rjdgull
TFF member
Admin
Posts: 12,227 
|
Post by rjdgull on Dec 10, 2021 7:43:16 GMT
Tough match against big spending Stockport County, now led by Dave Challinor, who are surprisingly just outside of the play-offs partly explained by their game in hand due to a FA cup run which ended just last Saturday with a narrow 1-0 loss against League 1 Rotherham. Johnson is expecting a tight game and to be more competitive against the top sides as more players return to the side as well as new loan signing Sparkes entering the fray making picking the match day squad more of a competitive process.
Not that we have a fully fit squad by a long way, CLE finishes his isolation period today and before that was not fully fit. Wright has only been training for a few days and while it is tempting to imagine him getting on to the end of new loan signing Sparkes crosses, not sure if he will be ready to start, certainly not good for 90 minutes. There is some doubt over halftime substituted Moore and the absence of Perritt in last week’s win over Weymouth as well. Still, Armstrong should be ready to start and along with Sparkes represents an improvement on the side that did so well last week. Personally, think we have done better with three at the back this season and would not be surprised to see us start the same way.
After a couple of losses against Notts County and Barnet back in October, Stockport have been on a good run, having some good wins, blowing away the lower placed sides as well as edging out Bolton in the FA Cup. Bromley managed a draw against them recently but this will be a good gauge about how competitive we now are with improvements still to come. Looking forward to this one….
|
|
rjdgull
TFF member
Admin
Posts: 12,227
|
Post by rjdgull on Dec 10, 2021 19:46:50 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by stefano on Dec 11, 2021 7:07:28 GMT
As tough as they get! Right now I would take a draw and be grateful for it, but with a bit of fresh blood and maybe the return of some old but experienced legs, anything can happen. It is Torquay United after all! A win would not surprise me. ⚽️
|
|
hector
TFF member
Posts: 1,311
|
Post by hector on Dec 11, 2021 9:19:56 GMT
I’d take a draw today.
Not sure if I will make today’s game as I am taking part in a 12k trail run event just before lunch but hopefully the team can muster a bit of belief after last week’s positive performance.
|
|
|
|
Post by stefano on Dec 11, 2021 12:37:54 GMT
Need to be a bit more water tight at the back than we have been for much of the season. 19 goals in 6 games in November for Stockport County.
Still always look on the bright side they haven't won a game or scored in December ⚽️
|
|
Jon
Admin
Posts: 6,912
|
Post by Jon on Dec 11, 2021 13:58:41 GMT
Really looking forward to this one.
Am guessing we will stick with the 3-5-2.
Sparkes wide left, but who on the right? I would hope for Moore but doubt he is fit. Is Felix ready to start and if so would he fit in as wing-back? Guess Chiori Johnson is still injured. I would not want to risk O'Connell against a team like Stockport.
Armstrong must start up front, probably with Lolos unless Lemon is fully match-fit which I very much doubt. Best you could ask from him, and for Wright too, would be 15-20 minutes off the bench.
The Weymouth result has eased the pressure a bit, but would be great to show that we can go toe to toe with the better teams in the division. Won't be the end of the world if we do lose, but we need to at least put in a decent performance and it would be a real boost if we can bag all three points.
Come on You Yellows.
|
|
petef
Match Room Manager
Posts: 4,626
|
Post by petef on Dec 11, 2021 14:02:14 GMT
My first game for a long while - not by choice.
If Stockport "turn up" today as the did against Bolton and Rotherham we will be very fortunate to get anything from the game with our team/ squad still in a state of transition.
The pack continues to be shuffled with two new arrivals and a couple out on loan.
Disappointed that Jake as has gone I always felt he was a strong character and had ability. The fitness setbacks haven't helped his cause and with a tight budget the manager has to use his resources wisely so not entirely surprised. It is only a loan move and maybe ther will be an opportunity for him to return at some point.
The signing of Joe Felix is a bit of an odd one on the face of it but can see the reasoning - a replacement for Nemane perhaps? Higher energy some pace/ and trickery perhaps something we've been missing this term. On paper signing a player from a club at the foot of the table one division below isn't all that inspiring for supporters and I believe demonstrates the gulf between the haves and have nots in this league.
Hope he can be a success for us and prove the doubters wrong. My only concern is the stature and physicality of the team is getting smaller and feel we will get bullied against the more physical sides.
Still have defensive concerns Lewis still needs a reliable partner IMHO Hoping hes not exposed to much today.
Plenty of options and a stronger bench by the sound of it. Lets all hope for some good entertainment and a positive result.
|
|
rjdgull
TFF member
Admin
Posts: 12,227
|
Post by rjdgull on Dec 11, 2021 14:09:38 GMT
link - Stockport team out - no Rooney or Quigley
|
|
rjdgull
TFF member
Admin
Posts: 12,227
|
Post by rjdgull on Dec 11, 2021 14:18:09 GMT
link - Torquay team news out with Danny Wright and CLE understandably on the bench as is new signing Felix. Sparkes starts as does Lolos upfront with Armstrong and looks a good team.
|
|
rjdgull
TFF member
Admin
Posts: 12,227
|
Post by rjdgull on Dec 11, 2021 14:24:17 GMT
Really looking forward to this one. Am guessing we will stick with the 3-5-2. Sparkes wide left, but who on the right? I would hope for Moore but doubt he is fit. Is Felix ready to start and if so would he fit in as wing-back? Guess Chiori Johnson is still injured. I would not want to risk O'Connell against a team like Stockport. . Chiori starts training next week. O’Connell doesn’t make the bench. |
|
Rob
TFF member
Posts: 3,607
Favourite Player: Asa Hall
Member is Online
|
Post by Rob on Dec 11, 2021 14:31:25 GMT
Managed to find space for left sided Moxey, Sparkes and Martin. Unsure how that means we are setting up, but quite pleased Martin is starting as he looks to be getting better and better to me. But it may be that he switches to the right today, where the injured Moore was in a 3-5-2 last time out?
Lovely to see strong bench options
|
|
Jon
Admin
Posts: 6,912
|
Post by Jon on Dec 11, 2021 14:45:32 GMT
link - Torquay team news out with Danny Wright and CLE understandably on the bench as is new signing Felix. Sparkes starts as does Lolos upfront with Armstrong and looks a good team. I guess 3-5-2 with either Sparkes or Martin on the wrong side. Or both on the left in a 4-4-2 / 4-2-3-1 with Little or Lolos on the right. |
|
Jon
Admin
Posts: 6,912
|
Post by Jon on Dec 11, 2021 15:02:01 GMT
Sparkes on the right.
|
|
|
|
Post by stefano on Dec 11, 2021 17:03:30 GMT
Torquay United. Anything can happen! Now equidistant between the relegation places and the promotion play off places. Onwards and upwards! 🎅⚽️
|
|
Rob
TFF member
Posts: 3,607
Favourite Player: Asa Hall
Member is Online
|
Post by Rob on Dec 11, 2021 17:12:23 GMT
Holding onto our lead done with aplomb by the sounds of it. Aided greatly by the substitutions it seemed. A very big win for us, that. It changes the mindset for many of us fans, too, having seen off a strong and in form Stockport. You can't put that one down to 'it's only Weymouth/Wealdstone/Dover'. That's me with a full Christmas Calendar of TUFC watching now if I can persuade the missus for an early leave from the South West on the 28th.
|
|
