Morecambe v Torquay United - 10/8/13

[usagullmichigan]

They didn't give a toss either, Kernow. Granted the kid shanked one, but I've never seen a 25 yarder greeted with such abject apathy. There was barely a ripple of applause as it hit the net. Very strange. Couple of hundred Gulls, I imagine.

Matt.

You could hear them pretty clearly on Gullsplayer.

[Dutchgull]

Cheers Bengull a great report.

You summed up Bodin perfectly for me. If only he would cut out the fancy crap and concentrate on playing the basics we would have a great player on our hands !! Who is feeding his ego and making him believe that he is feckin Messi which he certainly is not.....yet .... !!!

There is talent there lets just hope we can find a way to unlock it..........

[Gulliball]

Cheers Ben. I got back to Aberdeen and switched the tele on just in time to catch the league two highlights. Two games later we were on, great timing. 17 hours all together but it was good to see us play live and see the new players.

At half time I was worried, but the second half was an improvement and a draw was a fair result. Morecambe weren't a great side but we were too poor first half and didn't dominate the game enough after the equalizer to take advantage.

In the first half we hoofed aimlessly forward. Ball didn't win anything in the air all afternoon, and didn't look at all like a target man style striker. Nothing stuck up front and we only had one half chance from Bodin, when he did very well to hit the bar. Their goal was a great strike from distance, there's not much the defence can do to stop that and fortunately L2 players won't do that every week.

We improved in the second half and Hawley's goal was a lovely finish in the top corner. He grew into the game as it went on and think he will do well for us. Ben has given a full match report so there's no point me adding too much.

Player by player, Rice had a solid game and was only beaten by the long range strike. Tonge looked good until his red card, which was deserved as they were both yellow cards. Nicholson had a better second half but wasn't great, if Cruise gets a chance then he could break through. Pearce was good in the air and held the defence together, although his distribution wasn't great and contributed a lot to the hoofing in the first half. Downes slipped a few times and made a few small errors, which isn't like him at all, but he didn't make any major errors and Morecambe didn't test him too much.

Mansell was his usual energetic self, but I don't think the midfield partnership with Harding worked today. If there is one position I think we need to bring someone in, it would be central midfield. Out wide, Bodin and Chappell didn't get into the game regularly. Cameron was better when he came on and went on some good runs but unfortunately they didn't lead to a winner. Hawley was good and think he will match Rene's total from last season. Ball didn't win a header all game, and didn't have a great game in my opinion, although the service was awful so it is perhaps unfair to judge him on today. With his loan spell expiring in 2 months, I think it will be interesting to see if Knill thinks he is the man he wants long term.

I think we have built a good side and in the long term we will be fine, but there is a lot of work to do get them to gel as a team. We hoofed too much in the first half, and the central midfield and attacking options will need time to form partnerships. The next two games are tough, but if we don't panic I think we'll have a good season.

Was nice to meet you too Ben, as well as Alex and Andy.

[Jeff]

Thanks to all for the match reports and views from the game.

So with Tonge out for the Oxford game, who is going to be right back? I suppose the only realistic candidate is Manse?

[brucie]

We seem to completely lack cover in certain positions. Right back and centre half for starters.
We are overblown with wingers and forwards though.
When Benyon is fit I would play him up front with Hawley. Playing a couple of short arses won't make any difference seeing as our targetman doesn't know how to head a football.
At least Knill didn't sign Ball for the season so we can send him back at the end of September.
Yeoman seems to have completely dropped off the radar and Craig might as well pack his bags now.
We have struggled to do anything against the likes of Wimbledon and Morecambe so its difficult to see where any points will be coming from in the next two games.
Having watched Portsmouth somehow contrive not to beat Accrington I really fear for us when we play them.
Hopefully there will be a couple of sides we can finish above - maybe Mansfield,Accrington etc but I can't really seeing us doing too much if I am honest.
Our full backs are too slow. We lack any cover in defence. We lack creativity in midfield. Our wingers are ok and we don't have a tragetman. Other than that we are pretty good though.

[frenchgull]

Are you a glass half empty or glass half full,why all that doom and gloom.We have played two league games and came back from one down in both games and remain unbeaten in the league.Our team is new with two strickers arriving five minuets before the first game so come on stick with the team they will get better as time goes on and I for one think we will be OK this season

[AlexGulls]

Thanks to all for the match reports and views from the game.

So with Tonge out for the Oxford game, who is going to be right back? I suppose the only realistic candidate is Manse?

Jake Hutchings possibly? Or they might give Cruise ago there possibly? Agreed with whats been said about yesterday. We looked really poor first half but second half we came out and did well. A draw was a fair result.

Good to meet you as well Chris.

[SuperNickyWroe]

We seem to completely lack cover in certain positions. Right back and centre half for starters.
We are overblown with wingers and forwards though.
When Benyon is fit I would play him up front with Hawley. Playing a couple of short arses won't make any difference seeing as our targetman doesn't know how to head a football.
At least Knill didn't sign Ball for the season so we can send him back at the end of September.
Yeoman seems to have completely dropped off the radar and Craig might as well pack his bags now.
We have struggled to do anything against the likes of Wimbledon and Morecambe so its difficult to see where any points will be coming from in the next two games.
Having watched Portsmouth somehow contrive not to beat Accrington I really fear for us when we play them.
Hopefully there will be a couple of sides we can finish above - maybe Mansfield,Accrington etc but I can't really seeing us doing too much if I am honest.
Our full backs are too slow. We lack any cover in defence. We lack creativity in midfield. Our wingers are ok and we don't have a tragetman. Other than that we are pretty good though.

but apart from that you think we are alright.....??

anyway whichever poster said that ricey should have saved that has
a) has never played in goal and
b) needs to go to specsavers

no keeper would have saved that.
as for tonges 2nd yellow, looked a bit soft, especially as their guy went down quicker than a bird from grimsby........

[Lloyder5]

We seem to completely lack cover in certain positions. Right back and centre half for starters.
We are overblown with wingers and forwards though.
When Benyon is fit I would play him up front with Hawley. Playing a couple of short arses won't make any difference seeing as our targetman doesn't know how to head a football.
At least Knill didn't sign Ball for the season so we can send him back at the end of September.
Yeoman seems to have completely dropped off the radar and Craig might as well pack his bags now.
We have struggled to do anything against the likes of Wimbledon and Morecambe so its difficult to see where any points will be coming from in the next two games.
Having watched Portsmouth somehow contrive not to beat Accrington I really fear for us when we play them.
Hopefully there will be a couple of sides we can finish above - maybe Mansfield,Accrington etc but I can't really seeing us doing too much if I am honest.
Our full backs are too slow. We lack any cover in defence. We lack creativity in midfield. Our wingers are ok and we don't have a tragetman. Other than that we are pretty good though.

Brucie has really shown how to manage a pre-season. His post in July showed some reasonable, logic and a reference to fact. Clearly he put in the required work and has hit the season proper with the required negativity and irrational comment. Well played!

[ggggg]

Are you a glass half empty or glass half full,why all that doom and gloom.We have played two league games and came back from one down in both games and remain unbeaten in the league.Our team is new with two strickers arriving five minuets before the first game so come on stick with the team they will get better as time goes on and I for one think we will be OK this season

Priceless Frenchy, have you considered changing your username to Rene (as in Allo Allo and not our old stricker)!

[ferrarilover]

Tomo, you're right (I haven't checked, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt), I've missed Harding. Not a lot say really, he was completely outshone by Manse and needs to up his workrate or will become lost (think Bodin). Unfortunately, the AC Northampton fans assessment that sometimes 'a match simply passes him by' seem to be coming to fruition.

Whoever said we're being overrun in midfield is absolutely right, that was our problem in the first half. We simply didn't challenge for the ball, any ball, in the middle third. It got to the point where their blokes were waiting for our boys to bring down the high balls (goalkicks from both keepers) then simply robbing them of possession. That was the predominant change at HT. Knilly got them working much harder, getting tighter and taking control of the centre circle. We weren't far from winning this game and I think we would have done if not for Tongue's silly, soft sending off.

Oxford look to have a talented squad with a strong midfield. Harding will have to step up a notch in his physicality if he's to be any use to us on Saturday.

I know it's negative, especially at home, but I wonder if Lathrope might start in place of, perhaps Chappel (although Bodin is chocolate teapot useless, he could **** Knill's mum and not get dropped, it seems) in order to provide a little more defensive steel?

Matt.

[ferrarilover]

Pedant alert: the chap in 'Allo 'Allo to whom Geezer intends to refer is Officer Crabtree, rather than Rene. Still a bloody good joke, though.

Matt.

[bengull]

I said that Ricey might have been disappointed, but I also said I would need to see it again. Having seen it again I can categorically say that it was an unbelievable strike (one, as matt said, the guy himself had no idea how he produced) and Rice can be absolved from any blame.

Also, don't snipe at me please, up at 4am to get to the match, back home at 11.30pm, didn't get a great view of what happened, wasn't completely sure how it found the back of the net. It's easier to form an opinion based on seeing it numerous times on the football league show. Oh and I have played in goal as it happens, even though that's irrelevant, so I am ultra critical of all goalkeepers, although not of Ricey, who was excellent yesterday.

[ferrarilover]

You could hear them pretty clearly on Gullsplayer.

Oh, well, that's alright then, I'm sure you got a much more accurate impression from 5000 miles away via Internet radio than I did sat all of 20 feet away... =D

Matt.

[ggggg]

Pedant alert: the chap in 'Allo 'Allo to whom Geezer intends to refer is Officer Crabtree, rather than Rene. Still a bloody good joke, though.

Matt.

I stand corrected! Thank you Matt! I couldn`t resist, it was gagging to be highlighted! Nearly as funny as the black labrador (where is the spell checker on here?) I saw in St.Marychurch trying to take on a Gorrilla Statue, fight it not mount it! The later would probably be funnier though!