Can you take the pressure?

friendlygas · Post by **friendlygas** » 20 Apr 2015, 09:47

This is a genuine question because you started the season off with a fantastic points tally including a long winning run where you looked capable of winning the League and then went on a run of games where you probably were close to bottom of the league form and yet now when the pressure is totally off yourselves and the teams you are playing you have won your last three games. I ask this because I can remember similar seasons where we have had a great run at the end and players come into the team and look like stars and then start of the following season its back to a poor start and the players who shone at the end of the season before are never heard of again?
Good luck anyway. I hope we won't be playing you next season but have a funny feeling we will!!

PhilGull · Post by **PhilGull** » 20 Apr 2015, 10:00

Same old story as far as I can see. It's funny how an expiring contract can make a player perform, only to drop back again as soon as the dotted line is signed.

Behind-the-Gulls · Post by **Behind-the-Gulls** » 20 Apr 2015, 10:48

Good luck FG but if it's the play-offs can you take the pressure?
Selfishly I rather hope you stay down-two derbies to look forward to and may be the only game where Plainmoor is half-full!

Post by **Dave** » 20 Apr 2015, 11:16

Can't agree with Philgull, players simply do not turn up in January thinking what the heck I can't be bothered today, an come April think I'd better pull my finger out a bit, it's new contract time, seriously that does not happen full stop, nonsense to think it does. At this stage of the season your more likely to see performance levels of some players drop, who may have decided they are, or want to move on.

FG is right to talk about pressure, also confidence is a factor as well, when a team isn't getting the results generally its expected to pressure does build and confidence can drop. When players are low on confidence they can to over think things, do I pass, should I hold, should I take on the defender 1 v 1, or knock the ball back, when confidence is high those decisions are taken automatically.

As said another thread, think we may have benefitted these last few games from end of season syndrome, CH said he would not experiment and he hasn't, Lincoln manager Chris Moyses said he was going to use the last few games to have a look at the squad and did play a number of fringe players against us, did I see signs of TUFC players upping their game for a contract, no, to be fair the team were very, very poor v Lincoln, there was only one moment of quality in the whole game and we scored from it, Lincoln on night were worse than useless, can't speak for the other two games as I wasn't there.

On, from a selfish point of view I hope you don't go up either FG, and looking at Cheltenham's last two games, Shrewsbury at home, Wimbledon away, think their goose could cooked as well, so it would be nice to have both with us next season.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 20 Apr 2015, 11:56

forevertufc wrote: On, from a selfish point of view I hope you don't go up either FG, and looking at Cheltenham's last two games, Shrewsbury at home, Wimbledon away, think their goose could cooked as well, so it would be nice to have both with us next season.

........ and possibly Havant & Waterlooville ?? They're not too far away and look as if they will be in the Conference south play offs.

Post by **Dave** » 20 Apr 2015, 12:10

Basingstoke is my preference, only because one of my brothers lives their, easy overnight stop for me.

tommyg · Post by **tommyg** » 20 Apr 2015, 12:11

In answer to the original post, no we can't take the pressure. We perform better against the stronger sides in this division when we are expected to lose, picking up wins at Barnet, Grimsby, Eastleigh and now Halifax. Your lot would have been added to the list if it wasn't for a shocking decision by the officials

We have a terrible record against lower-half teams. Braintree and Telford have done the double over us, Alfreton have taken four points etc. I think we have too many fragile players in the team. We have quite a few youngsters who are very raw and inexperienced and our heads drop when we go a goal down, which leads to frustration and a lack of discipline. It's as if it's a relief when we go into a game as underdogs as it allows the players to relax and that gets the best out of them. Hopefully, this will be a learning curve and will prepare them better for next season (if they're still here) but we need more experience and 'characters' in the team who are mentally strong.

Good luck on Saturday. Part of me hopes you stay down as it's a derby(ish) and our biggest crowd of the season. It's probably worth about an extra £30k to us which will pay the wages for a decent player for the season. The other part of me hopes you go up as you're always going to be there or thereabouts until you get out of this division whereas Barnet may struggle if they don't get promoted (especially as Allen would jump ship and Akinde would follow). Not that I expect us to be promotion challengers next season!

brucie · Post by **brucie** » 20 Apr 2015, 12:16

Don't think its anything to do with pressure, more that we have an appalling team managed by an appalling manager.
On the subject of pressure though it seems that you cannot handle it either blowing a massive opportunity on saturday.
Wouldn't be suprised if your still in this league next year though. Biggest team by a mile but reckon you'll end up dipping out to the likes of Forest Green or Eastleigh - a couple of teams with no fans put together.

friendlygas · Post by **friendlygas** » 20 Apr 2015, 15:17

Brucie, You may well be right and strangely we have not beaten either of them this season. Personally I am hoping you do us a favour Saturday and let Macclesfield sneak in!! Whatever happens there are a minimum of 1 or a maximum of 4 pressure games for us now and its going to be hell but we all know that we wouldn't swop the pressure at this stage for anything else. Regards.

Neal · Post by **Neal** » 21 Apr 2015, 19:57

Wish we had that pressure this season!!

brucie · Post by **brucie** » 21 Apr 2015, 22:19

If its the play offs for you then I hope you win so good luck. At least you are a proper club unlike Forest Green or Eastleigh who are basically just rich mens play things with no actual supporters and it would be farcical to have either team in the football league.
Would be good to see Lee Mansell get promotion as he is a proper pro - another great decision by Sir Chris FArcegreaves to release him.

leetufc · Post by **leetufc** » 21 Apr 2015, 22:33

brucie wrote:If its the play offs for you then I hope you win so good luck. At least you are a proper club unlike Forest Green or Eastleigh who are basically just rich mens play things with no actual supporters and it would be farcical to have either team in the football league.
Would be good to see Lee Mansell get promotion as he is a proper pro - another great decision by Sir Chris FArcegreaves to release him.

Apart from the fact he was offered a contract by Hargreaves but chose to leave to join Rovers...

cambgull · Post by **cambgull** » 22 Apr 2015, 08:54

My understanding was that the contract offered had a massive pay drop on it though, Lee.

taxilady · Post by **taxilady** » 22 Apr 2015, 09:02

Manse ran around like a headless chicken for quite a long time before he left us; think the move was good for him & us. I see Brucie is taking instruction from other fans' forums on how to express himself !Still , he's not actually slating TUFC or Torquay fans in the above post, so perhaps the joys of Spring are even reaching 'up north' where he lives !

Sunnysideup · Post by **Sunnysideup** » 22 Apr 2015, 09:29

cambgull wrote:My understanding was that the contract offered had a massive pay drop on it though, Lee.

Think down by around half and you wouldnt be far off. Only for one year as well.

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