FL2: Torquay United v Aldershot 29th Sept 2009

Not many predictors on this MD thread as yet.
Surely we can scrape a draw or is that to optimistic?
Another defeat is on the cards as by all accounts Saturdays game was dire once again and God only knows what the crowd will be, I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were under 2000.
The honeymoon was over weeks ago and as more matches pass without a win it will seem like a wake at Plainmoor.
Prediction 1-2 crowd of 2078 noisy and supportive until we go behind and then nearly everyone in the ground tear into the manager and players as our ineffective front line try in vein to scrape a result.
Sounds just like the bad old days doesn't it?

We take each game as it comes aussie and all losing runs come to an end at sometime, if I really believed there was no hope at all of ending ours in this match, I really would not bother after an early start and long day on the road, going up and paying my £15.

While Adershot scored four in their last game, I believe we will have a much better defense in this game due to two key players coming back from injury. If we can just defend better, we always stand a chance of nicking a goal and at the end of the day its the result that will matter, more than our performance overall.

Pete I would not expect your figure for the gate to be to far off. Two games in less than a week and for many thats £30 minimum. I believe there will be some who will give Tuesdays game a miss and based on the result go on Saturday.

A defeat could see them missing both games I fear, so even a draw could make all the difference to Saturdays gate.

I had thought about giving the popside a miss and go and stand near the dugouts(that would have made Barton happy ) the only reason was to see what sort of reaction Bucks would get if we were to lose the game.

But I have decided my place is on the popside and I should add my match report may not be put up until Wednesday late afternoon. I will be meeting frankfurt gull who is over form Germany and also swangull I believe, after the match.

I hope that 100% effort is the very least that they offer, but as you rightly say, that would be pretty damning for Bucks tomorrow if they don't and we get beat (which I guess will happen if they don't give it their best).

On a slightly more positive note, I wasn't expecting anything at Macc on Saturday but am slightly more hopeful ahead of tomorrow night. Time for a "back to basics" approach - watching us pack the midfield in pre-season made things tighter - an open game will only suit Aldershot.
If Mansell and Charnock return to the starting line-up then it would be a massive boost. A repeat of having Robertson against a nippy winger and Todd on current form would not help our chances.

A win would put a totally different complexion on the situation - although probably wouldn't sway the opinions of many (and neither should one single game).

Sills surely has to start against his former team - it was against Aldershot that he kick-started his TUFC career and strikers often score against their former teams - probably not a good reason from a coaching point of view though!

Come on guys, a win must be on it's way now.

Remember, we've got a score to settle with the Shots! Something to do with stealing points...

Reading todays Herald Express, it reports that our three injured defenders have been in full training, bucks said

"They are all back on the training field — it's just a question of match-fitness with one or two," he said.

"We want to start winning games as quickly as possible, but at the same time I have got to safeguard people for the long term."

While I understand what Bucks is say, I do think the most important thing to night is to stop our losing run and the best chance we have of doing that is to play Lee Mansell, Kieran Charnock.

Losing games is very damaging for so many reasons and the plain fact is a wining team will draw fans on midweek games and a losing one will see them stay at home and save their money.

If the worst was to happen and we do lose tonight and we did not play Lee Mansell and Kieran Charnock, the knifes really will be out for Buckle.

We last played Aldershot in March 2008 in a mid week top of the table clash in the BSP and our gate was 4500, here we are now a league team and we will be very lucky to get half of that figure up at Plainmoor tonight.

There lies the big problem and just how can the club get in the required players when gates are so low and over half who will be there have paid just over £8 for the pleasure.