Torquay United Fans Forum

The first thing I'll say is Bradford were awful. However, having struggled against poor sides recently I was very pleased with the manner in which we dispatched them with a minimum of fuss. After a turgid sparring session, once we got the opener there was only one result. The more I think about it the more positives I take - we made a couple of other presentable chances (Robertson blasting over from 5 yards after Branston chested down a corner probably the best - should've left it to goal machine Guy), we played some nice keep ball at the end of the first half, and saw the game out easily in second gear with Zebs taking a well earned rest.

Very good signs for the rest of the season, let's hope we can replicate last year's sunshine form.

As well as them not having had a 0-0 in 30 games we haven't had one in 33, so a goalless draw is pretty much nailed on.

While we've only won away twice since Christmas, both were against teams beginning with B - omen or what! Also, in the whole season we've only lost two away games in which we've scored. We haven't lost in our last 6, 3 of those being away.

Bradford haven't kept a clean sheet at home in 5, but have scored in each of their last 6 (3 at home) since losing at home to Chesterfield.

I'm not sure what that's meant to tell you, cos it's given me both optimism and fear. Here's hoping for an improved performance and hopefully us edging the goals, 2-1 Gulls.

My initial reaction was that it could've been worse - we could've suffered the same fate as Hereford and lost 3 points. However, having heard the views of others and reflected on it this half way house of losing 1 point just doesn't make sense. The most sensible option to my mind would be to make the game null and void by taking the 3 points off the Bulls and adjusting both teams' goal difference accordingly, plus points deduction as penalty and warning to others - in this case 1 point seems fair as it was an honest mistake of timing and no advantage was sought or gained (though it wouldn't surprise me if the powers that be decided to be more heavy handed and dish out a 3 point penalty to make an example of rule breakers).

Surely this rule has been broken before - does anyone know what punishment was handed out, and in the more likely scenario wherer only one team in a match broke the rule, if the offending team won the corresponding match were their opponents given the points in return?

Really the punishment should be set in stone and then everyone would know where they stood, then even if we didn't agree with it at least the bods in charge could point to the rule book and we'd have no basis for complaint.

I'm just echoing what Gulls_aloud said really

Regarding Stanley, he'll be a big miss, been very impressed by him in the games I've seen, and echoing other posters he'd be my number one choice of loan players to sign up permanently.

For matches without him, it depends how offensive Bucks wants to go. I would replace him with Oastler and have him sit with Lathrope, with O'Kane coming in for Murray for a bit of creativity and forward drive. Jake and Zebs to attack from wide areas to feed off Tomlin.

This is partly based on being unsure of how Murray is being used and how well he's doing, but I think it gives our most dangerous attacking players the chance to do what they do best.

As for Ellis, the fact that he has come on as a sub regularly suggests to me that there's no underlying problem and he's just being kept out of the team by others playing well together. I've always been a fan of Robertson at right back, thus giving us a long thrower on either side of the pitch, plus an extra aerial presence at both ends of the pitch, so in theory wouldn't be opposed to Ellis coming in and Manse going into midfield. However, I think Robertson prefers central defence and would personally prefer we stick with a backline that's working well.

What formation did we play in this match? From the team I'd guess 4-4-2 but recent (away) matches I've been to Murray hasn't looked like he's been up played front, and Jake (and to a lesser extent Zebs) doesn't play like a traditional wide man.

I think this is a very important game if we're to push for playoffs/promotion. While I'm confident we can up our game and take points off the teams in the top half that we've still to play this season, it's the next couple of games against teams lower down the league (the likes of which we've struggled against recently) that are more concerning. A couple of disappointing results and there's a gap to the playoffs again, but 4+ points and we're right in the mix and can then start taking points off our promotion rivals.

I'm sure with the gap since the last match Bucks will have them prepared and really up for this one. I'll predict something similar to Cheltenham - domination with the traditional late scare, 2-1.

Seems an unusual time for a footballing contract to end. Hopefully him and the club are just waiting for the summer to avoid talks distracting the players. He seems happy here and to trying to build something long term, though it would be hard to blame him if we don't go up and a higher division team came in over the summer - a situation reminiscent of Colin Lee (though fingers crossed for a better outcome this time).

I was shocked to pay £19 at Crewe and Northampton (the latter having one of the poorer pies I've sampled as well). Makes £15 at Bury seem a bargain - cheapest transport costs and best game too! While I agree it would be nice to get more fans in cheering on the team I can't see it being financially feasible for the club, but it's reassuring to know there are clubs out there charging more to watch a load of cobblers.

Fletch wrote: How often have you seen someone go off for a shirt change (having had a nose bleed or similar) and come back on in a plain shirt with no name and a different number this season ? Ive seen it at least 3 times...

I can appreciate that on a matchday there would only be one shirt ready and prepared for the game so in these exceptional circumstances a replacement wouldn't be immediately available, but when you know there's another game in 3 days, if it's not humanly possible to have the same kit washed and ready for use again, raid the club shop. I expect players go through more than 1 shirt in a season anyway so a rotation policy could be in effect, and if we had 2 home games in a short space of time I expect we'd wear yellow on both occassions, either with quickly washed or brand new kit.

My point was simply that I find it hard to believe that the reason for wearing the black kit when there's no yellow clash is due to the yellow not being washed.

Due to its retro look it kind of looks like it should only be used as an anniversary marking kit. I'd be happier with a horizontal stripe personally.

My assumption on the use of the black kit was that it was simply to give it some use, as there are fairly few teams we can't wear yellow against. I believe Celtic do similar otherwise the fans who bought the away shirts would feel ripped off. I've also heard it suggested it's to avoid clashing with a luminous referee (though don't know why he can't wear black).

If the reason is washing the kit, it seems a long turnaround time, but even if that is the cause, surely times aren't so hard that we can't afford two shirts for each player?

It's never struck me that the black kit is hard to spot - I could understand that being the case for Man U's grey some years ago, but they were quick to point it out and I've never heard Bucks or the boys complain. I'll pay more attention at the next game I'm at (Bradford) and see if it causes any difficulties.

I don't understand the hate for the black shirt. I quite like the design, it's very different to anything we've had in living memory, and while our home form is better than away surely this is to be expected. Admittedly I don't know what kit we wore for what games so can't make a like for like comparison, though we did beat Bury in it for one thing.

One aspect of it I don't understand is why we wear it against teams whose shirt is more similar to that than the yellow, eg. Northampton. I think in these cases we should stick to the home shirts, as in a fast paced game a player may instinctively pass to the dark shirt in the corner of his eye - happens to me in 5-a-side all the time.

If the players or manager find a problem with playing in black then I fully support changing it, but I think it's just being used as a scapegoat for poor results.

Back onto topic, the new kit sounds interesting, a slight variation on the div 3 playoff year (Rodney Jack et al) which has been out of circulation for a while, and was the one my travelling partner and I agreed on on the way to Northampton. I haven't had a new home shirt in a while due to lack of difference to my current one (plain yellow) but this could interest me.

I can't fight the flow, from what I've seen in my short time here it's got to be Jeff. Honourable mention for Matt too.

Ah, you've reminded me of my other complaint with the ref. Free kick for their first goal came from a half cleared free kick that they got when their striker blatantly handballed it. Don't know how he came to that decision. And yes, it's also the ref's fault we didn't clear it properly and gave away another free kick

Can't argue with the retaking or amount of injury time though, and no idea about the free kick for the second goal, don't think anyone other than the lino knows what happened there, including the visiting Cobbler above. Could've been centre back strong arm tactics or forward falling over on his own, both of which happened a few times in the game.

Mansell
Lathrope
Bevan
Zebs
Struggling for a fifth... Kee

I'd say Jeff's report is pretty much spot on - neither team deserved to win this and in the first half I don't think the ref got a decision right in either direction. I barely celebrated our first goal cos it looked like Zebs had committed a foul and I was waiting for a whistle. The one good thing I can say for him is that he didn't give a penalty against us. They claimed at least 2, neither looked genuine but you never know, and then Robertson had a fistful of shirt at a free kick for no reason, fortunately not spotted.

Having seen our long ball game fail at Macclesfield I don't know why we persisted with it last night - Zebroski, Tomlin and Kee are not aerial giants, their big centre back played well but marshalled our attack fairly easily. Tomlin struggled to get into the game (with the exception of one quality cross) and while Robinson got in a couple of good positions it wasn't his best game. Stanley was also not great, often seeing the switch in play but doing so with looping balls that slowed our attack down. Our passing in general was pretty bad, even short passes were missing their man and going out of play.

Some positives now:
Bevan made a couple of good saves and looked confident in the air, made a good clearing punch from a corner too. A few kicks went wayward, but seemed to improve as the game went on. As above, his high looping kicks from hand aren't really suited to our forwards, but I'd suggest this is what he's instructed to do so not a criticism of him in any way.

Mansell got in good defensive positions and cut out a couple of potentially dangerous crosses. Lathrope did likewise for their midfield passing and is looking like a proper first teamer. Zebroski had the beating of both full backs, if anything we should've used that more. Great finishes for both goals.

Probably won't know if this is a good point won or two lost until the end of the season. Let's carry on our form against the top teams and make sure it doesn't matter!