Torquay United Fans Forum

Come on guys and girls. I'm as frustrated as the next person, but let's not start cutting our nose off to spite our face by boycotting the game. Buckle and the players need our support and although the club have screwed up on 'Ticketgate', which I agree is an unacceptable shambles, we don't want to head to Old Trafford with a dark cloud hovering above our heads.

I'll be there, and if I'm cramped next to the corner flag, or have a block to myself, I'm not going to let this cock-up ruin my experience of hopefully toasting a second promotion in three years.

I'd be seriously concerned if Kevin Hill was being considered. I assume if Buckle leaves he will take his backroom team with him, but perhaps if the board offered North or Veysey the job, they would be tempted to branch out on their own.

To be honest, I can see us getting a lot of experienced applicants and with some out-of-work managers desperate to get back into the game, it may not take much money to attract them to the club. They can't afford to be too picky.

Branston
Robertson
Tomlin
Nicholson
Lathrope

Thought the centre-backs were outstanding.

I believe he is planning to be at Shewsbury on Friday night for the second leg so that can only be good news. Could all depend on Buckles future, though.

I'm your biggest fan I'll follow you until you love me, Su-per, Su-per Stan-ley.

Still think it's too early to be speculating about a replacement. Buckle has a habit of massaging his own ego in interviews (nothing wrong with that) and has previously upset fans with comments to the media. He's putting himself in the shop window, but that doesn't mean he''ll be off as soon as the play-offs finish. Of course, this could all be a cunning plan to pressure the board into giving him a raise and higher playing budget, though, I do fear this is wishful thinking.

I'd be disappointed to lose Buckle, but wouldn't blame him if he wanted to move on. I just wish he'd have avoided answering questions about vacant jobs when our season isn't yet over. When he does eventually go, I can see most of the backroom team following in his footsteps. And that too is a worry. Losing North, Davey, Veysey and Milton would be a huge blow to the club. He can try and take the likes of Zebroski but I'd hope the club would be holding out for more money than Benyon because he's a more important player. Perhaps the reason he hasn't offered Branston a contract is because he's hoping to poach him on a free in the summer should he leave. Unlikely but it crossed my mind.

stevegull wrote:Agree with most of what has been said, fairplay for coming on here to say something about it as well, Shrews fan.

Definitely think this one is far from over. I would have been a lot more happy had we secured a third goal, but i think i heard some stat (correct me if i'm wrong!) that it has been 17 years since a team in league two has overturned a 2-goal deficit to get to the final.

The first goal on friday will be crucial, could start the play-off final party for us, or could light up that Shrewsbury attacking flair which has been seen in the league this season. However, i think more credit does have to be given to Torquay, people are saying it's Shrewsbury who didn't play well, but as someone said earlier, that could just be Buckle's game plan working well and stifling the Shrewsbury threat, which i think we did very well today, they got harried into playing hoffball at times and Branno and Robbo can deal with that against most at this level, even that rangey Matt Harrold up top, who tbh i thought looked quite lethagic at times.

All that being said, i think we are still in for a tough friday!

Find out who that team was on the 'Remember, remember' thread, started by Highweekgull...

Ironically, Buckle played in that play-off with Preston. Bruno decking that idiot Raynor didn't help our cause. But if you're going to punch anybody...

Tomlin
O'Kane
Branston
Zebs
Robbo

How good was Tomlin? One of the best individual displays I've seen this season. Combined really well with Zebs and was very unselfish. Unlike Robinson, who was shooting a little too much for my liking and was too desperate to prove a point.

Branston and Robbo were excellent at the back, Mansell remains the weak link in defence (excluding Bevs whose confidence looks shattered) and misses Zebs in front of him. My biggest worry was the centre of midfield, but Lathrope played well and O'Kane was outstanding. Passed the ball really well and was far superior to Wroe who has a habit of hiding when things aren't going his way. That said, he didn't deserve the jeers.

Still unconvinced with Kee out wide, but I wouldn't change anything for the second leg. Got a text from a Norwich-supporting mate after the match. Not to congratulate us on the result, but to say, "How cool does Hargreaves look?"

The idea that Gas and Buckle would want to work together is plausible. Despite now being in the same ocean, they are a bigger fish. Certainly not a shark, but probably an Atlantic Cod if we were a plaice. They could probably offer Buckle an increased salary and higher playing budget and it would be easier to attract players. However, the timing makes me sceptical.

Buckle's stock will rise tenfold if he takes us up again. Leading little old Torquay from the Conference to League One in four seasons would be an incredible achievement and would be noted by chairmen higher up the pyramid. Buckle is an ambitious bloke and another promotion on his CV would make him worthy of a job bigger and better than Rovers. So the suggestion that he is holding talks with them a few days before our play-off semi-final makes absolutely no sense. Even if Rovers wanted him, I'd be shocked if Simon Baker let our manager talk to a rival at such a crucial stage of our season. I don't think any board members would stand in Buckle's way should another club show serious interest, but they would be barking mad to allow him to discuss terms four days before we host the Shrews.

I wouldn't pay any attention to the odds. It's such a small market that it would only take a few bets to shift the price. He was odds-on for the job in January which tells you that there can be smoke without fire. If he lives in the Bristol area, then there could a be a number of reasons why he was spotted at the Mem by that Rovers fans' mate's brother's security guard's dog. Buckle will eventually leave. Probably soon than later. But he hasn't worked this hard for 46 games to then jolly on up to Bristol and open talks with them when he has a play-off campaign to prepare for - one that will not only impact Torquay's future, but also his own.

I'm sure he'll get picked up by a League club if he wants to move and/or Lincoln want him off the wage bill. I'd still take him back despite what has gone on, not that I ever expect him to make a return to Plainmoor.

Zebs
Nicholson
Potter (for pretending to hurdle around the track prior to kick-off)

Never felt so many emotions before in 90 minutes. Was unbearable at times in the second half. If we go on and get promotion then the Chesterfield XI will join Shane Duff and Dave Bamber on my Christmas card list. It really is a magnificent achievement and the club have exceeded all expectations this season. We've certainly limped over the line and a helping hand from others, but to finish in the play-offs is quite remarkable.

As for the game, it was the worst performance I can remember this season. We were utterly dreadful. The pitch was quite bobbly, but that can be no excuse. The scoreline certainly didn't flatter our opponents who will probably be wondering how the heck we still have a shot at League One football next season. I can't provide a full match analysis as I didn't take my binoculars, but the three goals we conceded were terrible defensively. All should have been dealt with. Apart from an early Robinson piledriver which was palmed behind for a corner, the only player who looked threatening was the outstanding Zebroski. He grabbed our equaliser on the counter after a tidy angled shot low across the keeper following Robinson's through ball. And after throwing away that effort within minutes of the restart, Zebs had an identical chance which he spooned wide. We didn't work the keeper at all in the second half. Zebs was getting in behind the defence and had a penalty appeal turned down, but we lacked any composure, Tomlin wasting a glorious opportunity to put Kee in when we outnumbered their defence. Rotherham were fortunate to finish with 10 men. Zebs or O'Kane (they look alike so I can be forgiven...), knocked the ball past the last defender, but was obstructed in his dart towards goal. The referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, but only flashed a yellow card. However, that shouldn't hide how bad we were today. If we play like that against the Shrews, then the 5-0 scoreline may be repeated, but the goals will be in the opposite column.

Zebs was easily our MOTM. The only other player (won't include subs) that I thought looked solid was Nicholson. The rest were all below-par. I can't make my mind up whether we were leggy and the season has caught up with us, or if were so confident that results would go for us that we thought we could put in such an inadequate display. Our 11-game unbeaten run may have come to an end, but I'm more worried that we've not won any of our last five. The biggest concern has to be the centre of midfield. Stanley was watching from the bench and he was badly missed. Lathrope and Oastler both have a lot of potential, but they were run ragged today and I'm not sure they're ready for the deep end, because they were crying out for Buckle to fling them a float. They are very similar players too which doesn't help and neither offers much support going forward. I'd like to see Mansell moved back into midfield (which is where he finished the game). We need his experience and drive. He was a weak link for the second successive away game at right-back. I didn't have enough fingers to count how may times he was beaten.

One last thing (and sorry to end on a sour note). For the first time ever, I moved seat at HT as I was embarrassed to be sandwiched in between some members of the Backstep Yellow Army Ultras. I prefer to stand and have enjoyed many away experiences when positioned close to their HQ. But not today. The atmosphere was great to begin with. All positive and cheery. But those knives came out as soon as the chips were down. After half-hour and at 1-0 with results going against us, there were the disgruntled moans of '4-4-2', and 'Sort it out Buckle'. The same people were singing 'Ring a Ring o' Roses', holding hands and chanting 'Paul Buckle's Yellow Army' an hour later, despite us now being 3-1 down. Fickle. Then there's the fact that half of the songs were aimed at the empty seats, well the Rotherham fans, instead of the team. Is there any need to shout out things like 'You f****r your nan' and 'Shut up you dirty nothern c**t'? It doesn't make you look big or clever. It makes you look a complete tool. But the final straw was when a few (I should point out that it was only a handful that grated me) turned on their own with shouts of 'Why be quiet when you've travelled all this way?' or 'Stand up and show some support' to other fans who were ignoring their demands to rise when requested. If you want to stand and sing for 90 minutes then that's perfectly fine. But so is sitting quietly and enjoying the game if that's what some supporters prefer. Just because you're in fancy dress and sing about Joe Barlow being a paedophile, it doesn't make you a better supporter than someone who is sat down at the front away from the noise and concentrating on the game. Bah! Humbug!

Fletch wrote: Dont see why not. Any other footie/interesting sports stuff on the Friday night?

Normally egg-chasing and oiled-up men wrestling in pants.

They could always put one of them 'on the red button' like they do with the Champions League group stage games. Still too early to be thinking about that though... (the Champions League).

Unbeaten in 11 and five clean sheets in our last six. Frustrating that's we've drawn our last four, but anything can happen and at least we've taken it to the last day. Our goal difference could see us limp over the line if results go our way. Nobody can say whether this is a positive/negative result until 5pm tomorrow.