Torquay United Fans Forum

Butler
Verma
Smith
Wright
Marsh

Marsh
Wright
Richards
Butler
Berry

But honestly could have picked any of them.

Football's a funny old game, eh? That was easily our best performance of the season and a thoroughly deserved win. That's why you stick by the club through thick and thin - for moments like today. It's only three points and we're still in deep trouble but for tonight at least I can enjoy watching Match of the Day with a beer.

The sponsors' MOTM was given to the whole team which is a bit cheesy but every single player played their part in that victory. I know it doesn't make up for the pitiful performances we've had to endure this season but they were bloody brilliant and gave absolutely everything.

The returns of Marsh, Richards and Berry obviously made a huge difference. I couldn't quite work out the formation, though. We played a flat back four and two up front but in midfield we didn't seem to have anyone playing in front of Berry. It was like we played Butler on the left with three central midfielders, who took it in turns to drift over to the right side. But whatever shape that midfield was it bloody worked.

We started well against the wind and were unfortunate to fall behind. Smith gave away a careless corner (he didn't do anything else wrong) with a mistimed header, and despite Richards clearing the first ball, it was picked up by an unmarked Marsh-Brown who walloped an unstoppable half-volley from the edge of the 'D' into the corner of the net. He was afforded too much space but sometimes you just have to take your hat off to the strike. We all feared the worst but incredibly hit back immediately. Berry played the ball down the line to Wright, who had his back to his marker, rolled him and fired a pin-point cross towards the back post where Marsh's first-time strike crept over the line despite the goalkeeper's best efforts. Game on.

There were a couple of half-chances for both sides with the unpredictable Wright causing havoc in the Rovers defence. He's a bit like Zebroski in that you're not quite sure what he's going to do next. We went in front after winning a corner, which was played short by Richards to Butler, leading to collective groans from the crowd. But after Butler returned the ball to Richards he whipped in a delightful cross to the far post which Marsh nodded in from a yard out. It was a superb delivery and it came from Richards' right boot - wait until Merse sees it

In the second half, you always felt that the team to score the next goal would win the match. Forest Green looked sharper and put us under pressure and even though we had the wind with us, we were struggling to keep hold of the ball and defended quite deep. The pivotal moment of the game came when Lavercombe made a fantastic starfish save to deny Guthrie from eight yards out. If that went in I think we would have lost. However, we hung in there, survived a barrage of crosses and corners and then hit them with a sucker punch to wrap up the points. I think it was Butler who played Briscoe through with a precise pass. He turned past the defender and tried to round the advanced goalkeeper who got his hand to it. The ball came back out to Briscoe, whose shot was blocked again by the keeper, but Berry appeared out of nowhere and slotted into a half-empty net from an angle. No idea what he was doing that far forward!

Herrera then subbed Nicholson - obviously so he could receive a standing ovation from all four stands - and his instructions from the touchline paid off instantly as we bagged a fourth. I looked up and saw Wright charging through on goal. I think it came from a misplaced pass. He held off the defender and finished with aplomb. Game over and the FGR fans cleared off. "Can we play you every week?" was the chant from the Yellow Army. The answer is yes - well next week at least!

On that showing, there is no way we are one of the worst four teams in the division. But was it just a freak performance that won't be repeated? It will be interesting to see if we can follow that up at Cheltenham. Marsh and Wright were excellent and because of their pace and trickery will cause any defence at this level problems. I would fancy Wright in a one-on-one with Downes. Heslop produced his best performance in a Torquay shirt and I thought Butler did really well in possession. Defence were solid and final word must go to our stand-in captain Richards, who led by example. Put his head in where it hurts - literally when he was booted in the face in the first half - didn't duck from challenges, outjumped taller opponents and even set up a goal with the best delivery of the game. At the final whistle, he dropped to his knees and prayed to the Gods. Well we need all the help we can get! If MacDonald goes next month then I would have no problem with Richards taking the armband on a permanent basis.

If we can keep our key players fit and make a couple of shrewd signings in January then maybe we can pull this off. Maybe. Ask me again at 5pm on Monday!

Jerry wrote:
Please let it be Briscoe!

I've heard Angus might be on his way to Blackpool. Just a rumour though.

If we go down then I can't see him staying. I doubt we could afford even half his wages in the Conference South and even if we could he'd be mad to want to play at that level. I know he will have missed a whole season with injury and might not return the same player, but an Exeter or Bristol Rovers - see Billy Bodin - would probably take a chance on him. He must be so frustrated watching from the sidelines. I don't think we'd be in the relegation zone if he was fit.

I agree Chunky. I don't know the mechanics involved and how realistic it would be to achieve but it's a good idea. I would suggest emailing the club directly if you haven't already. Steve Breed's door is always open.

Gullscorer wrote:If 1500 supporters each put £10 a month (or £2.50 a week) into the Players Fund (a few of us already do), the club would have £15k within a month, and about £180k within a year..

If 2000 supporters each put £10 a month (or £2.50 a week) into the Players Fund (a few of us already do), the club would have £20k within a month, and about a quarter of a million pounds within a year..

Alternatively (or in addition), join and donate via the TUST.. http://www.torquaysupporters.co.uk/

TUFC: Players Fund: http://www.torquayunited.com/news/artic ... 75268.aspx
Forum: Players Fund: http://forum.torquayfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8221
Forum: New Share Issue: http://www.torquayfans.com/forum/viewto ... f=3&t=8428
Forum: Ideas to help Torquay United: http://forum.torquayfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8310

You've highlighted the problem in your post - there are too many funds! You have the standard TUST and lottery, plus the Yellow Forever fund. Now you have a players' fund which means money is being split between these pots. If there was one big fund called 'Keep the club alive' or something along those lines where all money donated basically helps the club survive and compete then that may be more attractive for fans. Obviously that relies on the TUST and the club working together but that bond seems to be getting stronger.

I'm assuming one of the reasons we're so skint is because we're still paying or have paid off Hargreaves and Hodges. The board should never have put them on gardening leave if money was so tight. We couldn't have done any worse with Hargreaves at the helm and now have a manager who is less qualified and even more out of his depth. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but if there's no money in the pot then the first decision you make after taking over the club isn't to get rid of a manager and his assistant who both still have a year left on their contracts.

I'm not saying Hargreaves would have been my choice to lead the club this season, but if it meant we would be more financially stable and had more money to improve the playing squad then that's what should have happened.

arcadia wrote:It's no good blaming Nicholson you have got to go back to Cox, the system he employed and the players he brought in. Nicholson has improved the play and you can see we are weak in certain positions but if you've no money his hands are tied. The conditions today and the distance involved I thought it would be a tough game today.
Most supporters wanted Hargreaves out but no one knew the state the club was in and that includes the good lady who was supplying the money for the former directors to waste. If we want a club we've got to stick with it and hope Nicholson can get a few results to get us out of this mess. Conditions were against a young side today.

Cox may have **** us over but we were always competitive even if we did come up short. Losing 4-0 to Barrow and 3-0 at Basingstoke wouldn't have happened under Cox's watch because he is tactically a better manager than Nicholson and knows how to set up a side which is hard to beat. One win in nine is pathetic but not surprising because we appointed a complete rookie who isn't qualified. Now we're stuck with him and what makes it worse is that he has few contacts. We've signed two players on loan who couldn't get in a team which is somehow worse than us. How is that supposed to make us better?

Is that Smith banned for three games? At least we've got that lad from Bideford to come in...

We're an absolute shambles. One win in nine under Nicholson, players getting sent off, players on the piss and not a pot to piss in.

Of course the players look good in training - the strikers are up against crap defenders and the defenders are up against crap strikers.

Our only hope is Fairhurst hits the ground running and Young makes a miraculous recovery.

Don't know why anyone's surprised - we're without our two best attacking players who will probably be getting pissed again tonight down the harbour. Obviously this Wright has been crap in training if he can't get in the team ahead of Campion, Briscoe and Fisher. Bloody useless the lot of them.

taxilady wrote:Verma off, Fisher on

Is that tactical or an injury?

mushroom wrote:Stayed off here for a while but feel have something to contribute re KT
He wasted several weeks of our time when we tried to buy the Club and clearly had his own agenda
When this did not come to fruition just up sticks and went back to the States
I have more chance of managing Chelsea as he has of acquring NTFC
For those who like a bet Martin Ling will be the next Swindon Manager

Mushroom - you've had your critics on here but I'd like to thank you for the Ling tip-off. Had a tenner on him at 3/1 based on your comment - wish I'd have been braver now! Post as much as you like

How much did Kelvin Thomas fleece Thea for and how many sweaters does he own?