FL2: Torquay United v Aldershot 28th Sept 2010

Is there friction between manager and players then? Obviously I don't get to hear local gossip but I was always under the impression that PB was a well-liked bloke by all staff.

If we were to sack the manager, which I hope we don't, as in 3 years PB has got us back to a pretty good place, who would take over anyway?

I was thinking this last night. Wroe has been poor recently and most on here in their match reports have said he's been poor. So Buckle drops him and now after a loss there are "issues" or something more to the simple fact (possibly) a manager has dropped a player because he isn't playing well. But are we now adding Nicky Wroe to the Simon Raynor/Steve Woods/Matt Green list?

Branston missing Ellis is an interesting point. I was hoping that the Meerkat would expand on his statement that "Ellis makes Branston" look good on the Macclesfield match day thread. My school of thought was that Branston's experience, organisation and know how gave more to the partnership but I think now it's safe to say that when one part is missing the other part doesn't play so well.

You would not believe the amount of driving I did to get a car full to the game last night. A trip that definately was not worth it.
We started with a totally bizarre formation with Big man Benyon foraging up front by himself which looked like we would probably never score if we played till next Tuesday.
Lathrope looked tenacious nearly scored but disapointingly got injured and had to come off.
Unfortunately O'Kane went into midfield. He is skilful and hit a good dipping volleyat the end but that was about it. This should dispel any theory that the bloke can play in central midfield because he can't. He has no presence, can't tackle and Mansell was carrying him as the game passed the irishman by completely.
If Wroe wasn't injured, then not having him on the bench seemed another bizarre decision. The poster who said that O'Kane is streets ahead of Wroe is surely having a laugh.
However poor Wroe's been playing he is a better central midfield option than O'Kane.
We huffed and puffed but never looked like scoring.
Buckle made the correct substitution (Benyon/Zebroski cannot play together they need to play off a target man).
Gritton actually seemed to change the game when he came on for the first twenty minutes of the second half but we then went out like a light.
Cue the arrival of the game changing Marlon Jackson (memo to Buckle - he's a loan forward Paul - but not as we kinow it) and the pace of him and Morgan soon had Charnock and Branston in all sorts of trouble.
Branston was exposed by Morgans pace wihen he missed when clean thru and then they hit the post.
As sure night followed days the goal was coming and it surely did with both centre halves cocking up completely with Branston left on his posterior as the ball hit the net.
Buckle then sent on Billy Joyce (sorry Kee) but the points were gone to a distinctly average Aldershot side.
A sublime example really of one or two players short and we are stuffed (and that includes Wroe).
O'Kane and Stevens - far too lightweight.
Branston - seems to be going downhill
Charnock - looks like he needed the game.
Manager - couldn't have done anything else with the resources he had at his disposal.
Referee - complete and utter prick.

Ellis stated that he should be back on Saturday - he is light years ahead of anything else we have at the back.
A dismal result though and with tough games to come. producing the sort of winless run that we went on last season looks a distinct possibility

Although certainly not brilliant I would not have described us as dross last night either Loyal. There was plenty of effort and a fair bit of good football in difficult conditions, with a very wet surface, drizzle throughout the game, and a swirling wind constantly changing direction. It was noticeable that we were pumping the ball forward more rather than passing out of defence which was sensible given the conditions.

A couple of good saves from the Shots keeper and a good 20 minute spell mid-way through the second half should have produced a goal, but towards the end Aldershot following a substitution took the initiative and looked the most likely to score.

Branston did some very good defensive clearances during the game but he also slipped up a couple of times and certainly got exposed by pace towards the end.

Some very good observations by Mr Alunmeerkat on an earlier post but whilst I thought against Macclesfield on Saturday we were abysmal I did not leave last night with the same feeling.

Mr Buckle does need to sort out how we are going to score goals again which will probably mean somebody new coming in as I don't think whatever he does with the present squad will make us look more potent up front, and I am sure he is doing that.

Set pieces will also I hope be under consideration as we were far too predictable last night particularly with throw ins. Ten minutes from the end we had a throw in out on the right at the edge of the Shots penalty area with the ball in Robertson's hands and two United players in space on the edge of the area. He dropped the ball as Nicholson trotted from the left back position and the opportunity was lost as Aldershot brought everybody back and defended what everybody knew was going to happen.

All in all though, I am not disillusioned just disappointed

Picking Man of the Match isn't as easy as it sounds...

First of all there's the watching of the game from behind the goal; the large carvery that still needs to settle (especially the cocktail of ice-cream that wasn't really wanted); the continual chatting of those in the party who don't like football but something played with an oval ball; then there's the four pints of Guiness sunk before suddenly Mr Edwards is there asking the sponsor & his party who they nominate. Said members of the sponsors' party then all shrug and look to the one or two people who really should know.
The pressure is suddenly pressing down and it must be easy for said person to just come up with the first name in his head, especially when he may not have been concentrating all the way through the game as he should've!

So have a thought the for the poor sap who then has to listen as howls of derision flow down from the stands and terraces...

No, it isn't easy (One would imagine!)

In his after match interview last night, Aldershot manager Kevin Dillon pays tribute to Torquay's energy levels and mentions how his back four must have headed the ball clear "about a hundred times" ~ sounds like he thought we had a good go at it last night, but that Shots ran out the stronger finishers.