Torquay United v Scunthorpe United - 5/4/14

[bixieupnorth]

and it's back to portaloo's, terrible grounds, atrocious stands, abysmal views, shoddy food and even worse football.

so its not all bad then!!

i look on it as cheap beer, reasonable prices, proper football grounds, no segregation, no standing!

[ferrarilover]

Ahahahahahaha, Scunthorpe are going to get about 2 points in L1 next year. They're absolutely dreadful, one of e worst sides in history. Couldn't string three passes together in the first half and got thoroughly outplayed by the side who will be relegated with the lowest total ever.

If the boot had been on the other foot, Scunny would have won about 8-0.

Second week running we've had a bloke sent off for an elbow where the oppo hasn't even pretended to be hurt. If I elbow you in the face, I'll break your jaw. You won't be up and about laughing and joking within 10 seconds.

It's all a nonsense, really.

Shaq excellent. He looks like a player who is miles too good for L2. Those who rated Ball, have a look at Coulthurst to see what real class looks like (note, it's not a lump who can't jump, can't head, can't run, has no pace, no workrate and no ability at all).

Matt.

Just seen Danny's post. O'Connor is a decent player, and he did as well as could be expected against the league's top scorer and £300,000 worth of Madden. Not really sure what more he could have done.
Cameron did really well today and shouldn't have been taken off.

[Dave_Pougher]

Bad day all round. Geoff landlord of The Union died yesterday, team
couldn't score in a brothel, Tongue who hasn't scored for a millenium takes the pen and the bouncers....I mean stewards are as pathetic and egotistic as ever. What a sh*t afternoon. I'm afraid the bouncers TUFC employ have lost the club another three season tickets for next season.

I have my own issues with stewards at TUFC that I do not wish to express on here due to an ongoing issue. However it may help my cause if you were to expand on yours.

[ferrarilover]

TUFC don't employ the stewards. You should like a moron, please don't come back.

Matt.

[DevonYellow]

TUFC don't employ the stewards. You should like a moron, please don't come back.

Matt.

But, to play Devil's Advocate, they surely have a say in who does the job like anyone using a sub contractor or temp agency.

[Swanny]

Well what another joke that turned out to be! Yet another 1-0 defeat, yet again we can't score, and what is getting more worrying for me are the decisions made by Hargreaves. There were some really bizarre decicions made today, none more so than the decision made to give Tonge the job of taking our penalty today. No-one could believe that Tonge, who has been pretty awful all season and lacking in confidence, was given the all important task. As feared his penalty was easily saved, unlike Scunthorpe's penalty that won the match. Crowd 2,234, 260 odd from Scunthorpe. Sponsors MOTM and Twitter MOTM Spurs loanee Coulthirst.

Torquay's opening was very good forcing several early corners. Cameron did one lovely run and shot that clipped the crossbar. Both Torquay's wingers, Cameron and Coulthirst, looked our most likely source with their movement and Torquay were the better team but typically could not force the opening goal. Then on 31 minutes Scunthorpe who had hardly threatened won a penalty after Mansell clipped one of their players. It was probably a harsh decision as it appeared Scunthorpe handled the ball just prior to the incident. Winnall put the penalty away with confidence giving Rice no chance. But the big pivotal point was Torquay's penalty after Pearce was fouled from a corner. Tonge was giving the task and shot weakly from the spot and was comfortably saved. Just like against Exeter earlier in the season Torquay blew their great chance. At half-time supporters were up in arms that Tonge was the penalty taker.

Torquay did not threaten too much with clear chances in the second half. Substitute Stockley had our best effort from a free-kick that their keeper tipped over the bar. We did get into promising positions and Coulthirst always looked a threat. Hawley was putting in a pretty good shift but his strike partner Bodin was his usual frustrating self - he showed some good skill and footwork but his final delivery / shot was wasteful. As a unit Torquay played more cohesively today and seem to find their man better. Our shape and tempo was quite good for much of the game. Sadly Hawley was stretchered off with a nasty looking injury to his arm? Hawley and Cameron were replaced by Benyon and Stockley with Bodin moving to a wing. I thought torquay lost their impetus after these subs as, apart from a decent Stockley free-kick, him and Benyon never got into the game. Coulthirst was then replaced by Yeoman to boos all around Plainmoor and chants of "you don't know what you're doing" aimed at Hargreaves. In added time Stockley clumsily led with his arm in a challenge and was righly sent off. Out poured the home fans, they had seen enough.

So there we have it. It was maybe one of our better performances but the same old score-line. So we won't be seeing much of Hawley and Stockley for the rest of the season. I am disappointed Coulthirst was not tried in attack today at all. I would have taken off Bodin and put Coulthirst in attack. Sadly today's substitutions made things worse rather than better. I hope Hargreaves does not make a habit of this next season in the Conference...

[ferrarilover]

Every club has someone who complains about their stewards.
I've been to 1000 football matches across 10 divisions in 4 different countries. I've been in crowds of 90,000 and 27. I've been to games as a neutral, a covert away fan in the home ends, a spy, an away fan and a home fan.
I've been to American Football, baseball, cricket, ice hockey, tchoukball, lacrosse, curling, hockey, Eton fives, polo, swimming, handball and air hockey. I've been as a fan, a player and an official... And you know how many times I've had trouble with the stewards? None, zero, zilch, zip.

I'm the rudest, loudest, most abrasive person on earth. I swear like a **** docker and I have one of those faces you'd dearly love to punch.

If I don't antagonise stewards, there's no reason you should.

Matt.

[rooster]

Every club has someone who complains about their stewards.
I've been to 1000 football matches across 10 divisions in 4 different countries. I've been in crowds of 90,000 and 27. I've been to games as a neutral, a covert away fan in the home ends, a spy, an away fan and a home fan.
I've been to American Football, baseball, cricket, ice hockey, tchoukball, lacrosse, curling, hockey, Eton fives, polo, swimming, handball and air hockey. I've been as a fan, a player and an official... And you know how many times I've had trouble with the stewards? None, zero, zilch, zip.

I'm the rudest, loudest, most abrasive person on earth. I swear like a f**king docker and I have one of those faces you'd dearly love to punch.

If I don't antagonise stewards, there's no reason you should.

Matt.

What a complete arse

[rooster]

Every club has someone who complains about their stewards.
I've been to 1000 football matches across 10 divisions in 4 different countries. I've been in crowds of 90,000 and 27. I've been to games as a neutral, a covert away fan in the home ends, a spy, an away fan and a home fan.
I've been to American Football, baseball, cricket, ice hockey, tchoukball, lacrosse, curling, hockey, Eton fives, polo, swimming, handball and air hockey. I've been as a fan, a player and an official... And you know how many times I've had trouble with the stewards? None, zero, zilch, zip.

I'm the rudest, loudest, most abrasive person on earth. I swear like a f**king docker and I have one of those faces you'd dearly love to punch.

If I don't antagonise stewards, there's no reason you should.

Matt.

What a complete arse

[Dave_Pougher]

TUFC don't employ the stewards. You should like a moron, please don't come back.

Matt.

Was that directed at me if so would you mind explaining your quote and the reasons for the abuse?

[standupsitdown]

Bad day all round. Geoff landlord of The Union died yesterday, team
couldn't score in a brothel, Tongue who hasn't scored for a millenium takes the pen and the bouncers....I mean stewards are as pathetic and egotistic as ever. What a sh*t afternoon. I'm afraid the bouncers TUFC employ have lost the club another three season tickets for next season.

What is the problem with the stewards?
I know someone at the Football Supporters Federation who would be pleased to take up any reasonable complaints on behalf of fans.

[beano]

It is clear that Shaq was substituted because he was tiring...... he is not 100% match fit & CH made the right choice to sub him at that time - the last 10 mins of a match are awful if not match fit - coulsd have picked up an injury or anything...

We played well today - just really bad luck scoring. The penalty taker was always going to be the person who most wanted it - and that was Tongy. I would have liked to see mansell or Shaq take it (not Hawley or Bodin).

[hector]

Bad start to the afternoon when the girl behind the bar of our pre-match meeting place, The Union, told me Jeff, the landlord had died suddenly the day before. A lovely bloke and his birthday today, he would have been 57. His brave wife Sue, was there behind the bar, carrying on as best she could, her world utterly changed and devastated, no doubt.

Certainly put our shambles of a football club into perspective, and I really didn't care what happened today. As it happened, we played ok, but two crazy decisions stood out. Dale Tonge, who hasn't scored for 6 years, taking and obviously missing the penalty and substituting Shaq.

In the end none of it matters. We are down and no great escape this time. Of course the first great escape was 1987. That night we went to the Hideaway, where Torquay players like Mario Walsh and Mark Gardiner were getting hammered on the dance floor. The DJ that night, Jeff from the union. On Saturdays in the union, we always used to enjoy the background music. Things like The Cult, late 80s, slightly alternative stuff. We always used to say that Jeff had his Hideaway tapes on. Pre- match won't be the same without him and my thoughts are with Sue. RIP Jeff.

[Burnhamgull]

What a shambles.

Why the f*** was Tonge taking the penalty? At the time I thought Shaq should have had a go. He was the only player today who looked like he wanted to attack. The rest of them specialise in sideways passing and then lumping it into no-mans land.

Mansell......do one, take your midweek five-a-side league and piss off.
Benyon......Likewise

Why the **** did Hargreaves take off the only player who had a clue?

Hargreaves is totally inept and as I walked out with the kids and wife (their first game this season). I noticed Thea looking very deep in thought sat in the directors box. Do yourself a favour, get out now while you still have money in the bank. Don't allow this club to drain you of the money you won.

Just two more home games people. I'm not bothering with Rovers away, even though it's closer to me than home games. I'll be perusing the Brizzle City ST prices tonight.

[arcadia]

Disappointed that Hawley was the main striker and thought we could have played 4-1-3-2 in stead of 4-2-3-1 as we did not get Bodin forward enough and Hawley is not quick enough on his own. One of the best first halfs of the season as we passed the ball well and looked the far better side. Scunthorpe scored against the run of play but who let Tonge take the penalty this could have been the lift the club needed. I thought either Mansell or Bodin would have taken it.
The second half started ok but we lost our way as soon as we went 4-3-3 I felt when Hawley went off Coulthirst should have gone down the middle with Stockley. I would have left Cameron on. Craig should have been introduced when the free kick was given late in the second half and he should have taken it. Bodin should have been taken off for Craig. We ended up a shambles.
Overall enjoyed the game but could have managed it better. Best first half of the season.