PSF: Torquay United v Exeter City 20/07/11

[Fonda]

I thought it most interesting that that looked to me like our first-choice 11 – with the exception of Morris, who probably wasn’t considered ready to play 70 minutes. A little surprising then that LRT was in ahead on Nicho? We’ve swapped Nicho’s delivery for Rowe-Turners fitness and better ability to deal defensively with pacy, tricky wingers. Not a bad swap I think.

[cambgull]

I think now is a good time to bring LRT through and be able to use LRT and Nicho tactically, matching them with the wingers they're up against. LRT certainly could improve to become an extremely good full back for this level and would almost certainly be better than Nicho. Quite looking forward to seeing him play more this season.

[Richinns]

I thought it most interesting that that looked to me like our first-choice 11 – with the exception of Morris, who probably wasn’t considered ready to play 70 minutes. A little surprising then that LRT was in ahead on Nicho? We’ve swapped Nicho’s delivery for Rowe-Turners fitness and better ability to deal defensively with pacy, tricky wingers. Not a bad swap I think.

If that was our first 11 (swap Morris for Stevens) then looks like Macklin is in pole postion for the right wing starter. On last nights form - this could prove to be the cofidence boost he so badly needed.

Could be LRT started because Nico takes longer to get 'match fit' in pre season.

[Fonda]

It was just a guess Rich, but Macklin in that form deserves to start the season. It’s up to him to do enough to keep Mcphee out of the side, who will also expect to be starting. The rest of the 11 looks like our strongest side – with Morris coming in for Stevens when he’s fully up to speed. The only question mark is left-back for me, and you might be right about Nicho’s fitness.

[ferrarilover]

I'm still not sold on Macklin. In exactly the same way that one bad game does not make a player useless, one good game does not make a player any good.
Doubtless he has talent, or, potential to have talent, but, as I've argued from day one, potential is absolutely useless unless it is realised. For proof, ask Arsene Wenger, who always has a squad full of 'promise' but so frequently, they fail to deliver.
Credit to the lad last night though, he was devastating on that right wing. That ball early on from Eunan which would have been lost on anyone else was sufficiently close to our Lloyd that he actually had to delay his run to avoid jogging straight past it. There is absoluely no doubt that he is one fast motherlover.

Regards the match in general, it is pretty clear that, if we play that way more often than not, we will do alright this year. Hene Howe is one of the biggest guys I have ever seen, and he showed it yesterday when their big black guy ran into him in the middle of the park. Howe stood totally firm, put the City bloke on his ample arse, then layed the ball into the space for that man Macklin to run onto, whip into the box and Billy to make it 2-0.
JOastler similarly, is proper nails, loves a tackle and doesn't mind hitting a guy at pace. See what happens when you play guys in their proper positions?

Regards the opposition, they looked absolute crap. Totally out of ideas, doing nothing but banging the ball over the top for their non-threat strikers or knobhead Tully to get onto. LRT had him in his pocket all night, Tully was completely marshalled out of the match. On the odd occassion they tried to play some actual football, it all went totally wrong for them and they posed as little genuine threat as any team we saw last year.

The football we are playing thus far this season has been as good as anything PB could put together in 4 years, and Dinger has had two months.
Looking forward to the season (as I have been since May!) I reckon we'll do well. The only remaining mystery is just how it is Stevenage kicking of in L1 next year, rather than the vastly superior side in yellow...

Matt.

[hector]

These reports are really encouraging. I was unable to make the game last night - in general I always swerve the home PSFs but had been tempted last night but did not leave work in time.

Let's really hope that this form can be carried over into the season proper. The exeweb forums make especially good reading today and the more rational are suggesting we could do well.

[Dave_Pougher]

He saw the performance last night and must be just a little bit concerned now. Think about it, his FIRST match at the Mem is against us. Obvious I know but he's gotta be dreading it !!! Boy am I looking forward to it ! What would we give for a Sako moment? That said the best thing we as supporters can do is get right behind Ling and ignore buckle. In fact we need to do something different as he walk across the pitch at the mem. Might even start a thread on it (or would pm's be better?)

My proposal,

The whole away end at the mem turn 180 degrees in silence as he walks across the pitch before KO . It would get on the football league show if nothing else.

[Wubble U]

Always feels good beating exeter but the performance last night (not to mention the score ) showed we are the top team in devon.

only a PSF i know but its hard not to get over excited by the way we played. absolutely brilliant throughout against a team finishing last year a point outside the league 1 playoffs is very encoraging.
ok there were some sloppy plays and laissez faire attitudes at times but we can really play some good stuff and create goals from anywhere

bobby looked solid in goal. Confident and commanding in his area. with a jaw that fills the whole goal, not much will get past him this season.
oastler brilliant at right back.
o'kane is the most talented CM i've seen in a torquay shirt.
mcfree looked like he could've cost a mcfee!
macklin finally realusing his potential on the wing.
rene needs to lose some weight (looks like the fridge but with some footballing ability) but is defo going to be a nuisance to league 2 defenders.
very positive displays from macklin and the youth players.

Ok too early to get carried away but i can't see us fighting relegation this season like i did a month ago.

[bc-gull]

I like all the city fans on exeweb: They are bloody arrogant.

jet lag, torquays cup final, the smaller teams always rise to the accation.

We totally outplayed their first team the whole game, either when we had the 19 year olds out there, I reckon if they had of won they would be acting a little different.

[SteveDeckchair]

It's their coping mechanism! No hiding the FACT that they were shit! I'm going on there later to wind some of them up.....

[tufcbrett]

Talking to a few of you last night at the game. I can see the side who played last night being the side to start the season. I would say Morris would be in instead of Stevens.
Just because Nicho was first choice left back under Buckle doesnt mean he will under Ling. The pace and strength of LRT i feel make get him his place. As there are some quick wingers in the league he may turn out to be important. Apart from the long throws i dont think we would loose much on the set piece front as O'Kane has the quality to take free kicks and corners.
Oastler at right back looks solid with even leadbitter pushing in for the position. Macklin has the ability and he showed it last night. We all know he makes mistakes but who doesnt in League 2. He will be someone worth giving games as his pace will cause big problems and all it takes is that one good cross and its a goal. If he can play like he did last night for most of the games next season i will be very happy.

Im happy with the squad as it is. With the likes of Atenio, Lathrope, Mcphee, Nicho, Ellis and a few others will show to be strong sub bench or cover if players drop out of form or get injured.

[ferrarilover]

I like all the city fans on exeweb: They are bloody arrogant.

jet lag, torquays cup final, the smaller teams always rise to the accation.

We totally outplayed their first team the whole game, either when we had the 19 year olds out there, I reckon if they had of won they would be acting a little different.

From fecking Norway?!?!?!?!

Oh yeah, right, a PSF against one of the smaller L1 sides,I'm amazed we didn't have street parties and bunting, who the hell do they think they are?

Smaller teams eh, smaller we may be, better we certainly were, and I know which I'd rather be.

Matt.

[Glostergull]

I went to the match last night and have just got back having been working In taunton.Just in case one of you numpties sugest I walked back.
Was not just pleasantly surprised but very very happy with our form and performance so far in the pre season. Exeter showed off all they had in their locker and apart from the odd Player(they do seem to have odd players dont they) They looked out of sorts and lacking in fitness and enthusiasm. Plus they just had to choose two Characters who looked like they had been nicked from the M5 Duty as road cones. Albeit in Flourescent yellow. Yuk it's orrible.Most of their other players may have just as well been on duty on the M5 as road cones for all the use they were.
Mind you some of our players were not too keen on Bobby's new maroon Kit either. Nice looking Bed gear if you ask me. I bet he nicked that out of Falkirks basket as he came down.
I can't really single out any of our players as they all played well. They had Plaimoor rocking at one stage. I haven't heard an atmosphere like that at pre season before. i noticed on at least two occasions in the second half that the chanting and singing started at the away end of the pop side carried all the way up untill the whole pop side were chanting and it even caught on in the family stand. There seems a brand new wave of optimism coming over Plainmoor this season even more than in the last 4 years.
Is this the dawning of a new age. Can we emulated the great Torquay sides of the past. I think it's certainly possible. Martin Ling so far is seemingly galvansising the players to want to walk throught brick walls for him. At one stage last night I could only compare the play to that of Leroy and his side.
Roll on the new season and let's hope I am right.

[Bigman]

Regarding Nicho vs LRT, I think it largely depends on how Ling wants to play and how many goals our forwards are likely to get in open play. I've liked what I've seen of LRT, and he's no doubt quicker and fitter, which would be an asset against tricky wingers, plus he's surely better in the air than the diminutive Nicho which would stop teams using aerial balls to that side against us as I noticed last season. However, I'm struggling to think of anyone else in our squad who can hit a freekick or deliver a ball like Nicho can. If we're going to aim to get lots of set piece goals (which given the players we have I think we should) then Nicho has to play.

As for Macklin, I've only seen him a couple of times, one of which he was pretty dire, the other he ran his socks off to close down defenders to help us preserve a lead. If he's got as much pace as reported (and as he has on Fifa 11) then right wing could well be the place for him, and will really cause problems for defenders. Don't know what his skills or crossing are like, but a lack of those still gets Theo Walcott in the England team

[Father Jack]

Regarding Nicho vs LRT, I think it largely depends on how Ling wants to play and how many goals our forwards are likely to get in open play. I've liked what I've seen of LRT, and he's no doubt quicker and fitter, which would be an asset against tricky wingers, plus he's surely better in the air than the diminutive Nicho which would stop teams using aerial balls to that side against us as I noticed last season. However, I'm struggling to think of anyone else in our squad who can hit a freekick or deliver a ball like Nicho can. If we're going to aim to get lots of set piece goals (which given the players we have I think we should) then Nicho has to play.

As for Macklin, I've only seen him a couple of times, one of which he was pretty dire, the other he ran his socks off to close down defenders to help us preserve a lead. If he's got as much pace as reported (and as he has on Fifa 11) then right wing could well be the place for him, and will really cause problems for defenders. Don't know what his skills or crossing are like, but a lack of those still gets Theo Walcott in the England team

How about Eunan? He seemed fine on the corners Wednesday?
All players get to the stage where a fitter, faster, stronger, youngster is coming up behind them.
LRT looks to be a talent and I dont think we could afford to have him sat on the bench, just for the sake of having a "dead ball specialist" on the pitch.