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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2009 21:14:46 GMT
Excellent performance today - and a cracking occasion - resulting in Torquay knocking out a team from three divisions higher for the first-time ever. On to the 4th round of the FA Cup for only the sixth time. I had a text at 5.04 from a friend in Newcastle hoping, should they beat Hull, for trip to Plainmoor. Bugger off, I want the Toon away (which probably means a trip to meet the Monkey Men). Great match reports, as ever, so not much to add on the game save to say the victory was totally deserved and could have been by a greater margin. Blackpool would have no complaints - no controversy, no ill-luck, just a result that reflected the play. I've taken this quote from Swangull because it reflects something that crossed my mind afterwards: One final word, the whole club deserved today's win for the fine way the club is run. So much good is now being done off the pitch which will eventually pay dividends on the pitch. So take a bow all those running the club these days. This might sound illogical - because we're in the BSP not the FL - but I thought today's game provided plenty of evidence that the club is functioning at a higher level - on and off the pitch - than it was for most of its final years in the Football League. This is pleasing and frustrating at the same time. The frustration comes partly because I think that, if we were in Lge 2 at present, we'd be doing well. It also comes because we're in the league that - in contrast to Lge 2 with its four promotion places - is the most difficult of all from which to be promoted. One automatic place and, to paraphase something said elsewhere, several well-run clubs doing their best to achieve what we wish to achieve and to stop us achieving it at their expense. We may well gain promotion this season. If we don't, I think it'll be important to remember we had a chance and, that next season, we will retain that chance. That's the very most we can reasonably expect in my book. We can't expect and demand a 100-105 point return and the league title on a plate. Today was a great day. Other days are not so good. A few weeks ago I left the ground at Eastbourne aware that, however hard we try, we might be in this league for many seasons. If we are, it doesn't necessarily make us a Mickey Mouse club playing in a pub league. We could easily remain a well-run, ambitious club that doesn't get there immediately. Football isn't always the fairest of games and we just happen to be at a level of the game where the roll of the dice can be particularly unfair and uneven. I return again to Merse's earlier observation: I maintain there is a lot to enjoy as a BSP club Definite proof of that today, eh? |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jan 3, 2009 21:34:40 GMT
While I fully agree with your views Barton, I did talk with one person today who no longer goes to Plainmoor,this was a person who once I would have gone as far to call a die hard.
He now goes down to Plymouth to watch football, claiming that he won't pay to see conference football. He said if he is going to pay to watch a game he only wants to see professionals play. He is not a Plymouth supporter, if he had of been he would have been at their cup game today.
I did point out that as we are a full time team, all our players get paid and therefore by definition we are a professional football team. I say that only because while many fans will still turn up and pay on the gate, there are still plenty, who share the views of the person I talked to today.
Getting out of this league is so very important and the longer we stay in it, the more chance of seeing fans drift away and I have said before, once you lose them, they are so harder to get back.
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Post by pikeygull on Jan 3, 2009 21:52:39 GMT
For those of you who can't wait until MotD or what ever ITV call it you can relive the moment and enjoy nearly 10mins of BBC Radio Devon coverage  www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p001vjw6/Extra_Time_03_01_2009/Click up to 29mins and away you go. Of course BBC RD would be BBC RD without a clip of argyles game being edited into the middle of OUR coverage. Tin Pot radio station |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2009 22:25:55 GMT
Dave, I think there's a sense of loss of status and damage to pride in some cases. It may even be that some people think it's not macho to show interest in a non-league team (don't ask me to explain this). Yes, there may be less allure about the BSP but, let's face it, the Gloryseekers couldn't have been too happy about us being in the 4th tier for so long.
I can understand these attitudes more in older supporters who were accustomed to the Great Divide between League and Non-League (isn't that term "non-league" an interesting and telling one? It's both a misnomer and slightly dismissive at the same time). This divide, of course, was perpetuated by the re-election/election system (the "Old Pals Act") which lasted until 1987. Then, once promotion/relegation was introduced, the Conference was viewed by many in the same way as that place on the edge of the map labelled "There be dragons".
What some people might not appreciate is the granting of the second promotion place in 2003 - linked to a second relegation spot form above naturally - has changed this league more in the last five years than in the previous twenty-five years of its existence. I could be exceptionally clever and say the unleashing of ex-Football League clubs on the Conference has certain parallels with unfettered capitalism hitting the old Soviet Union....
But I won't. I will say the Conference is now in something of a No Man's League. It's neither the Football League....nor is it Non-League in the commonly accepted meaning of the term. It'll be interesting which way it jumps. Once it looked like the Conference was moving towards an association with the Football League....then it established Conference North and South at the level below (which is where we'd really notice the difference).
Overall, I believe things are appreciated more - up close - by going to see a fair number of games. If you're watching matches you're experiencing more than just the results (and it might even challenge your own misconceptions). If it was just about enjoying results we'd have all given up years ago, wouldn't we? However, on a personal level, I sometimes wonder what might have happened if I'd followed through a job application in Aberdeen three or four years ago. I'd have missed the end of our first spell in the FL and what has happened since. I'd like to think I would have seen it all in perspective - I think I would have done so to be honest -but I guess there's an outside chance I might have been rather sniffy about it all.
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Post by graygull on Jan 3, 2009 23:04:09 GMT
I wonder if the club was just a little disapointed with the attendance today, I know it was bitter cold, it was right after Christmas , moneies short, heard them all, but less then 3500 for a game of glory, I was suprised, couldn't even blame the tv this time.
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Post by stevedeckchair on Jan 3, 2009 23:11:21 GMT
Wow Barton, some of your posts really connect with how I feel about our club.
What I am getting at, is that as a 'non league' side, I feel that we are capable of giving any side in league 1 or 2 a good game and there is always a chance, as proven today, that we could turn over a championship side.
Compare this to how I felt as a league club playing a 'non-league' side in the cup and it was always felt that we should win comfortably.
Amazing how our outlook and perception of the conference changes now we are actually in it. The more I see of conference teams knocking out league sides makes me appreciate how a successful side in the conference (meaning any side from say 7th upwards) should be more than capable of holding their own in league 2.
I certainly don't remember the standard of league 2 being any better than the goods sides we face currently.
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Post by jmgull on Jan 3, 2009 23:21:37 GMT
....Well those highlights were pathetic  10 seconds for the only non lge giant killer of the day |
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Post by pikeygull on Jan 3, 2009 23:28:46 GMT
Lets hope Setanta put on a better showing in their highlights show tomorrow ay 10:00.
Shocking ITV shocking
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tufc01
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Post by tufc01 on Jan 3, 2009 23:42:51 GMT
Great match reports guys, between you it pretty much sums it up.
A few observations from me;
Fantastic game, Fantastic day out, thoroughly enjoyable all round.
Was disappointed with the crowd numbers from Blackpool, was expecting the away end to be pretty full? Drummer was good, but i bet the poncho guys feel a bit silly now. They were obviously expecting a 'great day out', fancy dress, few beers, batter a 'non league' team, home for tea and medals, oh and a 4th round tie at the big four. We spoke to a (or rather he muttered) Blackpool fan on the way to the car. He said we should have won by 6 and that was the worse he'd seen them play in over 20 years. His mates agreed that we fully deserved to win, which we did.
The players were awesome, purely and simply awesome, not sure you could criticise any of them??
Special mention to Hodges, he just shaded it as my man of the match, quality, experience and always in the right place at the right time.
Hargreaves belied his age, got some tackles in/nicked the ball off their players toes when he looked like he wasn't even 40/60 to get there. Broke down a lot of their attacks and dominated the midfield.
Nico's best game of the season?? Supremely accurate with his balls down the channel, which was our main threat.
Sills won everything and most of it went where he wanted it to go.
Green was sharp and alert, caused them all sorts of trouble. Malfoy didn't know how to play him. Great strike and loved the celebrations.
I'm not wasn't Dsanes biggest fan, however thought he had a great game. Another who seems to be improving with every game. Once again credit to Bucks and the coaching staff.
Actually felt a bit sorry for Roscoe in the first half. Someone behind me to my left kept shouting go long for f**k sake, then a guy behind to my right shouting for him to drop short, poor guy couldn't win, not that he would have listened to them.
Bevan is just so imposing, did what he had to do, plucked a few out of the air at the right time.
Wouldn't be surprised if all the players get 5 stars in tomorrows independent/8 or 9 out of 10 in the Non League Paper.
Overall the play off the ball was a joy to watch, all of them, bar none chased everything down, closed them down and just wanted it more.
Great performance and a fully deserved victory.
Should also keep one person in particular off Bucks back for a week or so, does he have the balls?? I would say so, perfect team selection and formation, he deserves as much credit as the players.
As for the next round?? Had booked a hotel in Manchester about 3 months ago, so that we could go to the Altrincham game, so a Manchester based club would be good, seeing as City are out i suppose United will have to do! ;D
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merse
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Post by merse on Jan 4, 2009 0:17:46 GMT
 I certainly did go to the match today Dave, and I did tell you to "look behind you" because I prefer to watch from the Pop at Plainmoor; although I don't know how much longer my deteriorating arthritis will allow me to do this....................fifteen minutes from the end I was in agony and virtually unable to move at the final whistle! I won't attempt to post my view of the game as it is much the same as several others.........................and of course this has been one of the great days in the history of OUR club! What I would like to take up on are a few points mentioned tonight of the off field events. Firstly, this ongoing nonsense of the BBC and it's total failure to provide a reliable commentary stream over the internet. This has been ongoing for a whole year now and frequently involves the majority of the first half of a game being unavailable. I sincerely believe someone is up to no good here and wonder if it is because of the FACT that they cannot carry commentary of the other two professional Devon clubs. The FACT also is,no-one at the Beeb gives a fecking toss and even when I have queried the goings on with Dave Thomas he gets very defensive and brusque over the matter. If the commo can get out over the airwaves, why not the internet? during the Histon game I phoned Capitalgull from my home and asked him to point out to the Beeb team at Plainmoor (he was sitting just along from them) that yet again the internet was down and hey presto within a nano second the commo came through. Now come on guys, what IS going on? You email the Beeb, they just pay lip service and the problem continues, you speak to one of the regular summarisers and he gets all defensive. It only happens at home games, is anybody interested? does anyone actually care? It seems not and it stinks. I pay my licence fee so I am entitled to a service, I am not getting it; so I am extremely bloody unhappy!  Mention has been made of the rather "unatural" enthusiasm of some people around OUR club for certain individuals to fail, to be dropped; and even despatched from the club. On my first visit to Plainmoor this season I was regaled with a number of "conspiracy theories", tittle tattle from the "dressing room", forebodings of financial woe, "departures" - you name it, it seems Torquay United is imploding!  Now I know I have got myself a bit of a reputation as a "Keyboard Warrior" and I now feel I am regarded by some as some sort of Sausage Geezer  who cannot wait to publicise the latest "hot news"on here. I have always maintained that if I did say anything I would not do such that would either jeopardise the image of the club nor endanger the success of anything they were trying to achieve. Comments have again been made on here tonight about one such "character" who loves to promote discord and the inordinate amount of time he spends in the company of our two Devon rivals - particularly Exeter City. It's an "unusual" behaviour pattern for a grown man to adopt for sure, and there is certainly the stench of "an issue" over this conduct. Again I heard strong criticism of OUR manager and his style of football being "no good for our club", how it wasn't entertaining enough, keeping the gates down; making players unhappy...................there certainly seems to be an unhealthy appetite for back biting and destructive attitude at work around the old place and I find it disturbing. Two defeats in nineteen games and reaching the Fourth Round of the FA Cup and THIS is going on - why? I think Dave's analogy of the guy who's going to Argyle over Plainmoor reveals just what total arseholes there are who will turn colour. So there are people who would actually DO so I guess there are people who will actively campaign to destabilise OUR club! On a brighter note, my "return" to my spiritual home revealed a club run in the most impressive and professional manner imaginable, providing fabulous facilities - great pre-match dining, smart, friendly and highly efficient staff and somewhere I am very proud to call MY football club and MY football ground. ....................and hey, I even got to link up with Lee Russell for the first time in several years enabling us to engage in some good old gossip about long gone individuals and long lost days. Wonderful stuff! 
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jan 4, 2009 0:26:42 GMT
All you forgot to do Merse was come and say hello to me, shame on you glad you enjoyed your day down in Torquay, still the English Rivera, even if the locals seem to be turning a bit sour, if you know what I mean  |
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cav
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Post by cav on Jan 4, 2009 0:35:25 GMT
Just a short message from Mr Cav
Outstanding defence against a 1 dimensional teaam. " lets try and hit Burgess and hope". Woods, Hodges absolutely first class. Green playing off Sills, fantastic. Totally deserved to win and speaking to several Blackpool fans after the game they felt we battered them and 1-0 was a false score. I just hope the board get the draw that "they/we deserve". Excuse me cause ihave had a couple, but the board/we deserve a decent money away spinning draw. f*** fantastic !!
So proud to be a Gull. Burton tuesday and 3 points!! C'mon!!1
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Jan 4, 2009 0:41:46 GMT
Cav if you have had a few, your post was still just fine mate and why not have a few after such a good game and result. If we had somehow lost or the game ended up as a draw, it really would have been so unfair. We did deserve to have won by more goals, but who cares, tonight we all feel real pride for the excellent performance by the team.
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Post by ealinggull on Jan 4, 2009 0:43:45 GMT
Barton, TUFC01, Merse - I agree with many points you have made.
How wonderul it was to see our team so comprehensively on top (I was worried by their 2/3 right wing free kicks in the 2nd half when they were finally able to get their big boys forward), and, had Lee Hodges scored from that free kick, we would have enjoyed more moments in the spotlight on ITV.
I know many will see me as a doom monger - but I reckon we'lll draw Kettering - but I want our first ever (isn't it) game against Arsenal in the next game. If they put their youngsters in, at our best we might get into the last 16 .....
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merse
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Post by merse on Jan 4, 2009 0:45:55 GMT
All you forgot to do Merse was come and say hello to me, shame on you Don't take offence, as I shuffled along the front of the Pop I did look out for a little guy in a shiny waistcoat and seemingly wedged between two giant mouth organs, but two no avail. I feel about 103 right now and am off to bed!  |
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One final word, the whole club deserved today's win for the fine way the club is run. So much good is now being done off the pitch which will eventually pay dividends on the pitch. So take a bow all those running the club these days. 
