Res Fix: Torquay Utd v Forest Green 14th Sept 2010

Excellent news.

The FA have updated their League table yet*, but it may be that Torquay's first and reserve teams currently sit atop their respective leagues.

* full-time.thefa.com/ProcessPublicSelect.do;jsessionid=AA6A8DED927FD8BA34BC03D217538C46?psSelectedSeason=4807168&psSelectedDivision=6204156&Submit.x=0&Submit.y=0&Submit=Submit&psSelectedLeague=1508386

It's been updated now

Which ironically is the same difference by which the first team top the league.

No match reports of note yet although quite a good report on dot com. Once again it reads like O'Kane had a good match and he can't be too far off making the starting XI on Saturday.

Thanks for that, Barty. I was going to ask if we tried the 3-4-3 again.

I am sure that you are right about Halpin. I was very encouraged by his attitude in an unfamiliar role up at Exeter - in stark contrast to Thomson's sulking display at right back. There is little doubt that Halpin has loads of ability, but you would question if he would ever be a "solid" enough player to be more than a "luxury player" or even an "impact sub". It is clear that a lot of work is going in to trying to ensure that he becomes a lot more than that. I hope that people don't expect the finished article overnight. He's on a three-year contract, isn't he?

A three year contract indeed, and at just eighteen and already a strapping six foot tall, comfortable on either wing and able to take the ball past players; playing him in a more central role for this match is just another facet in his all round football development and education.

Although some people are getting excited by the fact that the reserves are top of their league, such a position is really irrelevent in the greater scheme of things. It is the opportunity to offer players such as Saul Halpin, Damon Lathrope, Billy Kee and LRT the platform on which to put all their hard work on the training ground into practice alongside the very players they train with on a daily basis but are unlikely to get much First team opportunity to play alongside at the moment.

I think the FACT that the manager moved quickly to alter the player's initial eighteen month professional contract to one of three years in the summer speaks volumes for Bucks' opinion of this player and his exciting potential.

Another factor to take on board is that these days the average age of young professionals breaking into their clubs' First Teams has risen from what it used to be so that now the optimum age to expect to see such prospects breaking through is between 19 and 21; and Saul is still a year away from that threshold.

Whats wrong with fans getting excited about the Gulls progress on and off the field?

Whilst i understand we have put nothing in the cabinet yet, short term success is very important for maintaining all the things that will help you achieve the long term goals.

We have had precious few moments to be proud of in our past so i say lap it up, with dignity & modesty while you can. There will surely come a leaner time once again.

Release yourself from the comfort & pleasure of those Devonian shackles of apathy & criticism.

We are top of the league!

So what if that isn`t the case come May. It won`t be for the want of trying on the part of the staff.

Milber