Torquay United Fans Forum

I liked how down to earth Paul is, he seems like a shrewd appointment to me. When asked the question "how can we attract players down here?" he spun it in a more as a positive angle - as in players want to come down here for the lifestyle and it's about finding the ones who really want to play too. Dean added it's about buying into Torbay and South Devon as a place and as an area, and I think perhaps over the past years we've been conned by managers and people on here that Torquay is not a good place to come, live, and play football. For many who have lived all their life up in the North or London, perhaps we here can offer somewhere to get away and start again in both a personal and footballing sense.

It worked for many of course, I think back to players like Graham, Akinfenwa, Russell, O'Kane - essentially any of our key players over the years who have been originally based up country to come down here and develop into fantastic players, and turn their career around. If we pay them a sensible wage, have them look around the area and have ambition as a club, why can't we be seen as a good place to come and play football?

Thanks - possible good shout on Howell, played 36 times for Alfreton last season. Got booked when he played against us at Plainmoor. Also played when we lost up there. Looks like a Cox player, can run around a lot. He is 29 now though and if he does have a business as you say is he going to come to the south west?

[quote="yeovilgull"]Really pleased with this appointment. We have been crying out for someone with experience and a good track record at this level. I'm not overly concerned by the style of play. If the ball is getting into the box quicker and more often it should make things more exciting where it really matters providing we have players who can deal with it when the ball gets there.
A massive rebuilding job to be done and I'd settle for a steady first season providing we are well organised and difficult to beat.
Stags fans, thanks for your comments and the links. We know PC is very direct in his play but can you shed any light on his favoured formation and how he likes to set the team up? Does he go for the journeyman type of player, youngsters or a good mix?[/quote]

He likes to play 4411, but when in the league he played 3412, he will change the formation for away games at times, hes played 433 and also 4231, but his prefered is 4411 i suppose it depends on who he can bring in. The type of player hes interested in is somebody who will run through a brick wall, put 110% in, you may want to google anthony howell, hes a midfielder very good at breaking up play, athletic but cant really pass, hes great for the conference, i would be shocked if cox doesnt go in for him, he is a norringham lad, with a young family and runs a business so unsure if he'll move down.

Im very interested with who cox brings in, i know this is a very difficult time for you but trust me, your in good hands and can look up with cox in charge

Thought it was a down to earth honest and realistic interview from both Paul and Dean actually.

Very confident introduction from Paul. Don't think he will make excuses like the previous management. Good luck

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33183275 http://www.torquayunited.com/news/article/the-first-press-conference-2498784.aspx
The past is the past, and it's now the beginning of a new era. There's a long road ahead, but there's no reason why the club should not eventually reach its desired destination. And we supporters can play our part in making that happen. Really looking forward to the first game.

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I trust the shirt sponsor's insolvency sign in the background is pure co-incidence..!! :)

Currently after the months of turmoil and developments I am delighted we have a club to support. I believe we are still not in the best position but we have a chance. I believe Paul Cox is a good appointment and certainly in our position probably the best we could get. I was against CH 's tenure for several reasons but that is history and i want to look forward.
I feel far more confident that Paul Cox will develop his team to get results and if its not pretty right now i couldn't care less. I want to be back in the league and whatever it takes i will support his tactics. Maybe a little FA Cup run would nt go amiss, no pressure Paul:)

Personally, I would be behind any kind of 'kick and rush' long ball tactics if it got us results. And as has been previously mentioned; this tactic will likely suit the limited budget we have available and to be honest - this can be an incredibly effective tactic at this level, where pitches aren't always conducive to 'tiki taka' football.

If we get players like Bucks brought in that first season and play that style of direct football I think I might actually be quite happy. I'm thinking though that the players we sign may not quite be of that quality though.

We were exciting under Bucks in the first year and we were very direct. He and us did change over the next couple of years but being a more direct physical team isn't a new thing for us. In fact it'll probably suit us because we won't be able to afford the better players.

Really pleased with this appointment. We have been crying out for someone with experience and a good track record at this level. I'm not overly concerned by the style of play. If the ball is getting into the box quicker and more often it should make things more exciting where it really matters providing we have players who can deal with it when the ball gets there.
A massive rebuilding job to be done and I'd settle for a steady first season providing we are well organised and difficult to beat.
Stags fans, thanks for your comments and the links. We know PC is very direct in his play but can you shed any light on his favoured formation and how he likes to set the team up? Does he go for the journeyman type of player, youngsters or a good mix?

I am naturally very pleased, having been going on about Paul Cox for a few months as someone we should look at. Pleased with the positive reviews from Mansfield fans.

The best manager available, in my view, who has experience of this level. Hopefully, his contacts will stretch this far South West.

Really shrewd appointment in my view. Nothing is ever certain in football but someone is playing the odds here!

From what I remember reading about PC when he was at Mansfield, I think he brought with him a large number of players from the Conf North - particularly players who played under him at Eastwood - who subsequently stepped up to the Conf level and were successful. I would expect that this would be part of his remit for us, and I'm anticipating that some of our signings will be quite obscure and possibly from lower levels.

The only cautionary vibe I am getting is that recruiting players for Mansfield is far far easier than for Torquay. Lets face it, Mansfield is pretty much ideally located for cherry-picking from a football-rich geographic area. Hopefully PC can still work his magic for us.

I don't think his signings will on the face of it excite our fans (I may be wrong though) - what we need to remember is that this guy knows exactly what it takes to get out of the Conference. If he thinks an unheard of player from the Conf North is the man for us, lets give him time.

[quote="Jerry"]So called "long ball" football can be just as entertaining as "pretty" football if played well. Getting it forward to a good target man and then playing off him will result in plenty of goals which is what football is all about. I'd prefer this to aimless tiki taka with no end product.[/quote]

I agree, hit and hope is what we did most of last season. Maybe played it around the back four a bit, but then that just let's the opposition get shape, unless it's executed very well. Direct football if played well, can catch the opposition out, resulting in lots of crosses, lots of one on ones, can stretch the other side to leave players like young more space so when they pick up the ball they can spread a pass or take a pop at goal. Get rid early stops silly errors for goals against, takes the pressure off keepers, and leaves the more skillful players, your Bowmans, Briscoes and Young's to do their stuff at the right end of the pitch. We'd all love to see the Leroy years again, but I doubt that will happen, certainly not in this league.