Dave
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Post by Dave on Sept 30, 2012 7:22:11 GMT
It’s been a long time since we have heard of any stupid act being carried out my a gulls fan at an away match and who would have thought we would have a fan turning up wearing a kilt and them foolishly blowing a whistle? I’m sure that fan will wake up today feeling rather disappointed that by his actions as he has let every decent Torquay United fan who was at yesterdays game down as well as the club and the players.
The result we achieved yesterday is one we would have been happy to take playing away from home against Chesterfield and it does still mean only one team so far this season have beaten us. I heard a part of the summing up of the game from Dave Thomas on my way home from the game I watched yesterday.
From what he said I gathered we started of very good and played some decent football and were far more at the races than we were at home against Burton. He did go on to say our problem is we lack fire power up front and I would think that is also the view of many fans.
It’s OK having a good and tight defense, but its scoring goals that win matches and all these draws are never going to see us challenge for anything this season. Is it just the formation that might be wrong? Or do we simply not have the players needed in the squad?
Martin Ling had a great first season in charge and did much better than many would have expected seeing a number of key players leave the club when Paul Buckle did. I’m sure it’s only natural that fans want to see that success built on and for the team under Martin Ling to go one better this season.
Is that possible? Is that even realistic? Is the team we have this season as good as last seasons team? Anything is possible but we must always try to be realistic and take into consideration all the facts we do know, IE the size of our club, the support it gets and the fact we are a club that does its best to live within its means.
I have not seen us play this season so can’t answer any questions about this seasons team compared to last seasons one, it does seem we might be missing one or two of the players who have moved on and maybe that is something we do need to address.
We have had many good debates here on the TFF about what we want from out team, some fans do want to see good quality football on offer, but what I learned from reading so many of your views, was that winning was the most important thing of all. This game is all about results and always has been play poorly but win and nobody really cares as it meant three more points on the board.
So many football fans expectations have always been far too high, but they are only born from wanting their team to be the best and win everything possible. Since we have regained our league status, we have enjoyed in my opinion, greater success that I would have imagined and it is unrealistic to think or expect us to always be at the top challenging for promotion.
We may well end up mid-table this season and that would not be an under achievement in my book, taking everything into consideration. Some fans might see that as a step backwards, or we are going the wrong way, I would look at it and say we are guaranteed another season in the football league.
There has been far bigger clubs than little old Torquay who have slipped out of the football league, we should all be grateful the efforts that were made to get us firstly back into the football league and the efforts that have been made to keep us there.
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Post by gullone on Sept 30, 2012 9:01:39 GMT
That scorer at Leeds Road that day was indeed Mr Colin Lee, his first for the club i believe. I wasent at the game yesterday but another point gained in my opinion. These next two games this week look like a great chance to take some points surely.
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simonb
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Post by simonb on Sept 30, 2012 9:44:29 GMT
Pity that idiot McPlonker didn't swallow his whistle and choke on it! Unbelievable stupidity!  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 10:42:34 GMT
Yes, gullone, you're correct. It was Colin Lee. Little did we know at the time.
Rags makes some good points about the man with the whistle. I think attention-seeking is part of the issue here.
Now then, I'll go on record to say I'd have happily been born Scottish. Nor, if I hadn't been, would I have minded living in Scotland. But, if I was Scottish, I'm sure the last thing I'd ever consider wearing - other than a Rangers shirt - would be a sporran and kilt. I'd gruffly dismiss it as a load of tartanry bollocks served up for the tourists. I'd squirm if I was asked to wear it at a "do" and - if I wore it at a football match between clubs from Derbyshire and Devon - I'd have to confess that would be for the sole purpose of drawing attention to myself. I would see no other possible explanation.
And, as well as preferring not to be seen dead in a sporran and kilt, I rarely travel around these days with a whistle in my pocket. Perhaps that's true for others on this forum, unless you're model railway enthusiasts? Consequently you can't help conclude that this was anything other than an entirely premeditated act. Not, perhaps, as an attempt to constantly disrupt play or stop an opposition attack. But more as a "wry" commentary on desperately holding on to a result as the game entered stoppage time. Blow the whistle when they're all looking at their watches and they'll piss themselves laughing.
Ah, yes, very clever. Highly amusing. I think he wanted praise for his wit and originality because, as Rags says, he looked so bloody pleased with himself and his little joke.
But I guess he won't be trying it again in a hurry.
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Rags
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Post by Rags on Sept 30, 2012 11:48:53 GMT
I don't understand why you think its impossible (my interpretation of your "cloud cuckoo land") for us to get promoted. Four teams will go up, exactly why will we definitely not be one of those four?
Because we aren't good enough. There are clearly three or four sides, perhaps a couple more, a cut above in this division. We're nowhere near them
Gillingham should win the league comfortable. Vale look good as well. Then there's a group of about three or four teams competing - Fleetwood, Exeter, Bradford. Rotherham will get themselves sorted eventually and will certainly be up there. Ditto Southend - Assombalonga looks a proper player. Not sure Accrington will sustain it but they look good too. Northampton, Cheltenham and Burton look difficult to beat and I suspect at least one of those may end strongly. We've not beaten any of these teams yet, and I can't see it on current form - and if we don't win matches, we'll finish nowhere near the topHmmm, I would have thought last season would have shown that forecasting anything in League Two is ill-advised. On 3 Jan 2012 Crewe were 15th with 30 points from 24 games, Macclesfield were a place higher with the same points from the same number of games but with a better goal difference. 22 games later The Alex were in the play offs, which obviously they won, and Macclesfield had been relegated. My major concern at the moment is getting to Feb 1st 2013 with Rene Howe still playing for us. I can see a number of clubs willing to pay a decent amount of cash for such a proven goal-scorer strong enough to fight off big centre-backs.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 12:13:47 GMT
Please may I be smug enough to point to my suggestion that Neal Trotman would be a weak link and claim an inspired piece of pre-match punditry? A more inept display from a professional footballer would be a rare thing. His cock-up for the Gulls' goal was a piece of pure comedy and simply put the lid on what was, throughout, a truly shocking performance. But every cloud has a silver lining, and allowing Rene Howe to run thorugh and score gained me promotion in rivieralou's prediction league. So thanks to both Trots and Rene for that.  (but commiserations to my good friend, petef, robbed of the title by a point ) Very noticeably, as Trots struggled to stand up or to kick the ball vaguely towards the Gulls' half, Aaron Downes was as cool as grey-haired cucumber throughout. From my limited experience of watching Torquay so far I'd say his partnership with Brian Saah is the team's major strength. Rene Howe definitely needs more support up front and it was no surprise that when the ball did end up in the Chesterfield net it was thanks to a defensive blunder rather than a piece of inspired attacking play. Sort it out in time for my next visit please, Gulls. |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 30, 2012 12:17:44 GMT
Rene is my concern too. Still, he knows the perils of going to a bigger club and languishing in the reserves. Maybe we can push the boat out for him to extend his deal. Way too early to write off our season yet. Christmas is an early indicator but as Rags pointed out above, teams can fall away for various reasons including injury and maybe we are just going through a bad patch early. Looking at the table we are still only 5 points from the last automatic spot!  Five home games next month and Lathrope and Craig should be back during that period. Won't get a better opportunity to ignite our season. COYY! |
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Post by chambta on Sept 30, 2012 12:52:31 GMT
Were the two Torquay fans I heard ordering a taxi at the Chesterfield Arms anyone from here?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 13:54:00 GMT
Not I.
But if you saw an old bloke in Nero's after the match frantically typing into a phone.....
And, as an aside, I thought the town centre looked good yesterday in the sun and busy with people. Always seems a town that does Saturdays well. Forgive me - or praise me - for saying so, but it felt more "middle of England" than "north of England" yesterday. How Midland are you? Or is that a question that provokes disagreement thereabouts?
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Post by loyalgull on Sept 30, 2012 14:34:54 GMT
the kilted whistle blower has asked to be pardoned on another forum today,what a complete richard head he is,and we were on the attack as well for gods sake,one of the most moronic acts a supporter has done as far as i know,at least he has apologised to some degree though.But the club may impose sanctions on him if he is identified
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Post by chambta on Sept 30, 2012 14:35:24 GMT
The north starts at Leicester in my opinion. But then Gloucester is very northern despite being southern. It's all very confusing. Personally I'm just 'Derbyshire', which can be either when it suits.
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petef
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Post by petef on Sept 30, 2012 15:31:45 GMT
Please may I be smug enough to point to my suggestion that Neal Trotman would be a weak link and claim an inspired piece of pre-match punditry? A more inept display from a professional footballer would be a rare thing. His cock-up for the Gulls' goal was a piece of pure comedy and simply put the lid on what was, throughout, a truly shocking performance. But every cloud has a silver lining, and allowing Rene Howe to run thorugh and score gained me promotion in rivieralou's prediction league. So thanks to both Trots and Rene for that. (but commiserations to my good friend, petef, robbed of the title by a point ) Very noticeably, as Trots struggled to stand up or to kick the ball vaguely towards the Gulls' half, Aaron Downes was as cool as grey-haired cucumber throughout. From my limited experience of watching Torquay so far I'd say his partnership with Brian Saah is the team's major strength. Rene Howe definitely needs more support up front and it was no surprise that when the ball did end up in the Chesterfield net it was thanks to a defensive blunder rather than a piece of inspired attacking play. Sort it out in time for my next visit please, Gulls.  Story of my life. Fails In last minutes of extra time on last day of season when it would have been easier to win the title by playing it safe! Welcome to the Premier League Wildebeast! A fair assessment of where both clubs are at the moment Chris. If we Lose Rene for ANY reason we will be in deep doo doo. It was surely on the cards that he would have departed pre season, I bet there was interest. SiX of our immense total of ten league goals have come from the big man and with us scoring four and producing a scintillating attacking display against Rochdale where we played with freedom and attacking imagination. What has happened to Billy Bodin is a mystery totally lost his way and I realise now why Di Canio was not prepared to persevere with developing his undoubted talent. Do we have the time and patience to coach and develop him? I guess we just have to be patient. In all honesty I believe Lingy is doing what he can with what he has at his disposal and perhaps realises that with our offensive shortcomings in midfield he just has to ensure that we are strong at the back and give little away, the correct prioritie in my eyes. Strange old game though just realised that Oxford have one three of their last nine games, one more than ourselves but have lost their last six. Wilder for the chop soon of things don't pick up soon. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 15:38:52 GMT
Thanks for that, Chambta. That's an interesting angle. You may be best sticking with that bi-cultural Derbyshire identity.
But some issues nonetheless. Does the south, by that yardstick, begin beyond Leicester at somewhere like Market Harborough? Is there a third place - such as the Midlands - or is it simply north and south?
Interesting distinctions at the Torquay end as well. Describing Torquay as "a south coast resort" would produce a mixed response. There would be some who may wish to dissociate from being bracketed with the likes of Worthing or Eastbourne which, of course, are a bloody long way away. Even Bournemouth isn't just around the next headland. I'd actually agree that Torquay has many south coast characteristics without being the south of England in the usual meaning of the term. To call it "west coast" would be wholly wrong; "Westcountry" much more to the point.
That's an important distinction and one that Wildebeeste appreciates. But it can get complicated as there are umpteen different definitions of the "Westcountry", "the South West", "South West England", "the West" and "West of England". You may put Gloucester into some of those categories until you go there, or Cheltenham, and encounter TV from the MIdlands. Personally, in making the distinction from "the South", I find Salisbury Plain usefully gets in the way.
Head north eastwards up the M5 and it gets confused. I've just been flicking through my 1958/59 West of England Football Annual - fresh from eBay - and its world doesn't stretch more than forty miles from Bristol . Good grief, I just hope Wildebeeste is paying attention ahead of the citizenship test that we'll be setting him.
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Rags
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Post by Rags on Sept 30, 2012 15:43:47 GMT
Were the two Torquay fans I heard ordering a taxi at the Chesterfield Arms anyone from here? Not me, but if it was the bloke complaining to the cab company that he was drinking good quality ale and not cider, then I was there at the same time...  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2012 15:51:25 GMT
Oh dear, we're starting to fear losing Rene in January. Not that I'm surprised. You could well be right.
In fact, when he signed, I never thought Rene Howe would be with us for more than two seasons. I feared he could be poor value and we'd be happy to dispense with him at the end of two seasons. Or just as likely, if he was any good, he'd be away in the summer of 2013.
I'd not bargained with January 2013 when it gets awkward with a potential fee that could be earned then but not necessarily later. Quick check of the details: he's twenty-six soon.
Yep, I'm sure there will be speculation soon and there could, I guess, be the usual waiting game where an offered contract remains unsigned. That's life but wouldn't it be great if Rene has a belting season and is still with us next year.
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(but commiserations to my good friend, petef, robbed of the title by a point 
