Torquay United v Plymouth Argyle - 26/11/13

Plymouth Gull · Post by **Plymouth Gull** » 27 Nov 2013, 11:29

Matt, we should be targeting points in any game now. If we can't target points against teams in the top half, then we need to make sure we actually get them against teams near us. We've just played two of them, and we've taken 1 point from 6. Granted we could easily have won it last night, but if Knill takes your mindset then we are screwed.

He needs to pull a win out of the bag soon because otherwise we'll fall further into a blip and it'll be very difficult to get out.

Regarding last night - very low quality I thought. Both teams had chances to win (we edged that in numbers), but I don't think the performance was as good as people are making out. We still lack penetration in the final third. However it was nice to see us get the ball on the floor and actually pass it around, and at times Argyle could not cope. Chapell was unplayable - had his solo effort gone in it would have been goal of the season. Craig did well, but having him on the wing obscures our 'shape' a bit as he often comes in.

Mozika started absolutely terribly but grew into it as the game went on. The penno was a bit frustrating, I can't say I really saw it as it all happened so quick. As soon I saw Roger East though, I knew we wouldn't win.

3 points on Saturday is a must, I'm afraid.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 27 Nov 2013, 11:36

There was a notable absentee for last night's match - Kevin Nicholson. We had just one defender on the bench - Krystian Pearce. This suggests to me that the rumour about a fall out between Knill and Nico is true. Football can be a cruel game and this may well signal the end of Kev's playing days at Plainmoor. He has not been at his best (not helped by wingers failing to track back to give support) but I think it's sad if he leaves the club under a bit of a cloud if that is what is about to happen. He has been a great player for us and although things haven't gone too well for him this season, we must not forget the many seasons that he has been a fans favourite in successful teams and no doubt one of the first names to go on the Team Sheet. Thanks Kev.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 27 Nov 2013, 11:38

Compared with the two previous home games this was a vast improvement. The positive performance was thankfully almost for 90 minutes+ unlike many of our games so far.
In the end either side could have secured a winner but both keepers did what they are expected to do. If anybody deserved a goal 'out of nothing' it was Chapell's wonder strike and McCormack's save onto the bar.
Thought the penalty was harsh (reminded me of the Gittens penalty in the Play-Off Final against Colchester - surely ball to hand?) but Mr East likes to have centre stage.
For me Mozika showed the skills and drive we've needed in mid-field and he would have been my Man of the Match - streets ahead as the best outfield player on the night.
Having picked up vibes I can't see Alan Knill leaving, I reckon he's here for the duration.
Last night's performance was not that of a team in the bottom two but home wins are crucial and we need to start. Next up at Plainmoor will be Southend and that won't be easy.
I, too, would like O'Connor here for the season but hopefully with Bodin and Harding returning other loanees could be returning to their parent clubs.
Now a big game at Scunthorpe - after last night a surprise win is not impossible.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 27 Nov 2013, 11:40

In case anybody is interested Nico was in the Directors' Box behind me along with Eunan O'Kane.

hector · Post by **hector** » 27 Nov 2013, 12:25

nickbrod wrote:Compared with the two previous home games this was a vast improvement. The positive performance was thankfully almost for 90 minutes+ unlike many of our games so far.
In the end either side could have secured a winner but both keepers did what they are expected to do. If anybody deserved a goal 'out of nothing' it was Chapell's wonder strike and McCormack's save onto the bar.
Thought the penalty was harsh (reminded me of the Gittens penalty in the Play-Off Final against Colchester - surely ball to hand?) but Mr East likes to have centre stage.
For me Mozika showed the skills and drive we've needed in mid-field and he would have been my Man of the Match - streets ahead as the best outfield player on the night.
Having picked up vibes I can't see Alan Knill leaving, I reckon he's here for the duration.
Last night's performance was not that of a team in the bottom two but home wins are crucial and we need to start. Next up at Plainmoor will be Southend and that won't be easy.
I, too, would like O'Connor here for the season but hopefully with Bodin and Harding returning other loanees could be returning to their parent clubs.
Now a big game at scunthorpe - after last night a surprise win is not impossible.

Yes, I suspect that last night has bought Knill some more time as well. If last night is the start of something, then I can live with that. However, if we revert back to form on saturday, even though, Matt has got his excuses in already, then I think Knill has to go. After all it is still only THREE wins all season. Good performances are no good to us any more. We need to quickly accrue points and that means to start winning games. If Alan Knill cannot start getting wins then he needs to move aside and let someone else try - even if that someone else is Martin Ling.

Neal · Post by **Neal** » 27 Nov 2013, 12:53

I didnt go last night so have read most of the reports from those who did.

Blimey, I still dont know how we played, other than the consensus is that we were a bit better than usual this season.

From we should have won by 2 or 3 to it was a fair result.

Also a number of players seems to get good and poorish performances.

I believe one thing, the standard in this league is basically poor this season. Given that, and we are not winning, that is very bad indeed. ok, we improved a bit it seems from the reports, but we still did not win. And, winning games is the only way we will get out of this dire situation now. It doesnt mater how we do it, hoof ball, get in front and then play all the professional tricks you can to stay in front, i dont care.

But we cant keep saying its getting there, its got to be here NOW!

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 27 Nov 2013, 13:24

As I was commenting about Northampton earlier on this thread and about their performance last night I have just seen that they are at home to Accy on Saturday. If Accy can win it will be unheard of in recent times - it will be 6 wins out of 7 for them so I can't see it. The Scunny game is bloody vital because if we lose I think we'll be bottom on Saturday. I fully expect Northampton to win their game, even a draw would put them ahead of us on goal difference. I agree with Neal, we have to start winning games NOW and the 'next 5 games' thread just got on my nerves a bit because it is Saturday that is important now. Knill will have had 4 bites at the cherry in the league since our FA Cup exit after Scunny and we'll have a point with a defeat at Glanford Park. Worse than relegation form that but what the hell, give him another 5 games to see if he can get us another point.

arcadia · Post by **arcadia** » 27 Nov 2013, 14:03

AustrianAndyGull wrote:As I was commenting about Northampton earlier on this thread and about their performance last night I have just seen that they are at home to Accy on Saturday. If Accy can win it will be unheard of in recent times - it will be 6 wins out of 7 for them so I can't see it. The Scunny game is bloody vital because if we lose I think we'll be bottom on Saturday. I fully expect Northampton to win their game, even a draw would put them ahead of us on goal difference. I agree with Neal, we have to start winning games NOW and the 'next 5 games' thread just got on my nerves a bit because it is Saturday that is important now. Knill will have had 4 bites at the cherry in the league since our FA Cup exit after Scunny and we'll have a point with a defeat at Glanford Park. Worse than relegation form that but what the hell, give him another 5 games to see if he can get us another point.

I just hope the performance was not a one off as after we beat Cheltenham at home I said to not get carried away as you could see the flaws in the performance. Last night I came away more confident especially as you said that they played better at Accrington. I can now see that we have a shape and are closing the midfield making it easier for the central players. Poke needs to be re- installed as there were a couple of mix ups although Rice did well. Craig as you mentioned in your post trys to be a Beckham, but last night Craig was quality up to ten minutes from the end when I guess he was tired, why he has not played earlier in the season is beggers belief. Moziko did ok and Mansell was emence but he will always stick out like a sore thumb because he never stops even when things are not going for him.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 27 Nov 2013, 14:08

I think it's significant what Knill said on BBC sport after the game about us needing commitment, passion and tempo (like last night) to improve our position. I certainly saw that for the first half an hour at Accrington and if he truly has come round to this way of thinking and is organising his side accordingly then we have a real good chance of getting away from the bottom 2. It's just shame it has taken him 18 games to realise that f*cking about with the team and trying to try different methods just isn't working. It's the basics we need right now and he seems aware of that so I am feeling a bit brighter about things after posting some 'realistic' posts earlier today. I've only just seen that report from Knill and it has made be a little more optimistic.

The thing is we need to dig in and apply ourselves for more than 30 minutes and who knows then?

PlainmoorRoar · Post by **PlainmoorRoar** » 27 Nov 2013, 16:43

good to see the idiot who let off a smoke grenade at the game last night got arrested

Unfortunately a TUFC 'fan' and as i predicted down at the away end giving it billy big bollocks

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 27 Nov 2013, 16:51

PlainmoorRoar wrote:good to see the idiot who let off a smoke grenade at the game last night got arrested

Unfortunately a TUFC 'fan' and as i predicted down at the away end giving it billy big bollocks

I noticed a page in the Accy programme on Saturday giving up a page to report and roundly condemn an Accy fan who did the same thing at one of their away games this season. He was arrested too and I think banned.

Post by **Scott Brehaut** » 27 Nov 2013, 17:17

I note that Eunan has tweeted saying he was pleased to be back last night and that he thought a draw was the right result....

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 27 Nov 2013, 17:38

I bet he didn't have to tell the fans off last night for singing Alan Knill's Yellow Army.

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 27 Nov 2013, 22:51

This sort of reaction is exactly what I was afraid of. Look at it objectively, if it weren't us, but another team, Grangetown FC, who were in the relegation zone and they were travelling away to Hoopersville FC, who were 6th (and within a win of being top) in their respective division, would anyone really say that the "only acceptable result" for Grangetown would be a win? No, of course not, you'd have to be insane. Yet, replace those teams with Torquay and Scunny, and people lose their minds.

They're at home. They've scored more and conceded fewer than us. They're 4th and we're 23rd. They have twice as many points as us. They've taken 17 points from their last 30, we've taken 6. What part of any of that suggests that we ought to be going there and getting a win and, moreover, that not doing so will represent some sort of failure.

Take it down one place each. Northampton away at Burton. Who here would be saying that Northampton absolutely have to go there and get three points or the manager should be sacked? No one, not even too many of the catastrophically deluded AC Northants fans would be saying that.

Yes, all games are, on paper, winnable, but we have to be realistic and say that, if we're judging where we are and how far we've come in the last few weeks, a loss to a side within touching distance of the top spot is hardly a decent barometer, nor an indictment that we haven't improved at all. Target the more realistic games. Southend will be tough, but I'm not sure that D&R will be so difficult. If we can keep playing as we have been these last couple of weeks, then I think we can win that. Equally, I think we should be looking to continue the run with a victory over Rovers.

We cannot expect to go from looking like one of the worst sides ever to grace the FL to expecting to beat a top 6 side in the space of 14 days and two reasonable performances. It's too much too quickly. Realistic expectations lead to, generally, happy supporters. Unrealistic expectations do not and expecting a victory at Scunny is unrealistic, given our present state. Not saying we can't go there and win, just that it would be an upset if we did. The bookies will agree and it will be interesting to see how many of you are willing to back your stance with a punt on us with Wills or A. N. Other.

Matt.

Post by **Scott Brehaut** » 28 Nov 2013, 00:02

I thought that league position meant nothing though.

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