Cheltenham Town v Torquay United - 2/2/12

[AustrianAndyGull]

Nick, i moan whether i'm there or not. :na:

I didn't moan when i went to Burton or York though so it's not every week. Just when it is justified.

[Plymouth Gull]

But how can you say it is justified when he was one of our better performers today? What are you basing your "justification" on?!

Also, only 389 Gulls? I thought it was over 600!

[stratfordgull]

Can I jump in and moan about Jarvis then please for a bit of balance? I was there again today but he was missing again. My hamster could brush him off the ball, assuming that Jarvis could be arsed to chase the ball.
I was warned by a friend playing with him at Walsall that he was a waster and I haven't seen a performance to make me want to argue with that.
I'll take no talent but I'm not happy paying my money for anybody that doesn't give a toss.
I am optimistic by nature and don't like to denigrate, but being there today felt like I was being punished for something. Have we all been bad recently?

[AustrianAndyGull]

But how can you say it is justified when he was one of our better performers today? What are you basing your "justification" on?!

Also, only 389 Gulls? I thought it was over 600!

Nick, it doesn't really matter that much at the end of the day, we disagree and that's that. I concede that with regards to todays game you are totally correct in wondering why my criticism is justified as i didn't see the game. I am probably basing my judgement on the fact that he again hasn't scored nor set anything up which is why i am disappointed but so long as he did the work and looked interested then i suppose based on my criteria for fairness he didn't deserve it. How long can we go on saying he did ok but still hasn't scored or contributed much from an attacking sense though? Still, you are completely correct about today and i look like a buffoon commenting on individuals when i've not seen the action. However, i stand by my overall judgement that he has a mammoth way to go before even registering on my radar for 100% praise and committment. That's all i can do.

Credit to the fans who went today. I'm glad i didn't not just because we lost but because my day has deteriorated gradually and now i feel like Martin Ling. Sh*tty viruses!!

[Dave]

Just do not know what to say about todays game, at half time both me and Oxgull agreed the team did not deserve to be behind, I was quite happy at half time we seemed to have good possession, got into good areas, and gave Cheltenhams defence something to think about.

Second what the hell, we just seemed to come out the dressing in a trance, sleep walking and it cost us the game in the end, for 15 minutes we could not seem to get over the half way line, and then spent the next period of the game just hoofing the ball up to a very isolated Rene Howe, think it is fair to say we were lucky not to be 4.0 down maybe even worse, as Cheltenham were very wasteful in front of goal and should have scored a lot more.

What caused the difference between the two halfs who knows did Cheltenham up their game, did we fall of the pace I do not know, largely not good enough from us, yes I realy realise funds are limited, are we though making the best of what we do have? Please if Nathan Craig is not good enough to play in the middle( which I happen to think he is) Then do not play him at all, he has no hope out on the wing.

Do agree with Nickgull, players that deserve credit, Pokey, Downes was class, Howe tireless up front worked his nuts off with no support, Billy tried bags of effort seem to lose out in the physical battle, do not understand the critcism of Jarvis though, made have had little impact on the game agreed, but his work rate in the half was as high as any player on the park, Jarvis did not lack in effort.

Sorry forgot to say, though Saah had an awful game today, that was a real shocker for me, he has been one of the stand out players for us this term, do not think I have seen him so out sorts in his time with us.

Oh and day ended real bad as I hit a pot hole and now and a cracked windscreen, jeez not sure whats the matter with me picked up a £30 fine on the way back from Hereford, away days seem to some how become far more expensive for me than they should be..

[Burnhamgull]

A lot of people on here slating Bodin but to be honest the problems are all over the team, not just with Billy.

I was there today and thought things were evenly balanced for the first 20 minutes......then it all fell apart. I've criticised Nico before but seriously what has he contributed this season? He was awful and McGlashan skinned him time after time. Somebody else has already said this but Lathrope is not effective in a two man midfield. He's happier when we play 4-3-3. Mansell was his usual headless chicken and Rene was completely isolated up front and heavily outnumbered every time he got the ball.

Jarvis contributed nothing and the only players who gave everything, in my opinion, were Downes and Saah. Without these two, we would be in serious mire.

Boy, do we miss Eunan!

[AustrianAndyGull]

If we show the lads a DVD of the Burton game and get them to emulate that then that's the way forward. Ok we lost, we were sloppy and they scored a belter but we were dangerous and missed a load of chances, there were men pouring forward and it was so good to watch. Burton were rattled, a side who had won 8 at home may i add. Then we serve up the aimless cack that has blighted our away form all season like we did today ( apparently ). Why do we play like this all the time? Again trying to win 1-0 or get a 0-0. It's boring as f*ck and i can totally understand those that went today that maybe have not been to too many away games being dispirited. Broken record again i know but the football under Ling is dreadful and i'm glad i'm not the only one who thinks that way. We CAN and SHOULD be playing so much better, we've just beat our hated rivals 1-0 in their own back yard and then they capitulate again off the back of it.

[bengull]

A thoroughly miserable day. Taking last season's play-off defeat out of the equation I had been to Cheltenham 5 times in the league and seen us win three times and draw the other 2, on each occasion the 2 sides either looked evenly matched or we were by far the better team. Today was the first time they showed themselves to be vastly superior and resultantly gave us a real footballing lesson and to be brutally honest only losing 2-1 is a massive result for us. We didn't deserve Howe's consolation and Cheltenham could have wracked up as many as they pleased in the second half. Our goal difference still being in the positives is a minor miracle and we have to give to Michael Poke thanks, once again, for a selection of fine saves, coupled with some questionable finishing by the opposition to not be talking about an absolute hammering.

I would rate 35 minutes after half time as some of the worst I have ever seen Torquay play, it was abysmal. We can talk tactics and formations all we like but the bottom line is that we are a team lacking flair, imagination and creativity. Being disciplined and methodical will see you comfortably beat the Accrington and Yorks of this division, but put it up against a team as direct and flamboyant as Cheltenham, you really see the difference. Our wingers just can't beat their men, and if that's the case then get Craig in the middle and play narrower, because with all the will in the world Mansell and Lathrope are not going to deliver that defence unlocking pass.

We just looked clueless in the second half, clueless and predictable, play it long to Rene and hope he finds someone supporting him. I have nothing against Jarvis at all, a hard working pro who was knocked all over the park today, but if he is playing as support for Rene, then he should be alongside Rene. Even with the inclusion of Jarvis, Howe was looking incrementally isolated as the match went on. I do not know what more Yeoman needs to do in order to get sufficient pitch time, Jarvis was getting battered and bruised all over the park and not for the first time looked spent with time left on the clock. Why can't we put 15 minutes of faith into the guy many label 'the best finisher at the club'?

I can not defend Nicholson for the second goal, it didn't look good and that is 3 games in a row where McGlashan has had the better of him, he was caught in 2 minds from the very moment the move started. 2 points to raise here; 1) Nicholson gets no support from his left winger whatsoever. At least twice in the first half Oastler was caught high up the pitch and Nathan Craig, without being needed to be told, slotted in and covered him whilst he made his way back. Whenever Nicholson gets caught up field and the move breaks down, he often over-takes Stevens and Bodin on his way back to full-back, and in most cases when a goal is conceded from his side, he has been left with an unsolvable two against one conundrum. 2) He seems to cop an unfair amount of stick from the stands, I am not saying he should be immune simply because of what he has achieved for us in the past, but he does seem to get disproportionate amounts of vitriol, as an experienced pro who has already nearly been shown the door at our club at least once, and worked his a**e off to regain his place, I don't think he needs to be told when he makes a mistake. Whereas some players **** up regularly and get encouraged and told to put it behind them. It's worth mentioning that Nicholson still leads for most assists this season, and his set-pieces, although at times inconsistent, are still extremely potent and dangerous.

The antics of our fans really frustrates me, everyone is entitled to a moan to their mate next to them if someone ****s up, but handing out dog's abuse to our own players and staff is just not on. It is happening more and more and at a club like Torquay where I believe we must stick together, we can't afford to be driving a wedge between supporters and players. It just seems like the ecstasy and togetherness sculptured on Monday night was sadly ephemeral. Next; the smoke bomb, a complete embarrassment, and I noticed the perpetrators p**sed off before they could be held accountable for their cunning stunt. I go to as many games as I can because TUFC courses through my veins, but on days like these when I am surrounded by myopia I just think 'What's the point?' Defeats hurt me, they infuriate me, they test me, but in the end it is simply par the course of a Torquay fan. As I've said before, if you can't take losing, you really are supporting the wrong club. I am normally laughing about the defeat and looking forward to the next match by the time we hit the motorway.

Cheltenham looked a dangerous team to me, it looks like their transfer activities will give them the shot in the arm at just at the right time, and good luck to them. A friendly club surviving on their means, they deserve whatever success comes their way. Just like us. The difference being is that they haven't had new stands, screens or training grounds to budget for this season, so they can strengthen their team accordingly, especially with well earned cup money thrown in as a bonus. Let's look at them in a couple of season's time as a blue print of what paying your bills and earning your way honestly can get you, instead of looking up the road at a team like Swindon, whose successes will eventually catch up with them.

As for us? Well the first half wasn't too bad, perhaps Cheltenham did just enough to deserve to be ahead. Hopefully we can put the second half down to a bit of a blip and look to take points off the teams around us instead of the teams at the very top. Bit concerned about the fitness of a few of the players, just when it looked like we might be getting somewhere near a full roster. Will be interesting to see how we cater for Rene's absence, and if Yeoman doesn't get sufficient pitch time in the according period then it really is a wonder why he is still at the club.

The time, once again, is not to panic, all today's result and performance has done for me is convince me that we are not a play-off team (hope re-ignited after Monday) nor are we a bottom 6 team. Anywhere between 8th-18th will do me fine this season.

[Plymouth Gull]

Agree with the majority of that Ben. Good post.

[Hubert Parry]

Ben that is a fantastic post, and I agree with everything that I am in a position to comment on.

I have written a lengthy report on the game on our forum, but I did think 2-1 was a flattering scoreline. You seem to be very reliant on Howe. You were by no means the worst side we have played, and I still back you to reach the top ten, but you hit us on a good day (and I hope we shall have many more of those to come).

Your fans completely out-sang our lot (although I don't really give a damn - alongside attendance comparisons, I am amazed by how much bandwidth is spent on forums discussing these completely irrelevant topics), but I thought the relentless 'I want to go home' chant was pretty lame. Not very witty, and Cheltenham is hardly a 'shit hole'.

[Plymouth Gull]

I agree, I actually really like Cheltenham as a place and you've got a nice tidy ground too. Good luck for the year, part of me hopes you go up but I really enjoy going to WR. If it's a choice between you and Exeter however then I hope you do it hands down!

[Dutchgull]

Bengull ....BRILLIANT Post..Thanks so much.

[Bitchie Renault]

if you can't take losing, you really are supporting the wrong club

Very good report bengull, think these words are a very simple but poignient message to a few people who just constantly find fault with the club and certain players. We need to count our blessings, stick together and support the team through thick and thin. Success is no guarentee, but being fickle and negative will produce nothing.

[Kernowgull]

I shouted a fair bit at the players yesterday in the second half, and I rarely do that. I don't care how much you think we should support the team, that was bloody pathetic, and it cost be the best part of 60 quid to go and see. I don't expect fantastic flowing football, but complete footballing ineptitude is not acceptable.

[tauntongull]

Totally agree KernowGull. Whilst I agree that constantly berating players will never yield a positive outcome; as a paying customer of the entertainment industry you are absolutely entitled to voice your opinion and £40.00 + petrol for myself and my son is a lot of money

Constantly asking fans to get behind the team and other rallying cries are very noble but clear and obvious mistakes repeatedly made make this very difficult. The crowd (and let's face it this is all most players ever see!) are always behind the team when they play well; even when they get beaten. Sometimes when the performance isn't up to our usual standard, fans have every right to voice their discern. Personally, I'm beyond that now - on occasions recently the performance itself has been nothing short of embarrassing.