Torquay United Fans Forum

monkeyboy wrote:Robinson is very easy to defend against, didn't score in his last 12 matches for us and might as well have a roller skate on his left foot.

Maybe if our manager had varied the tactics occasionally (rather than only ever having a Plan A), Robinson would have been able to carry on his good form once the scouts had identified how to stop him?

That could have been dropping him for a game. Or, you know, playing him upfront for a game.

That was silly of me to say that... Buckle playing someone in their usual position? Madness.

[quote="hector"]It says on Bristol Rovers site that Buckle 'has already identified a list of players' so when he was supposed to be preparing our squad for the play-offs he was busy compiling a wish list of players for his new club. We were paying his wages to do work for Bristol Rovers. The whole saga is sickening and I only hope our 'nice' board have not been taken for mugs.[/quote]

Or not. That list of players wouldn't look like this, would it?

Branston
Kee
Zebroski
Ellis
O'Kane
Stanley
Robinson

Jerry wrote:I can't believe they haven't already signed up a replacement. They have known about this for 3 weeks and hopefully spent that time getting a replacement sorted to take the reins immediately. Due to the play offs we are already behind the rest of the division, we can't afford to hang around!

Would agree with this. I would think that what Dave is saying is correct, and that we probably have got a replacement (or possibly two) lined up. However it would be silly not to invite applications just in case... what if someone really brilliant suddenly declares they've always had a soft spot for Torquay and are willing to do the job for a pat on the back and abag of chips every saturday night? Unlikely, but the club would be stupid not to make sure all bases were covered.

Whatever happens, we need it sorted as soon as possible to give the new boy maximum squad-building time.

Confirmed now on O/S.

Also inviting applications. A deal for a replacement not as done as we think? Or just making sure there isnt someone better out there willing to give it a go?

Awayday wrote:It will be interesting to see how the Yellow Army react towards Buckle when we play Rovers this season........

I am in 2 minds, part of me appreciates where he has got Torquay over the past 4 years, considering he only had 4 players when he took over and he got us back into league football I would clap him, but the way he left the club I would boo him.

Best thing to do would be to ignore him. Which, judging by his ego, would probably be the thing he would hate most.

Southampton Gull wrote: Nail hammer and head

Completely agree.

The sort of stuff he was saying smacked of "come and get me, big boys."

Ahem.

basil75 wrote:Did you actually bother to ask them why?

Ultimately, anyone who's prepared to trek all the way to OT (a lot more hassle than going to Plainmoor) to watch us play is a potential fan we should be trying to get through the door. They must like football and Torquay Utd somewhat and it's unlikely they can go up to watch Man U play every week.

Their only option to go to a football match is Plainmoor and this is surely better than nothing - so we need to find out why so we can tackle the problem instead of quietly lamenting them in the corner.

Maybe a quick questionaire from the club on the supporters coaches would have been a good idea to try and establish some consensus amongst these people. I'm sure most would have been willing to spare 10 minutes filling it in given the length of the journey - another missed opportunity I think.

This is bang on!

Everyone who went to Old Trafford has the potential to be a season ticket holder. It HAS to be viewed like this if we want to progress as a club, this is mainly the reason i was so annoyed with the ticket fiasco: I knew i would get a ticket and be there, and thats all that really mattered to me, but the occasional fan who hasn't been for 10 years just had his opinion of Torquay as a tinpot club completely reinforced.

Obviously the team winning would have done more to entice them back than any fan could, but the way i heard some of these "daytrippers" spoken to whilst i was at the ground yesterday made me cringe slightly. As Dave says quite often, this is OUR club, and although I can understand the frustrations when some bloke who hasn't been for donkeys comes and stands on your toes, we have to welcome them so they keep coming back, and keep giving us their money!

Southampton Gull wrote:Out of those three Hargreaves would be my choice. It's his enthusiasm and love for the Club as well as his dedication to work. I think he would make a great manager, managerial experience doesn't always mean anything, if it did we'd only ever see 70 year olds occupying the position.

It's true that everyone has to start somewhere, but it seems to me that Hargreaves has even stepped away from football somewhat in the last year. I say that with some uncertainty as I obviously don't know the bloke, but he's been doing a lot of media work and there's talk of his shop.

At least Buckle had been working as a coach, so had experienced it from the other side.

The other thing that worries me slightly is his relationship with the players we already have. He's played with at least seven of our current squad, and reportedly good friends with at least two of them. From experience, can be quite difficult having to be your mate's boss!

When I talk about experience, I'm not necessarily saying he has to have managed at a decent level. There are plenty of good managers (i imagine) lower down the pyramid as our friends up the road will testify to, perhaps who would be willing to put up with our budget for a shot at league management and the promise of progression if things go well.

I'm with Fonda in as much that I have a dream, a dream that one day we will employ a coach with experience, a coach who doesn't think a pass must be a minimum of 40 yards, someone who has some practice at managing the personalities of a squad. Fantasy? Well, obviously. Costs money, innit?

Fonda wrote:
Not convinced at the prospect of Paul Trollope, but apart from that, the stuff here about Bucks hits the nail squarely on the head.

Can understand that, however i would point out the alternatives to his appointment being a big reason as to why i said i'd bite your hand off! Would rather have an experienced manager who plays ncie football, but would rather have Trollope (who does have a promotion under his belt) than Hargreaves or Hilly. Hilly! Could you imagine...

Fonda wrote:Can't imagine Eunan flourishing in his team...

A tad harsh? I seem to remember them playing half decent football on the occasions i've happened to see them, but I wouldn't say i know his style for definite.

Also his squads over the last few years have always seemed to contain some talented footballers?

As I said, could be wrong!

At least he has a vague idea about how to manage a football club, though...

GullsFan wrote:I think that he has done well in his times, the ups and downs have come but if you think really, he didn't do too bad with what he was given. ...

I'm afraid that this statement is something cooked up by Buckle's post-match propaganda campaign over the last nine months.

At every turn he's constantly mentioned how small a club we are, how small his budget is, and how we have massively overacheived for even thinking we might finish in the top seven.

Now, fair play, on the first two points he's probably correct, however the manager of a football team shouldn't be spouting this negative viewpoint to the public. People want to support teams that are going places, if they hear that Torquay are overacheiving by being in seventh, they wont bother coming. This, to me, is part of the reason for our poor attendance. He constantly creates a negative atmosphere about our club at times when we should be positive, saying to people how well we're doing, and how exciting it is.

So if it doesn't benefit the club, who does it benefit? Buckle, of course. Firstly, to onlookers, it keeps reinforcing the fact that he's a brilliant manager turning out a promotion-chasing side that without him would be on the brink of relegation. Secondly, it places the sort of idea above into fans heads. When he comes up short we remember the fact that we're "little old Torquay" and that actually he's done really well. I've seen lots of comments over the last 36 hours along the lines of "none of us thought we would be in the play-offs this year." Hmmm. I seem to remember a lot of people tipping us for a top seven finish at the beginning of this year. The fact that people forget this is down to Buckles ad-speak.

I will admit that I've never particuarly rated him. I will also admit that he has improved MASSIVELY in the last 12 months from the manager he was in the first three years. Unfortunately, as people have mentioned elsewhere, it's his ego that's always been a major problem. Saying all that, i would rather he stayed than get in a complete rookie like Hargreaves (as much as i like, and respect, the bloke). However, offer me Paul Trollope and i'll bite your hand off. And your arm. And possibly the rest of you.

Lets thank Buckle for the part he played in getting us back in to the league, but lets not forget the countless times he's come up majorly short, and the amount of PR disasters he's presided over. His leaving marks a chance for a new, successful era at this football club, and provided the board make a sensible choice for his replacement I personally am hopeful of continued improvement.

Onwards and upwards!

huddersfieldgull wrote:
I was able to choose behind the goal when I asked for £36 pound tickets on the phone. As stated before though the guy sounded asleep/bored/annoyed so fingers crossed I get what I asked for.

I don't want to scare both of you, but...

I went up in person today to buy my tickets (about 13:00 after lunch), and I asked for the same tickets as you - £36 behind the goal, preferably behind the singing section. I was told that these currently WERE NOT being sold, and that the only £36 tickets currently being sold were in the corner quadrant at the same tier as the cheapest tickets in the stretford end.

The only tickets (other than the cheap ones) behind the goal was ONE block of more expensive tickets (£40), which is right behind the singing section (the second T in Stretford, infact). These are what i plumped for in the end.

Just thought you might like to know, in case you want to check when you get them to avoid a nasty surprise when you get to OT!

Cheers.

As far as I was aware, there was a deadline of 5pm to register PERMANENT transfers to enable them to play the following day, but for loans there was no such deadline as there is no change of a player's registration, just some paperwork to say that player will now be on loan somewhere.

As far as I can see, the only way they would be inelIgible to play is if we didn't send any pAperwork AT ALL until after the 11pm deadline, meaning that technically they weren't even on loan with us.

This is only as I understand it, and could be incorrect!

Fonda wrote: Well quite. Though that very clearly wasn't my point. My suggestion is that he hasn't looked like a player desperate to get away. If the club hadn't accepted a bid, he'd still be here.

Yeeeeeeeessss.... And if Benyon hadn't signed Swindon's contract he would still be here. You make it sound like some sort of evil conspiracy, whereas this all just seems like a normal but of business to me. Disappointed that our goalscorer has gone, obviously, but always seemed inevitable after bigger fish were circling.

I was more concerned with who (or even IF) we replaced him with, and having seen Robinson a few times I personally rate him, so am pleasantly surprised by this bit of business over all. Once you accept benyon was always going to leave during January (a certainty after Saturday) this is the best I think we could have realistically hoped for.

I of course wait for Robinson to prove me wrong and make me eat my words.

Fonda wrote:As i said, i've seen nothing to suggest this move was inspired by the desire of the player.

Apart from the fact he now plays for Swindon, of course. I'm sure we didn't put a gun to his head and make him sign.