entertaining football that's worth the entrance money.

As PhilGull posted, since Liam Davis' return, the defence has looked stronger, and Wynter, Koue Niate, Cameron and Davis appear regularly in fans 'top five' after matches. Incidentally, last season we had the meanest defence in the league after Bath. Fans forget that, although the National League will be much more of a challenge of course.

I do agree that a midfield player in the mould of Matt Hockley would be a welcome addition.

Yesterdays goals were down to an Individual error (this time by Cameron) and a scuffed shot which took a deflection and bobbled in off the post.

Half the other goals we conceded were down to Macdonald errors. Cut out the errors and we should be ok.

I presume that anyone suggesting Gerring is joking. Experienced - so were the donkeys that use to be on Paignton Beach.

I think we need to work on looking after the ball better in front of the back four.
Kalala can't tackle and doesn't chase back with any intensity. Not his game so I accept that.
Little and Andrews arent the best at tackling either.
Andrews doesn't have the physical frame, stride length and speed to out-muscle in the middle of the park and go box to box.
He's got bags of talent but he cant change his genetics.
That's at least two, perhaps three players in front of the back four who can't break up play when our backs are to the wall.
So no wonder the defenders get exposed so much.
I think one player in the mould of Matt Hockley is what we need. Just to give a bit more grit in the centre of the park.

I think we need to defend better from the front. Reidy is a good goalscorer but I feel could work a bit harder up top - when he does it the opposition seem to make mistakes or have to launch it, when they have time it puts us under more pressure. I'd rather have reidy working his arse off for 60 mins and then bring duku on to do the same, than 90 mins of 80% effort.