Torquay United Fans Forum

"We wont win the league or we wont win the cup!

We're Torquay United and we don't give a ****!

When we're in the Skrill we'll thank Alan Knill!

We're Torquay United and we don't give a ****!"

This really is as far as my musical genius can take me!

Any more news on when and where we will be seeing Mozika? Cheers.

Happytorq couldn't agree with your post more! Absolutely spot on! Very similar story to mine.

Born in Torbay hospital and spent 22 years living in Torquay. Seven years of my life was spent walking over Petitor or Westhill (depending on which way I felt like walking to school) to spend a large chunk of my education at Westlands School, in the shadow of Plainmoor. When the redevelopment of the school was completed a great view of the ground could found from the library. Many times I was sent back to class after making up some lame excuse or reason as to why I needed to be in the library, when really I was watching
the odd youth game or training session. (The window can be seen between the bench and family stand but I don't know if the library is still there).

My university years where spent in Exeter, where my uni house was uncomfortably close to St James's Park. (During those years Millwall fans were a great sight to behold as I recall)

I then went to America to work for a summer where I found myself a lovely Lancashire lass with who'm I fell in love and is now where I am happily exiled. It's strange compared to recent years going to more away games than home games but it's given me a different perspective on the team. Despite being a short distance from Accy I'm lucky to reside in the picturesque place that is the Rossendale valley. In easy reach of Bury, Rochdale and the endless list of clubs that can be found in Lancashire.

Andy you've probably explained it many times before to orhers on the forum but where does the Austrian connection come into play?

I think I'm going to be the first (and possibly the only) person to say I honestly didn't think Nico had a terrible performance yesterday. Why you would substitute your left back in the 86th minute at 1-0 down is beyond me? I don't think it was reflection of Nico's performance, in as far as, he had played that bad he had to come off, to me it just a baffling tactical decision given the situation?

For me the problem was further up the field, in particular Ball, Hawley, Chapell at times. Harding was again not up to scratch he was slow and was caught out of possession a few times. We lacked any sense of anticipation, positioning was out of sync, we didn't gamble on any balls going forward and never once did you sense any real threat when we got the ball into the final third. Billy was one of the few positives yesterday in was a very mediocre game of football.

The cohesion just wasn't there, play was very staggered at times, different hymn sheets. I'm still not convinced that with the current set up time is the answer. It hasn't gelled and doesn't look like it will any time soon. Interesting to see Ling's name thrown up again whether it be negative or positive.... I've said it before, for me there where too many people that jumped on the Knill bandwagon too quickly! We are fast approaching a quarter of the way through the season and I am feeling left more than short changed by Alan Knill regime.

Come on Knilly get a grip, free up our front men and wingers with some creative play from the middle of the park!!

I share the frustration. I must admit I use the BBC sports app to look up things like tables, fixtures, live scores and results as I find it the easiest to use. However, for club info it is shockingly below par

That will be my Mrs starting ahead of Harding then!

Oh and by the way Andy why so lenient on the Dale this week?! I've just been reading through the Fleetwood forum members comments on last weeks thread!

I want to see something different at Rochadale this weekend. On reading the reports from Tuesday, it really is time to give Nathan Craig a run out, the middle of the park is where I'll be looking! The same eleven that started at Fleetwood would be a worrying prospect for me!

Comparing Ricey with outfeild players and the amount of mistakes they make compared to him doesn't make sense, when in an out field position the margin for error is far less than when playing in goal. It's a completely different kettle of fish.

My instant thought after the game was, had Martin not flapped at the third goal would we have had 4 mins of injury time try and nick a draw? Then I said to myself, probably not.

Not taking anything away from Ricey, he's there to a job as our number two. He's done an excellent job in Pokey's absence doing just that. We've got more problems to be concentrating on at the moment, it's as simple as that.

I was at the game yesterday sat within earshot of Alan Knill, I have had a quick read through the posts and will apologise in advance if I say anything has already been said.

One the first things that struck me was the comparison in the size and physicality of both teams, now, I know that down the years we've never been known to be a big side physically, but yesterday we were pressed and muscled off the ball across the whole park, we looked like a very small team that was easily intimidated and I think we gave Fleetwood way too much respect. Having read that Mozika is on his way, I'm anticipating that he will add some of the power and presence we are so desperately in need of.

From the back Fleetwood were solid throughout, through middle of the park and out-wide. We looked way out of our depth. They imposed a high tempo from the word go and it only took a matter of seconds before it came clear that we were going to be in for a long afternoon. Nothing was getting past their centre half who put out a very Branston 'esq performance, they were stronger, faster, more confident and essentially more up up for it, which will bring me on to my next point.

When Knill came in there were many who jumped on the AK bandwagon, and although I was more reluctant, I didn't jump on his back straightaway. I decided to hold back on my opinion. I had not seen or heard any Alan Knill interviews before he came to Torquay United, now I know that every manager has their own style and individual way of doing things but my initial reaction was that there's something missing there. I may be being unjust but I was left feeling less than convinced that he had enough about him to galvinise a team that was so down and out at the time. People will be quick to say he kept us up, but an interesting point that I did read earlier is that we finished closer to the drop zone at the end of the season on points than when Knill arrived.

Had that been a Torquay United side of a 2 or 3 years ago I feel we would have easily competed yesterday. We lacked grit, determination, bottle and confidence, just some of those ingredients you need to grind out those 1 nil wins!

My point is I'm still not convinced Knill has enough fire in the belly to carry us through to where we want to be. I'm not going to sit and slate him though, not yet, the players also need to take responsibility. Knill shouted more than once from the touchline yesterday "block the cross", to which a moment later an unblocked cross led to our third goal. In fact I don't think we manged to block one cross yesterday???

However, by in large it wasn't the most abismal Torquay United performance I have ever witnessed, that came at Spotland last season, bar a few from our relegation season. We do have potential, which again is something that is frustrating me at the moment, it's like a cream tea without jam!, also the phrase 'time to gel', Wimbledon immediately springs to mind.

It's also frustrating to see Craig and Lathrope being wasted on the sideline. Manse and Harding I feel both have poor distribution and Craig, IMO, is one of the best distributors of the ball we have, Thompson, whose perfect cross led to our equaliser on the opening day, again just left on the sidelines, all players I feel could have made a difference yesterday in one way or another. Very annoying.

To be fair to lads though I have read a few comments from Fleetwood fans saying that that was one of the best home displays they have seen in a long while, there was a mention that a performance like that hadn't been seen at home since the days they were dominating in the BSP. They were also quick to praise Ricey.

I will be at Spotland next week bring it on. My brother in law is a Dale fan :} who was at the derby game yesterday and said that both Bury and Rochdale were poor and the overall quality of the game wasn't great.

With that in mind bring it on!!!

So true, all of our balls were going out to the Bench for what seemed like the majority of the game. What I couldn't understand was the decision to bring Bodin off instead of Cameron? Bodin didn't have a horror show but I felt he was the weak link on that side. I don't think he was as effective as Cameron during the first half, I noticed that they swapped sides for a while.

As for the whole team performance I feel that they didn't play to their full potential, it was evident that the players were a new group and will need time to bed in. Pearce looked good and Cameron will inflict damage, Tonge was solid however Harding had a hard time along with Manse in the middle. I think Knill was as frustrated as some of the fans at one point, he was stood with both hands on his knees staring at the turf quite a while. It will happen for us though.

As for the result, there'll be more dissapointed Dons fans. The guy with the 1000 yard run only then the blast into Cary Park via a seagull and a chimney pot was called Arthurs? I think? A good gate yesterday but I was disappointed with the atmosphere especially on the first day of the season. I felt there were times when the boys could have done with a bit of vocal support, especially in the second half when Wimbledon were on top for a long spell. It's something that always frustrates me with Plainmoor.

There was always a sense a goal would happen and it turned out that few minutes of emotion at the end topped off quite a non eventful match. However we are off and underway!

Crazy move! Good luck Brian.

I think it is unfair to say that if Bevan (a good keeper) was in goal we would be lining up against Kiddiminster in a couple of weeks. It's all if's and buts saying that had Pokey let in a few more and Rene had scored a few less then we would be down. Any team could make that argument irrespective of what league position they are playing for because over the course of a season the margins are so tight. For quite a few years now we have been lucky to have some quality keepers, Bevan, Bobby and Pokey, who have all been there for us when we have been under the cosh. It's not really a position we have to had worry about too much, maybe that's why the importance of our keepers has possibly been overlooked on occasion. When all is said and done we have a quality keeper in Michael Poke.

mmm.... wonder where Simon Raynor is at the moment?