PSF: Torquay Utd v Bristol City -16 July 3p.m.

Live from the popular side....were you tweeting as well?

I bet you bloody were.....own up!!!

Morning all ... just back in from footie training and put the Golf on .... and thought I would share my thoughts on yesterdays events

First of all I don't think we have anything to worry about for the coming season

I got up to Plainmoor at my usual time around two went in the Reception and noticed that the usual guy who meets and greets with a warm handshake and a wise word or two was not there .....but replaced by two gormless stewards who gave me the once over ...

Never mind tho at least the lovely girl with the squiggly hair was still there in her usual spot sorting out the tickets so at least I got a nice smile and greeting from her.

Didn't hang about in the Gulls Nest for very long ... but time enough to see Jon and meet Barton Downs for the first time

Halfway down the Family Stand steps and here comes Aussie towards me so we stopped and had a decent old chinwag ... all good ...... next it was time for a Pastie Mmmmmm .... I was famished as had been at work at 7 that morning and hadn't eaten anything all day.

Munching Pastie and taking in the atmos and watching the players go through some drills with Damien Davey ( so great he is still here )

Back in to Gulls Nest and meet up with Step Dad and his mate ..... next thing were chatting away to Steve Laister and all very entertaining it was

Before we knew it was time to head for the Popside .... now I haven't stood on The Pop for a long time .... I moved over to behind the Dug Out during the Wes era and have not been back since and all I can say is that I may not move back when the new stand goes up as I thoroughly enjoyed every minute in there .... great atmosphere in the Pop and very positive and supportive .... a lot different to some of the dross I normally have to put up with on a match day

On to the game itself ... well it was played on an absolute peach of a Plainmoor pitch 10 out 10 to Scott and the lads

The ball was played along the floor pretty much all game long and great to watch and it was great to have a good look at the new boys and witness the Resurrection of Mark Ellis.

It was clear that all the players apart from maybe two or three were playing or even battling for places in ML's starting eleven and all put on a great showing ..... where to start with the players ..... OK lets start with Damon ... solid performance .. all ways gives his all and does the simple stuff very well no dramas ... Robbo was decent too ... mind you he does like to wrestle a bit but so does Jaime Carragher so no worries. Danny did well though his finishing a tad weak. Billy looked good and at times held up the ball wonderfully well and some superb close control ..... isn't it funny how a player can perform when played in his correct position !!!

Manse was good and played some nice passes ... Nico ... well was just Nico ... Mmmm Nice....some lovely crossing and a couple of deft corners. Joe saw a lot of the ball and did some good stuff as for big Bobby he had little to do apart from one save I think, he likes to throw or roll the ball out I reckon or maybe it was because it was blowin a heller above the field.

OK Taiwo is the biz I reckon and will easily fill the vacant spot left by Zebs ... he took his goal very well after a great head down from Mark

Chris Mcphee well what can you say ...... quicker faster stronger better ..... much improved from last time and was well received by the Popside

Second Half

A new team with Saah and Ed Palmer at the back ... Saah looks like an athlete and you can see why ML has made him Club Captain he is very quick and will do well, Ed did a damn fine job at Tivvy and did the same yesterday OK he got caught once but nothing to worry about.

Leadbitter ... wow he's even quicker than Saah and loves to bomb on at the earliest opportunity and has a fine cross on him too ... its getting better.

Ashley did a good job as did Ray and I would have loved to see him score but it wasn't to be ... LRT and Lloyd did what they normally do .... Ricey was a busy boy but he kept his sheet clean and made one outstanding save and one of the wags in the pop shouted "He'll be gettin slated on the forum tonite ... should have cought it !!" ...

Koudi looked OK and Eunan was his usual self ie workman like and no nonsense ... great player.

As for Rene Howe ... he is a big old boy innee and a dead ringer for Klitchko .... and took his goal superbly ... I reckon David James hand is still stinging now. Rene's not fit yet clearly but when he is it should be good.

All in all a great Pre - Season game

I have two grumbles though ...... I didn't bump into Dave ....... and also you cant get a suntan in The Pop

I don’t know harboursidegull, you stood me up at Homers heath love and then can’t even be bothered to come and find me on the popside, just how is this relationship can ever blossom

I thought the atmosphere on the popside yesterday was a very relaxing one, but then that is the case for most pre season friendly games. There was no crude singing and what was really pleasing was hearing so many of our good moves, being rewarded with lots of clapping.

Even a good run by Okane late in the second half that ended with a rather wayward shot from the edge of the box, had the popside fans clapping like mad. The stewards on the popside seemed in very good sprites and there were a number of examples where they were enjoying a bit of fun and banter with our fans.

I have not been able to keep up with the comings and goings at Plainmoor and so did not know just what to expect team wise to take to the field. What I saw were two nearly different sides play each half and I saw enough quality out on the pitch, to tell me there is nothing to much to worry about this season.

One very pleasing aspect of our play was our willingness to go and get the ball of the opposition; Kee was a good example of a player who closed down the player on the ball as quickly as possible. The ball might not have been won back every time, but even getting a partial block on a ball being played forward, can stop a move from developing

Yes I think we have enough good players to give our new manager a selection problem as I felt the first half team was good enough to start any league match, but then saw players take to the second half, who I would also want to be in the starting eleven.

One thing the rev was on about was how pleasing it is to see our youth players who have been with us a few seasons now, really starting to grow and develop into very good young players. One or two of them who played yesterday must be very close to knocking on the manager’s door asking why they have not been selected.

I know you can’t read to much into a pre season game, but as I said I saw enough to make me think there has been far to much moaning on here for nothing.