JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Oct 23, 2013 14:38:13 GMT
Those pre-season friendlies against Premier League Portsmouth seem a long time ago. This is our first league encounter with Pompey since October 1979.
After a slightly sluggish start, they are now in form, unbeaten in 4 matches - well, 4 and a half counting the abandoned match against Wycombe last night which finished 1-1. From that, though, they may be fresh - certainly it will help some of the ageing legs in the squad. They currently lie 16th, but with a game in hand - not as strong a start as many observers expected, though it was always going to be difficult for Guy Whittingham to achieve promotion immediately after rebuilding the squad. Having played Plymouth on 12th October, they will complete a set of matches against the Devon trio when they play Exeter at home next Saturday, which will certainly be a test of how far they have come
Line-up vs Bury:
Gk Phil Smith
Def Yassin Moutaouakil
Def Bondz N'Gala
Def Joe Devera
Def Sonny Bradley
Mid Johannes Ertl
Mid Therry Racon
Mid Jed Wallace
For Ricky Holmes
For Patrick Agyemang
For John Marquis
Subs: John Sullivan (Gk), Jack Whatmaugh (Def), Shaun Cooper (Def), Romain Padovani (Mid), Gavin Mahon (Mid), Andy Barcham (For), Ryan Bird (For)
Head-to-head:
Portsmouth wins - 6
Torquay wins - 2
Draws - 2
Last match: Torquay 0-0 Portsmouth, Football League Trophy, September 2013
Last match prior to this season: Portsmouth 3-0 Torquay (Nightingale 1, 55; Lovell 26), League Cup, August 1999
Last league match: Torquay 2-1 Portsmouth, Fourth Division, October 1979
Number of seasons Torquay and Portsmouth have been in the same division: 4 (1961-62, 1978-79, 1979-80, 2013-14)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2013 7:14:31 GMT
Goodness, a TUFC forum is not the place to be at the moment so I'm off to the Yorkshire Dales for ten days without the blasted computer...thank gawd.
I would like to think that we would have pulled away from the trouble we're in by the time I get back, but sadly, I think we'll be even deeper in the poo!
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Post by gullone on Oct 24, 2013 16:01:14 GMT
Knill takes charge of his 30th game as manager on Saturday with a pathetic return of just 6 wins since he arrived last February. Its almost a year to the day since Scunthorpe sacked him. I am sure he will get an easier ride here but i would love to know just what the board are making of this situation.
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Oct 25, 2013 8:24:09 GMT
They were happy enough with how last season ended up.
As someone on another board pointed out (and most people seem to have forgotten), in October 2 seasons ago we had just gone 8 games without a win and lost 4 out of the last 5 matches. Were the knives out then or was it a case of be patient with the manager because he overhauled the squad and was trying different tactics?
Moving onto the match, its going to be pretty windy according to the forecast. Could make it a bit more of a lottery but will that favour us or Portsmouth. Heart say a win but head says a draw.
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Post by frankfurt gull on Oct 25, 2013 14:15:55 GMT
I think Northampton are more likely to get a point against Cheltenham than we are against Pompey tomorrow. This will put us on a relegation spot.
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Post by Swanny on Oct 26, 2013 8:48:45 GMT
I can't help thinking that with no tickets being sold on the matchday, it's really going to affect the home support. With Portsmouth selling their allocated 1,500, I wonder how many we have sold? Perhaps 2,000 to 2,500 I would guess. Will today's gate even reach 4,000? Does anyone know many home tickets have been sold? I hope it's not an embarrassing low number. I'm disappointed the club under police advice are not selling any tickets on the matchday - a lot of income will inevitably be lost.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Oct 26, 2013 8:49:27 GMT
We have been quick lucky with the weather as far as the pitch is concerned and again it will be dry this afternoon before a deluge comes both early this evening and tomorrow night. It will be very windy so expect plenty of action at the Babbacombe end and a bit of a lottery in the game.
Although we are in a bad run, not having two fit central defenders really hasn't helped us so we have at least some sort of base to work off today. Looking forward to seeing McCallum play for the first time and with Azeez, Chappell and Hawley, I think is a forward line that can cause problems...
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Oct 26, 2013 8:57:27 GMT
We have been quick lucky with the weather as far as the pitch is concerned and again it will be dry this afternoon before a deluge comes both early this evening and tomorrow night. It will be very windy so expect plenty of action at the Babbacombe end and a bit of a lottery in the game. Although we are in a bad run, not having two fit central defenders really hasn't helped us so we have at least some sort of base to work off today. Looking forward to seeing McCallum play for the first time and with Azeez, Chappell and Hawley, I think is a forward line that can cause problems... Swap Benners for Hawley and I would probably agree with that. I seem to remember (in the paintpot cup) Pompey being very quick to close down Chapple and Cameron with two players every time they got the ball which nullified their threat. Lets hope we can find some penetration today... |
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Oct 26, 2013 9:04:52 GMT
I can't help thinking that with no tickets being sold on the matchday, it's really going to affect the home support. With Portsmouth selling their allocated 1,500, I wonder how many we have sold? Perhaps 2,000 to 2,500 I would guess. Will today's gate even reach 4,000? Does anyone know many home tickets have been sold? I hope it's not an embarrassing low number. I'm disappointed the club under police advice are not selling any tickets on the matchday - a lot of income will inevitably be lost. Andy expects the bench to be pretty much a sell out (apart from those ST holders that dont turn up of course and the seats they leave empty for the youth team etc). Having had the misfortune to witness todays visitors in action a couple of seasons ago, clumps of them in the pop would be a disaster waiting to happen should they lose. |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Oct 26, 2013 9:08:22 GMT
I can't help thinking that with no tickets being sold on the matchday, it's really going to affect the home support. With Portsmouth selling their allocated 1,500, I wonder how many we have sold? Perhaps 2,000 to 2,500 I would guess. Will today's gate even reach 4,000? Does anyone know many home tickets have been sold? I hope it's not an embarrassing low number. I'm disappointed the club under police advice are not selling any tickets on the matchday - a lot of income will inevitably be lost. Andy expects the bench to be pretty much a sell out (apart from those ST holders that dont turn up of course and the seats they leave empty for the youth team etc). No excuse for the regulars, it was announced at Plainmoor last Saturday, tickets can be bought online or over the phone so not difficult to arrange.... However, this match will attract a fair few casuals who may well be caught out... |
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Post by bristolgull on Oct 26, 2013 9:32:59 GMT
For me Benyon has to start today (doubt he will though). He will work his socks off, and given a run in the team will get goals I believe. Hawley has yet to convince, cuts a somewhat forlorn figure at times...
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Oct 26, 2013 9:48:21 GMT
A few interesting selection issues.
Pearce will return alongside O'Connor leaving a choice at left back - Nicholson or Cruise. I guess that Knill willl stick with Nico - at least until Downes returns.
Knill was being criticised for being too rigid with his formation, he now appears to be copping flak for chopping and changing. The last home game started with a 4-2-3-1 with Bodin in the hole. On Tuesday, Craig was given a free role as a third midfielder.
I don't think there are too many doubts about Craig's ability, but the question marks are over his discipline and ability to work to a plan within the team. I have heard reports of poor discipline / decision-making at Burton which don't bode well for his chances of holding down a starting place.
Bodin in the hole would very probably have been the preferred option, but Bodin is crocked. That role would suit young Dan Sullivan down to the ground, but unfortunately our perilous league position probably bumps him down the pecking order. Easier to blood the youngsters from mid-table.
Chapell could do the job, but that would mean Cameron on the wing - and I'm not convinced he is a starter yet.
That leaves a return to the old 4-4-2/4-2-4 with McCallum up top and a choice of Hawley or Benyon alongside. Hawley's form has not been good enough to make that a no brainer, but I reckon he'll still get the nod.
The team I expect:
Rice
Tonge
Pearce
O'Connor
Nicholson
Azeez
Mansell
McCourt
Chapell
Hawley
McCallum
subs:
Thompson
Cruise
Mozika
Craig
Cameron
Sullivan
Benyon
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Post by hullgull on Oct 26, 2013 11:37:00 GMT
We have been quick lucky with the weather as far as the pitch is concerned and again it will be dry this afternoon before a deluge comes both early this evening and tomorrow night. It will be very windy so expect plenty of action at the Babbacombe end and a bit of a lottery in the game. Although we are in a bad run, not having two fit central defenders really hasn't helped us so we have at least some sort of base to work off today. Looking forward to seeing McCallum play for the first time and with Azeez, Chappell and Hawley, I think is a forward line that can cause problems... That's the spirit rob,go out there today with nobody giving a chance and that's our own fans lol......joking lads......so come you yellows put some much needed pride back into the club.....go get em you yellows.....si |
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Post by phipsy on Oct 26, 2013 17:30:25 GMT
A really encouraging display today. Total commitment from every player. Gulls could not have had a better start, a goal before a minute was out.
A we'll take n goal by Jordan Chappell. No doubt Pompey had the better of the match territorially but gulls matched them in spirit and had a few chances to win the match.
Rice 7/10
Tongue 7/10
Nico7/10
Pearce 8/10
O,Connor 7/10
Manse 7/10
McCourt 6/10
Chappell 8/10
Azeez 7/10
Mccallum 7/10
Hawley8/10
Subs
Moziika 7/10.
Unfortunate equaliser for Pompey. Jordan Chappell had just been injured in a tough tackle.
Just after a pass was sent to him on our left wing, he seemed to be still groggy from the knock and didn't seem ready to receive the pass. Pompey quickly attacked down their right, nico put the ball out for a throw in and they promptly sent a throw into the goalmouth and scored a scrawny goal. Fair result though.
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Post by Swanny on Oct 26, 2013 17:35:58 GMT
There were plenty of positives about today's performance in a pulsating game. I will go as far as to say that was our best home performance so far this season with several outstanding individual performances. My main complaint this season is that the balance of our team has been wrong. Today for the first time this season the balance of our tean felt right. At last we had a striker in McCallum who had a physical presence who kept winning headers and flicked them on in the way Sills used to. Sadly McCallum went off injured with a groin injury and I fear will be our for a while? I'm afraid that sums up our luck this season with injuries. In my opinion Torquay did not look like the same team after he went off and it was no surprise that Portsmouth later equalised. Crowd a pathetic 3,843 considering there were 1,497 from Portsmouth. Clearly making the game all ticket with no tickets on machday knocked a good few off the gate. I just find it ridiculous, there was a big police presence today and other grounds up and down the country cope fine with far bigger gates and they don't make it all ticket. A golden opportunity for decent gate receipts was lost today due to that decision. At kick-off there were an embarrassing number of gaps on all 3 home sides and you would think we were playing Accrington and not Portsmouth. Sponsors MOTM Chapell.
Torquay got off to an absolute flyer and took the lead after 19 seconds! I'm sure Jon or someone will confirm where that ranks in our fastest ever goals. It was certainly the quickest Torquay goal I have ever seen. Chappell struck low down to put Torquay 1-0 up. The rest of the first half Torquay stood up really well and Portsmouth only had a few half chances. McCallum had a decent chance near the end of the first half but put it wide.
Torquay upped their game at the beginning of the second half and had 2 great chances and were playing some great football. Azeez could not get his head from a great cross and later McCourt shot narrowly wide from outside the box. Portsmouth gradually took over and Torquay's goal attempts dried up. However there was a real solid look today about Torquay and the entire team was doing its bit. Our central defenders Pearce and O'Connor were rock solid at the back. McCallum had a great knack of relieving the pressure by winning headers up front and Hawley gave a fine battling performance. Chappel went on some fine solo runs. Mansell battled well in midfield and on one occasion made a great saving tackle to stop Portsmouth through on goal. rice in goal was solid and produced a couple of decent saves. His handling and decision making today was spot on. His only blemish was his kicking. Sadly the turning point for me was McCallum limping off and was replaced by Mozika. We could no longer hold the ball up and it was all Portsmouth. They scored from close range from a low right wing cross but it had been coming. Cameron replaced the tiring Chapell and did well when he switched to the right wing. Torquay continued to battle valiantly and deserved a share of the spoils.
This was a genuine good all round performance today and maybe, just maybe we are finding the right blend on the pitch was so far has been missing. Let's hope McCallum returns sooner rather than later as he is the sort of striker we have been lacking this season.
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