Torquay United V Cheltenham

[Dave]

eh?

A joke my Austrian friend, a suggestion that Cambgull's photo was actually Matt ferrarilover, of course it isn't, as I have had to explain it, it clearly wasn't funny...

[AustrianAndyGull]

It's ok Dave, ignore me. I am actually a bit thick.

I thought it might have been a picture of Matt when he weighed 55 stone before he lost weight but I now realise that Matt probably has never been 55 stone and also the photo looks nowt like the man!

I am indeed a bit simple.

[chunkygull]

i think it was supposed to be wivelgull.

[Dave]

Indeed Chunky it was, liked my version better( never miss a chance to poke fun out of young mattypoos)..

[lucy6lucy]

Torquay goalkeeper Michael Poke misses out after suffering another setback in his recovery from a torn thigh muscle.
Matt Rice will deputise for the injured Poke, while forward Daniel Sullivan could also be involved.

Vintage bbc research into our team news

[Scott Brehaut]

If there are changes to the team tomorrow, and if we still lose, will those that were brought into the team then be made scapegoats do you think? Justification that the changes shouldn't have been done in the first place?

I'm just thinking aloud, but say Cruise replaced Nico - if Cruise was still skinned every time and cost us goals, would he be made to blame and Nico brought back in, even if the same would have happened to him?

Difficult times me thinks!!

[AustrianAndyGull]

Torquay goalkeeper Michael Poke misses out after suffering another setback in his recovery from a torn thigh muscle.
Matt Rice will deputise for the injured Poke, while forward Daniel Sullivan could also be involved.

Vintage bbc research into our team news

I know, they are really shocking. It would actually look more favourable on them if they didn't write anything at all tbh.

[AustrianAndyGull]

If there are changes to the team tomorrow, and if we still lose, will those that were brought into the team then be made scapegoats do you think? Justification that the changes shouldn't have been done in the first place?

I'm just thinking aloud, but say Cruise replaced Nico - if Cruise was still skinned every time and cost us goals, would he be made to blame and Nico brought back in, even if the same would have happened to him?

Difficult times me thinks!!

The changes need to be made first and foremost but just sticking Cruise in there for Nico for one game and making that the only change is not really attempting to solve the problem. It just makes us less likely to get done down that side. It's the same midfield who are pants by and large and the same strike force who struggle to score goals so although it is a small step on the positive side it isn't going to solve many problems.

If Cruise is at fault for anything then he can be forgiven, after all he needs a run of games to get up to speed as Knill has bizarrely chosen not to play him in the 11 from day one.

Harding has had a run of games and been consistently sh*t so it's only fair that Cruise has a run of games to get some decent consistency going without getting blame straight away should he be culpable for any goals.

We need 3 or 4 changes and then give it a good few games to see if there is any improvement. Knill doesn't look like he is prepared to make wholesale changes so it looks like we'll be in a rut for a while yet but at least starting Cruise is a positive step. Nico has had it now , a great back up but he shouldn't be starting games.

[Scott Brehaut]

I have no idea if he will - he'll probably keep the same side.

I agree with you though. Anybody who comes in MUST be allowed a decent run in the side.

[ferrarilover]

If there are changes to the team tomorrow, and if we still lose, will those that were brought into the team then be made scapegoats do you think? Justification that the changes shouldn't have been done in the first place?

I'm just thinking aloud, but say Cruise replaced Nico - if Cruise was still skinned every time and cost us goals, would he be made to blame and Nico brought back in, even if the same would have happened to him?

Difficult times me thinks!!

We WILL find out.

Matt.

[SuperNickyWroe]

It's ok Dave, ignore me. I am actually a bit thick.

I thought it might have been a picture of Matt when he weighed 55 stone before he lost weight but I now realise that Matt probably has never been 55 stone and also the photo looks nowt like the man!

I am indeed a bit simple.

without doubt, the most honest, sincere, lucid and most factual quote in this glorious sites history.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Glad I could be of some help. :~D

[exiledgull]

I think Tom Cruise has to start today! The rest of the team I was fairly happy with at Rochdale apart from maybe Ball too. But the amount of times Nico just launched the ball into there keepers arms was unreal. I counted 6 that landed into his hands. I understand this isn't the premiership but to overhit a pass by 20+ yards on 5+ times in 70 minutes is ridiculous.

I was sat with a friend and we thought it was one of the worst performances from a left back, without actually being heavily involved in a game.

To be honest we all want changes but I look at the bench and go we don't have the squad. Rochdale are mid table and they brought on the right winger Matt Done who was bought for like 300k a year ago!

We are 19th in the table with probably the 19th biggest budget in the league what do we all expect?

[Kit_robin]

Not sure we are THAT porous at the back - if you take out the Fleetwood aberration 2 goals would have seen us pick up 3 points against Wimbledon, morecambe, Hartlepool and Rochdale, and would have seen us beat Swindon and Portsmouth in the cups. Indeed, increasing our in-game goal tally by one each match would have seen improved results in every game (including cups) bar fleetwood and Oxford. This suggests to me that the defence, whilst not perfect, is doing enough to give us a good chance of drawing/winning games, but we're not scoring enough goals to convert.

[AustrianAndyGull]

It's just like watching a Ling team all over again! Generally tight at the back although we invariably concede at least one needing us to score 2 from a manager who appears to have the affliction of a non- attack mentality.

You are right though kit robin, Nico aside I think our defence has the potential to be a really solid and dependable unit. Tonge is fine, Cruise in for Nico and hopefully he will seize the opportunity, Downes is the master, Pearce looks promising although is still settling in. The issues come if we get any injuries at the back.

Our attack is a complete shambles and like you say, is where our biggest problem lies (Harding too). Chappell has settled in well and Billy should really be watching and learning to try and get the end product that Chappell has generally delivered in his 7 games this season and where Billy has failed in his 40 odd games for us thus far. Cameron looks on the face of it not what we require shall I say. I don't wish to have a go at the lad so i'll leave it at that. I may be being a bit harsh but i'm not impressed. Ball should have been dropped 2 or 3 games back and if he starts today then that is one less attacker on the pitch. Hawley is a lethal finisher and we need to start getting him into games and giving him service or he'll soon get p*ssed off, probably sulk and think about leaving. Benners is a proven finisher but has had an injury and also been left on the bench but I've no idea why.

So all in i'd say it is the defence that is the least of our worries at the moment despite us only keeping 1 clean sheet in 7 league games. How sad is it to say that? We need to take the lead in a game and having played 9 in all comps and not yet taken the lead is pretty abysmal and is something else some fans seem to have forgotten. It is an unacceptable and unwanted record and it needs addressing Mr Knill today by being attack minded, playing the players who SHOULD be in the team (IMO) and getting some confidence in the team by having a real go.