Torquay United Fans Forum

Scott Brehaut wrote: Does that mean that if we stay up I can come on here boasting that I was right?

I don't think many people have predicted that we will drop, just that we would get in trouble, which we have. If you predicted that we would get in trouble and stay up, then go for it, if you were one of those who said that there isn't a problem, then probably not.

...and yes, we ARE in trouble. Anyone who thinks otherwise I pity.

coley wrote:You crazy bloody lot, call yourself suppoters..You chased me off the site for being realistic a few months ago. A few others and I could see what was coming but you're too 'abusively happy clappy', probably trying to justify your entry fee. Definately in a relegation battle now, when obvious problems sorted at the time could have seen us sitting in the play offs....I just hope that we don't get what we deserve cos I'm not standing on the terraces of the likes of Cambridge and Ebsfleet again.

Yep, as a long-term lurker, I've watched the constant calls of 'don't panic, we'll be back up there soon, games in hand' deteriorate into 'playoffs were never likely, financial rebuilding in mid-table' into 'we won't go down, only gotta pick up a few wins.' This is EXACTLY the attitude that Newcastle had, problems have been obvious for months, the 'wait-and-see' attitude has, unfortunately, failed.

There is a difference between being positive all the time and being realistic about what the situation at the club is; if anything, I'd say the true supporters are the ones who aren't afraid to call it as they see things. That said, the board seem to be doing all they can at the present time, I just hope that they bring in a proven motivator and not simply the easiest option. Other than that, and perhaps a miracle loan signing or two for nothing (like I said, a miracle) all we can do is hunker down and fight for every point while doing so in the cleverest way we can, by that I mean not simply lumping the ball forward when there are no target men up front.

A great deal of this has got to come down on the players, we have, by and large, the same squad as last season, we weren't just carried by the big three we lost. Too many players (Nicho seems to be particularly prone to this recently) are taking the easy, risk-free options on the ball. I don't mean short, possession passes, if only, but the aimless, looping balls down the channels into the corners, the grandiose lofted pass that looks wonderful but doesn't achieve anything. The dedication and drive to take the 'risk' (and I say 'risk' because passing a ball is something a professional footballer should be able to do) in game play is what sorts out the fighters from the hangers-on.

Basically, it's scrap time! =D

Agree with lankyben on Thompson, never seen him play before, and he did nothing that inspired me at all, and looked nervous on the ball.

Saah (Exeter swapped their strikers sides around due to Saah having his man so embarrassingly in his back pocket, can't believe there aren't more votes for him either!)
Lathrope (can actually pass a football, recycled posession quietly but efficiently)
Mansell (very busy)
Downes (not as good as Saah, but still very impressed)
Craig (can definitely see why people want him in the middle, impressed with some of his defensive play)

forevertufc wrote:
Said before say it again Jermaine Beckford etc is just one of many plucked from the lower reaches of the non-league, we have done it in the past with C.Brandon and E.Williams, go out and have a look plenty of potential young hungry players just waiting for there chance.
.

I'll go without unearthing another Eifion Williams, if it's all the same with you.

...and for the first time in years, my excitement is tinged with nervousness. Have we REALLY been as dire as we are alleged to have been by reading the usual post-match comments on here? Last year I came to the Argyle home match and couldn't believe the low quality of football; that we won was fantastic, but it was an extremely poor match.

It seems (from what people have said) that we have an alright bunch of players, with one or two stand out performers, and that when we actually play, we put some really nice moves together, and cause teams problems, but for most matches we go out with a defensive mindset and consequently deliver (I will use kind words) 'uninspiring' football. Is this about right? Are we going to see a bit of adventure tomorrow?

Also, I'm bringing my housemate to his first EVER football match, and - partly due to having been a season ticket holder who stood with the singers in the middle for years, and also for his benefit - I'd like to stand in amongst the singers and contribute; are they gonna be in the central section to the left, or down the end near the city fans?

Hey guys, looking good, are you still gonna be in the central section on the left of the steps (as you come up them) for the City game? Hopefully gonna be there, and will be popping a friends Torquay (and football match in general) cherry, so wanna make sure we're in with the noisy feckers as per usual!!

Ah man, G was the first Torquay shirt I ever got! It was waaaay too big for me, and I got told I looked like a banana. Good times...Really not sure which kit I prefer though, to be honest...

Now, I may get some of the words wrong, bear in mind it's been almost ten years since I was anything approaching a 'regular' on the pop side, but I've seen a lot of posts regarding the fact that we don't seem to have many songs in our repertoire, I was just wondering if any of these are sung any more...

Oh Devonshire is wonderful (the call and response, usually followed into Oh Exeter is full of s**t) (saints go marching in tune)

Oh we hate Argyle, we hate Argyle

Build a bonfire (city on top, Argyle in middle)

Show me the starfish (of course, as I haven't seen the starfish inflatable in years, I'm a bit doubtful this one is still around)

One man went to war with City

We all follow the Torquay (Land of Hope and Glory tune)

Westcountry la la la

E-I-E-I-O Up the football league we go

Hello! Hello! We are the Torquay boys

Dirty northern bastards

Northerrrrrn scum, northern scum

Get into em (f**k em up)

Coooomeee oooon yooouu yellloowwsss (used to be EVERY corner or advanced throw-in)

and it's Torquay United, Torquay United FC



Apart from the starfish (oh the days, anyone remember when this was roughly? From memory I think it was around the time of Eifion Williams, Alex Watson and David Healy and that godawful 5-3-2 Wes Saunders had us playing) most of these songs are pretty timeless, SOOOOOOO is it a case of the songs being forgotten without new ones being brought in, or is it that nobody seems to want to start the chants?

COME ON BOYS!!! I was at that 2-2 at their place last time we played them, and I remember feeling great that we had got a point, let's do them in!

1st in the league after six games W4 D1 L1 F11 A4 13pts.

Picked up Pablo Counago and Quinton Fortune on free transfers, re-adjusted all of my budget from transfer fees to wages to purchase them, also signed Andre Helio (ST/LW), 18, formerly of Rochdale and Oliver Nicholas (DC), 19, formerly of Newcastle on frees. Alex Evans (DC)is a loan signing from Cardiff. I let Martin Rice go after some shocking pre-season performances.

Rene Howe has played his way into the second striker's position next to Counago, I was intending to play Bodin as a poacher next to him, and did so in pre-season, however due to Bodin being unavailable Howe got a run up front, and has been a regular scorer so far. Brian Saah started the season in defence with Robertson, but poor form has led to him being dropped, Ellis' good form has seen him keep his place in the side.

I'm playing short passing quick tempo football, and so far we've been playing some great stuff, thanks in no small part to Counago, O'Kane and Fortune. With a relatively strong pool of players to draw from, I'm confident that we can achieve our aim of a mid-table finish, if we're in with a shout of the play-offs or (dare to dream) an automatic promotion spot come Christmas then we'll give it our all, but until then it's a case of taking each game as it comes. ^.^

Awesome cheers guys, does everyone usually pack in right at the end, or take up a couple of blocks?

Hey all, a returning former popside season ticket holder here. I always used to make sure I was contributing to the singing, but it's been a while since I've been to a match, and I was wondering where all the singers are gonna be for Argyle? The boards seem to be in a bit of a disagreement whether they will be down near the away end or in the (where I remember them being) two blocks in the middle.

On a side note, I'm completely pumped for this one, I can't believe it's been almost ten years since we last played them in the league; it's also my mate's first derby match, and he loves being in the thick of it, so gotta make sure we're in a position to be contributing