So glad I've managed to recover this, NickGull would have quite rightly killed me!! Top matchday topic start mate!
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Memorial Stadium
Saturday 13th August
KO: 3pm
Our first away league match of the new era takes us back to the new stomping ground of our old boss. A lot has been said about the way his departure occurred, most of us pissed off at the timing of it. However, there is a much more positive vibe around Plainmoor now, in my opinion. The full backing from us, the supporters, has been turned back to the man in the hotseat, which seemed strangely lacking while it was occupied by Buckle - I don't think he ever won over every Torquay fan, despite the promotion and success he brought the club. I was never his biggest fan, so in a way I'm glad he's gone and we can move on. Which we have done, by bringing in Martin Ling. [Here I would go on to talk about the signings, pre-season and all that jazz but it's been done by Matt, on the Burton thread, so I'll move on].
GULLS NEWS.
No fresh injuries for us. Dan Leadbitter suffers another setback, so he won't be in the squad. Billy Kee returns from International duty having hit a hat-trick for Northern Ireland u21's in the week, meaning that Ling has a tough decision, as it's been suggested that Atieno and Howe worked well together at St Marys on Tuesday night.
THE OPPOSITION.
Onto tomorrows rivals, Bristol Rovers. They've had a whole revamp since Buckle started working at the Memorial Stadium. Several players have come through the doors, while several have moved on for pastures new. Here's a quick review of all the comings and goings at the MemStad, and what we're likely to be up against tomorrow.
Starting off at the back, Buckle has signed two keepers. Scott Bevan holds the number 1 jersey, as he did for us last season. We know all about the tall goalkeeper, having seen him play at Plainmoor for the past few years. His backup is Lance Cronin. The 25-year old has appeared 7 times at England C level, having spent four years at Ebbsfleet, making 176 appearances. In that time, he picked up an FA Trophy Winners Medal, in 2008, as Ebbsfleet beat us at Wembley. Last season, he was at Gillingham, where he made 7 appearances.
Onto the defence, then. Michael Smith is a young rightback, signed from Irish side Ballymena United. Smith, who "has high potential", is looking to further his footballing ability at the MemStad, to help him create a fruitful career in the game. Michael Boateng, also a young right back, joined Rovers in the summer, after a successful trial. Onto the left side of defence now, we have Lee Brown, who was signed from QPR in the summer. Having made one appearance at Loftus Road in 3 years, and spending time at Salisbury and Hayes & Yeading, he has made the permanent move to Bristol to gain some more experience and playing time. Gary Sawyer is a more well-known name to some of you, I'd imagine. The experienced left back has spent time at several Westcountry sides, since starting his career at Plymouth Argyle. He has been to Weymouth, Exeter, Bristol City, before permanently moving to Rovers. He made 37 appearances for the Gas in League One last season. Into the heart of the defence, I'll start with Cian Bolger, a youngster on loan from Leicester. Bolger spent time at Rovers last season, making 6 appearances, and he has made the same move to further his knowledge. The expected central partnership is made up of Byron Anthony and Adam Virgo, both well known to the lower leagues. Anthony has built a good career at the MemStad, making 133 appearances so far, since joining in 2006. Virgo, appointed vice captain, has signed after rejecting a new deal at League One Yeovil. A central defensive brute, similar to Guy Branston, has had a successful game higher up the pyramid, once sparking a £1.5m move from Brighton to Celtic.
Moving on up the field, now to the midfield. In the engine room, the two big names are Craig Stanley and Matt Gill, both of whom are new to life in Bristol. Both should be quite recognisable names to Gulls fans, for different reasons. Stanley was a key instrument in our charge to the playoffs last season, and was so close to joining us again, but unfortunately opted for Bristol and life under Buckle once more. Matt Gill, another who's previously worked with Buckle, but his path is somewhat longer and windier than Stanleys. Gill & Buckle worked together at Exeter, but after Buckle took the reins at Plainmoor, Gill moved on and joined Norwich. Two years at Norwich saw him make 12 appearances, and he was loaned out twice in the time - once to Peterborough, the other to Walsall. Gill is well known for becoming the first player to receive a red card at the new Wembley Stadium. As backup, they have Stuart Campbell. He has been a stalwart at the MemStad for several years, and he also had a stint as manager, in a last ditch attempt to keep the club in League One, which didn't pay off. He has made 258 appearances, in 7 years, since joining in 2004. Wayne Brown is a young centre-mid who joined after being released by Fulham. He has spent time on loan at Brentford, TPS Turku and Rovers, before making the permanent move. In 23 appearances, he has scored 3 goals. As recent as today, they also had Chris Lines on their books, but he has moved to Sheffield Wednesday. On the wings, they have several outlets. Firstly, we know that Chris Zebroski, Mustapha Carayol and Jo Kuffour can all play there, having seen them do it in the past at Plainmoor. All 3 are speed merchants, and all have the ability to skin their opponent, so we will need to be careful, as I would even go as far as saying this is one of Rovers' strongest areas on the pitch. Adding to those 3, they have Joe Anyinsah, who has carved a career out at a higher level than he is now. His most prominent spell was at Carlisle, where he made 59 appearances, scoring 16 times. Last season he was at Charlton, before moving West to Bristol.
Finally, onto the attack line. Zebroski and Kuffour can both cause mayhem in the middle, aswell as on the wings, so it'll be interesting to see if either take part in the front line tomorrow. However, two more shrewd signings have created a fearful front line for this division. The experience of Scott McGleish will be vital for Rovers, in my opinion. He scored one and set up another at Kingsmeadow, on the opening day of the season. A true journeyman, in every sense of the word, McGleish has been at 11 clubs. Since the turn of the Millenium, he's turned out for Colchester, Northampton, Wycombe, Leyton Orient and now Bristol Rovers. The veteran knows where the net is, and he'll be looking for one more prolific season before hanging up his boots. The other striker expected to start is Matt Harrold. We know all about him, from our recent two-legged playoff success over Shrewsbury. Personally, I've never been worried about lining up against him, as whenever I've seen him, he's been shocking. I'm hoping that continues tomorrow. In reserve, Rovers can turn to Ben Swallow, Lamar Powell, Eliot Richards or Kayne McLaggon, but neither of them have much experience. Swallow is the most experienced, having played 40 times in the blue and white quarters.
So there we have it. That's what we're up against. A little further, I don't know if it'll interest any of you, but if you don't want to read all that, heres a list of the "Ins and Outs" over the summer.
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HOW THEY LINED UP.
This is how they lined up at Wimbledon:
Bevan
Smith
Anthony
Virgo
L. Brown
Anyinsah (Carayol 70)
Stanley
Gill
Zebroski (Lines 52)
Harrold
McGleish (Kuffour 62)
Subs: Bolger, Lines, Carayol, Kuffour, W.Brown
HEAD TO HEAD.
Bristol Rovers wins - 33 (28 in League)
Torquay wins - 21 (19 in League)
Draws - 16 (13 in League)
It seems Rovers have the upper hand in this fixture, as things stand. This is also the first meeting between the two clubs since 2007, where we lost twice at the Memorial Stadium, both by a 1-0 margin (once in the JPT, once the League). I remember many meetings between the clubs. In 2003/04, where we edged them out 2-1 at Plainmoor, before bottling a 2-0 lead at MemStad to draw 2-2. The next meeting, we somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, at Plainmoor, leading 2-0 with 15 minutes remaining, leading 2-1 with 3 minutes remaining, yet somehow we contrived to lose 2-3. I remember seeing Rovers fans go absolutely manic that day. (How much I'd love for it to happen for us tomorrow!!)
REF WATCH.
JONATHAN MOSS
Ashley Slaughter and Neil Radford
Fourth Official Carl Berry
Jonathan Moss is the referee for this affair. An experienced official, having spent 5 years in the profession. He refereed the League One playoff Final at Old Trafford last season, so has good pedigree. He also officiated our narrow defeat at Chesterfield, and from what I remember, there were no dodgy decisions, so I'm hoping he has enough about him to control tomorrows game.
PREDICTION.
Errm, 2-goal margin either way.
COYY!!
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Hope that's not too much to read. Any complaints and I'll be more than happy to deal with. Cheers!
