Torquay United v Southend United - 14/12/13

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 01 Dec 2013, 09:39

Ok so it's two weeks early but I just wanted to put this up so it can help me move on from yesterday. We're all fed up and annoyed but along comes another proverbial cup final against Southend once the enforced FA Cup break is out of the way. I know another Torquay match is the last thing you all want right now but................

We have to look forwards and if we can somehow, in any way muster a win in this game then I'm sure all the 3 sides on 19 points won't all win and we can be a whisker away from getting out the bottom two again. I'm not contemplating defeat. I don't want to even think about it.

I'm not really fussed about Southend, what they do, how they play, what their form is because it doesn't matter now. We just have to go out and give it our all and stay organised and then we might get lucky. It's sad that it has come to this but it is the way things have turned out. If we play each game like a non league cup side against a bigger team then with both us and most of our opposition closely matched in terms of ability then we should see improvements in results. It's a no brainer. How easy is that to implement? Well you'd better ask Alan as he appears to be really struggling with this most basic of footballing concepts.

Anyway, 2 weeks off now. Everyone just go and forget about the trauma for a while, take the dog out, go to a Christmas Market, visit an owl sanctuary but make sure you get down to Plainmoor for this if you can because you're support is very much needed at the minute. Greatly undervalued by most at the club it would seem but it is needed.

Maybe there will be some news in this break about Knill and his future, who knows. I can't see it myself and so we have to presume he will be leading his team (

sorry, unfortunate turn of phrase there) out for this game.

Please, please do get to Plainmoor if you possibly can, I know many of you travel from out of the area and if I lived in say Bristol or Taunton I'd be questioning myself about going but I'd end up spending the cash and biting the bullet.

COYY!!

ethantufcbaker · Post by **ethantufcbaker** » 01 Dec 2013, 10:04

I will certainly be there singing my heart out in the pop its good Theres a two week break we need to train and bring moral up. Good to see some positivity from Andy

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 01 Dec 2013, 10:48

In terms of managerial success on the pitch, games won, etc., Phil Brown is light-years ahead of Alan Knill.

Nevertheless, I confidently predict that the Gulls will win all their December games and Alan Knill will be named Manager of the Month. :~D

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 02 Dec 2013, 13:35

If we are going to stick with Knill then do you maybe think it might be a good idea to offer fans some sort of incentive to come to this match? A serious price reduction maybe?

It is the last kind of 'pre-Christmas' game at home and some good will from the club may help more come through the turnstiles over the festive period? Especially if somehow we do well in it. I get the feeling that a lot of fans will stay away from this game given they might be saving their cash for Christmas itself plus the Christmas games which are more appealing and if Knill is still here this game could see a depressingly low crowd at Plainmoor and terrible atmosphere to boot.

Would this be a good idea and more importantly a viable idea?

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 02 Dec 2013, 15:20

How about the club actually paying people to watch the remaining games of the season..

wivelgull · Post by **wivelgull** » 02 Dec 2013, 19:51

Oh Gawd, I'm going to have to go! I've legitimately missed the last two matches (luckily as it turned out), but I've no excuse for missing this one. Imagine it, though: Despairing supporters, silent stands, wretched football, no points (are you kidding? Southend are top - we're bottom); another bleak and gloomy trudge after the match with equally fed-up friends to where our cars are parked; the dark and miserable drive home; the thought of home games against Rovers and City coming up....
Well, I'll drag myself along as usual, not hoping for anything and certainly not hoping for the best. But wait! What's this! The ghost of Robin appears at half-time and scores a wonderful hat trick.....he's back! The fans go wild! 6000 turn up for the next home game! He scores four more....we're saved!

beano · Post by **beano** » 02 Dec 2013, 20:42

Unfortunately a lot of peeps i sit on the bench with are fed up with match day experience and tell me if Mr Nil is still around - they will consider not bothering. As for me - glutton for punishment - let's get behind the lads and whoever the manager might be.....

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 04 Dec 2013, 09:59

Defeat is an orphan; victory has many fathers..

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 08 Dec 2013, 21:24

Southend had a good cup win at Chesterfield then. Another tough assignment for us next weekend but at least they haven't got Assombalonga anymore.

Sunnysideup · Post by **Sunnysideup** » 09 Dec 2013, 11:29

Hmm. Been smacked 4-1 at home last season and 4-1 away the season before. What are the odds eh?

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 09 Dec 2013, 11:57

This game will feel like a cup-tie, but perhaps not quite with the same atmosphere. Will it also feel like a win? Needs to be more than simply feeling like one! Don't worry. The Gulls will win all their December games and Alan Knill will be named Manager of the Month..

Post by **Dave** » 09 Dec 2013, 12:01

The odds here are more than some what stacked against us, it's all about confidence, they are full confidence right now, and we're full of erm, is sh@t the right word, because there certainly is no confidence in our team right now.

A spark is needed, assuming everyone is fit this team for me.

Poke
O'Connor-Pearce-Downes-Cruise
Bodin-Mansell-Harding-Chapell
Stockley-Marquis

Rice has done nothing wrong, however he has had his reward for a fine season, Poke is the no1 time for him to get his place back and prove it, Tonge has had a few harsh things written about him, however think that back 4 just has a more solid look about it, Harding had a slow start some what akin to Brain Saah, like Saah who went on to be a crowd favourite, harding was beginning to look the part when he got injured, think Harding would give us more bite in the middle, Bodin can provide a spark, and don't see the point in having two loan strikers and not using them.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 09 Dec 2013, 12:06

Gullscorer wrote:This game will feel like a cup-tie, but perhaps not quite with the same atmosphere. Will it also feel like a win? Needs to be more than simply feeling like one! Don't worry. The Gulls will win all their December games and Alan Knill will be named Manager of the Month..

Cue end of the week prolonged arctic blast that wipes out football until the New Year and he might have a squeak.

I'm not fussed what the team is anymore, especially outfield. I've given up moaning about it. A win is a win no matter the 11 so I'm just hoping and crossing everything for the points.

What I would say though Dave is that I'd keep Ricey in. He doesn't deserve to be dropped and even if Poke would have been in the team from day 1 we'd still be bottom IMO.

Post by **Dave** » 09 Dec 2013, 12:24

Totally agree Andy, Ricey doesn't deserve to be dropped, however to change your fortunes and help provide that spark sometimes you just have change direction, if we keep flogging the same dead horse, well you know, the dead horse is going to remain dead.

It's by no means to late to save ourselves, if the board are going back AK, well then AK is going have to take some big decisions, one being for me, is what's my best 11, and what's the best formation, and the football manager generation with their 4-1-2-1-1-2, and 5-1-2-2 and bleddin this that and whatever formations are just nuts. Plain and simple 4-4-2, where you don't have ask players to make runs here there and everywhere, send e-mails and fold the washing through out the course of a game, 4-4-2 simple tasks that players of any level and standard can fully understand whether their professionals or not.

And if you're best 11 is fit stick to them, it can take time for results to good, chopping and changing from match to match only compounds problems, for me, the best 11 and formation is what I've posted above.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 09 Dec 2013, 12:48

I agree with the point that a change in direction and personnel can often provide a spark to teams who are struggling and under normal circumstances it would be a potential way out of bad form but IMO Alan has no options left now. Why? Because he has already changed things to the Nth degree that he simply cannot change it anymore. Basically he has exhausted all options, none have worked so we're essentially screwed. He is bringing in loanees like Marquis and Stockley to hopefully give us that spark but sadly it will take a lot more than that even if they do knock in a few goals. These loanees are his last ditch attempt at trying to ignite something and we've all just got to hope they work. Poke for Ricey isn't likely to turn around our fortunes whatsoever either.

All Alan needs to do now is get us organised and hard to beat and if we can get that then we have a chance of nicking some games so it doesn't really matter now about who the best 11 is, what the best formation is etc. Alan has had 20 odd games in total to have at least learnt much of what he needs to know but hasn't and I don't buy the fact that Harding and Downes being out as an excuse. Simple solidity, hard work and team spirit are what is needed now and not more faffing and if we can get our heads down with this philosophy then we will stay up. We can learn from teams like Mansfield, Accrington and Hartlepool about the correct way to approach games if you have a minimally talented squad and they are proving that in our league at the moment (which is full of absolute sh*te) you can win games by doing the simple things well.

I'd just go 4-4-2, stick players in their CORRECT positions, start Pearce, make us into an effective but workmanlike unit and see if we can arrest this horrendous form. This approach all takes supreme motivational skills, discipline, attention to detail, man-management, thorough and concentrated application and requires the players to buy into the managers strong sense of belief in his own ability. Now look at Knill and his overall profile and tell me he has these attributes. Now can you see why his style of management appears to involve a dice of a matchday? He is just playing to his strengths but the weekly gambles aren't paying off.

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