Torquay United v FC Halifax Town Sat 27 Nov KO 3pm

Teigngull · Post by **Teigngull** » 28 Nov 2021, 10:03

Back to to thread in case it starts goes awry !
We are a rudderless shit team & heading for NLS in a heartbeat.
How can a club be allowed to go in this direction so quickly ?
Truly shocking state of affairs

desperado · Post by **desperado** » 28 Nov 2021, 11:11

Still on your hysterical bandwagon ?rudderless ? shit team ? I doubt you actually watch the games. As someone said people have short memories , we weren't actually that bad yesterday, were undone by two superb strikes , and their manager said it was the best they had played this season in the second half.After the third goal for 25 minutes they looked a very very good team. We do need to move the ball more quickly though, I think Lolos deserves more game time as he is improving rapidly.

6667GULL · Post by **6667GULL** » 28 Nov 2021, 11:22

Ignore the 2 consolation goals.
For ninety minutes we were abysmal.
Five or six wouldn't have flattered Halifax.
To quote another song from the Popside in the second half "We're f*****g s**t".
A bit harsh perhaps but at the moment not far off.
Don't panic, in Gary we trust, don't we???
Cut a pathetic figure in the post match interview trotting out the same old excuses and the same old solutions which aren't happening.

brucie · Post by **brucie** » 28 Nov 2021, 11:28

Wow we wern't that bad?

3-0 down at home - you must be easily pleased.

DWB · Post by **DWB** » 28 Nov 2021, 12:48

6667GULL wrote: ↑28 Nov 2021, 11:22 Ignore the 2 consolation goals.
For ninety minutes we were abysmal.
Five or six wouldn't have flattered Halifax.
To quote another song from the Popside in the second half "We're f*****g s**t".
A bit harsh perhaps but at the moment not far off.
Don't panic, in Gary we trust, don't we???
Cut a pathetic figure in the post match interview trotting out the same old excuses and the same old solutions which aren't happening.

Have to agree with those sentiments 6667GULL. It was only the 2 late goals that stopped the atmosphere from being quite toxic at the end. Noticed how GJ just went straight down the tunnel after the game, surely that is the time he should come and acknowledge the fans which he keeps on stating are ‘brilliant’. It is very easy to come and take the plaudits when we win.

culmstockgull · Post by **culmstockgull** » 28 Nov 2021, 13:48

Can we please try to keep this in pespective, for those who call for Johnsons head, give me three decent managers, in fact give me one who would be willing to travel to the south west and take us on, given our budget, and more inportantly where is the money coming from to pay an inflated price for a proven firefighter, we are undoubtedly suffering a lack of class and pace, I personally do not buy into the short close season excuse where we ended up with what was available as opposed to what we wanted. We signed poor players undoubtedly on the back of a video or two.
I saw an article on football focus yesterday that said that Simon Hallett the chairman of Plymouth had put 50 million of his own money into the club in the last two and half seasons and they are not exactly running away with the league, We are roughly a million pound a year club, and that covers everything , we have no assets and no youth player we can move on for a million or two. if he leaves, and why would anyone stay longterm for the perpetual negative press we are back to the TUST/TRUST rearing their ugly heads and it will be southern league football at best.
So everyone be careful what we wish for and more to the point unless its constructive and costed dont bother moaning about our lot, we will survive this season I have no doubt.

Post by **Dave** » 28 Nov 2021, 14:20

For those who didn't go to the game or follow events from the match, make no mistake our two injury time goals, merely papered over the cracks, making this look a much closer game than it was, our team was well beaten in this game

In the spirit of honesty, it must be said the team actually made a very good start to the game, having the a fair share of possession, pressing well, and racked up a few corners, however despite our early dominance never really looked like scoring, in the first 25 minutes or so, Halifax struggled to play through our press, and couldn't get their quick accurate passing game going as our team gave them little time.

That was about as good as it got, with Hall and Moxey it was unlikely our team could keep up that kind of pressing game, space soon started to appear and once Halifax had a foot hold in the game, you felt, they were the more likely team to take the 3 points. Halifax soon started to trouble our defensive line, their passing was quick, to feet, and movement off the ball was first class, and with (Slew) who was excellent through out looked a very good side.

TUFC could so easily have gone in at the break 0.3 behind, but for MacDonald recovering his own mistake from a save, denying Halifax a tap in, and a timely clearance from another MacDonald save, however shortly before the break Halifax would take a deserved lead.

So at Halftime I thinking we've got away with a couple, we're only 1 goal behind, there's really something to fight for here, or so you'd have thought. The second half began in such an abject, awful and pathetic manner for the Gulls, the half would only get worse as the minutes ticked by, with in a few minutes of the restart Perrit came out to clear the ball, seemingly (from my view) no danger but some how seem to misjudge the pace of the ball and ran past it, leaving Slew a chance to get his shot off, and produced a first class finish, half time team talk in the dustbin, shortly afterwards MacDonald produced a weak flat handed parry presenting the in-form and ever alert Waters with a dolly, 0.3 and game over.

When you've got 75% of your team not doing enough, no passion or fight, slow in every aspect of the game your done for. O'Connell came on added pace and industry but little in the way quality, Lolos brought some mobility and some quality, the introduction of these two players helped stem the endless tide waves of Halifax attacks on our goal.

Only some timely interventions from MacDonald, Wynter, Lewis and the outside of our goal post stopped Halifax from at least doubling their goal tally. Don't want to seem as if I'm being harsh on MacDonald who's performed very well since his return, or on Hall and Moxey, but it's showing that both may not have the legs for this level, certainly not 90 minutes week in and out, it surprised me that Moxey hadn't been withdrawn earlier as he was hopelessly exposed by the passing and movement from Halifax.

what happened in the last 5minutes of this game left a sour taste in my mouth ( sure I was not alone) we get a late consultation, when almost straight from the kick-off Little does something that you ca hear the voices in the crowd moaning and groaning about, the lack off chances taken to get shots off, Little has a speculative shot at goal likely in desperation, catch's their keeper off guard and scores, so now, every player in our team has energy, desire and wants the ball, I find myself puzzled as to why it takes something to spark them into life often either late in the game, or like this match too late in the game, they clearly have it with in to perform a lot better, all in all as said, well and truly beaten in this game despite the full time score.

I posted back in September that I had concerns, and posted since those concerns were growing, now reality is hitting home we're in a relegation scrap, when the team should be up in the top 10, at the very least in touch with the play offs.

Will add this next bit here. Think the apathy amongst our fanbase at the moment is frightening, we've seen it before during the reigns of Hargreaves and Nicho, this season was always going to be difficult, why ? I believe the play-offs started in the non-league top flight in 2001, and on 9 separate occasions since a team, including TUFC has been promoted the season after losing in the play-offs with the same shortened preparation time.

Not Gary Johnsons fault he's had his budget cut, no one, but no one said this in July/August, in fact can't remember anyone saying it September or October, just a complete cop out in my view.

Gary Johnson signed these players, announcing them individually and with fan fare, he trains them, motivates them, it's on him, however at least we can respect his post match honesty when admitting he'd got us into this mess, putting to bed much of this fan nonsense, he also talked about being the one fix this mess, just being honest with my own opinion think he should be given time to prove that.

The clock is ticking, time running out fast, no need for us to be thinking GJ is the be all and end all as manager of our club, or no one else would want it, I can't name a specific candidate, because I don't who would or would not want the job, but I'm 100% certain our club wouldn't be short of suitable applicants.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 28 Nov 2021, 14:54

if he leaves, and why would anyone stay longterm for the perpetual negative press we are back to the TUST/TRUST rearing their ugly heads and it will be southern league football at best.

As TUST supporter liaison officer please can I correct your statement. We have no desire to take over the running of the club should this situation arise but we would do everything we can to save the club.
If you become a TUST member you would already know this!

portugull · Post by **portugull** » 28 Nov 2021, 15:22

I chose this Match to invite 6 mates as a result of the excellent initiative by the Club to offer 6 Free Tickets for one Match to Season Ticket holders.

At half time I felt we had matched Halifax and our high pressing game surprised them in the early stages.However you could see they were better than us because a winning team expects to win.Halifax have only lost 4 games out of 17.When they have a player of the quality of Elliot Newby on the bench you know you are up against a strong team.

I cannot see the point of playing an 18 year old striker like Sinclair Armstrong up front on his own with no service whatsoever.Not once in the whole game did he receive a quality pass from his team mates that gave him a realistic chance of scoring.If Sinclair plays he must have a fellow striker to support him and only Lolas fits the bill.We need O' Connell on the right and Andrews on the left with instructions to bombard the 18 yard box with crosses of quality and we need to spend all next week training with this objective in mind.Attack is the best form of defence in this League and at present the opposition just loves us because we offer no aerial threat in attack. None.

Halifax were a team of experienced pros and when they went 3 nil up they played some great stuff and only a little luck and some desperate defending prevented a really embarrassing score line.

A word of praise for Dan Martin and Sinclair Armstrong who worked hard but we have so few players of real quality who are on form. Armani Littles 9th goal of the season proved my point that in windy conditions shooting on sight does pay off with a little help from the visiting keeper. I do think despite the gloom that 3 quality loan players would transform our team and I still trust Gary to find them with Argyle, Exeter and Bristol City being our best bet.

We do have history of improving loan players and it is a long list.

SBP · Post by **SBP** » 28 Nov 2021, 15:46

How is GJ going to turn this around? He's made a complete f!"£$ up of the recruitment and he cant get his team playing. There are big problems within this squad. There is no way they are playing for him. The morale must be at rock bottom.
He cannot get any consistency apart from conceding goals.
Admitting that he,s got us into this mess is about the only true statement that's come out of his mouth recently.

SBP · Post by **SBP** » 28 Nov 2021, 15:46

How is GJ going to turn this around? He's made a complete f!"£$ up of the recruitment and he cant get his team playing. There are big problems within this squad. There is no way they are playing for him. The morale must be at rock bottom.
He cannot get any consistency apart from conceding goals.
Admitting that he,s got us into this mess is about the only true statement that's come out of his mouth recently.

SWgull · Post by **SWgull** » 28 Nov 2021, 16:35

I really don't know whether now is the right time for GJ to leave or not, maybe he can turn this around, maybe not though it has to be said that the omens don't look good right now do they? Whatever, let's not fall into the trap of thinking GJ is the only decent manager out there and we can't possibly think beyond him. The truth is we as fans can't possibly know who may or may not be interested in taking over should the managerial position become vacant. After all, weren't we all surprised when Gary Johnson pitched up in 2018? However, we can't blindly stick with him if the results don't improve and relegation looks likely, regardless of how well he has done during previous seasons.

standupsitdown · Post by **standupsitdown** » 28 Nov 2021, 18:58

I wonder why we chose to kick into the wind first half as the forecast was for it to drop, which it did, so Halifax had an advantage for one half and we didn't for the other.

Gloomy Gull · Post by **Gloomy Gull** » 28 Nov 2021, 18:58

forevertufc wrote: ↑28 Nov 2021, 14:20 For those who didn't go to the game or follow events from the match, make no mistake our two injury time goals, merely papered over the cracks, making this look a much closer game than it was, our team was well beaten in this game

In the spirit of honesty, it must be said the team actually made a very good start to the game, having the a fair share of possession, pressing well, and racked up a few corners, however despite our early dominance never really looked like scoring, in the first 25 minutes or so, Halifax struggled to play through our press, and couldn't get their quick accurate passing game going as our team gave them little time.

That was about as good as it got, with Hall and Moxey it was unlikely our team could keep up that kind of pressing game, space soon started to appear and once Halifax had a foot hold in the game, you felt, they were the more likely team to take the 3 points. Halifax soon started to trouble our defensive line, their passing was quick, to feet, and movement off the ball was first class, and with (Slew) who was excellent through out looked a very good side.

TUFC could so easily have gone in at the break 0.3 behind, but for MacDonald recovering his own mistake from a save, denying Halifax a tap in, and a timely clearance from another MacDonald save, however shortly before the break Halifax would take a deserved lead.

So at Halftime I thinking we've got away with a couple, we're only 1 goal behind, there's really something to fight for here, or so you'd have thought. The second half began in such an abject, awful and pathetic manner for the Gulls, the half would only get worse as the minutes ticked by, with in a few minutes of the restart Perrit came out to clear the ball, seemingly (from my view) no danger but some how seem to misjudge the pace of the ball and ran past it, leaving Slew a chance to get his shot off, and produced a first class finish, half time team talk in the dustbin, shortly afterwards MacDonald produced a weak flat handed parry presenting the in-form and ever alert Waters with a dolly, 0.3 and game over.

When you've got 75% of your team not doing enough, no passion or fight, slow in every aspect of the game your done for. O'Connell came on added pace and industry but little in the way quality, Lolos brought some mobility and some quality, the introduction of these two players helped stem the endless tide waves of Halifax attacks on our goal.

Only some timely interventions from MacDonald, Wynter, Lewis and the outside of our goal post stopped Halifax from at least doubling their goal tally. Don't want to seem as if I'm being harsh on MacDonald who's performed very well since his return, or on Hall and Moxey, but it's showing that both may not have the legs for this level, certainly not 90 minutes week in and out, it surprised me that Moxey hadn't been withdrawn earlier as he was hopelessly exposed by the passing and movement from Halifax.

what happened in the last 5minutes of this game left a sour taste in my mouth ( sure I was not alone) we get a late consultation, when almost straight from the kick-off Little does something that you ca hear the voices in the crowd moaning and groaning about, the lack off chances taken to get shots off, Little has a speculative shot at goal likely in desperation, catch's their keeper off guard and scores, so now, every player in our team has energy, desire and wants the ball, I find myself puzzled as to why it takes something to spark them into life often either late in the game, or like this match too late in the game, they clearly have it with in to perform a lot better, all in all as said, well and truly beaten in this game despite the full time score.

I posted back in September that I had concerns, and posted since those concerns were growing, now reality is hitting home we're in a relegation scrap, when the team should be up in the top 10, at the very least in touch with the play offs.

Will add this next bit here. Think the apathy amongst our fanbase at the moment is frightening, we've seen it before during the reigns of Hargreaves and Nicho, this season was always going to be difficult, why ? I believe the play-offs started in the non-league top flight in 2001, and on 9 separate occasions since a team, including TUFC has been promoted the season after losing in the play-offs with the same shortened preparation time.

Not Gary Johnsons fault he's had his budget cut, no one, but no one said this in July/August, in fact can't remember anyone saying it September or October, just a complete cop out in my view.

Gary Johnson signed these players, announcing them individually and with fan fare, he trains them, motivates them, it's on him, however at least we can respect his post match honesty when admitting he'd got us into this mess, putting to bed much of this fan nonsense, he also talked about being the one fix this mess, just being honest with my own opinion think he should be given time to prove that.

The clock is ticking, time running out fast, no need for us to be thinking GJ is the be all and end all as manager of our club, or no one else would want it, I can't name a specific candidate, because I don't who would or would not want the job, but I'm 100% certain our club wouldn't be short of suitable applicants.

Forever that is a bl @@dy good post. Sums it up well without getting over emotional. I wholeheartedly agree with your view on Sinclair, who for me deserved MOM for his constant endeavour with little/no support. How did GJ ever think we could win a game at home with one 18 year old striker working alone and having to come wide to try to get the ball ?!!!

North Curry House · Post by **North Curry House** » 28 Nov 2021, 19:22

I fully agree, with Gloomy Gull, Our loanee from QPR got frustrated with no help. Why or why burden an 18 year old "rookie" with playing a lone role upfront. It is not good management and not fair on the lad l. Play him alongside Lola's at Weymouth and do not be surprised if both score.

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