Torquay United Fans Forum

samuellejones wrote: ↑27 May 2024, 15:11 TT BLOG: Sam Jones looks at the last summer transfer windows for the Gulls. Check it out, on the site now!
https://torquaytalk.com/2024/05/27/tt-b ... e-summers/

A great summary Sam - if it wasn't already clear why we reached this nadir in the Club's fortunes this provides the evidence!

North Curry House wrote: ↑21 Apr 2024, 16:18 Hammer & [[/b]Tongues conjures up a picture!

What an enjoyable match and great result! Two sides going hammer and tongues at each other, playing great passing football, but one with a cutting edge and the other without. Certainly United were flattered by the scoreline but we were treated to the goal of the season from Booth - worth the admission money on its own. We had 22 attempts, 10 on target plus 2 hits on the woodwork, and 5 goals. For me, Booth was the game changer - up until then it looked nip and tuck but Lapslie's injury and a straight like for like replacement by Booth allowed him to boss midfield and allow McGavin the time necessary to use his one-footed turns to good effect. Although the latter was the sponsors MOTM, I thought Booth was the stand-out player. There were other fine performances though - from Jenkins-Davies, Archer and Jude-Boyd (who richly deserved the YPOTY award) in particular and I thought Hall was immense early on at the back making two crucial goal-line blocks at the point when the two teams appeared well-matched. It was great also to see assured cameos from the two youngsters in the closing stages, Thomas and Wellington. No one played badly.

Was rueing the fact that the last match may be a dead rubber but Marshall has cost us again and brought us right back into the mix.

As if having to play Marshall wasn’t enough of a handicap!

I think there is a good chance that we will only pick up two points in the five remaining games for a total of 47 but our goal difference will mean that we can only go down if three of those currently below us get 49 points or more. Don't think that will happen.

Jude-Boyd - for two goals and a generally energetic performance down the left flank although their number 7 frequently got the better of him
Stobbs - a sparkling first 20 minutes saw him score and lay on the goal for JB. But then he went AWOL although hit the bar at the death.
Moxey - not one but two key goal-line clearances to deny Weston
Halstead - two good saves to keep Weston out although should have done better for their first goal

Not sure anyone else deserved a mention

At the start of the game I was impressed with our energy, pressing and willingness to keep the ball on the deck and we were rewarded by two goals courtesy of a sparkling first 20 minutes from Stobbs.

But the first 20 was as good as it got because for the next hour we were dreadful - two goals conceded, 2 clearances off the line from Moxey and two excellent saves from Halstead as Weston repeatedly tore our defence apart. We gave up playing football and resorted to hoofball with Weston making our midfield - especially McGavin until subbed - look pedestrian.

We woke up for the final 10 to get a fortuitous lead but then promptly threw it away again. Although Stobbs nearly won it in injury time when he hit the bar from long range that would have been a travesty had it gone in.

Overall we had 12 attempts, 7 on target and the 3 goals but we had almost no attempts during the dreadful middle hour when we looked clueless.

Looks like we will need other results to go our way for the rest of the season because this lot look incapable of securing a win.

Observer wrote: ↑30 Mar 2024, 06:32 Unable to control a ball! Did you watch the game last week against Hampton and how he was able to control a ball played from one end of the field to the other. Yesterday was a foul and he was down when that goal went in. Admit it wasn’t Stobbs best performance yesterday but the ball still has to be defended when it goes into the box. He’s not the only player on that field!

Didn't see that as a foul - but anyway don't blame him for the first goal. Instead I would blame pathetic defending subsequently, just as I would blame McGavin for the lame attempt at a tackle out wide for the second and Moxey for being turned for the third. With a defence like ours we are always like a car crash waiting to happen.

Monday now looks like a must-win game if we are to avoid relegation.

Having watched the highlights I realised that my original criticism of Tomlinson and Booth was entirely justified - both had poor games and were responsible not only for the three goals but the also the chance for the hit-bar and numerous other Taunton chances. Tomlinson in particular had a shocker. Now that we are officially in the relegation struggle I would suggest that our form over the last 15 matches makes us one of the favourites to go down again.

Took a friend who was new to TUFC to last night’s game and he could not see why the players were claiming to be full time professionals, why I supported them and why 2,000+ other souls would want to turn up to see such dross. Needless to say he will not be back. Actually, not even sure I will be back anytime soon!

No one - the first time I have ever said that!

My God that was a poor performance! We were absolutely clueless. Only one shot on target (and that a tame effort straight at the keeper) all game and a horror show at the back gifting them the three goals Taunton hardly deserved. Tomlinson and Booth both had shocking games.

Not one player came out of that with credit - even Jude-Boyd who looked lively at the start seemed to lose confidence as the goals went in and the realisation spread that there was no way back into the game.

Only three attempts on goal in the whole of the second half when we were supposed to be chasing the game. If there has been a honeymoon after the change of management then this was the rude awakening that confirms us as relegation fodder if the dreaded points deduction gets applied.

Jarvis - terrorised their defence and linked up well with team mates when coming deep
Judd-Boyd - some surging runs deep into Aveley's defence
Ash - very energetic and a good partner for Jarvis
Jenkins Davis - ran his socks off even if there was not always much end-product
Marshall - marshalled his defensive colleagues well

I do think it will be a good crowd. Tried to but a ticket for BB - no availability in Blocks D and E and only three tickets left in C.