Torquay United Fans Forum

It is very easy for us forum members to come on the site and post are many and varied opinions as what is wrong and who is blame when things on the field are not going well, however when things are going well as they are now , i think we often forget to come along and give everyone at the club credit where it is due, many thanks for all the replies.

JamieE, many thanks, exellent run down on the diffeence between this seasons team and last, partly what i was looking for.

Think Aussie and Dave s/g point towards another positive for me, there clearly is a fantastic team spirit , and witht he team exiting along popside now, you can see just how much respect there is between the players and manager.

Definately feeling good about the Gulls situation all round :-D Coming down for the Northampton game as my Dad is at home in Kingsteignton moaning about me not visiting him in ages. I have tried to drag him to Plainmoor but, at 80 years old and almost blind I don't think he would appreciate it as he has never been interested in anything except "Ice Road truckers"!!!

Anyway, yes, there is a feelgood factor at the moment.

Sky Sports News . . . Jeff Stelling . . . and his favourite singing puppet . . .

You know where this is leading don't you ?





(8) I FEEL GOOD ! (8) (James Brown) :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5TqIdff_DQ&feature=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I think the feel good factor around the club has certainly improved considerably in the last few months after the disappointment at the events of last summer but to be fair to Paul Buckle and his "team" of last season it's fair to say that 2011 was on the whole a very good year for TUFC. In fact since that awful night last February when we got taken apart by a very average Hereford team 3-1 a quick look at our record since that time makes very impressive reading.....

In the 46 League games played since then (i.e. not including Play Off games, cup matches etc) we have won 20, drawn 17 and lost only 9 games which equates to a points total of 77. Now based on last season's final League table that would have seen us finish in 5th position, just behind Shrewsbury and only 3 points away from the 3rd and final automatic promotion spot taken by Wycombe with 80 pts. It's certainly the sort of points total that in most seasons would guarantee a play off spot and indeed Exeter actually got promoted in 2nd place with a total of just 79 pts when they went up in 08/09.

So it's fair to say that although it may not have felt like it at times - we only just scraped a 7th place finish last year and we currently lie just outside the play off spots in 8th position - it's fair to say that the form we have seen from the side over the last 12 months is indeed at the very least play off form and really not too far off top 3 form.

As things stand you can't help but feel optimistic about our chances and looking at the League table now I personally reckon it's three from four for the autos with Southend, Cheltenham, Crawley and Swindon fighting that one out and as far as the 3 remaining play off spots go I would be surprised if Shrewsbury and Gillingham aren't there but that certainly leaves the door open for one more team and I can't see any reason why it can't be us - although clearly the likes of Oxford, Burton, Rotherham and Accrington will all feel that they can fill that spot too.

It's all set up to be an interesting few months and provided we can keep the squad together and we stear clear of injuries to key players we are certainly capable of forcing ourselves into the shake up at the end of the season.

And team ethic is what beat us in the playoffs last year. Stevenage weren't great as individuals, but as a team and with Westley in charge they had a winning mentality instilled in them, which they've taken into League 1 aswell.

Pretty good summinmg up there Jamie. I can't find anything to pick holes in which surprises me after initially thinking we were a weaker proposition this time around. Team ethic over individual ability seems to be working handsomely.

[quote="forevertufc"]I think this season’s squad does not look as good on paper, as last seasons, so why are they so far ahead on points gained at this stage of the season compared to last term, are the current players better than I think? Is the standard of league 2 not so good this season? Or is it down to the manager?[/quote]

I was talking to my mate about this only last night. I agree that the squad is weaker than last year's, but the first XI is debatable. Of the 11 that was considered our best 11 at the end of last season, we have changed players in all but three positions.

Bevan, Mansell at right back, Branston, Stanley, Robinson, Kee at right wing, Tomlin and Zebroski.

Olejnik, Oastler, Ellis, Lathrope, Stevens, Bodin, Howe, Mansell in central midfield.

Baring in mind the very successful system we are playing right now, with the holding midfield allowing O'Kane the freedom to flourish, and the neccessity to have a striker that has a good touch and can play up top on their own, who would you take back?

At the back, Olejnik is a better keeper, no argument. Oastler is really starting to look like a top right back and is improving with every game. One of the debating points is Ellis or Branston. I have said in the past Ellis is a fans' favourite who endears himself to the fans due to his all action approach to defending, winning headers and throwing himself in the way of things. Branston was much the same but had the experience and nous to go with it, Ellis made mistakes and a lot of the time he was punished. This season, when you see that Branston has not performed and you take into account his age, and the way Ellis has come in and been more consistent, then it would be very hard on Mark to drop him.

In midfield, our central three are probably the reason why we are winning so many games. They have a chemistry, everyone knows their roles and they have clicked from the get-go. Lathrope was an inspired signing from the greased one in the end, he has been brilliant since his introduction this season. Mansell is much more influential in midfield, and teams that work hard and have a togetherness need a leader down the spine driving them on, and don't forget 8 goals this season. Would Stanley get back in our midfield right now? No way, in my opinion.

Howe > Tomlin

The only positions where we may be weaker is in the advanced wing positions. I think, even though he left us under difficult circumstances, I would take Zebs back to play on the right wing. I think on the right of a front three, that would suit him down to the ground. Bodin has done well this season, but Zebs was consistent for us in scoring and creating, he worked hard and this system would suit him. On the other side, Jake Robinson or Danny Stevens? Danny hasn't had a great time of it since we have got promoted, but Ling has managed to find his best position, where he isn't massively dependant on tracking back like a normal winger and having to defend at 5'3, and is in a position where when he gets the ball he can make a difference. He's scoring goals and playing well. Robinson was a selfish player, willing to shoot from anywhere whilst passing up an opportunity to build a move patiently. If he was to cut that out and be more willing to actually kick a ball with his left foot, then he may get in ahead of Danny but right now, Stevens for me.

So I would only take Zebs back personally. Our team ethic is better and as I have discussed, it's even debatable whether there is less quality in our side this year.

[quote="yellowmonkey"]I have to agree with all that has been said so far, [b][color=#BF0000]just got to hope Exeter/Yeovil get demoted[/color][/b] and Plymouth stay up what a season that would be. Looking forward to seeing the new stand and how it will improve the atmosphere in the ground.As for the players i think they have done a fantastic job this season and have enjoyed watching them play butwould like to see a more prolific goal scorer brought into the fray.[/quote]
No. We want the Gulls to be promoted with the new grandstand for next season, Yeovil and Exeter to stay up, and Argyle to stay up and to join us in League One the following season, with all three Devon clubs then getting promoted to the Championship! (I'm not raising my expectations, I'm dreaming..)

I have to agree with all that has been said so far, just got to hope Exeter/Yeovil get demoted and Plymouth stay up what a season that would be. Looking forward to seeing the new stand and how it will improve the atmosphere in the ground.As for the players i think they have done a fantastic job this season and have enjoyed watching them play butwould like to see a more prolific goal scorer brought into the fray.

People started to panic a bit when Rene got sent off because they don`t see what happens at training, just match days, and aren`t quite in the picture of who`s doing what. I can easily understand this, after the bad patch we suffered Martin and Shaun said` we don`t need to sign anyone and we will go with what we`ve got`, well given the circumstances since then I think we can safely trust our management pair and the staff they have to guide us, with confidence! This is a massively good reflection on our board`s ability to make excellent descisions, damn that felt good to type! It might take some getting used too for some folk but I feel we are in an outstanding position right now and hope it carries on!

It is true though noone else fancies us at all. We have just gone on this nice run and quietly find ourselfs outside the playoffs on goal difference.
All these worries about Rene being out have been awnsered. We did really well without him and we can do even better with him.

I would love to see us keep this up and find ourselfs just outside the automatics with a few games to go. End of the day were in control of how our season goes, if we keep winning matches then we will knock off points off anyone who slips up. Playoffs would be great again even though i will be out the country if we are in them. But like someone said even if we fall off the place and find ourselfs mid table at the end of the season i would still be happy.

Next season i am excited, New stand will fingers crossed be up. More players will be added to this very good squad. We could loose 1 or 2 but these may get us some big fees to help improve the club even more. For a little club out the way of everyone else, we are slowly buiding something that the area can be proud of once again.

Personally if we got promoted this season, i feel we could keep Bobby and O'kane. I know it is matter of time untill Eunan gets his big money move elsewhere at somepoint, but if theres any chance we can keep hold of him for longer then i would be delighted. We done on the club for getting him on a longer deal to protect that aswell.

My final thing is how the club is being run this season. Ling and the club are trying to sort deals out for players now or have been sorted. That is nice to see after last season. Dont think i could handle the summer again sitting there wondering if their going to re sign or go eslewhere. Fair play to the club its nice to see it being well run, even if there are still little issies here and there.

Good thread. I too feel better about the way the club is moving direction now. Off the pitch things seem to be improving and on it were getting excellent results! Looking at the table, we are in a good position. Nobody fancies us, no one expects us to do anything and there is no pressure for us to do so. Sat just outside the playoffs is a good place to be, there is always one team that breaks into it and if we can continue our good form there is no reason why that team can't be ourselves. I still think we are two players short of an excellent squad, but I have huge respect for Lingy right now. Keep it up lads!

[quote="yellow"]People seem to forget that Dinger had an excellent record at Orient.[/quote]

The only ones who forget that are Cambridge fans and Brucie.

People seem to forget that Dinger had an excellent record at Orient. They were promoted playing an attractive brand of football. He was a good catch for us. The fact that not everyone recognised it at the time is hardly his problem.

It seems to me that he is merely trying to recreate that success with the same style at TQ1 albeit to his credit on a tighter budget. His target for this season is consolidation, and so far we are ahead of the game.

In contrast to the previous incumbent we are starting to witness the benefits of good man management, together with a more progressive playing style combined with improved tactical awareness.

This makes us happy fans.

Simples.

[b]Edit[/b]

Oh I forgot to mention Dinger’s more honest assessments of performances, and from the OS I just read this comment from him:

[i]"We only have to get Joe and Damon Lathrope off the mark now, and then we've got everyone scoring."[/i]

Gawd bless you gaffer....

The thing most of us first noticed about the Ling style of management was how quickly he identified players best positions. We suddenly went from one of the most unblanced sides to one with specialist players for each slot in the team. How refreshing that was.

The first negative was reports of a them and us in the camp, Buckle players on one side and new ones on the other and as Aussie rightly points out that issue was addressed too. Now we're reaping the benefits and it's plainly obvious that we have a happy squad.

If we were talking in similar terms to a player swap how many would turn down £70k for Buckle and Ling in on a free? Good bit of business that.