Fonda
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Talking absolute football...
Posts: 384 
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Post by Fonda on Apr 14, 2009 10:31:17 GMT
Why can’t we deal with it? In the tough looking fixtures, when we’re not necessarily expected to do well, we consistently exceed expectations. But when we so much as dare to think, never mind expect, we might get a win, we let ourselves down. As soon as there is any amount of anticipation, we fail to deliver. Is it complacency, or is it a failure to handle the pressure? A couple of weeks ago I might have believed that the main reason is that our support at Plainmoor isn’t helping the players – that we actually add pressure. Abusing our own, and booing after a defeat certainly isn’t going to help them, but there is evidently more to it than that. I thought the support was excellent against Crawley, and yesterday too, so we can’t take all the blame. I thought part of the reason Bucks assembled an ‘experienced’ squad was for exactly this reason – to handle such pressure situations. I’m afraid certain individuals are not currently repaying the managers faith and loyalty. I personally don’t blame the manager in these situations either – he must be as frustrated as the rest of us that a group of players that can win at Burton and Cambridge can offer up the type of performances we witnessed over the weekend. I guess the one positive to take is that should we reach the Play-Offs, the opposition will be decent! If complacency is the issue, we should be fine as I don’t imagine there will be any of that in the Play-Offs. But if it’s an inability to handle pressure situations, we’re in real trouble, because the heat is only going to rise...
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jerry
TFF member
Posts: 165
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Post by jerry on Apr 14, 2009 12:56:38 GMT
I've spoken to two separate people at work today who went to Plainmoor for the first time this season on Saturday. Both have been "casual" supporters in the past but haven't really been interested this (or most of last) season. Both went with their families (a total of 4 adults and 3 kids)and both have said the same thing. "Same old Torquay, I won't be back in a hurry!"
There, in a nutshell, is one of the reasons why our attendances never grow, we regularly "fail to turn up" in front of a large, expectant crowd.
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Rob
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Favourite Player: Asa Hall
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Post by Rob on Apr 14, 2009 13:06:16 GMT
In Buckle's interview he was saying he was not happy with an attitude - by players - that we will stroll in to the play-offs. If he's read Greavsie's blog stating that we need one more win to be in them, I expect he'll be:-
1 Ordering him a calculator and
2 Spitting feathers.
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Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on Apr 14, 2009 16:05:16 GMT
Shane if Bucks or anyone knew the answer we would have won this league by now and could just sit back and enjoy the last few games. It does make me mad when you see all the hard work done and things starting to look so much better, only for the team to go and fall over and lose games they really should have won.
We go and beat Burton at their place and then need them to drop points, they do that but we failed to do what we needed to do and make sure we picked up the points we needed.
I said yesterday our season is not over yet, it still will have a few twist and turns before its over, or we know our chances of any success are gone, we can only try and stay positive and not give up.
The real problem is that so many times when things were in the balance, they have never gone our way have they. You think back to some end of season games, ones where we were trying to stay up. In some part of the game we were safe and we were jumping with joy, then a goal goes in and we are going down. Tears fill our eyes until another goal goes in and we are safe again. The only problem is mostly when the final whistle went things had changed again and down we were going.
Its that heartache then felt that will result in some fans just saying thats it, I do not need all this disappointment in my life, even more so when they consider how much they have spent that season.
What really worries me is can gulls fans take a third season on the trot of pain and heartache?It was bad enough when we lost 80 years of league history as we went out of the league and into the BSP. The saving grace was getting a new board, new owners and ones who would want the same as we the fans wanted for the club and the top thing would be success.
Despite all their hard work and effort on and off the field, the next season also ended very painfully, looking like champions for so long, only to lose it in the last 15 Min's of the final game. Even worse losing it to Exeter City who went up in what we thought was our place.
That sad end to the season is still in my view the main reasons gate have been much lower this season, for some it was just one pain too many. It could end up being painful again this season, I'm not even going to for one second even think that is what might happen.
I really don't know how a third season of disappointment would effect me, it would maybe get me asking myself some questions, if I felt all the pain really was worth it.
Then the summer would come and talk of new players and I know that the pull would still be there and I would be starting yet another season as a gulls fans. Sadly some will not end up feeling the same way and will give up supporting the gulls via the turnstile.
As I said before with wage capping coming in, the real fear of lower gates, then not going up this season could mean a longer spell in the BSP than we really want. I know City took five years to get out, but I do feel since they dropped from the second division, this league has got stronger. We have seen bigger clubs finding their way into this league and it will be the same next season.
Lets just keep believing we can go up and will, its really to hard to want to face anything else while the chance is still there.
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Fonda
TFF member
Talking absolute football...
Posts: 384
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Post by Fonda on Apr 14, 2009 17:11:11 GMT
"I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand." ;D
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Post by chesneygull on Apr 14, 2009 20:53:22 GMT
Agree with you Jerry.
As a direct comparision look at Exeter's attendance yesterday. Whilst I hate to say it, they just have the knack of coming up with the goods when it really matters!
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Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on Apr 14, 2009 21:06:31 GMT
I talked with a city fan today who was at the game, what was it 8000+, he felt like we have before when we have had a big gate. He said we went at his normal time but found a big queue.
Just when he got near the front they said the main stand was full and he then had to join an even bigger queue for the northbank(think thats what it is called).
Still we would not mind having to queue if we saw big crowds all wanting to hand over their money at the gate.
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