Torquay United Fans Forum

As a Torquay fan, we get excited when we spend £10,000, and we deem ourselves lucky to be able to spend that when we can, so to watch premier league football clubs throw around £30 million on mediocre players who fall to the floor from the slightest contact, or in some cases none whatsoever, it is a completely different world.

I watch the Premier league closely enough, and with no alliance to any team, it just does not compare to standing on the terraces at Plainmoor. It is completely different to lower league football in every conceivable way. The sport at the highest level, is run like a business and everything hinges on money. Multi-millionaires will refuse to play because they get dropped to the bench. Some of these players have forgotten why they fell in love with football in the first place.

We piss and moan at Torquay because we don't do things well, we don't do things properly, we try and run our club professionally and end up making a dog's dinner out of it on countless occasions, that is all part of the charm. Last night we won a home match for the first time in 24 years and it felt amazing, through all the shite, adversity, trouble and strife we had finally won a football match, contrast that to the reactions of fans who lose 1 game in every 6 and still want their manager out, where winning a league cup is the least one would expect. Where a quarter final cup defeat to the holders renders the manager incapable. The two situations just do not compare.

I wouldn't say I hold Premier league football with contempt, as I say I watch it whenever its on TV, I guess I just see it as a completely different entity to the football with which I have been brought up on and fallen in love with. Lower league football is all about heart and soul, Premier eague football is decided by the size of some rich bloke's wallet.

Neuer is streets ahead of the competition, he really has it all, has been impressive for a number of years now. I would have to agree with our learned friend though that its all because of Schmeichel's influence. You look at how Neuer imposes himself, how big he makes himself, how brave he is to 'go through' forwards, its pure Peter Boleslaw Schmeichel.

Similarly, you look at the best goalkeeper we've had in recent years, Bobby O, who does his physicality and technique remind you of? Schmeichel.

Shot-stopping is the basic staple of a goalkeeper's armoury, and there are plenty of good ones about, Vorm, Marshall, De Gea etc, but what you need is an intimidating presence who dominates, neigh rules, his 18 yard box, catches every cross, smothers every through-ball, leaves his defence in no confused state of mind that the keeper is going to get to the ball and make it his. Schmeichel was the first to perfect all of that, he was faultless.

Bear in mind that years ago, keepers could pick up back-passes, now they have to be good with their feet too. Having played a limited amount of football in goal myself I am keen to watch goalkeepers very closely. There are far too many bad habits creeping in nowadays, needless punching being by far the worst. Van Der Sar, Seaman, Given and Southall (in the British game) have all come close in my opinion in terms of consistency and reliability, Neuer is the best now, but Schmeichel is the best of all time. Casillas and Buffon, for their longevity at the highest level, are not far behind but just do not possess the same aura that the two 'big guys' have.

Haven't posted in a while: been keen to maintain a level of ambivalence having accepted our fate after the Accrington game. I have watched the last few matches trying to be as detached as possible, not getting my hopes up, not feeling suicidal, trying to remain insouciant so that our situation doesn't make me too angry/ upset/ emotional. However, in the end, I really enjoyed last night.

It will probably prove to be immaterial in the overall scheme of things, I can quite see why it might re-ignite the faintest throes of hope in some, but for me it was a nice, timely reminder why I love our club and that the winning feeling, no matter how rare, still makes it worth investing money, emotion and interest into TUFC. I do love it when a small crowd, the absolute hard-core, drives on the team. It really felt personal last night, there was no vitriol, no indignant criticisms, just a few hundred people desperate to see a victory before it really was too late. Those '1600' (nearer 1200) deserved a good night's entertainment after what has been a sorry, soul-destroying season at Plainmoor.

I thought the first half was an excellent game of football, end to end, lots of openings and some decent goalkeeping on display. Am yet to be convinced by big Enoch, but had his stunning volley gone in, it would have been the best goal I have seen since some kid called Ashley Yeoman left the Morecambe defence in the distance, I wonder whatever happened to that young lad?

Pearce was outstanding and I thought the captaincy galvanised his performance, he was commanding all night and a direct contrast to Saturday were he looked shot by abuse for mistakes he did not actually make. I am actually pleased to see Rice back too, he did nothing to warrant being dropped- apart from being paid considerably less than Poke- Poke also made 3 or 4 mistakes that directly led to goals, more than Rice made in the entire first half of the season. These two, if I choose to vote, would be my player of the season candidates.

Second half was an abysmal game of football to watch, each keeper trying to outkick each other it seemed. I think, for one of the first times this season, we got lucky with our winning goal, 2 or 3 things fell in our favour before Labadie smashed it in from 4 yards and I don't really think our play deserved a winning goal, but our endeavour did. I must admit I was jumping up and down when the second went in, I was shouting myself silly for the final whistle, no matter how detached I intend to be, it will always matter.

A very welcome 3 points and although I really don't think it will make much difference you just never know with our football club. The division is such a poor one that it is not inconceivable that we could win a couple more and get ourselves back into the pack, If we can give ourselves even a glimmer of hope with 5 games to go then the greatest of great escapes could be on. I will not allow myself to get too excited, just enjoy the moment of a rare win .

The most galling thing though, when you cast your eye back over the season, is that even 3-4 points more at this stage would make our plights seem all the more doable/positive. That really, in layman's terms, is why our position is so unnecessary. The league this season is a woeful standard, absolutely hopeless, having only amassed 33 points is the real issue; we've handed out points far too readily. Just one or two different results over the course of the season and despite it being the worst season I can ever remember, we would still be in a perfectly reasonably situation to turn it round.

3 points on Saturday is a must, with a lot of fortuity for results to go our way thrown in, and we might be back in business. For the time being just enjoying last night's reminder of what supporting our small, local team is all about.

Appreciate and respect your sentiment; indeed last week I was the single lone voice arguing against the tide of despondency.

Today's apathy and general damning criticism is not borne out of a direct circumstance of just losing to Accrington, its a build up of years of our club not learning its lessons, not doing things properly etc. Its a culmination not just of today, but a season full of disappointing home performances. Its the defeated voices of plenty of loyal fans you are hearing, many been doing this for years, we were told things were going to be different when we somewhat fortuitously got a second stab at league football 5 years ago, in reality not a lot has changed. Once the hysteria dissipated its still the same loyal 1500 fans who had never left who end up going through the maelstrom of fighting relegation season after season once again.

Yes, many are empty threats, most will be back for more pain on Tuesday, duty-bound like a good fan always will. Muster any excitement? Its a difficult thing to do when you know exactly what's coming. Today was painful, wasn't enjoyable to watch, the worst of it all? It was all so inevitable.

All these dissenting voices, they all love Torquay, they know precisely the limitations of supporting Torquay, the continual struggle, minnows in a massive pond. Doesn't make it any easier to stomach when your team loses to a team as limited as Accrington, the job to remain positive gets harder still when you know that things that could be done to improve the situation, aren't being done.

Most of us will keep going, its all we have ever known. Its not over until its over, of course you're right. Preparing for the worst however, will make the bitter, bitter pill easier to swallow when it does eventually come along.

We can and should get behind the guys, but they need to give us a tangible reason to start believing again. I didn't see any such evidence today.

Glad you enjoyed the day out mate, I am afraid that performances like today have become par for the course, that may explain why so many fans resemble statues - I certainly won't moan at our fans for that. Over on the pop things weren't much better, just general apathy really, I think most have accepted our fate and are going through the motions. Apathy turned to anger for some but it was nowhere near as brutal as I was expecting to be honest.

Normally I hate this sort of atmosphere. As you well know, I normally lead the fun away from home, I just can't bring myself to do it at home. Away games are a choice, home games you attend through sense of duty, its the done thing, I can totally understand why most fans are completely worn down and dispassionate after this sorry season, straight on the back of another sorry season.

Obviously fans have to get behind the players and inspire them to play, but it works both ways, the players have to give the fans something to shout and get excited about. I honestly can't remember the last time we played well for 60+ minutes of a match at Plainmoor.

Nope, faith gone. Already mentally preparing myself for the nauseating trips to Alfreton, Gateshead, Braintree and the like. We are in freefall, there is simply too much wrong and too much damage to fix, I defy anyone in attendance today to give me evidence on the contrary.

Everyone knows that i'm generally very positive about all things TUFC, I am relentlessly (hopelessly) optimistic, even after the Chesterfield match I was bleating like a nutjob for everyone to keep the faith, but today that veneer was worn down, all semblance of positivity seeping out of me like piss going down the drain.

Signs have been there all season, and I've largely chose to ignore them, instead choosing to believe that time will bring about a change in fortune. There is simply nothing anyone can offer me now to suggest we have anything near enough to survive, and it pains me like you wouldn't believe to write that. I maintained hope as long as weren't cut adrift, well 5 points is now the gap and that looks like a massive bridge to me right now.

Accrington, with the greatest respect (well done on the win, nice fans, best of luck for rest of season etc) were rubbish, and we made them look sufficient, if we maintained any hope of staying up, they were sort of team we had to be picking points up against. We never looked like scoring from open play.

I could write all night about how bad we were/are, about how wrong everything is, but I do not have the desire to write it, nor would you the desire to read it.

Plainmoor is a soulless, dispassionate, completely sterile place. No-one cares, we were all going through the motions watching another disaster unfold In front of us. Everyone has accepted our place, it will be a miserable place to visit from now until the end of the season, the malaise has well and truly manifested itself and now we have to stand by and take our medicine.

What time is you slot on 'Live at The Apollo', Dave?

Is that just tickets for Plainmoor? or would that include a third round league cup tie at the Emirates which would normally cost £400?

Too much of a gamble I would suggest. Conceivably we could get the same crap away draw (Crawley/Cheltenham/Swindon) in both the League cup and Paint pot trophy and then Barrow away in the FA cup and its £75 spent with not a lot to show for it. Away games can't be budgeted for way in advance (unless you're a loony like me or Paul B*stard) so even with a free ticket there is no guarantee you could afford travelling expenses etc at the time of the match.

I take your point that I'd be laughing if we got Arsenal in one of the cups, but given our recent form, I doubt you'd get many takers, and whilst the FA cup final tickets is a nice bargaining stick, I am guessing that it wouldn't be an all expenses paid job.

Perhaps you could include home cup games into the existing price of a normal season ticket. I'd be much more happy to make a one off payment and have it all done with by the end of May rather than make 2 separate purchases.

What's not to like about that, a bargain. Hope the pitch goes well, and if you're nervous then just picture them all in their underwear.

I would definitely enter, sounds like a great idea to me. Money isn't an issue if it is going directly to the club. I think that £10 is a good amount that everyone could/would/should contribute for a chance to win a season ticket and maybe a bit more, if I don't win I would be satisfied that my money has gone to the club.

I have to be honest, and probably sound wanky in the process, but I would probably still shell out on a Season Ticket and shirt etc even I was to win. I think that its our duty as fans to hand over a certain amount of cash to the club each season and I like to feel like I am doing my bit.

Probably insignificant but would it be a choice of season ticket? (Pop/Bristows/Family) bearing in mind that there is a price difference between seats and terrace?

1. At the Southend game, how aware were the players of what was happening in the Cheltenham/Huddersfield game, and what were the last few minutes like knowing that if we held onto the lead we would be up?

2. Do you still have the match-ball from your hat-trick at Darlington?

3. You were a really reliable penalty taker for a long time, and then you had a succession of misses, did you change your technique or were you just unfortunate? (I won't mention the pen you chipped down the middle into the keeper's arms! )

4. The Football under Leroy Rosenior was really special. Was it as enjoyable to play in as it was to watch? What was training like under Leroy?

If you're at Shaldon I would recommend the beach there. Just up from the pub 'The Ness' you will find some public toilets, and next to those is a long tunnel through the cliff onto a large sandy beach. Quite a nice way to spend an hour.

My apologies, I did not mean to mock or put your club down, or compare to Bideford in truth. Clumsily worded on my part- I just think Conference South is still too low for players of their calibre. Still, so it is, I hope they both do well for you and best of luck for the rest of the season.

Love and lose.

Burnt alive or buried alive?