FL2: Macclesfield v Torquay United 26th Sept 2009

I can't go into details Merse, but Aussie feels a bit raw at this time due to learning someone close has been diagnosed with cancer. I understood more what you meant and as you know I have been saying for some time, Toddy has been pushing far to hard at times.

I know only too well with Carol that there is a built in fear factor that makes them believe they can't stop and rest, in case it allows the illness to take over.

I firmly believe that Toddy is in that mindset and it is understandable, but I don't think he has been picked out of sympathy, its more the case that we conceded today because of what has always been a weakness in his game.

Lets hope Mansell is back on Tuesday, having him alone will allow Bucks to give Toddy a break and it won't do him any harm at all.

Listen to the manager on the BBC football site now and you will hear him describe the strikers we have as failing to score but that to get the quality of striker one needs at this level costs money we haven't got. He says he's happy to work on that basis, but I also feel the board and supporters need to appreciate the point and not go overboard in their criticism of the moving out of Green who had made his position here untenable.

Green knew what he was doing, knew he wanted out, and knew what the outcome would be. Talented as he is, Mustapha has yet to show any degree of reliability in front of goal and once again today Benyon was described by a commentary pairing who do know what they're talking about; failing to display basic ball and possession retention skills that have blighted his game throughout his time with us.

Sills is a huge strength as regards ball retention and the discipline required to get back at set pieces and do his stuff defensively, but we can all see how his dreadful lack of pace weakens his value in this league.

Having said that, NONE of our strikers are hitting the target consistently and it is difficult to know where the manager can go from here save trying to pull rabbits out of hats with the type of loan that Danny Mills and the short term contrating of Marvin Williams represent.

We badly and obviously lack pace with our wide players, yet the one we did have with pace could not produce the footballing consistency we need to cement our place in this higher division.

The manager states that he feels that one elusive win will allow a team he feels is basically playing quite well on the whole to gain some confidence to go on and produce the sort of winning and unbeaten runs we have for the past two seasons.

Summing up I would say the best way to achieve that win at the moment is to keep a clean sheet, and I know that is easier said than done, but it can only be achieved by being ruthless with the individuals who are gifting those goal scoring opportunities to some pretty mediocre opponents. Having some of the injured players back to full fitness willl strengthen his hand in this sense, and I only hope he can feel confident enough in their fitness to get both Charnock and Mansell back into the starting eleven on Tuesday.

There is only 1 team in this League that has scored more than us away from home. It is in defence that we have a problem and I was fairly annoyed when Buckle made the comment he did on Radio Devon. Mansell has been sorely missed and Charnock is nailed on to start once he is fully match fit. Todd has been shaky all season and needs resting/loaning out.

Went to the game today but due to other commitments have been unable to post until now.

As you may have gathered from radio Devon and .com report we were the better (out of 2 very poor teams) for an hour and then totally surrendered the initiative soon after taking the lead. We started lively and created a number of good chances in the first 15 minutes then remained clearly the better side (without playing particuarly well) for the rest of a very poor quality first half. Our goal early in the 2nd half was created initially by Sills winning a tackle on the left flank, he passed to Stevens who in turn found Benyon whose shot appeared to eventually cross the line in ultra slow motion. For 5 minutes after we scored we looked as if we could add to it but then Macc launched a couple of attacks and it was clear we were about to wobble. The error strewn Todd gifting them an equaliser.

From then on you just knew we would concede again and sure enough within 7 minutes failure to clear our lines gifted them the winner.
My observations confirm that Todd yet again proved to be a liability and the continual playing Robbo out of position at right back is really p**sing me off. Ellis (despite a few miskicks) was my man of the match and I would pair him or Robbo at CB with Charnock (who is massively missed, as is Mansell) when fit. Paul Buckle’s biggest issue that needs resolving is to sort the full back positions out – this has been neglected for far too long! Priority must be to stabilise the defence and use that as a platform to restore much needed confidence.

There was no lack of effort today but the stark reality is that we lost to a very poor team by surrendering a lead that would easily have been held by a half decent defence.

Sadly, it looks very much like Sills will not be able to cut it at league 2 level. The 3 subs, young Mills, Williams and Thompson failed to make any positive impression following their introduction with about 20 minutes to go. Wroe appears totally shot of confidence and is failing to deliver in a playmaking role.

To rub it in I along with the other approx 150 Gulls fans was outraged at being ‘forced’ to pay £18 to sit in the seated area as this greedy little club decided not to open the away end terracing which was £14 admission (on a bright, warm afternoon!).

It will be heartbreaking if we drop back down to the BSPL after last season’s glorious success but at the present time it’s very hard to see where the next win will come from.

That he might have done but remember he scored a goal in a shit league against a shit defence, mate I could that!

Just seen the goals on the box.

Defending directed by Max Sennett.

This was a game that was there for the taking. No lack of effort by most of he players, just a chronic lack of confidence, probably on-set by a chronic lack of ability in some cases. Both sides were bereft of any kind of cohesion and appeared nervy. The result for much of the first half was hoofed balls up to forwards who lacked the first touch or strength to retain possession. That said, we did create a couple of decent chances - Benyon wasted one particular chance Stevens also hesitated and another went begging. If these players are to justify their place in the side they need to convert these chances. The odd moment of dopey defending gave Mac a chance or two, but, in general we seemed to be comfortable in a very dull contest devoid of any real class.

A dream start to the second half saw Sills pressure a defender into error and Stevens put Benyon in with a neat through ball. Benyon tried his best to miss, but fortunately for us the ball dribbled over the line. For a minute or two after the goal it looked like the confidence had returned and it actually crossed my mind that we could stretch our lead. Normally in a game of two such hesitant sides the first goal is crucual......however, we though any advantage away by comical defending - comical defending that has been present all season. There may have been a hint of a foul on Ellis in the build up, but Toddy had a shocker for the equaliser. How many times does it have to happen before Buckle does something about it? The combination of Todd in the centre and robertson like a fish out of water at right back does not work and we are giving away goal after goal and free kick after free kick because of this. The second goal was equall gifted to the ome side and from that point the result was never really in doubt, but for a later Sills header tipped over the bar.

PB has put this result down to 7 minutes of madness. This is glossing over massive problems. Once behind, we never looked like getting back into the game and offered nothing in the way of creation. If anything, Macclesfield looked more likely to extend their lead. Of the three subs only Thommo made an impression. He has got to be worth a start now. Williams on for Stevens changed nothing. A strange signing on this performance. I'm not going to critisise an 18 year old player just starting out out in the game.........so I have nothing to say about Mills. Suffice to say, on this performance he is not what is required and his signing demonstrates how desperate Buckle is. Does he have any contacts in the game other than Uncle Barry? Hopefully, this was not a true impression of his talent. I'd rather someone with a bit of league experience myself on this performance. The only players that should come out of yesterday with any credit are Ellis, who was pretty sound and Hargreaves, who I thought was excellent and looked gutted at the end. I have doubted his ability at this level, but yesterday he put in a great shift.

Our problems this season stem form Buckle's failure to improve the squad. In fact it is weaker than last year. The starting 11 yesterday were all last seasons players - some of whom were deemed not good enough to get a regular place in the Conference - how on earth are we expected to compete at a higher level. Any player with pace has been shipped out and Buckle has lost faith in players that he signed on in the Summer - Rendell started as a first choice striker........now he must be fourth or fifth choice. This season was not the time to spend any of the wage bill on talent that needs nurturing for the future - wht a waste of time the signing of Joyce has been. Use what limited resources we have on players who are going to improve the starting 11 for christ sake. Same can be said for Mills. It is going to take the lad two of the three months loan to get used to here.

Whether the club is more professional or not matters little when the performance and results on the pitch are the same. I'm sure I'll feel a lot better if we get relegated because this time we have a full time coach, goal keeping coach, fitness person and a well paid chief exec. Great!