petef
Match Room Manager 
Posts: 4,626
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Post by petef on Feb 10, 2013 11:22:06 GMT
downes and mansell were visibly hurting today on leaving the pitch after our defeat,maybe pokey as well,the rest didnt look as if they could give a flying fig,something wrong within the squad,other than the football is dire and of park quality I hope for all our sakes that the whole squad was hurting after another defeat. I wasn't there today but sounds a slight improvement on what I did see last week at Cheltenham. Why they persist with Craig on the wing is beyond me, he may not be eunan but he can pick a pass and is wasted out wide, put him in the middle and give Macklin more game time on Tuesday to see if he can make a difference with his pace... Strange that most of us appear to be of the same opinion with regards Nathan. Nathan's no world beater by any stretch of the imagination and impressed to some degree on his first few appearances but his performances have now leveled off and we are probably seeing just another average league one player unable to consistently lift or maintain his best form who is struggling to shine in a pretty average squad. The lack of imagination from our management team is starting to grind. Persisting with playing a central midfielder out wide when we have more natural options. Its been failing for months yet its still persisted with. Yesterday was another example of doing nothing until it was far to late in the game. Taylor stuck with a formation and set up that was clearly getting nowhere. We needed a change much earlier and some more tactically radical thinking 25 minutes into the second half . For example Downes could have been pushed up front for Yeoman and Mac Donald put to CB. Macklin should have been introduced much earlier. Of course It may well not have produced anything but it would at least have made the opposition re think their strategy and encouraged the bored witless supporters that the coaches were at lest trying to be imaginative. What is even more apparent though is that we need a big character back in the squad, a Branston or Hargreaves to lift those around them. We have far to many nice guys who admittedly give their all but are not vocal enough who all look like good mates off the pitch and maybe afraid to be to critical of each others performances. Playing Yeoman and Jarvis together was a clear example of our lack of options, they are far to similar and both are utterly predictable for defenders. Hard working yes but in truth it's never going to be enough at this level. Howe does at least have a football brain to go along with his physique and ability to hold a ball up. Rene is undoubtedly the focal point of everything good about the team and that tells me that something is seriously wrong if we are relying on one player so much. We have the fourth higest individual goalscorer and the sixth worst "goals for" in the division . What does that tell us? One other question that comes to mind is what exactly is wrong with Martin Lings health? I truly hope that its not serious and he and his family deserve their privacy but I do think that the supporters deserve a little more information if it is a long term problem. These are crucial times when we need the main man to be organising and rallying the troops. All we had yesterday was the quote from Taylor that it was possibly our best first half performance this season and last. Laughable in my opinion. He and the club should be sounding a battle cry or how on earth do they expect supporters to lift themselves from the apathy that is surrounding the club? |
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Post by Swanny on Feb 10, 2013 12:47:47 GMT
Brilliantly put PeteF and took the words right out of my mouth! As I left yesterday's match I felt quite troubled what is going on and it was not just because we lost a football game. There seem to be a lot of issues going on both on and off the field which makes loyal TUFC fans most concerned.
First Martin Ling's continued absence. First and foremost I wish him a speedy recovery from the virus he's picked up. But this is dragging on longer than expected and there is no word when he will return? I overheard a friend speaking to a Torquay director about this and the director did not seem to know what's happening either. So when will Martin return?It's not good news not having your team's manager missing for a length of time especially considering our current league position.
The totally lax way Torquay have gone about strengthening the squad. I've never known a season like it when we have been so inactive in the transfer market. I am all for trying out our squad first and bringing through our promising youth. But we have been seriously lacking in the forward department all season and nothing has been done. Likewise we've had our fair share of injuries this season but again nothing has been done to strenghthen the squad bar bringing in Angus McDonald on loan as cover as a central defender. Our squad is presently overloaded with too many defensive midfielders. Most supporters can see we are so lightweight going forward and have been ridiculously over reliant on our only decent striker, Rene Howe.
And then there is the farce about waiting to get a replacement loan striker when we have Rene suspended. Hardly proactive management is it? And surprise, surprise when Rene did get suspended we could not get a replacement striker in time. So what did we do yesterday? Pretend Jarvis can play like Rene and pump balls to him expecting the ball to stick up front. Most supporters around me actually felt sorry for Jarvis yesterday, he was given a task yesterday he is physically incapable of.
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Which brings me onto my next point. We are so incredibly predictable in our line-up, formation, tactics, substitutions etc. Yesterday surely would have been an ideal opportunity to play in a way that does not rely on a big man holding the ball up. How about using emphasis on pace and skill to beat the opposition? Macklin when he came on for the last 10 minutes showed what he is capable of. Thompson this season has been a revelation with his burst of pace and skill. Now he is lucky if he even makes the bench. Instead the managers persist in sticking our only creative central midfielder, Craig, out on the right wing. You know there's no chance of Craig getting behind the opposition's defence like Macklin or Thompson can. Again when Macklin came on yesterday, surely it would have made more sense to push Craig into central midfield. But no, that would have been too adventurous wouldn't it. I mean we might have got a bit of excitement yesterday and we don't want that!
We only need 13 points from 17 games to be safe this season. The last thing the club needs to do is to carry on in this frustrating and lax manner. Even if we do survive this season, if we carry on in the same vein next season, it will be a matter of time before we are back in the Conference. Standards need to improve and it would be nice to go to a match with some hope we can score more than 1 goal in a match. I went to yesterday's match not expecting us to score without Rene and sadly I was proved right.
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petef
Match Room Manager
Posts: 4,626
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Post by petef on Feb 10, 2013 14:03:37 GMT
The the longer Lingy is absent the more damaging it will become with rumours already rife.
I have already read that this is possibly stress related and also that he's joining Portsmouth.
Portsmouth?
On the face of it a crazy notion but I would not be surprised if he were suffering stress and exhaustion as a result of trying to squeeze even more from and empty pot and drained of quality.
He is the one in the front line trying to work miracles and he is the guy who is gradually going to be put under even more pressure from all sides as we continue to struggle and slip down the table.
Has he reluctantly agreed to this scenario of not spending on the squad? Lets face it any manager with any ambition or worth his salt needs the tools and finances to do the job that hes asked. On the face of it he has appeared to be in line with the boards imposed strategy, but is that really the case?
At the end of the day a manager is judged on results, if he isn't getting them and can see no solution then he is bound to feel stressed and under pressure and may be feeling that he is in an impossible position.
All conjecture of course but it adds up to me.
I still believe we just have enough to survive but only just. Any confidence that remains in the squad will ebb away with further setbacks on the field and just imagine the scenario if Rene ot injured on his return. Now that doesn't bear thinking about.
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Post by lambethgull on Feb 10, 2013 14:26:18 GMT
I wouldn't worry about the Rotherham game - go into that not expecting to get anything. What is key is the Rochdale game next Saturday, and then Aldershot the following Tuesday. If after that we haven't won any of them we're in trouble. But I doubt that'll be the case Agreed. We're not scoring many goals, but we're not getting hammered by anyone. I was at Cheltenham the other week and wouldn't fault the effort of the players. But the lack of pace in the side was there for all to see. We just don't cause teams enough problems. But at the same time we don't look anywhere near a shambles either. |
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chelstongull
TFF member
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 10, 2013 14:33:23 GMT
I came away from yesterdays game a tad happier than the last home game - there was at least some fight, but despite the attempts on goal they didn't really make the time wasting git of a 'keeper work that hard.
Plan A for the first half seemed to work okay with Bodin, Yeoman and Jarvis lively but something was missing. As for Parkin 'the beast', oh how we could have done with someone like him. Benyon who seems to be poo-pooh'd on here and other sites may/would have put one of the first half attempts away - priceless point perhaps.
As for the second half there didn't appear to be a plan B until too late. After the hour Macklin (The Incredible Hulk?) and Thompson should have been bought on (IMO)rather than Macklin for the last 10 minutes or so.
Worrying times.........?
Now, where the feck is that spell chuck?
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Post by loyalgull on Feb 10, 2013 15:57:26 GMT
we desperately needed a loan signing for fleetwood.but it looks like no real effort was made to do this.We look like relegation fodder.and noises coming out of plainmoor are not helping.Sod the plastic pitch and training ground.get the bread and butter end sorted out first on the frigging pitch.mostly of which has been dross.still waiting for a complete 90 minutes from this lot yet.it could be a long wait though
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JamesB
TFF member
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Post by JamesB on Feb 10, 2013 16:48:13 GMT
I wouldn't worry about the Rotherham game - go into that not expecting to get anything. What is key is the Rochdale game next Saturday, and then Aldershot the following Tuesday. If after that we haven't won any of them we're in trouble. But I doubt that'll be the case Agreed. We're not scoring many goals, but we're not getting hammered by anyone. I was at Cheltenham the other week and wouldn't fault the effort of the players. But the lack of pace in the side was there for all to see. We just don't cause teams enough problems. But at the same time we don't look anywhere near a shambles either. It's not just a lack of pace. It's a lack of pace combined with playing counter-attacking football which RELIES on pace. It just doesn't make sense. And it's not like we don't have options. The persistence first with playing Morris and now Craig wide right when they blatantly don't fit the role they've been given is ridiculous, especially over the course of 2 years |
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Post by frankfurt gull on Feb 10, 2013 17:52:42 GMT
I´ve got a feeling there might be more behind Lings virus infection than a snooty nose!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2013 17:53:57 GMT
As for Parkin ' the beast', oh how we could have done with someone like him. ...and there's the rub. Fleetwood are flinging money around and so have brought in a player who, at our level, would enhance any forward line, but if they don't manage to buy promotion they will still be in the same division as the Gulls next season, only with more debt to cope with as well. Since only 4 teams can go up they are following a very risky strategy. Port Vale and Gillingham ought to be far enough ahead by now to be able to clinch their places, and fair play to them, but there is a mad scramble for third spot and a play off place and currently no team looks convincing enough. Those who need to watch out are notably yesterday's and next Tuesday's opponents, since Fleetwood and Rotherham seem to have splashed more cash than anyone else in the division with no guarantee that it will get them anywhere other than a step further towards administration in the future. There comes a time when the spending has to stop, as Swindon are just discovering. For Paolo di Canio to moan on the television that his team has no natural goalscorer is ridiculous since he was given a fortune last season and if he didn't use it to buy a top striker then that's his look out. Ironic that Matt Ritchie has gone to Bournemouth, the one club at 3rd and 4th level that have been even more profligate with the owner's money than Swindon and one that, like Rotherham, have already recently been to financial hell and back already. I expect it will all end in tears. Since TUFC are almost certainly going to finish somewhere between 8th and 22nd the rest of the season might be a bit boring but at least the team should be able to play with the freedom that comes with having nothing to worry about. Apart from Martin Ling, that is, who I fear might have found football management too stressful to cope with and gone down under the strain. If that is the case, better for Lingy himself that he never comes back because football management is never going to get any easier and it's not worth him ruining his health over. In that case looking for a new manager for next season will be more of a priority than finding Rene's temporary replacement. |
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 10, 2013 19:30:49 GMT
As for Parkin ' the beast', oh how we could have done with someone like him. ...and there's the rub. F Oh well, better wish that Logan's calf injury clears up pronto then! |
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Post by stuartB on Feb 10, 2013 19:56:33 GMT
I can't believe the rubbish some are posting about this game. they were obviously at a totally different game to me.
I saw a totally committed bunch of players who tried their hardest and if they had had the rub of the green would have scored 2 or 3.
Fleetwood looked ordinary to say the least.
We had 2 stonewall penalties not one. the first was a clear handball and the second was when Howell just pushed Bodin flat on the floor but we were all too stunned that nothing was give at all with the referee and linesman with a clear view.
I thought Bodin had an excellent first half. He was beating his man hands down, getting some rasping shots in but unfortunately they were all at nice saving heights for the keeper. Lower and the keeper would not have got to them. His all round performance was good in the first half but he faded in the second half. Fleetwood did change things in midfield so it might of been a case of them closing down an obvious threat.
Yeoman was energetic and was unlucky that his goal bound effort was swatted away by a defenders arm, which the ref thought was ok.
Jarvis didn't have a great game but when he continually gets beaten in the air, we needed to change the attack by taking it wide.
I like the look of Leadbitter and he made some great runs with pace. I would keep him in, even when Joe is fit.
If we continue to play like that for the rest of the season, we will have no problems. A bit more luck please.
At least Fatboy Evans had 2 sent off on Saturday. please feel free to abuse him the whole game on my behalf.
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Post by familystander on Feb 10, 2013 20:17:41 GMT
I can't believe the rubbish some are posting about this game. they were obviously at a totally different game to me. I saw a totally committed bunch of players who tried their hardest and if they had had the rub of the green would have scored 2 or 3. Fleetwood looked ordinary to say the least. We had 2 stonewall penalties not one. the first was a clear handball and the second was when Howell just pushed Bodin flat on the floor but we were all too stunned that nothing was give at all with the referee and linesman with a clear view. I thought Bodin had an excellent first half. He was beating his man hands down, getting some rasping shots in but unfortunately they were all at nice saving heights for the keeper. Lower and the keeper would not have got to them. His all round performance was good in the first half but he faded in the second half. Fleetwood did change things in midfield so it might of been a case of them closing down an obvious threat. Yeoman was energetic and was unlucky that his goal bound effort was swatted away by a defenders arm, which the ref thought was ok. Jarvis didn't have a great game but when he continually gets beaten in the air, we needed to change the attack by taking it wide. I like the look of Leadbitter and he made some great runs with pace. I would keep him in, even when Joe is fit. If we continue to play like that for the rest of the season, we will have no problems. A bit more luck please. At least Fatboy Evans had 2 sent off on Saturday. please feel free to abuse him the whole game on my behalf. I was at the same game as you StuartB. Agree with it all. |
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Post by stuartB on Feb 10, 2013 20:20:33 GMT
I can't believe the rubbish some are posting about this game. they were obviously at a totally different game to me. I saw a totally committed bunch of players who tried their hardest and if they had had the rub of the green would have scored 2 or 3. Fleetwood looked ordinary to say the least. We had 2 stonewall penalties not one. the first was a clear handball and the second was when Howell just pushed Bodin flat on the floor but we were all too stunned that nothing was give at all with the referee and linesman with a clear view. I thought Bodin had an excellent first half. He was beating his man hands down, getting some rasping shots in but unfortunately they were all at nice saving heights for the keeper. Lower and the keeper would not have got to them. His all round performance was good in the first half but he faded in the second half. Fleetwood did change things in midfield so it might of been a case of them closing down an obvious threat. Yeoman was energetic and was unlucky that his goal bound effort was swatted away by a defenders arm, which the ref thought was ok. Jarvis didn't have a great game but when he continually gets beaten in the air, we needed to change the attack by taking it wide. I like the look of Leadbitter and he made some great runs with pace. I would keep him in, even when Joe is fit. If we continue to play like that for the rest of the season, we will have no problems. A bit more luck please. At least Fatboy Evans had 2 sent off on Saturday. please feel free to abuse him the whole game on my behalf. I was at the same game as you StuartB. Agree with it all. thank goodness for that  |
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Feb 10, 2013 20:58:15 GMT
Im sure I was there as well Stu but dont agree about the Bodin penalty. Looked too much of a dive with minimal contact IMO. The handball early on was a cert though. I thought it was Manse's shot though, not Yeoman?
The way I judge a penalty is, would I be pi**ed off if it was against us? I would have no complaints about the handball but would be very unhappy with the other one.
Is it just a coincidence that Bodin looked better (I wouldnt say excellent Stu as that would be stretching it a bit) because he was on the left wing? I would like to think it would be pretty much the same starters on Tuesday but with Macklin on the right instead of Craig. Drill both Bodin and Macklin to get the ball into the feet of Jarvis and Yeoman and we may have a chance of putting one over dumb and dumber and their chequebook...
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JamesB
TFF member
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Post by JamesB on Feb 10, 2013 21:53:05 GMT
Yeah, I don't think it's a coincidence that Bodin's looked better since going back to the left. Problem is we've just put someone on the right who is even less suited to the position
Also I think it's wrong to speculate about Ling's absence. There's no word on why he's not around. Anyone can get a virus
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