Let's have some perspective, shall we?

[cambgull]

Really hate to put a downer on things but I think we should keep some perspective of where we are.

As we stand, we are the only 'Westcountry' team in the top half of their respective table, aside from Swindon (if they count) which is a superb achievement considering we were probably the team most people wrote off at the start of the season, including ourselves. My worry is that when we eventually fall, we'll fall hard because of increased expectations.

We've had a superb run and I would love for it to continue forever, but it won't, especially if there's a manager of the month award headed ML's way. The one thing I don't want to see is a poor run last longer because it hurts that much more.

Anyway, here's to stuffing argyle and keeping up this run!

[Southampton Gull]

Yep, you're right but just as I was defending Matin Ling against those that were trying to crucify him after 14 League games I won;t be calling him the best Manager ever just because we've hit a good spell. I still fully expect us to be a mid-table team come the end of the season and that's fine by me. It's nice to enjoy a decent run though. We will hit a bad spell and that will be when the usual suspects come out in force again telling us what a clueless **** the manager is and how we would have been much better off with Nicky Forster or someone of his ilk.

[Dave]

Agreed, at the start of the season i thought a comfotable mid table finish was the best us fan's could expect, and i would still settle for that.

I, and i am sure others are aware another eight game winless run could happen, untill the team suffer another defeat we know how they will handle it obviuously, right now i am just enjoying the moment long may it continue.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Dave, i was one of those who was unhappy with Ling during our bad patch and began thinking the board had made an error appointing him. I was thinking the grass could have been greener if we had got Forster or someone else. This was my assumption based on the negative way Ling had set out the lads to play so that we got mullered in most games and if not, still conceded bucketloads due to negative tactics inviting pressure on our ( at the time ) under fire defence. I didn't necessarily think he was a bad manager just that a manager who goes out to not lose rather than play to win simply cannot have my support. Martin has proved he can get the lads playing positive, confident football as our recent run of results suggest and i just don't understand why he didn't set the team out with this attitude from day 1. I know now that Martin is able to manage a club like ours successfully and when we hit our next bad patch i will give him support and time SO LONG as we are still playing positively and with a team work ethic. If we get beaten trying to win the game and get forward then i will not be complaining, if we get beaten trying to contain teams then i won't be too happy. I would like to think Martin has learnt this lesson already however.My example would be Holloway at Blackpool. He sent his teams out to attack and although i believe he went over the top with this mantra ( in the prem you are vulnerable if you attack or defend for 90 mins as there is so much quality) if he played that way in league 2 with limited quality you will win more games than not.

[Southampton Gull]

I wasn't aiming at you specifically Andy, I know you post passionately from the heart at times and with the best intentions and I don't have a problem with that at all. I still firmly hold the view that it was too early to even think about replacing him and thank God the Board stuck by him, even if one or two were on the brink of pulling the trigger.

It takes time for a Manager to get to know his players, it's even harder when he had so little time to assemble the squad in the first place. I want him to succeed because he's a genuine guy and so unlike Buckle who I never warmed to even though I supported him over his running feud with Colin Lee. Martin Ling will do a good job for us if he's allowed to take his time.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Cheers Dave, i think what the recent past has taught me is to look at the bigger picture and not to make kneejerk reactions. After all its a long old season and whilst i think we will get nowhere near a play off berth come the end of it, we will certainly be free of any relegation fears PLUS Ling has given me a victory over my rivals Chesterfield!

[the_shredder]

To be fair, we have changed the shape of the team and since then everything has changed for the better, we're like a different team. So I think when our winning streak ends it won't mean we are any less likely to win the game after, and we will have the self belief from the win streak to back that up. I'd therefore be surprised if we go on another losing streak unless we are hit with injuries - while i by no-means expect anything more than mid table, i think we have what it takes to challenge for the playoffs, whether we do or not though is down to the lads abilities to keep a level head and knuckle down week after week, which to a degree is ling's job.

So time will tell, we shall see what strength of character our boys have.

[cosmic74]

I never knocked Ling during the bad run, mainly because I am a firm believer in giving a manager enough time to make the team his own, whether that be with the personel or the tactics. With Ling it has been a bit of both, but the way we are playing at the moment is definately his doing and it certainly suits our current players. I am firmly with Dave, and we talked about this early on in the season on one of the topics, ML is a genuine man who deserves a lot of support and respect for the way he goes about his business. PB on the other hand, told you what you wanted to hear, and couldn't be trusted, as proved by the way he left the club. ML IMO has earnt the backing and support of not only his players, but us as fans. There is no doubt in my mind that there will be another bad run or two, but we can handle that better than most as Torquay fans. What ML and the players need is the support of the fans when the chips are down, because I have no doubt in my mind that the Manse and Nicho love of playing for this club is spreading right through the rest of the team, and the staff as well. That bond that a club like Torquay needs more than most to survive is well and truely apparent at the moment, and it can only get stronger.

Well done ML, and the rest of the staff and the players for all your efforts, and well done to the fans for backing and supporting our beloved club. Come May, when I am in no doubt we are sat nicely in about 12-15 position, we can all raise a glass and agree that this has been a good season in the history of TUFC!

Andy

[Colorado Gull]

After the Gillingham game, when we lost 2-5 I have to say I was a little bit worried and just couldn't see where the next win was coming from. I was concerned because we were playing awful but I always gave my full support to the team and Ling. I never said "Ling Out" but I was all in favour of him going into the loan market and I really thought he needed to do something to change that terrible run. After the Southend game, I really thought that we could be in a relegation battle as our recent games were terrible. HOWEVER, Ling must of said something to the squad and he got the spirits up throughout the whole club. Then we won 5 games in a row (including beating an FA Cup game against a league 1 club and beating our Devon rivals) with only conceeding 2 goals. All I can do is praise Martin Ling, he's done well, created a positive influence for the whole club of which has reflected on the players performances. Keep up the good work Lingy!

[Dave_Pougher]

Talk about perspective,

What is the club record for consecative wins?? I thought it was five although I may be wrong.

[NA Gull]

At times of wild euphoria we need Brucie to put things back in perspective. its just a shame he never posts when we are winning.

[happytorq]

I wonder what happened to all the Cambridge fans who were saying we were doomed, etc etc?

I think any manager needs time to find his 'best' team and to get them playing in his own way. I'm sure we'll have a crappy patch fairly soon but as already mentioned, if you'd told "mid-table" back in the summer I'd have been very happy with it. Mid-table above Bristol Rovers and Plymouth, please

[Kernowgull]

Talk about perspective,

What is the club record for consecative wins?? I thought it was five although I may be wrong.

I believe we either broe or equalled the club record of 8 straight (league) wins in the almost season of 98- when Jason Roberts was banging them in. Had Alex Watsons header gone in instead of hitting the post against Orient on the last day of the season, that would have been some celebration!! I had no control of my body for the whole game, I just moved wherever the crowd moved!!