Torquay United v Southend United - 14/12/13

Glostergull · Post by **Glostergull** » 14 Dec 2013, 18:40

stevegull wrote:Why aren't we using subs?!

Cos our forwards would trip over the periscope!

arcadia · Post by **arcadia** » 14 Dec 2013, 18:48

It was like having Martin Ling in charge with a 4-5-1 formation thats what did it. Knill's after match comments were, I put the numbers in a hat and hey presto this was the team. Poke returned and showed us what we've been missing always available, took the crosses and made the saves. Tonge and Cruise did ok but need to sharpen up a bit, both centrehalves did their jobs getting the clean sheet. Mansell and Mosika were outstanding but Knill needs to keep an eye on McCourt as he needs to release the ball earlier as he was caught in posession several times. It was good to see Boden back and his pass for the goal was brilliant, Chapell did ok and Marquis was outstanding, a real handfull and the system suited him. Rice and Craig missed out but a win is a WIN
If we are going to play this formation it would be sensible to recall Lathrope as this would suit him a treat.

torq2u · Post by **torq2u** » 14 Dec 2013, 19:08

Keep it up, lads.

We'll soon be in the play-off places!!

lucy6lucy · Post by **lucy6lucy** » 14 Dec 2013, 19:24

Gullscorer wrote:That game was the start of the second half of the season. We're only 15 points off the play-offs, with 22 games still to go...

I stand to be corrected but we play 46 games in a season, have played 20 so far surely that's 26 games to go not 22. :~D

stevegull · Post by **stevegull** » 14 Dec 2013, 19:31

Glostergull wrote: Cos our forwards would trip over the periscope!

Well played, good sir. Well played indeed.

To be fair, I feel like we've been submerged at the bottom of the table for a while. (Jesus Christ that was terrible but I've had a long day.)

Oil Beef Hooked · Post by **Oil Beef Hooked** » 14 Dec 2013, 19:33

Well, well, well...... What a difference since the last game.

My thoughts on the game:

- Southend are one of the leagues in form teams, yet we made them look very ordinary today.
- Our shape was excellent. There was hunger and desire, something that I havn't seen all season.
- We were patient with the ball and more often than not, kept the ball on the deck.
- The conditions were very challenging for both teams, but we handled it much better than them.
- Marquis had a good game today, held the ball up well and took his goal superbly.
- Chappel and Bodin made some good runs into the box. But need to work on their final ball.
- Manse, McCourt and Mozilla :~D (Mozika) played well and supported the front line, whilst coming back and helping out the defence.
- The back 4 were immense today, looked very comfortable.
- Welcome back Pokey. Made some good saves and didn't look like this was his first league game of the season.

- The atmosphere was superb today. Best it's been all season. Take a bow everyone.

We need to keep this up.

- Just a thought for Southend's drummer, played for most of the game and got their fans going. Did anyone else notice that he looked about 12 years old :~D

Final thought. We were excellent today. Probably the best we've been all season. We needed the win today for a multitude of reasons, to believe in ourselves, to stop the rot and to prevent being cut adrift at the bottom etc. But most importantly, we needed the win for our confidence. We have beaten an in form Southend side (who were unbeaten in seven) and shows that we can compete with the best in this league.

We are now only one point from safety, which is better than where a lot of us thought we would be at 5pm today. We need to push forward now and put a decent run together. Win the next match and we could be out of the bottom 2. WE CAN DO THIS.

C'mon you Yellows

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 14 Dec 2013, 19:41

Such a relief to get this win today and I'm pleased for all of you that bothered to go today, you saw a rare event happen.

Thanks Ben and others for the reports, it sounded as if we played with much more purpose than usual and despite Southend being apparently poor, so have a lot of sides been when we've played them yet they've still managed to beat us. A win and a clean sheet can't be topped and a massive thumbs up to all the lads today and Alan for managing the pressure and squeezing us out of the other side. Two weeks to build up to a game at home against a top 3 side when you are bottom and a defeat could have seen us adrift is a long time and I'm sure everyone must have felt the pressure today. So a big thanks. However, it's just the start and I'm not getting carried away at all with this, we've done that before and lost the nest game so one game at a time but I don't think the importance of the win today can be underestimated. A MASSIVE victory.

I'm not too fussed about the 11 that started although I feel for Ricey but I just said we need to win at all costs and we've done that. I was a bit angry earlier on today at people's lack of interest in this game on the forum, I'm sure if we'd have gone a goal down there would have been a multitude of posts howling derision and the fact that we were holding our own and looking positive seemed to stop some from posting. We'll see how many begrudgingly come on here and praise a positive day all round shall we? I do actually think that some WANT to see us lose games as it makes them feel good. Come on everyone, just say thanks for today, that's all it takes.

I'm just over the moon about today and positive for the Daggers game which will be tough no question. I'm off to get p*ssed then!! WELL DONE LADS AND ALAN AND I'M VERY PROUD TONIGHT!

taunton_gull · Post by **taunton_gull** » 14 Dec 2013, 20:44

Full credit to AK and the team for an outstanding performance head and shoulders above anything else this season. I was a bit disappointed not to see Benyon start but the line-up and change in formation worked a treat. Marquis leading the line was superb and fully deserved to win MOTM. He was backed up on both flanks with Chappell and Bodin both dangerous, the central three of Mansell, McCourt and Mozika were solid (DM seems to get better every game, let's hope he can be tied down on a deal). Defensively we were also brilliant with O'Connor and Downes like a rock. Rice can count himself a bit unlucky to lose his place but I feel bringing Poke back is the right move going forward. At one point he was in conversation with Veysey about coming off, Rice began to warm up but he seemed ok in the end.

We really need to build on this and continue to put pressure on the teams above. As we proved today, play to our potential and it seems we can compete with anyone. I wanted AK gone but I will eat a whole plate of humble pie if we can get out of trouble. Of course it's only one match, but we can go to Dagenham full of confidence. COYY!!!

gullno4 · Post by **gullno4** » 14 Dec 2013, 20:48

marquis was the difference today, had he not been upfront, it would have been a totally different game. I think he offers so much more than Benyon/hawley. Also, nice to have bodin back, however at times he does look a bit of a lightweight!

bengull · Post by **bengull** » 14 Dec 2013, 21:03

taunton_gull wrote: but I will eat a whole plate of humble pie if we can get out of trouble.

Agreed. I have been far more dissenting than I would like in previous weeks but if Alan Knill gets us out of trouble I will happily hold my hands up and apologise. It's still a pretty big 'IF' for me at the moment but today was a massive step in the right direction and if we can beat the team in third (quite comfortably so in the end) then we have given ourselves a chance of not being in the bottom two come the turn of the year.

We have under-achieved this year, I am not asking for a promotion push or top half finish, but I do need evidence that this squad is 'better than years previous' as I have been told. Most of all I just want to enjoy going to matches again, we have lost too many, and too many in miserable fashion. Today offered a glimpse that we might be able to turn the corner, its now up to everyone at the club to ensure we build on this win and not let it be a standalone beacon in a season of cess.

It was a big call to change formation today having nailed his sails to the 4-4-2 mast for so long, but Alan Knill did so and we got the win, he deserves great credit for that. We all know what happened the last time a manager changed formation from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1, if the squad is as good as we're led to believe, lets hope they can prove it. 22nd place is all I have my eyes set on.

Feeling at the final whistle today was immense, well done boys, keep it up.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 14 Dec 2013, 21:04

gullno4 wrote:marquis was the difference today, had he not been upfront, it would have been a totally different game. I think he offers so much more than Benyon/hawley. Also, nice to have bodin back, however at times he does look a bit of a lightweight!

Agreed but it's his first game back so he's entitled to be a bit off the pace. He set up the goal apparently so job done for Billy and I have to say thanks.

Gullscorer · Post by **Gullscorer** » 14 Dec 2013, 21:09

lucy6lucy wrote: I stand to be corrected but we play 46 games in a season, have played 20 so far surely that's 26 games to go not 22. :~D

That's my faulty mathematics again: we're in 24th place, aiming at the last play-off place (7th), 17 places off with 26 games to go and e=mc something or other and I know a piece of pie comes into the equation somewhere and God I'm sure your absolutely correct I need a good night's sleep... :Oops:

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 14 Dec 2013, 21:12

bengull wrote: Agreed. I have been far more dissenting than I would like in previous weeks but if Alan Knill gets us out of trouble I will happily hold my hands up and apologise. It's still a pretty big 'IF' for me at the moment but today was a massive step in the right direction and if we can beat the team in third (quite comfortably so in the end) then we have given ourselves a chance of not being in the bottom two come the turn of the year.

We have under-achieved this year, I am not asking for a promotion push or top half finish, but I do need evidence that this squad is 'better than years previous' as I have been told. Most of all I just want to enjoy going to matches again, we have lost too many, and too many in miserable fashion. Today offered a glimpse that we might be able to turn the corner, its now up to everyone at the club to ensure we build on this win and not let it be a standalone beacon in a season of cess.

It was a big call to change formation today having nailed his sails to the 4-4-2 mast for so long, but Alan Knill did so and we got the win, he deserves great credit for that. We all know what happened the last time a manager changed formation from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1, if the squad is as good as we're led to believe, lets hope they can prove it. 22nd place is all I have my eyes set on.

Feeling at the final whistle today was immense, well done boys, keep it up.

Not me Ben I'm afraid. The Knill bashing has been done to death and this is not a reply about that but IF we stay up then he will have accomplished the bare minimum he set out to do before the season kicked off and so we have nothing to apologise for. There is no way we should be where we are IMO so he will have just about earned his corn but put us all through the sh*t in the process. I'll give him credit where it is due like today, great call for the formation although a little late, and great for getting the lads galvanised enough to scrape out the win under pressure. I can't apologise though because I've done nothing to apologise for. He gets credit when it is due and criticism when it is due and that's fair enough. I'm positive again now though

that was just my brief response to your post mate.

Burnhamgull · Post by **Burnhamgull** » 14 Dec 2013, 21:30

A really good second half performance today. The first half was gritty and lacking the attacking edge but something clicked after half time and you couldn't fault the boys for their effort and commitment.

Bodin was a joy to watch back in the team. I know some don't like him but I think he adds some flair to the attack and is the perfect balance to Chappell on the other side. These are the two that will unlock the League two defences. Marquis is the target man we need and Knill needs to convince him that he should stay for the rest of the season. This could be the key to our survival.

The midfield three of Mozika, Mansell and McCourt were solid and provided a perfect base for Bodin, Chappell and Marquis to tease, embarrass and humiliate at times the Sarfend defence.

Today we took a small step forwards and I have been critical of Knill recently but as the board appear unable to get rid, we have to stick with what we have and hope that maybe we can dig ourselves out the mess we're in.

3 points this afternoon certainly give me hope.

bengull · Post by **bengull** » 14 Dec 2013, 21:32

I would be apologising for the fact that in recent weeks I have held the belief that he couldn't/won't get us out of the brown stuff and that he should go, if he turns us around and gets us out of the brown stuff then I was clearly wrong to hold that belief.(regardless of whether or not i believe he got us into that position in the first place)

No-one is disputing that being bottom (and the manner in which we've got there) is under-achievement and not what we expected, but at the same time you can only kick a man so many times before acknowledging he has done well. If he gets us back up the table, despite me moaning for weeks that we are doomed under him, then he deserves plenty of credit.

As I say, a long way to go and we can't take too much from today in isolation, it needs to be judged in context with the next few games, but today was a good day. We can't afford to sack Knill, so we have no choice but to get behind him, days like today make it much easier to do so. Lets hold onto the positive feeling created today instead of trying to disperse it at the first possible opportunity.

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