£300,000 Off The Wage Bill

[Kernowgull]

"No manager ever, be it football or business, is going to get all their hires right. But I would go as far as to say Knill got them almost all wrong. That is unforgivable in any industry, the fact that Hawley, Tongue, Benyon etc had some pedigree but were terrible for us is Knills fault, whether it was because of the players or the way he managed them is up for debate, but who is to blame isn't."

Exactly my point!! Knill was paid to get these right, HE DIDNT, AND...... we still have the legacy today which is affecting the current squad. That's the point that many just cannot grasp!

Someone mentioned a director of football. Well the last one we had most of you moaned about! And, ok we can get one, but I would think that they would want paying, so that's 2 more players off the squad then.

It all sounds so easy doesn't it, just do x and it will be ok, but everything costs money!!!! Come on Thea put your hand in your pocket again because some of us fans know how to do it better. CH said in the Herald this week that if the truth was known how much she puts in we would be shocked, I believe that. AND without her we would probably not exist at all by now or be part time.

Neal, my response there was in response to a question from forevertufc, and my original post was a response to kevgull, who was blaming the board for Knills errors. None of that was disagreeing with you.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Andy, an excellent summary (if that's the right word.. :~D ) of events over the past two or three seasons, except for one thing: your assessment of CH and his abilities as manager is absolute bollocks..!!

CH has let nobody down. He has been manager for just a year in his first managerial post and it's far too soon to judge him as a failure. He's currently on course to emulate Paul Buckle's record of an FA Trophy final in his first season and promotion via the play-offs in his second, and on a fraction of the budget of any of his predecessors, one could even say a zero budget.

And there are still sixteen league games to be played this season, so if the lads reproduce their early season form it's still possible to make the play-offs, perhaps even making it a double, of promotion and the FA Trophy this season. If that seems overly optimistic, I need only point out that sort of scenario has been achieved before. It's certainly not impossible to recover from our present league position. CH has worked wonders to bring in the players he has, young players with potential who can only get better, on (I remind you again) a zero budget.

Yes of course CH has made a few mistakes in his first year (what manager hasn't?), but to say he has let us down is a nonsense. Even if we finish the season mid-table, it cannot be said that he has been a failure, given the circumstances and the restraints within which he has had to work. I should be quite happy with mid-table this season, with the promise of better to come next time. Obviously, anything more would be a welcome bonus, but as things stand now, we should fully support CH and the team all the way.

They deserve nothing less..

I do agree Mick that CH has had to work under tremendously difficult circumstances but ultimately he took the job on with the remit of keeping Torquay in the league which he failed to do. Subsequently i believe he said that he could get Torquay back up which at the first attempt at least doesn't appear to be the case.

It all depends whether you are a person who takes everything into account and can have sympathy with Chris for the job he his trying to do with hands tied or whether you are in the black and white camp and take things at face value. Whether you are a person who accepted relegation when he took over and accepted mid table in the conference or whether you are a person who thought that despite the obvious constraints of the job that he could and should have done a lot better. I don't think either opinion is wrong to be honest.

I think a lot of those fans who travelled away a lot in the last few months of the season would feel that CH had let them down but on the flipside there may be some who probably expected abject performances regardless so again, this is subjective.

I do think next season is the time to judge CH without anybody being able to put up a stink about it but like Knill, i feel that lots of fans feel that they HAVE to support him under sufferance because there is no other option. If he gets it wrong next season then that consigns Torquay into non league for a very long time but if he gets it right then he proves a lot of people wrong.

I have said in many posts that what do people expect this season?

My disappointment with CH is due to what he offered last season not this. I have no idea whether you as fans expected to be in the play offs or to get promotion. I had an expectation of just outside the play offs with a slim chance of reaching them which is where you are now so Chris has done a decent enough job this time around but he has had some better players than a lot of conference teams, better facilities than some other conference teams and let's not forget - it is the conference so it is theoretically easier to get more wins than in league 2.

Like you said Mick, just fully get behind them and see where it takes you.

[taxilady]

& so Austrian Andy marches inexorably on to his 10,000th post

good to see you on here ! Miss you !

[WestKentGull]

that's a lot of posts for someone who doesn't give a sh*t about Torquay United....

[RussianGull]

that's a lot of posts for someone who doesn't give a sh*t about Torquay United....

You're not wrong there.

[Scott Brehaut]

The majority of them were made when he did though - and I reckon Andy still holds a bit of affection towards the mighty gulls.

[Neal]

Neal, my response there was in response to a question from forevertufc, and my original post was a response to kevgull, who was blaming the board for Knills errors. None of that was disagreeing with you.

Apologies!!

[AustrianAndyGull]

You're not wrong there.

Actually he IS wrong.

At no time have a said that i 'don't give a shit about Torquay United'. In fact outsiders viewing this forum may think i care more about them than a fair few of it's fans given the total lack of activity on here. This site is a vehicle for many fans to post all about the club they love and whilst the amount of contribution by each individual on here has no bearing on how much support they give the club in real terms, it does make you think sometimes. What is the point of a TUFC fans forum when most fans that use it aren't motivated enough to post? It's your club not mine so get typing!

I feel sorry for Olivier Gueguen because if he ever thought about coming on and seeing how welcoming fans were to have him here then he'd get a shock.

The TUST Lottery thread went down a treat too. I'm sure many fans are going to get involved without posting about it but it's just the lack of appreciation, thanks and general manners for others who are posting about things beneficial to TUFC and trying to make a difference and it is me who doesn't give a shit apparently.

Dave posted his excellent Altrincham match preview 2 days ago and with a match in a matter of hours Torquay United have a match yet only two people seemingly are remotely interested enough to want to share their views on the match. If fans aren't fussed about giving their opinions on things then that's fine - not everything has to be played out on an internet forum but don't criticise those who wish to make the effort otherwise there won't be a forum for you to read. (obviously it is perfectly acceptable for me to criticise those who DON'T wish to make the effort though ).

So i do give a shit about Torquay United which is why i am trying to encourage fans to create things for themselves like the crowdfunding thing Plainmoor Roar has done. The club needs everyone pulling together and whilst i am not a part of that anymore it doesn't mean i still don't wish to help and still find it hard to flush several years of obsessive support and great memories down the swanny. I intend to pledge my cash to the crowdfunding thing or are non Torquay fans not allowed? :rules:

It would be nice to get to a 10,000 posts and i'm sure i will. I'm indifferent to whether people will read them or even care. It's just nice to get involved now and again and have an opinion. Louis, Dave and Scott make this possible for all with hard work so maybe a bit more interaction and involvement would benefit everyone.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Oh and i've just noticed Stretford Gull has made a post on the Altrincham thread as i was composing my post, so that's 3 people. That's 9988 posts, 12 to go!

[Neal]

Good point about who posts on here. Gee its only about a hardcore of 20 isn't it, quite poor really. Not sure why, if people do come on here get abused or shouted down and cant take it and then bugger off.

[Dave]

Good point about who posts on here. Gee its only about a hardcore of 20 isn't it, quite poor really. Not sure why, if people do come on here get abused or shouted down and cant take it and then bugger off.

Yep your right regards number of posters, the forum has been more active in the past, but I don't really see anyone being abused though, it's the nature of public forums, if you express an opinion some will disagree with you, some more forcefully that others. One thing I will say though, over the years I've been a member on here I've been to many forum meet ups at home and away games and you'll see members who've never agreed on here sharing a pint and having a laugh, nothing on this forum should be taken personally.

[Neal]

Yep your right regards number of posters, the forum has been more active in the past, but I don't really see anyone being abused though, it's the nature of public forums, if you express an opinion some will disagree with you, some more forcefully that others. One thing I will say though, over the years I've been a member on here I've been to many forum meet ups at home and away games and you'll see members who've never agreed on here sharing a pint and having a laugh, nothing on this forum should be taken personally.

True!

[AustrianAndyGull]

300k off the wage bill may come sooner than at first thought.

On the O/S it clearly states 'GULLS PLAYER JANUARY SALE'!!

If only...........................

[Behind-the-Gulls]

300k off the wage bill may come sooner than at first thought.

On the O/S it clearly states 'GULLS PLAYER JANUARY SALE'!!

If only...........................

BOGOF?

[taxilady]

I've already bought one ...... , skipped on the 'free' option.....