Torquay United V Burton 26th April 2009

I don't know why but I'm getting more and more positive about the game on sunday. Buckle and the team have proved before that they can rise to the occasion!

Come kick-off I'll probably be nailbiting and sweating all over...

We win 2-0, a goal in each have from Tim Sills. He's only scored 14 goals in the league this season, for a striker like him not good enough. 16 is a much better tally.

The gate will be around 4,600.

Unfortunately I won't come over for this game. Wembley would be a nice alternative
Cheer them on for me please!

ps. Did you see Ajax getting stuffed at P$V last weekend. Horrible result.

Pre match thoughts

[glow=yellow,2,300]What sort of game do I expect[/glow]

Well you may know that I do feel that there is a way football should be played and merse and I have had many disagreements over my views when I have used the term The way the game is meant to be played

Maybe its just an Ideal I have in my head, a picture of how play should be and how It looks not only perfect but entertaining. Lets be honest good entertaining football will put bums on seats and when you pay to watch football, you do expect to see a reasonable standard from the players.

I have never liked hoff ball football and even in the cup final Ant played in on Tuesday night I saw young players trying to pass to team mates and getting good attacking moves going.

So in my ideal world we would win and win pretty, but I have watched enough football to know there will be games when you have to win ugly and only the result is important and nothing else.

In front of the cameras it would be great to play good quality football, show the world that we can play and are worthy to get promoted, but on Sunday I will not care if we look crap, look like we can't play or have ever played together before, if we get a fluke goal at the end and win the game.

Its not about anything else than winning the game and getting in the play-offs, its a time to forget ideals of how the game should be played, only the result matters for this one.

What about the atmosphere

I can see a big gate and one that will be in a party mode, plenty of colour and plenty of singing, even if we went a goal behind I believe the fans will know whats at stake and just start singing even louder.

After the game?

I hope no matter what the result the fans behave themselves and do not let down the club. It has been made clear that fans must not go on the pitch after the game, I do feel if we did not make the play-offs and it ended up the last game, that request will fall on deaf ears.

If we get the required result I think fans will observe the clubs request and will hang around to enjoy the celebrations. I do have a small concern that a bad result will see some shouting out abuse to Buckle. It may well be just down to the disappointment etc, but I would hope that the team had put on a brave fighting display and if they do that then no one should have any real complaints.

Ah ha, I hear the sound of pennies dropping.

I think if you re worded your mantra "the way we like it played" rather than "the way it's meant to be played" we could find some common ground on this. Believe it or not I love to watch high quality, constructive and thoughtful football just like you; but unlike you (it seems to me) I appreciate the fact that no-one will sit back and let you play in this league and that more often than not the right to play the way we would like has to be fought for ~ often tooth and nail and in an ugly fashion.


I can't think of one side in the BSP that is good enough to merely go out and pass the ball about at will from the first whistle without first establishing the upper hand...............and that includes Aldershot from last season and Burton from this.

I've been watchinig Torquay since 1964 - I just have a feeling that this year we WILL win this last game OR (at worst) draw but still get into the play offs...

Go for it Paul Buckle - if ever there was a time for the CROWD to get behind you AND the team 100%- it is this Sunday afternoon.

We have the opportunity to be the twelth man - TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE - on Sunday

Even IF it does not start well, SUPPORT the TEAM until your support helps the team change the game!

MAKE THE DIFFERENCE!

Up the GULLS

Teddgull

Stu spoke with Colin Lee a while ago and he confirmed that Bevan is out tomorrow.

Yes. Rice is named as in the squad on the official site.