Torquay United v Gateshead,7.45pm ko Tues 12th December

Three points is a must tonight anything less just increases the pressure next match.
A few weaknesses cruelly exposed on Saturday, the obvious one our inability to hit the net and sure enough Gateshead will have taken note for certain.

Will we turn up? - I think we will, handing the initiative to the opposition in the opening stages will not be tolerated - but most importantly will we manage score goals ....

Not well so didn't attend - listened and it sounded bloody dreadful.
The elusive target man is proving impossible to find and the failure to find one will be the death of this club.
"Must win games" we never ever win them.

Does anyone believe me yet?

Highlights for those (Hope you feel better Pete) who wish to see it again or were unable to make it...

www.thenationalleague.org.uk/match-info/match-centre/1-2849705/videos/121006

Believe what Aussie? I think the "I told you so" argument is a little premature.
Certainly there's plenty of hard work to be done and we need to find our scoring boots from somewhere but overall we have witnessed a fitter and more organised set of players since Owers and Kuhl have been on the scene.
The one thing we are missing is a proper target man and its been the same all season and since the departure of Nathan Blissett.
Reid, Keating, Pittman are ok as support roles but none are goal poachers who can create a chance and score from scraps. I just watched the highlights and it didn't look as bad as the commos on radio Devon were making out. Again we tried to pass the ball and created enough to have won the game but the forwards just don't have that ability, knack or conviction in front of goal and even Youngy's efforts looked pretty tame when we need a ruthless killer instinct around the box. He must surely start Gnabouyou soon. Keating is so up and down and inconsistent and is just not a genuine goal threat. Not enough goal attempts or goals from midfield either for my liking or trickery down the flanks only Davis at wing back is willing or capable at running defenders - we need players who can unsettle defenders and its getting near to the point we where ewe have to commit more players going forward in attack - wins needed, goals needed we have to become more of a threat somehow.
I think we are getting most things right now. The next signing could be the one that makes or breaks our season I just hope Owers can find an answer from somewhere.

I have a longstanding theory that most people who post on forums just want to say they have been "proved right".

I think you'll find this just proves me right.

I posted this link before:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

I'm sure Aussie has made his mind up that Nico was badly treated and did as well as he could possibly have done in the circumstances he had to work under - and that all that has happened since has proved him right.

Others have made their mind up that Nico was utterly useless and Owers is a huge improvement - and that all that has happened since has proved them right.

As the article linked to above points out, confirmation bias has a polarising effect.

The silent majority sits in the middle and will be open-minded to see see how things pan out, whilst those on the extremes are unlikely ever to admit they have been proved wrong.

For some, relegation would prove that the rubbish Nico signed condemned us to relegation before the season started, whilst dodging the drop would prove what a brilliant job Oweres did in turning things round.

For others, relegation would prove that Nico would have done better and dodging the drop would prove that Nico left behind a good squad.