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Ok, so for part 2 of “credit where it’s due”. Danny Stevens.

Over the past few seasons, Danny has managed a few glimpses of good things, but never produced often enough, which has resulted in much grief from many parts of the yellow army. Clearly his limited opportunities under Buckle suggested he just wasn’t good enough. He had no confidence, if he took a whack or was up against a big bloke, he looked as if he’d rather be at home.

When Ling arrived, he stated from day 1 that one of his priorities was to get Danny signed up on a new contract. Many questioned signing Danny for two years, but Ling said it was up to Danny to step up and make a claim for a place in the team. He said Danny had never had a decent run of games, and needed some self-confidence. Well, credit where it’s due, Danny has come on incredibly, and on the performance against Plymouth on Saturday (as a perfect example), it was clear that self-confidence is now there along with the ability we’ve been waiting to see consistently. Plymouth often doubled up on him and knocked him around a bit, but he had the confidence and belief to run at them, get in amongst them, and gave their defence a torrid time. An excellent run and finish for the third goal capped a fantastic 2nd half performance, and underlined everything about his current form.

Danny hasn’t been short of critics or doubters, but like it or not, he’s proving everyone, including the previous manager, wrong, and he has earned his place in the starting XI.

Along with the rest of the team, he will have bad days, but hopefully he’s done enough recently to justify his place at the club, and the support of the yellow army.

Everyone deserves a chance, and Danny has taken his. Well done Danny.

I like the sentiments Regiment but I still feel it's too early for complete pat on the back well done's. Danny is doing ever so well at the minute but similar to Ellis I want to see it over the long haul. For me there is no doubting the quality of both individuals, my concern over the pair has been the consistency factor. Something which will only be answered over time. 4/5 games still isn't long enough to finally say yep they are now the real deal.

Brady,

Much as I love your post mate and fully agree with it, there will always be fans who will knock Danny at every oportunity. I have always maintained that he is one of the few players we have who can come off the bench and give us something different. And recently he has been doing that from a starting berth as well. His goal on saturday, although helped by Eunan and Rene by taking defenders out of the game, was a great goal in my eyes, and he always celebrates by running to the fans, even after all the stick he has rightly or wrongly recieved.

Well done Danny, keep it up lad!

P.S - He sells shirts as well, because the kids love him!!

don't get me wrong, i'm not touting him as the new Cristiano Ronaldo, i'm merely suggesting that as fans we are often quick to slate a player/manager etc when things are not going well, but all too slow to say "well done" when they do a good job. it seems acceptable to say a player or manager is not good enough after 5 games, but far more time is required for them to prove their worth. 5 good games does not a season make, but it's a start, and long may it continue.

He has had a good little run of games and he is playing with far more confidence. Maybe that is all he needed!!!

His goal on saturday, although helped by Eunan and Rene by taking defenders out of the game, was a great goal in my eyes,

This is the sign of a team understanding each other and making opportunities, danny could have played the ball to either of these players but saw the opportunity. Ling asked him at the start to make more opportunities. I agree it was a great goal. I have always believed danny has quality but needs consistency in being played to have confidence. He is being given his chance and he and the team are relishing it.

Great post regiment but i have to take issue with it i'm afraid. Stevens has scored twice in two although at Chesterfield he couldn't miss and before that chance he had another that he couldn't miss but did. His goal v Plymouth was what i have wanted Danny to do consistently for the past 4 seasons or so. He hasn't done it and whilst i commend Danny for his recent effort, vibrancy and commitment to Torquay his overall game is poor, inconsistent and not up to league 2 level. If fans want to come on here and defend Danny then i've got no problem with that just don't expect him to suddenly 'find his feet' and start playing like Gareth Bale and knocking goals in left right and centre because it just isn't going to happen. The minimum we can ask of Danny whilst he is in the team is positivity and work rate and he is giving us that. If the odd goal comes along then great but there isn't anything more to come from him.

hey, i've got no problem at all with anyone disagreeing with me, but i'm not sure that you are taking issue with my post andy, as i think we are pretty much in agreement. i've not suggested he is world class or the next Gareth Bale, i'm just suggesting that on recent performances, he deserves some credit, as everyone has been so quick to slate him in the past. he may very well not get any better than he is at present, but provided he continues putting in those sort of performances, i'll be happy with that.

Yep, fair enough Brady. I think my Danny Stevens phobia kicked in again as i began typing and made me forget the contents of your post! It was a great post Brady and no doubt will have those come on for and against danny in equal measure even given his reent good performances.

Reg

Like your post! :~D

What I like about Danny is his willingness to run AT defenders. We have now had a whole generation grow up not realising that that's what forwards are supposed to do! All players currently playing have grown up watching "Euro soccer" where, if you look at the passing, you'd think the aim was to play from side to side, not end to end.

Now, this means that sometimes a player runs into a brick wall, or gets stuck down a channel. But, if done often enough, on occasion a way through is found, just like on Saturday. It's the EASIEST thing in the world to pass sideways to a team mate, "making" the pass, as if THAT means diddly-squat!

Long may players like Danny return to the game!

Cheers

Bruce

When Martin Ling came here as we know he gave Danny a new contract, and said he was going to be given a chance to prove himself, after the first few games, I thought Danny had blown his chance and he would be a goner, and formed the opinion he simply just was not good enough for the football league.

Thats just me being honest, however i have no problem when wrong saying so, Danny has come back into the team his confidence has grown and is getting better by the game, i am really enjoying wacthing Stevens at the moment, long may it continue, well done Danny.

Forever

"he simply just was not god enough for the football league."

Mortals will do, though

Cheers

Bruce

Northumbergull wrote:Forever

"he simply just was not god enough for the football league."

Mortals will do, though

Cheers

Bruce

Yep forever strikes again, iam god at this spelling lark

he's one of a few players who have a) been given a chance in recent weeks and most importantly b) taken it. Ellis, Stevens, Lathrope been put into the side in this new formation and the results are there to be seen. It also seems to be bringing the best out of Howe and O Kane who for me are our 2 most important and best players from an attacking sense, which was the 1 thing we had to do. Find a way of making them more influential in games.

I thought he was the same old Danny in the first half, lost the ball frequently and created nothing. Second half he did well and scored a cracker. He's still a Marmite player for me and I hate the stuff.