torquay united v southend united - 14/4/2012

[popside_yidlad]

Next week could be a good chance to rotate the team a bit. Maybe bench o'kane, Howe and lathrope. Start morris in central midfield, mcphee in holding midfield, jarvis through the middle and atieno at right wing. This would rest 2 of our players carrying knocks and o'kane so they are fresh for crewe if we are comfortable if not then can bring on for half hour.

[cambgull]

O'Kane did a similar thing last season, went right off the boil towards the end, but then stayed off the big club radar. Keep it up Eunan!

[Modgull]

I think a number of posters are missing the point if they blame the referee or Southend's tactics for the poor spectacle and result yesterday.

Sure, the bookings of Howe and Mansell seemed very harsh and that their no 6 was obnoxious to say the least and should have gone for diving, complaining and rugby tackling Oastler, but our performance was so lack-lustre. A 351 formation at home (let's not pretend it was 433) shows a lack of ambition and is making it easy for teams to come to Plainmoor and stifle our passing game, restricting our threats on their goal. Yesterday's three shots on target was poor in the extreme and Belford only really had to get dirty when his own player sliced the ball into the danger area.

Oh for some pace on the wings and two up front to give defences more to think about!

[Kernowgull]

I think a number of fans are also missing the point too though. If we were mid-table, then results and performances against Accrington, Oxford and Southend would be seen as excellent. By some miracle, we are not mid table, we are second. That doesn't take away from the fact that we have a mid table at best squad. Criticism of performances recently is being based on the fact we are second in the league, when in fact we should be praising the fact that we keep digging out results against teams with better squads.

Southend yesterday brought on Freddy Eastwood. How can we be above them in the league? But we are. Crawley have had to deal with 5 suspensions. If we had that, we'd definitely be fielding a relegation fodder side.

If we were sitting in mid table everyone would be saying "Well done boys, job done, good result against Southend". I think we should be saying the same now.

Martin Ling certainly has done more than enough to deserve criticism, and in terms of not investing more in the squad, I am fairly sure his thoughts were along the lines of "bloody he'll, if we go up, we'll need every penny we can get to stay up, andif we don't, the squad is almost there to go up next season, that money will be better invested then".

[gullintwoplaces]

I think a number of fans are also missing the point too though. If we were mid-table, then results and performances against Accrington, Oxford and Southend would be seen as excellent. By some miracle, we are not mid table, we are second. That doesn't take away from the fact that we have a mid table at best squad. Criticism of performances recently is being based on the fact we are second in the league, when in fact we should be praising the fact that we keep digging out results against teams with better squads.

Southend yesterday brought on Freddy Eastwood. How can we be above them in the league? But we are. Crawley have had to deal with 5 suspensions. If we had that, we'd definitely be fielding a relegation fodder side.

If we were sitting in mid table everyone would be saying "Well done boys, job done, good result against Southend". I think we should be saying the same now.

Martin Ling certainly has done more than enough to deserve criticism, and in terms of not investing more in the squad, I am fairly sure his thoughts were along the lines of "bloody he'll, if we go up, we'll need every penny we can get to stay up, andif we don't, the squad is almost there to go up next season, that money will be better invested then".

Great post. Totally agree with you. I would not criticise yesterday's performance at all, and I certainly won't criticise Martin Ling's tactics. We are third in the table for goodness' sake, with a realistic chance of going up.

With regard to the previous post from Modgull, sorry but I wouldn't dignify what Southend were up to with regard to badgering the ref as "tactics", this was cheating pure and simple with the object of gaining an unfair advantage. And it succeeded, because the ref was weak and had a shocking performance. I recognise that Torquay were not at their best, but the team played in the same way as they have (with great success) over the past few months. The way we play has been effective this season, but wrt yesterday I maintain that the combination of tiredness in some of our key players, intimidation from Southend, gamesmanship from Southend and a piss poor referee who did not allow us to play accounts in large part for our failure to make a bigger impact on the game. Please let's not forget that we have only drawn TWO games on bounce, both against highly placed and very costly teams. I won't criticise Lingy's selection or tactics, because he has done a quite amazing job with very limited resources.

[drummergull90]

I think we should be proud of the boys. Southend are a bloody good side with a massive squad (just look at the back of the programme, tells its own story). We held out well, were good defensively and showed spirit against a dirty side and a crap referee. The conditions were really not conducive to our passing game at all, the pitch was a bog by about 70 minutes. 0-0 against them is a good result, and effectively ends their auto push.

I've always thought Shrews would overtake us, they are on a great run and again have a much bigger squad than us. Its between us and Crawley now, and who knows what will happen.

The players are tired, O'Kane was totally anonymous yesterday. I agree we should rest him, Lathrope and Howe for Wimbledon to give us a chance against Crewe. Bring in Morris in CM (his best position in my view), let McPhee hold and put Tai (who was good yesterday) up front with Jarvis and Stevens. We need to think about the playoffs being a real possiblity, so the squad needs to rotate before they start. Why not give Macklin, Craig or Halpin a shot? We seem to be missing a bit of pace and inventiveness on the flanks. From what I've seen of Macklin he's pacey and he must be pretty fresh, perfect for running at a tiring defence in the last 20 minutes.

This is not the time to panic, we've got to draws against two very good sides. We are still very solid at the back and don't look like conceding many more this season. Lets get behind the boys and BELIEVE.

P.S. where was the drum yesterday and at Oxford? We always seem to win when we have it!

[coley in stripes]

After yesterday's massiive disappointment, surley everyone realises that it is going to be eaiser to get automatic promotion than through the playoffs. Three wins are needed now, nothing less will do. That's the same as the playoffs but that path will be against stonger teams and while United will be carrying the lack of morale due to disappointment

There is a chance that Crawley will drop 2 points but that will be all and Shrewsbury are on song.

[cambgull]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with bringing in young players at this time of the season. Look at what happened with Carayol. Give them something to prove, but nothing to lose and they often end up scoring the goals that send teams up or win titles. Macheda at Man Utd was another classic example.

[londongull63]

Few agreed with me when I suggested last week we change our successful line-up, but I wasn't suggesting we lose Damon Lathrope. I was thinking more get Atieno or Jarvis in for Danny (Morris has been great in his last 3 games). Danny slows down attacks by stopping to come in on his right foot. Rowe-Turner who I hear is very quick could take on full-backs. It would also give us more height in attack and defence and more strength in defence.
I wrote that before each game I'm thinking "we could win it", but I don't think "we'll probably win it", and I expect us to be very hard to beat - a long-winded way of saying a draw. Before Oxford I predicted all 5 games looking like draws, which as said above is fine consolidation or play-off form but won't clinch promotion.

Our system involves Rene getting the ball deep with his back to goal, and then having to pass backwards to midfielders. Also with Danny and Nico, they often work crosses, but yesterday a third midfielder was having to get involved in the little left-side passing moves to work the cross, which with Lathrope deep, left just 2 men in the middle and by then the opposition have time to get defenders back. It's also usually played back to Nico to deliver a long, diagonal cross (thankfully Nico's delivery is better than most). But when did we last see a goal come from Rene heading in a cross?
Joe Oastler was a bit unlucky that his forward runs to try and get round the other full-back weren't quite coming off.
And Bobby's quick drop kicks? Is Rene expected to win the header, run on to his own flick and beat the 4 defenders?
None of this is a criticism - as people say above, it's only because we've now set ourselves to be in competition with the division's 3 most consistent winners, rather than just accepting being much better than the majority!!

[bixieupnorth]

or swap danny over to his real side and tai in for morris? would really like to see 442, will balls being whipped in from the right side by the lil lad, tai and rene creating space and mayhem

or LRT for danny i guess would be easier switch

[Colorado Gull]

P.S. where was the drum yesterday and at Oxford? We always seem to win when we have it!

The Stewards wouldn't allow us to have it due to "Health and Saftey", they didn't give us the drum for the Accrington game for the same reason.

[Dave]

Not much to add here now, I was not dissapointed at the performance, not at all.Southend were a big strong side, got in our faces, and the referee's right from the start, ruffled the feathers of just about every one in the ground except thier own fan's and coaching staff.

Our lads had to be at their very best just to hold Southend,and we did just that, they were a very physical side, which we are not, Saah and Ellis it has be said were just first class yesterday, no doubt Ellis has a mistake in him, yesterday he was flawless.See yellow I can praise him.

[portugull]

It is so difficult to change much when we have lost just 4 of the last 29 League games.
However I feel Rowe-Turner really does deserve a start. Young ,quick, fit and desparate to impress. Give him a chance Martin.

[Dave]

No point in them being there if they aren't going to be proactive. Imagine the junior HAD been trying to pay on the gate and you'd been stuck behind him while the poor turnstile operator explained that he had to go back out to the ticket window, then you all had to back up out of his way. You'd be whinging that the stewards should have spotted the problem and done something about it.
It takes a polite conversation:
Steward - "Hang on there, sonny Jim, you're not buying a ticket with that money, are you?"
Nipper - "No sir, it's for sweeties and pop in the ground, sir. Honest sir."
Steward - "Be on your way then lad."

No dramas, no trouble, no need for anyone to feel aggrieved.

Same with the all ticket situation - if we'd had an hour long queue round the block to get in because it wasn't all ticket and 8000 people had turned up, you'd be complaining about a lack of foresight from the club. They can only act as they see fit. I didn't see anyone (especially you, grumpy) on here, telling us how you'd met up with Doc Brown and Marty McFly, borrowed the DeLorean and nipped forward to Saturday afternoon and that only 3500 turn up, so no need for all ticket. I have it also on good authority that Simon Baker does, in fact, have a crystal ball, but it was at the menders all last week, so he had a choice to make and he duly made it.

Jeez, give it a break, complain when we have something to complain about.

Matt.

Got say,Matt, I totaly agree with Brucie on this point, stewards are thier not just go steaming in when thier is a fight, being polite and helpfull "customer service" is part of their role.


Prime example of this, is when i arrived at Old Trafford could not find the car park I had booked into, so stopped asked a steward, I was greeted with "how may I help" followed by clear directions to the said car park, after a little walk around the ground, asked another steward where the Sam Platts was, and was greeted witht he same, helpful polite attitude, they just couldn't do enough to help you.

Yesterday my a good friend of mine, asked a steward if he could stay in Boots/laces just for a few extra minute's to watch the grand national as he a horse racing fan, his answer from a stoney faced steward was "no" why not he asked "you just cant " was the answer, he then said I am not trying to cause trouble just want to know why , he was them met with "any more and I will throw you out"

Thats the diffence, some our stewards are rude un helpful, and just can't be bothered, stewards are respresenting Torquay united football club, and should remember that when dealing with a simple request from one of our fan's or that of a visting fan.

[Wisconsin_gull]

It is so difficult to change much when we have lost just 4 of the last 29 League games.
However I feel Rowe-Turner really does deserve a start. Young ,quick, fit and desparate to impress. Give him a chance Martin.

Now is the perfect time to change - time for vision and courage.
If we continue to patch up Rene and stay with the same system, we will be very easy for teams to plan against and unlikely to score - net result is probably 3 points and the play offs at the expense of Creepy...

We have the youngsters who need to step up and get their boots wet, bring them in, change it up for the last 3 games, go 2 up front, we have an auto place to gain , now is not the time to play for snookers.

I was curious to have read this recently http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17629844" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and seen little comment on the site. This is totally the right approach for our club to be a sustainable enterprise, however it will require us to place faith in these younger players and get them on the bench , let them learn from some insprirational older pros, give them time on the pitch to learn their trade. We have been averse to supporting the youth it seems to me.

I think it is a win-win for Martin to call the changes now. In the worst case, if we fail we will have rested some players for the play offs and blooded some new players!

Been a brilliant season, lets close it in style!
COYY