Post by rjdgull on Jan 8, 2011 9:46:47 GMT
It has been a busy week on the forum possibly helped by some football actually being played. ;D There has been a number of really good quality posts and maybe in another week could have gathered all the plaudits.
Personally, I have quite enjoyed dipping into the history room which continues to go from strength to strength. There has also been much debate about formations and tactics. Very unlucky not to win was Hector who gave a honest appraisal of all the Torquay managers over the years that he has supported the team.
However, this week's winner is Ohtobeatplainmoor with amongst other posts a cracking match report from ironically Edgar Street proving that members really appreciate a fan's prospective from a game that they haven't been able to see.
Just got back. I would say in some ways that was two points dropped, but at the same time we didn't deserve to win making such terrible errors like we did today.
We had a very good opening spell leading to our goal, we knocked the ball around neatly and often looked like we had at least two more players on the pitch than Hereford. Our goal was neatly worked and a fine finish from O'Kane - well worth waiting up to watch on the football league show (although perhaps if you are of a nervous disposition then I would avoid it because we gifted them two goals). Ashley Hemmings looked bright and had a great effort from range hit the bar - he often was missed by their terrible centre-halves and could have been sent-through one-on-one a number of times (although it is easy to spot that from the lofty position of the seating in the away end!), Zebs had the beating of their left back and O'Kane was excellent. The balls-up that resulted in Hereford scoring saw them gain a lot of confidence and it was a relief that Benyon put us back in control with his quality finish from a tight angle. I knew it wasn't "job done" but I thought that we would get another goal in the second half and that would be enough.
The second half was a masterclass in why we can be so frustrating. Bevan gifted them a goal with such poor handling (and to think that I joked to Gipsygull at half time that the Hereford team needed to coat all the balls in butter as a handling error was the only way that they would score!). He did redeem himself not long afterwards with a very good double-save to prevent Manset (their MOTM) a winner but it is fair to say that his performance was generally very poor in terms of kicking, positioning and handling and didn't inspire the confidence that he should do.
The introduction of Kee seemed far too late to be of any use as Hemmings had tired and ceased to be effective long before he finally went-off. I would have certainly liked to have seen a player like Manset up-front for us, he caused us a lot of problems and his quick-thinking when Bevan got him a deserved goal (Fleetwood on the other hand was terrible).
Some musings on individual performances:
Bevan - inspired zero confidence and at fault for the second without a doubt - I'd need to see the first again to be sure
Nicholson - poor delivery and hit the first man with too many of his crosses. Definately a blip on an otherwise excellent season.
Oastler - very quiet - hardly noticed him for much of the first 60 minutes, maybe that isn't a bad thing!
Branston - looked hike he had been shot when he did his hamstring but thankfully walked-off without much problem. I don't think that we looked any worse at the back when Robertson came on, although I think we'll miss him if Constable plays on Monday.
Ellis - Error-strewn display today. Back to your best on Monday please.
Mansell - A reasonable display although some of the basic mistakes he made were so frustrating
O'Kane - Great performance - proved today that his awareness and execution is second to none in the squad, destined for bigger and better things - hopefully for some money.
Wroe - OK I suppose - faded as the game went-on.
Benyon - Was left on his own far too often. Great finish and was unlucky to hit the post in the second half. He'll be missed!
Zebroski - Slaughtered his full-back but didn't see so much of the ball in the second half. He was clearly targetted by the Hereford cloggers in for the last 1/2 hour.
Hemmings - Started well but I thought kept getting dragged out of position and didn't show enough discipline. I think he should have got more of the ball when we made himself space.
Aside from our two efforts hitting the woodwork we didn't force a save of any note from Bartlett. I was too far away to see whether Benyon was fouled or not but Bucks clearly through that he was. I wasn't too far away to see Billy Kee scuff a perfect chance to make it 3-2 late-on, either side of Bartlett in the same way that he hits the ball in warm-ups and it would have been a certain goal.
I don't expect a League 2 team to be able to pass perfectly, but it was no good to watch us retain possession, give great movement, outplay their midfield much of the time but just hump it to Benyon so often - their centre-halves were very, very poor but this gave them a chance to nullify so many of our attacks.
I've no doubt that Bucks will be positive about this performance and say that we were unlucky to only draw. We have got (I think - certainly thereabouts!) 67 points from the last 46 games and I am generally very pleased with our team and progress, but today was very disappointing for me.
Personally, I have quite enjoyed dipping into the history room which continues to go from strength to strength. There has also been much debate about formations and tactics. Very unlucky not to win was Hector who gave a honest appraisal of all the Torquay managers over the years that he has supported the team.
However, this week's winner is Ohtobeatplainmoor with amongst other posts a cracking match report from ironically Edgar Street proving that members really appreciate a fan's prospective from a game that they haven't been able to see.
We had a very good opening spell leading to our goal, we knocked the ball around neatly and often looked like we had at least two more players on the pitch than Hereford. Our goal was neatly worked and a fine finish from O'Kane - well worth waiting up to watch on the football league show (although perhaps if you are of a nervous disposition then I would avoid it because we gifted them two goals). Ashley Hemmings looked bright and had a great effort from range hit the bar - he often was missed by their terrible centre-halves and could have been sent-through one-on-one a number of times (although it is easy to spot that from the lofty position of the seating in the away end!), Zebs had the beating of their left back and O'Kane was excellent. The balls-up that resulted in Hereford scoring saw them gain a lot of confidence and it was a relief that Benyon put us back in control with his quality finish from a tight angle. I knew it wasn't "job done" but I thought that we would get another goal in the second half and that would be enough.
The second half was a masterclass in why we can be so frustrating. Bevan gifted them a goal with such poor handling (and to think that I joked to Gipsygull at half time that the Hereford team needed to coat all the balls in butter as a handling error was the only way that they would score!). He did redeem himself not long afterwards with a very good double-save to prevent Manset (their MOTM) a winner but it is fair to say that his performance was generally very poor in terms of kicking, positioning and handling and didn't inspire the confidence that he should do.
The introduction of Kee seemed far too late to be of any use as Hemmings had tired and ceased to be effective long before he finally went-off. I would have certainly liked to have seen a player like Manset up-front for us, he caused us a lot of problems and his quick-thinking when Bevan got him a deserved goal (Fleetwood on the other hand was terrible).
Some musings on individual performances:
Bevan - inspired zero confidence and at fault for the second without a doubt - I'd need to see the first again to be sure
Nicholson - poor delivery and hit the first man with too many of his crosses. Definately a blip on an otherwise excellent season.
Oastler - very quiet - hardly noticed him for much of the first 60 minutes, maybe that isn't a bad thing!
Branston - looked hike he had been shot when he did his hamstring but thankfully walked-off without much problem. I don't think that we looked any worse at the back when Robertson came on, although I think we'll miss him if Constable plays on Monday.
Ellis - Error-strewn display today. Back to your best on Monday please.
Mansell - A reasonable display although some of the basic mistakes he made were so frustrating
O'Kane - Great performance - proved today that his awareness and execution is second to none in the squad, destined for bigger and better things - hopefully for some money.
Wroe - OK I suppose - faded as the game went-on.
Benyon - Was left on his own far too often. Great finish and was unlucky to hit the post in the second half. He'll be missed!
Zebroski - Slaughtered his full-back but didn't see so much of the ball in the second half. He was clearly targetted by the Hereford cloggers in for the last 1/2 hour.
Hemmings - Started well but I thought kept getting dragged out of position and didn't show enough discipline. I think he should have got more of the ball when we made himself space.
Aside from our two efforts hitting the woodwork we didn't force a save of any note from Bartlett. I was too far away to see whether Benyon was fouled or not but Bucks clearly through that he was. I wasn't too far away to see Billy Kee scuff a perfect chance to make it 3-2 late-on, either side of Bartlett in the same way that he hits the ball in warm-ups and it would have been a certain goal.
I don't expect a League 2 team to be able to pass perfectly, but it was no good to watch us retain possession, give great movement, outplay their midfield much of the time but just hump it to Benyon so often - their centre-halves were very, very poor but this gave them a chance to nullify so many of our attacks.
I've no doubt that Bucks will be positive about this performance and say that we were unlucky to only draw. We have got (I think - certainly thereabouts!) 67 points from the last 46 games and I am generally very pleased with our team and progress, but today was very disappointing for me.