Torquay United Fans Forum

In reply to the mass debate about affording promotion, I've heard this before in the '60s when we were bang on favourites to reach Division 2 (now the Championship).

Regular attendances of 9000+ and more for "Westcountry" derbies (13000+) soon dwindled down to the level they have been for 35 years or more. Learn the lesson and don't ever say "can't afford to go up".

For me, ready or not, it's promotion everytime as and when the opportunity presents itself, otherwise the club risks losing fairweather fans/core support.

Would love to see us beat Argyle for once and finish above them in the league, its about time we did them over

But of course I wouldnt turn down League One next season and a trip to City, and we owe them as well.........after that 4-1!

Fletch wrote: As long as you made it back in time for the TORBAY elections this week :na:

Trojan 67 wrote:Been out of circulation for a while but am now back. This thread appears to be the hot thread of the moment .

As long as you made it back in time for the TORBAY elections this week :na:

Been out of circulation for a while but am now back. This thread appears to be the hot thread of the moment .

Derbies ? It's Plymouth and/or Exeter. What is for sure next season (if Argyle avoid liquidation) is it's EITHER Plymouth OR Exeter.

Bristol Rovers/Yeovil/Bournemouth/Swindon/Oxford and some others are not "local derbies", they are reasonably short distances (in comparison to treks oop north) against southern/west based rivals.

There are other threads I need to read and post on. I'll be back. :devil:

It certainly wouldn't be the end of the world. There will be lots of Southern teams in League 2 next season, so the local interest would be high. It's the suggestion we're in some way 'not ready' to go up that i don't understand? What is likely to change between this summer and next to make us 'ready'? If we're waiting until we're loaded and playing in front of huge crowds, we'll be waiting forever. And who knows what's around the corner? No time like the present.

Fonda, I haven't read anywhere someone hoping we don't get promotion, just saying that looking at the incomers to League Two it wouldn't be the end of the world. If we miss out on the Play offs or get there and fail to go up it will be disappointing. But when we get over that disappointment we'll see a southern based division that could be financially rewarding. Hopefully enough so to bring in that one player who will help push us that bit further.

tommygull wrote: Of course I do but I think that getting to the play-offs with one game to go and listing the highlights of staying down isn't! Also i have a feeling that next year it may be more difficult to get promoted than this year given Crawley and a few decent tems coming down. Also i reckon Wimbledon/Luton would have a crack at automatic.

Just saying- don't take offence!

None taken tommy. I dont think that saying "By all means aim for promotion each season but dont take not getting promoted as a body blow" is being unambitious. Its realism. Nor is it unambitious to point out that if we dont go up, there will be more local(ish!) matches...

Blimey, we have come a long way if we've reached a point where we feel justified in deciding whether we want promotion or not. Winning trophies and gaining promotions is the very reason the game is played. I really hope those in charge of the club, and i include the manager and players in that don't get wind of this idea that the fans of TUFC don't even want promotion. I imagine that would come as something of a disappointment to them. 'Yeah, thanks for your efforts, but we don't want to go up anyway, so if you could ease of a little now it'd be appreciated'.

I understand Nick's point. If we fail to get promotion this season it would hardly be a catastrophe. There will be plenty of local games next season which will provide great consolation. But the club won't be harmed in any way by going up. We'll have more chance of keeping the loanee's that have had such an effect, the manager will likely be with us for that much longer. And we'll have some pretty big sides (and their support) visiting. If we aren't strong enough and come back down, how are we worse off? We just go again the year after.

We are in a great position this season. We are involved in a promotion battle, that has benefits to missing out as well as being successful. But we have to try and get up. To somehow 'opt' not to go up would be criminal. The idea we could ' voluntarily postpone' our promotion this season, in order that the club can 'grow' some more in the summer - putting us in a stronger position next season is so presumptious as to almost court failure. These chances have to be grasped when they present themselves.

Perhaps the team as it stands isn't strong enough for League 1 - so if we go up the obvious answer would be to improve it wouldn't it? Failing to do so was the mistake we made last time, so let's not repeat it. Of course it's not that simple, but if we're serious about progressing, these things have to be addressed. If the club is to develop, we have to see this as an opportunity, not something to be feared. I doubt there is another set of supporters in the country that in our position would hope their club didn't get promoted. That mindset needs to change, because we'll not get anywhere thinking that way.

forevertufc wrote:fletch.

You can rip as many holes in my opinions ..........snip.........

How do we learn if not from mistakes made in the past? That is why we can not ignore what happened the last few times.
As far as I know, no one on the board is having kittens at the thought of promotion.
There may be some who have concerns about the financial aspects, but they would not be carrying out their brief as directors if they didnt consider it.

HRG wrote:I'd be celebrating as much as anyone if we were to get to the Play offs and then go up but it won't be a bad thing not to. I want that Play off spot undoubtedly, the money for the club would be a bonus and the experience could benefit the players.
I want promotion for the club, but right now it's win win. We go up or stay where we are with a possibility of increased away support and income.

What I was trying to say in a much easier way, to be honest.

forevertufc wrote: Well i am sure our club can make such a request,however you are talking from August to Febuary,there is no way the F/L can shift that number of fixtures around just so we can have all our home local derbies after the new stand is built,there are so many consideratrions,switching fixtures around so we can have all these games at home after Feb,would effect all devon clubs,bristol,and along the m4 corridor(pardon my spelling )cant see it happening to be honest,could be wrong though.

Admittedly, a long time. But I don't think it affects that much? I know there are a huge amounts of complications regarding the compilation of the fixture lists, but it can't be that hard to give our away games at Bristol, Swindon, Argyle, Oxford in those months when we have reduced capacity?

It's a very valid reason in my opinion, it'd be disappointing if we couldn't fully take advantage of the said big followings by having 25% of our capacity taken away...

Southampton Gull wrote:Interesting choice of words there, Fletch.

Sustainable promotion? I think you're living in cuckoo land if you think any manager thinks of it in that way prior to achieving it. We all know Buckle is ambitious, do you think he is thinking of anything else except getting us promoted? His CV looks better with two promotions in three seasons than one with a view to a second sustainable one.

His CV wouldnt look too good, despite the promotions, should we be dragging our heels in the bottom 4 come next January though, when other clubs start to panic and think about a change of manager.

Southampton Gull wrote:I know where you're coming from, I fully understand there are a whole host of reasons why it might be better if we stay where we are, BUT, a club like ours doesn't get to choose these kind of situations and should make the most of it when one presents itself, to not do so could risk us standing still while others pick off our best players and leave us well behind.

Hence I said

By all means aim for promotion each season but dont take not getting promoted as a body blow.

Southampton Gull wrote:I would be perfectly happy to see us promoted and keep as many of our current players as possible. They've all shown they can compete against teams from a higher level, add a couple of loanees, maybe Michael Poke and we could have a good go at sustaining that promotion in my view.

Errr, yes and no. I would also be happy for us to go up, despite my thoughts on us dropping straight back down again. I disagree about the strength of our squad though. A couple of cup matches does not equate to playing against the same higher standard week in week out. Youve only got to look at the struggle to make the step up last season to realise that.

Southampton Gull wrote:Anyway, a far more important question, who ripped your tights and put you in such a bad mood?

Digging bloody ragwort out of the lawn always uses up my ration of good humour

Southampton Gull wrote:Whatever happens, promotion or no promotion I think there's a collective feelgood character at the club right now.

We've made huge strides already so I won't be too disappointed if we don't go up, but if the chance presents itself I feel you have to do your best to take it. I think that'll happen anyway, I also think the Board will do what's necessary if we do achieve it, if we don't make it I feel it's been a superb season, with many highs. It wouldn't be Torquay without a few lows to go with them.

I totaly agree,and do not want this feelgood factor around the club to end like you say would not Torquay without a few lows.

As said iam feeling very calm about the end to this season if the team fails to win promotion so be it,its just this "quite happy to stay in league 2 ,because we are not ready yet attitude"thats gets my goat,were Exeter ready,they survived by the skin of there teeth year 1 with a slice of very good luck..are they ready for league 1 now (mean that as a general point)

I am again meaning this generaly,that if the club want to keep hold of the young ambitous manager/players ,then should we fail this time then 2011/12 the club must set its stall out for that season to be a sort of "project promotion season" ,not saying this will happen,however anything else and can see a number of people moving on from our club.

I completely agree with the last point, not too long ago we were having a go at Claridge for saying that our 'ceiling division' was league 2. I still personally believe that we can sustain a League 1 club, we need to get the community invoved and get more younger, and regular people attending our games, and a promotion would help that.

Whatever happens, promotion or no promotion I think there's a collective feelgood character at the club right now.

We've made huge strides already so I won't be too disappointed if we don't go up, but if the chance presents itself I feel you have to do your best to take it. I think that'll happen anyway, I also think the Board will do what's necessary if we do achieve it, if we don't make it I feel it's been a superb season, with many highs. It wouldn't be Torquay without a few lows to go with them.