Torquay United Fans Forum

again, i think Ling is playing things pretty well, and sensibly. All the players have got 45mins under their belt in the last couple of games, now over the next two matches, each will get 70mins. All building up nicely to match fitness, and ensuring he has a full squad ready to pick from on the opening day, knowing they'll all be ready for the full 90mins. good management again Mr Ling, well done sir !

I'd not worry about things like our best XI, this is much more about fitness than anything else, which is why those who do the short shirf today will do the long haul on Saturday. Draw no inference from the line ups from tonight's match and which players play how much time, this is a fitness exercise, nothing more, nothing less.

This, actually, is what bemuses me about Premier League QPR playing a team such as Tavistock. They will have got nothing out of it, not even a work out, because it will have been so easy (as a 13-0 scoreline suggests) that the players will barely have had to break sweat. Equally, they are so vastly superior to their hosts in terms of skills, that the manager will learn absolutely nothing about his players, either.

Matt.

Took me a while to get to the OS and work out what this thread was on about exactly. :Oops:

This implies to me that Ling still doesn't know his best 11. In a way this is good because it means everyone needs to perform and he's open to someone making a claim for a position based on their performances, but as suggested above it also means the players who will be taking the field against Burton will have had less game time together. Hopefully this won't tell against us come the big day.

Here's the link: http://www.torquayunited.com/page/Previ ... 46,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well, I think 70 minutes does what you highlight there. From now we should see more of your complete starting 11 playing together, with the reserves(ish) starting Saturday.

I can totally understand why that is happening and have no problem with lengthening the time players play to get them more match fit.

My only comment is that we need to start getting the defence used to playing with each other and therefore I'd like to see the starting 5 (or 4/6 if we are playing another formation) including the keeper, playing more together so they can start building up an understanding - which is essential in defence so everything becomes second nature

Maybe it is because he isn't sure who his starting centre backs are - I must admit i wouldn't know who to pick without more info at this point.