rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 15, 2012 21:35:32 GMT
After a lacklustre performance against Leicester which had the feel of a PSF, we begin a tough start to the new campaign against new league boys, Fleetwood. Amazingly, they were in the ninth tier of football only seven years ago and only got in the conference in 2010, a year after we left it! Fleetwood seem to be a team going places with no room for sentimentality giving the previous players a chance to see how they do...  Fleetwood have 10 new signings this year with a goal keeper, 2 defenders, 3 midfielders and four strikers joining the ranks, many of them being experienced and coming from higher up the divisions. For the Forest game, 6 new signings were played, including a Nicholson, (Barry, formerly of PNE) and an aptly named Ball, formerly of Peterborough. Whether this is a good time to play Fleetwood, before they have time to gel together, remains to be seen.... We have just seen the main Fleetwood striker from last year, Vardy, adding to his haul of 34 last year with another goal at the Babbacombe end. However, his partner from last year with 21 goals is Andrew Mangan, previously of betting scandal fame but another one who knows how to score at Plainmoor with a hat-trick in February 2009 whilst playing for Forest Green. Although one was from a penalty and another gift wrapped from Wroe, could be one to watch out for. A memorable match if anyone wants to refresh their memory. torquayfans.boards.net/index.cgi?board=20082009&action=display&thread=2273&page=4As for Torquay, the return of Bodin will make a difference and one of either Stevens or Macklin returning from injury could well add some potency to our attack on the wings. Early days yet and I will be happy with as point but we need to step things up if we are pour cold water on the Fleetwood party. Could the headlines be Fleetwood Mac (klin) ? ;D I'll get my coat...... |
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Post by loyalgull on Aug 16, 2012 15:06:27 GMT
macklin has done sod all in two years but now has become a messiah after a couple of encouraging psf games.It will take more than that to convince me of his worth,more like 20 consistent games for a start,and hope he proves himself
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 16, 2012 16:53:40 GMT
I suppose we have seen glimpses of a good player in Lloyd Macklin but it has never come out on the big stage yet. Should have made the breakthrough last season IMO but has a good opportunity this year to show what he can do. I read from the Herald that he is one of the fitter players in the squad, just behind Manse and Easton. Good news that both him and Bodin are likely to be fit for Saturday as it is an area we were lacking somewhat on Tuesday. www.torquayunited.com/news/article/boost-on-the-wings-316034.aspx |
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petef
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Post by petef on Aug 17, 2012 10:59:44 GMT
Strange how we view and change opinion to suite our hopes and dreams. We all do it.
Any of us suggesting at any point last season that Lloyd Macklin would or could be our saviour and that a 33 year old Southend reject has-been in Craig Easton or the much maligned Ian Morris would do as good a job as the departed Eunan O'kane and a gifted but lightweight and perhaps fragile Michael Poke would be the perfect replacement for man mountain Bobby Olejnick who saved us from many a defeat single handedly would have been mocked and ridiculed.
However we have added Billy Bodin and an able Aaron Downes who should do much more than hold there own this term.
Of course we could be running away with the league in three months time and we will all have a new set of heroes to worship.
Now is the time for fresh hope and optimism I guess no different to any pre-season. In a months or two's time we will all have a clearer idea of where we are and what lays ahead the usual joy and despair I guess but hopefully more of the former. Stronger squad than last year? I would like to think so but personally I'm not so sure and still have concerns in midfield which despite being hard working doesn't look to be as creative. If we lose Rene Howe for any reason our central threat would be compromised and for sure we would have to play a different way as Jarvis havent the same presence. I also think we may see more of Ricey in the starting line up Pokes limitations were ruthlessly exposed on Tuesday and despite producing some fantastic stops he doesn't have the physical presence we have been so used to with Bobby and even Scott Bevan.
A good start and a positive result is essential and I predict a hard earned share of the spoils at newcomers Fleetwood who may just feel a little pressure of the occasion and boy am I glad they havent got Vardy any more .
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Post by loyalgull on Aug 17, 2012 11:19:27 GMT
we have not got history on our side regarding playing league newcomers first,and this i suspect will continue on saturday,but hope i am wrong.If we arent 100% up for it up there we will return pointless i fear
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Aug 17, 2012 17:58:24 GMT
  Directions Fleetwood is on the Fylde coast, a few miles from Blackpool on Lancashire’s coastline. The stadium is located on Highbury Avenue in the port. Address: Highbury Stadium, Park Avenue, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6TX. Parking There are a limited number of parking spaces available at the ground but street parking is permitted on the surrounding roads. Tickets Away fans are housed in the Percy Ronson Stand (terrace) and blocks F and G of the Parkside Stand (seated). Please note tickets must be purchased from the Ticket Office prior to entering the ground via turnstiles in the same location. Please note senior tickets are designated for people aged 65 and over while children under the age of five are permitted free of charge to all areas of the ground. Food and drink Hot food, alcoholic and soft refreshments are available in the away concourses in the Parkside Stand. Large TV screens show Sky Sports and ESPN as well. Programme Fleetwood’s official matchday programme, ‘Talk of the Town’, is priced at £3 and available from sellers around the ground. |
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Post by Swanny on Aug 18, 2012 8:49:03 GMT
Good luck to the Gulls today and for this coming season and well done to all those who make the journey today. I see it took the players 7.5 hours to get there yesterday! It's an impressive ground for a team that's never played in the football league.
I will be delighted with a draw but from what I have seen of us so far against Leeds and Leicester there are major issues to sort out. In particular there is uncertainty between Poke and the defence that in my opinion will get exposed. Poke was part of the team that went several clean sheets when he was here before so hopefully he will grow into a confident keeper this season. We don't really know our best midfield and it is work in progress there. At least Bodin should give some much needed bite in attack. My prediction is a 2-0 defeat but I hope I am wrong ofcourse. I don't like to be blinkered, I just want to be honest with myself.
Is the squad now stronger than last season? Bodin is a great addition (thanks to a generous donation by a fan) and Downes looks solid. But this time last season we had the likes of Olejnik, Ellis, Robertson, O'Kane and Kee - all useful players we no longer have. I really hope Jarvis steps up because we have so little options in attack. Atieno may not have scored many but I thought he had good movement and caused problems for the opposition.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Aug 18, 2012 9:40:33 GMT
So here we are once again at the start of a brand new season for the Gulls. As always fans will have high hopes and expectations and while this journey is one that has been taken so many times before, no one knows just where it will lead in the end.
How times have changed over the years and it does not seem that long ago, one would read posts on the forums about protests, boycotting matches etc. As a club we must be more stable now than at any other time in our history and while that means the types of posts being put on the TFF won’t be the sort we once read, I’m sure we would rather have it this way.
Have a good start to the season and the mood will be good on the TFF, have a bad start and the doom and gloom posts will start appearing for sure. It’s just the nature of forums and it all happens as this game we love is a game that will stir up and bring to the surface, every single emotion possible.
What great fans our club has, I have always found it amazing the great support that is found in London in particular and all over the rest of the country. It has made me so proud in the past to tell non football people that my little seaside town football club has such things as the Capital Gulls along with other groups in other parts of the country.
Our away support is second to none and each fan who does attend away games, deserve the biggest pat on the back going. It is a shame our home gates are not as good as they really need to be if the club really is going to go forward and upwards. But as someone who wants to be there, but can’t due to a number of reasons, I know the real difficulty the club faces trying to increase home gates.
I wish the club, the players all the very best for the coming season and I hope it’s a great and enjoyable journey for all the fans no matter where they live on this planet. Things do not always happen the way we might like them to and football is no exception, all we can ever ask of the team is the try their best, give their all and be proud every time they put on the shirt of our club.
No matter what happens this season, be very proud to be a Gulls fan as we really are the pride of Devon and that is a title we fully deserve. Good luck lads today, a win would be just perfect, but as always it’s a long season and I’m sure you will do yourselves, the club and the great fans proud.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 18, 2012 10:19:12 GMT
I suppose there are always issues at the start of the season and it does take time to resolve them and no doubt our opinion of the best starting XI will change over the coming months. Presently, the main issue for me is filling the O'Kane shaped hole in midfield and finding the best combination that works.
I rate Poke as a keeper and don't expect anything other than teething problems and that all important understanding with the defence will come with match time. Saah and Downes looked good against Leicester and a solid CB pairing should help matters.
As for the rest of the team, Oastler, Lathrope and Bodin established themselves at this level last season and could well improve. Howe is looking so much fitter than last year and understandably Jarvis is looking leaner than at the end of the last campaign. We have a lot of youngsters in Craig, Macklin, Thompson and Cruise that will be looking to force their way into the side this year and competition is that bit keener.
We probably are starting this season as a more settled side in terms of manager, style, formation and starting XI but until we get that first win under our belts in what is a tough start, it is hard to gauge how we will get on.
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Post by bristolgull on Aug 18, 2012 10:30:22 GMT
I would be delighted with a point from this tough opening fixture. I hope we have got Tuesday nights game out of our system. The addition of Bodin should help and will be interesting to see if ling plays Macklin from the start. The back four picks itself, even though oastler had a poor game by his standards on Tuesday, I don't think leadbitter is good enough to displace him. As we all say, midfield remains the conundrum, I would like to see Nathan Craig given a run, think he could be quite the player given the opportunity. Anyway, whoever is picked, I hope they perform to their potential and give it their all. Good luck lads!!
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Aug 18, 2012 12:09:09 GMT
I would be delighted with a point from this tough opening fixture. I hope we have got Tuesday nights game out of our system. The addition of Bodin should help and will be interesting to see if ling plays Macklin from the start. The back four picks itself, even though oastler had a poor game by his standards on Tuesday, I don't think leadbitter is good enough to displace him. As we all say, midfield remains the conundrum, I would like to see Nathan Craig given a run, think he could be quite the player given the opportunity. Anyway, whoever is picked, I hope they perform to their potential and give it their all. Good luck lads!! That is pretty much what I was thinking. I think we wil stick with Lathrope and Easton for this one, but I have a feeling it may be either or after that. Bodin will obviously come in and add a bit more umph up front, but I am not sure about Macklin for this particular game. I definitely want to see him given a decent run, but I think Fleetwood away will demand absolute discipline and concentration from the wide men - not necessarily Macklin's strongest points. Oastler certainly did not look up to speed a against Leicester. The injury to his nose has obviously set him back a couple of games from where he ought to be. But as you say, Leadbitter does not seem to be snapping at his heals threatening his place. Pokey has looked a little hesitant - hopefully a temporary blip. We know he is capable of better. |
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Aug 18, 2012 13:40:12 GMT
Team: Poke, Oastler, Saah, Downes, Nicholson, Lathrope, Bodin, Mansell, Morris, Cruise, Howe
Cruise and Bodin for Easton and Jarvis. Bodin's a positive. No idea where Cruise will play. Hardly inspiring changes...
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Aug 18, 2012 13:48:09 GMT
No idea where Cruise will play. Heard Lingy on the local wireless, think he said he'll be in front of Nico. Still think we are light on strikers. |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Aug 18, 2012 13:54:59 GMT
Very interesting selection. I don't think anyone picked Cruise to start on the left. Now is Bodin in the middle or on the right?
Edit: Bodin on right and Morris in the middle according to the commentary.
Fleetwood Town
01 Davies
02 Beesley
03 Howell
05 McNulty
28 Mawene
11 Nicholson
18 McGuire
20 Johnson
09 Parkin
14 Mangan
26 Ball
Substitutes
16 Maxwell
12 Brown
13 Goodall
15 McLaughlin
10 Fowler
27 Marrow
19 Gillespie
Torquay United
01 Poke
02 Oastler
03 Nicholson
04 Downes
05 Saah
21 Cruise
06 Lathrope
07 Mansell
11 Morris
15 Bodin
09 Howe
Substitutes
13 Rice
30 Mackenzie
18 Easton
20 Craig
08 Jarvis
14 Macklin
23 Yeoman
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Aug 18, 2012 14:05:52 GMT
So instead of playing Morris out of position on the right, we're playing Bodin out of position on the right? And Cruise left wing?
I don't like this at all
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Fleetwood have 10 new signings this year with a goal keeper, 2 defenders, 3 midfielders and four strikers joining the ranks, many of them being experienced and coming from higher up the divisions. For the Forest game, 6 new signings were played, including a Nicholson, (Barry, formerly of PNE) and an aptly named Ball, formerly of Peterborough. Whether this is a good time to play Fleetwood, before they have time to gel together, remains to be seen.... 
