Saint Greavsie...?

[Fonda]

So how’s everyone enjoying the revolution? Must be time to sack the manager again isn’t it? That’s what you do when the team play badly isn’t it? And then everything will be better. I jest of course, only idiots demand the sacking of a manager without giving them a proper chance first. Not good though is it? Anyone think this is any better than what Knill was serving up previously? There is no apparent game-plan and no discernible spirit.

I (like most I'm sure) am very worried about the direction this team is going in. I’m sure this suggestion will be received about as well as a s*** sandwich but I’m a bit fearful that Chris Hargreaves’ playing of the system is in danger of undermining any remnants of confidence left within the squad. His transfer market activity has been totally bizarre up to now, and I’m struggling to see any clear plan emerging – in either signings or performances.

So what of the signings? He awarded Danny Stevens a contract - a player that had reached his use by date for us last season, and couldn’t wrestle a contract from any Non-League club in the meantime. And a player that has subsequently featured for 10 minutes in the side? Cooper signed, and has been injured ever since. Jack Rudge came in from Man Utd, and left again without kicking a ball in anger.

Then there is the apparent obsession with loaning every available football league striker too. Seemingly without giving their immediate predecessor any opportunity to prove themselves first. We signed Aiden O’Brien (who joined the already present Stockley and Goodwin). And with him having completed all of about 10 minutes of football for us, we then signed some bloke from Bolton (I lost track of names at this point). If you’re going to sign a player, isn’t it worth giving him the chance to at least prove if he’s up to it, before signing someone else? It all seems a bit desperate.

We now have 6 strikers in the squad, but our defence still contains Tonge and Nicholson on a regular basis, and Lee Mansell is still getting in the side despite having to apologise on Twitter for the quality of his own recent performances. Perhaps the priority ought to be improving the service to the front-men, rather than changing the striker on a weekly basis?

I do struggle to see how the morale of the existing squad can be helped by knowing the manager is constantly looking for replacements. At some point you have to put faith in the players you have, and concentrate on coaching better performances out of them.

I think Greavsie is fortunate to have such standing amongst our support, because other managers would have been questioned (abused incessantly) by now. I hope there is method to the apparent madness and I’m sure there is. Two away wins suggest there is some kind of spirit in the dressing room. I just hope the constant changes and additions don’t undermine the little that is left. I’m struggling to envisage a scenario where we stay up now. We’ve played the ‘change the manager and hope for the best’ card already. We’re stuck with what we have, and it doesn’t look nearly good enough.

[wivelgull]

It doesn't matter who the manager is - they're all cannon fodder.

[Fonda]

I recall suggesting previously, when Knill was under fire, that the players have to take some responsibility. The manager can't compensate for individual errors. At that time, it was the managers fault.

[SBP]

Today's performance was no different to anything else i have seen at home. Dreadful.
CH must be able to see that, why didn't he change things at half time? Why is he persisting in young inexperienced loan players. I dont get it. Iam i the stupid one?
CH has to be more dynamic, if they dont perform then see you later.

[taunton_gull]

Semi-professional club worthy of a semi-professional league.

[hector]

Hargreaves cannot do much with the shambles Knill left him. It is going to take some time to reverse the mess Alan Knill left behind.

[brucie]

The blame lies fairly and squarely with the manager for that disgrace which was served up this afternoon. He picked the wrong team completely. Downes needs to be at centre half and O'Connor needs to be at right back.
Cruise/Nicholson/Tonge are all completely useless. Downes needs to be played for his aerial threat and O'Connor is good going forward.
In a game that if we lost meant almost certain relegation Hargreaves best effort was to bring on Nicholson at half time and desperate Danny Stevens tto play in central midfield.
In 14 minutes Stevens touched the ball once when he almost **** up a one yard back pass to his full back. That was the sum total of his contribution.
He paired Hawley (who won't score another goal as long as his arse points downwards) and Wilkinson who has never played a league game).
The better pairing would have been Stockley and Benyon who are far better matched. You could tell Hargreaves didn't have a clue what he was doing before he made the substitutions, it looked like he was going to bring on Benyon but as Stevens ran past Hargreaves he seemd to suddenly change his mind.
Cue an obviously irate Benyon heading down the tunnel before the game finished.

[SBP]

The blame lies fairly and squarely with the manager for that disgrace which was served up this afternoon. He picked the wrong team completely. Downes needs to be at centre half and O'Connor needs to be at right back.
Cruise/Nicholson/Tonge are all completely useless. Downes needs to be played for his aerial threat and O'Connor is good going forward.
In a game that if we lost meant almost certain relegation Hargreaves best effort was to bring on Nicholson at half time and desperate Danny Stevens tto play in central midfield.
In 14 minutes Stevens touched the ball once when he almost f*** up a one yard back pass to his full back. That was the sum total of his contribution.
He paired Hawley (who won't score another goal as long as his arse points downwards) and Wilkinson who has never played a league game).
The better pairing would have been Stockley and Benyon who are far better matched. You could tell Hargreaves didn't have a clue what he was doing before he made the substitutions, it looked like he was going to bring on Benyon but as Stevens ran past Hargreaves he seemd to suddenly change his mind.
Cue an obviously irate Benyon heading down the tunnel before the game finished.

I cant believe I am agreeing with brucie.

But he is right on this one

[wivelgull]

If Hargreaves has any sense he'll jump ship now - the rest of us have!

[Oil Beef Hooked]

I cant believe I am agreeing with brucie.

But he is right on this one

I'll second that.

CH said after the Northampton game (I think), that he was to blame for that performance. His formation, team selection and game plan is also to blame for today's shower of shite.

Having said that, he was badly let down today by the players who looked as though they didn't give a toss about the predicament we're in. As a young manager, he'll learn from this and also have a better understanding on what players have the desire and fight for the battles ahead.

[hector]

The blame lies fairly and squarely with the manager for that disgrace which was served up this afternoon. He picked the wrong team completely. Downes needs to be at centre half and O'Connor needs to be at right back.
Cruise/Nicholson/Tonge are all completely useless. Downes needs to be played for his aerial threat and O'Connor is good going forward.
In a game that if we lost meant almost certain relegation Hargreaves best effort was to bring on Nicholson at half time and desperate Danny Stevens tto play in central midfield.
In 14 minutes Stevens touched the ball once when he almost f*** up a one yard back pass to his full back. That was the sum total of his contribution.
He paired Hawley (who won't score another goal as long as his arse points downwards) and Wilkinson who has never played a league game).
The better pairing would have been Stockley and Benyon who are far better matched. You could tell Hargreaves didn't have a clue what he was doing before he made the substitutions, it looked like he was going to bring on Benyon but as Stevens ran past Hargreaves he seemd to suddenly change his mind.
Cue an obviously irate Benyon heading down the tunnel before the game finished.

You really think Benyon would have made a difference? He is inadequate at this level and the players you give as examples of being poor are not Hargreaves' signings. He can't replace the whole inadequate mess his predecessor left him in a month!

[gullno4]

the players don't care, they can all jump ship at the end of the season, as they've no doubt got all kinds of release clauses etc. don't know if they realise that they're not exactly putting themselves in the shop window! it's worrying that next season we'll probably be building our team around Nicholson and Benyon in the conference!

[SuperNickyWroe]

Saint definitely!
It's not his fault he's inherited a sh!t team. Too many loanees, players who don't give their all take the wage and dont't give a sh!t!
Hargreaves is a Torquay Legend, shame he had to be manager at this time.

and what about the loanees he has brought in? the best loanee striker joins our relegation rivals after being here........
if we can see the defence needs changing why cant he?
and as for the signing of stevens - dont get me started.

[SuperNickyWroe]

Football player Legend for TUFC unless you've forgotten.

The loanee's he and knill brought in are all sh!t. But at the end of day paying off manager's who are surplus to requirements every five mins doesn't help. Its called lack of money so we can't get anyone decent.

well lets sit down and discuss all our "legends"..........

just because he is one, doesnt mean he knows what he is doing when it comes to management.

as we have seen already, he has signed loanees who havnt even played for us as well as stevens - so what does that say?

his decisions are questionable regarding selection and tactics - so dont give me the legend bo**ocks.

[gullno4]

could have signed some decent players though! Stevens, o brien, wilkinson just don't cut it I'm afraid