FC: Torquay United v Woking 16th September 2014

Floridagull

I'm more than happy to see Chris Hargreaves getting plenty of credit at the moment. It's certainly well deserved. The 'Legends' thread will continue by unpopular demand, even if it's only there to annoy you and a few others Florida, haha.

I'm sure there shouldn't be a problem with heaping praise on Chris, as well as keeping an eye on Lee and Kevin. In fact I think I started off the 'Legends' thread by referring to the decision to release Manse as follows: I'm hoping that this proves to be a good decision for all parties involved'. So the plan is that we see Chris and Torquay United benefit, and also Manse getting a bit of a boost from his change of scenery.

The whole atmosphere around Plainmoor 'The Launa' is much more upbeat. A consistently winning team raises everyones spirits, and it's good to know that feeling has transmitted itself over to the States.

If we look at the various forums, you've not got to page back too far to remind yourself who was shouting loudest that 'Hargreaves should be playing second fiddle to Sturrock', 'Hargreaves is too inexperienced', 'Hargreaves needs a mentor' etc etc. Regarding CH, I'm fairly confident that my historic comments have fallen into the Praise rather than Grumble category, and he's certainly hit the ground running this season.

The sacking of a manager, such as in the case of Alan Knill did mean that Knill no longer needed to turn up for work at TQ1. But his Managerial decisions regarding the personnel that make up the playing staff and how the wage budget was allocated, still continue to a greater rather than lesser extent. AK may have left the building some time ago, but there are still quite a few members of the playing staff thankful to him for the well stuffed pay packet they continue to enjoy, that I'm sure in some cases dwarfs that of some current first team members. While others have Knilly to thank for the pay off they pocketed due to the generous contract he'd put them on.

All obstacles that CH couldn't wave a magic wand over and make disappear when he tried to get last seasons disillusioned squad to perform on our turnip patch of a pitch. We've got a young team who have done well in the early months while the sun's on their backs, and have played good football while the playing surfaces are still good. Should they fall away when the travelling catches up with them, the pitches deteriorate, and injuries expose the lack of depth in our squad, then I hope the supporters won't be too disappointed. After all, as Howard Wilkinson always used to remind us Wednesday fans in the early months of a season: 'The plan is to avoid relegation as quickly as possible' rather than talking about a good start in terms of promotion.

If we look around the Conference there are plenty of clubs with several tried and trusted performers and with the experience of many a long campaign under their belts. A glance at the names in our team last night reveals quite the opposite. Tongue and Downes have seen it and done it all before, but it's a youthful front line, the midfield is a couple of 21 year olds, Ricey may have played a bit regularly at this level 10 years or so ago, but since then has been mostly kicking around down in Cornwall at whatever level Truro were at, or spectating from the subs bench with us.

That observation is only made to underline just how well Chris Hargreaves and the players are currently doing. Probably far better than we've any right to expect, and should their form and results dip in the months ahead, and the current lofty league placing fail to be maintained, it'll hopefully be remembered that they're just as deserving of the support and encouragement which is coming their way at the moment.