Torquay United Fans Forum

Having just watched the highlights, I've got to say I was pleasantly surprised. After reading everything on here it sounded like an awful performance with no shape and no attacking guile. I'm wondering if the highlights were cherry picked to make us look better? The first 5 minutes, right up until their first goal we looked like the better team, with some good attacking play. The first two goals are awful by us, but I take comfort in that we weren't ripped open by better players, but switched off and let them take advantage. The third goal is also somewhat flukey by them, i'm not sure he's trying to score there, and the fourth is a terrible line where they've walked through.

It's easy to blame the defence for all the goals, but these are direct balls from the midfield, rather than aimless balls lumped forward that our midfield let get through. I know a defence's shape can take a little time to get right and I know it'll get better, with improved marking, a line depth they're happy with and a better link to midfield, so I don't see us letting these types of goal in all season. Attack wise I thought we created some good chances, and actually our attacks looked better constructed and were able to work through them better than they were us.

Anyway, it just reaffirms my thoughts that the KN out post is just stupid and far too early. Everyone writes at the start of the season they expect mid table or another relegation fight, but when we start bad you're all surprised (making me think everyone secretly expects us to take the league by storm). Results will improve, squad cohesion and time on the pitch will see to that and I believe KN that these boys will do well. Just a little patience.

I love how people react on this forum. It's either ends of the spectrum. Either a signing/result/board decision is going to be the catalyst for success or it's the largest and most dramatic nail in the coffin. Nothing summed this up more than the 'fat lady singing' comments after we lost 2-1 to Lincoln at the back ed of last season - like that was the remaining fixture we'd put all our hopes on. People needed to remember then that just because we were a few points behind by then, we had nicer fixtures coming. The point is that there's more to a moment that just one fact, i.e. we've lost a game, or we've signed a striker who doesn't score.

Can fans not appreciate that maybe Fallon will hold up the ball, cause confusion in the box for defenders, of even win a header (which he can do - to state otherwise is just wrong). The result being that perhaps someone else will score! Fallon hasn't forged out a career by scoring lots - like most target men throughout the divisions he's primary job is creating chances for others, be that by actual skill or purely through presence. The point is to think striker=goals is quite simplistic. Andy McFarlane springs to mind as a player who didn't score a lot but certainly created mayhem and pockets of space for Rodney Jack.

Also, is he likely to get fitter or fatter signing for a full-time team? Comments about his fitness seem simplistic. KN is creating a team with people with the right mentality and team ethic. If Fallon puts his nuts on the line so a ball bobbles to Young on the edge of the box then bless his little NZ face. Give the lad/OAP a chance.

Could you not work the season out by checking the fixtures for the same day as the two you've highlighted?

Only just seen the goals from Saturday. Williams really belts the second one! Makes me wonder why there haven't been more goals for him this season - he looks strong and aggressive and, including the last home game, he doesn't look averse to just belting a shot at goal.

Perhaps can progress on next season?

This reply sums it up at the moment. No one cares about the great win last night, or a massive month for our team on the pitch. People are just focusing on GI off the pitch. The point that you're worried about GI is because they might ruin our FOOTBALL club. Well YOUR football club needs your support right now. Saying 'what's the point in caring because GI might run us out next season' is just nuts. The team are showing real fight to stay up, and it's motivating to see. Not being part of that is not being a fan.

To protest the potential building of a Tesco superstore in my old town, the good people of Newport Pagnell held a mock funeral for the death of the high street (as Tesco would put most other shops out of business). It got a lot of media attention locally, with a coffin and mourners dressed in black in procession.

A sea of black silent supporters on a match day would certainly get some attention. You could even hold a minutes silence during the match in respect to the death of the club. Yellow and Blue reefs by the pitch...

As with every time we're in trouble, there are a cluster of Plymouth and Exeter fans who always support us - usually in coming to our games when we need the money.

They'd be the obvious fans to contact to raise the profile. They'd also be the easiest to get to attend a demonstration or protest, and, if nothing else, it actually speaks volumes about how the clubs actually feel about each other, i.e. they want each other to exist.

So i thought i'd try and steer the forum away from the state of paralysis it currently finds itself in, waiting for the takeover to be complete - we can't even properly speculate on future transfers as we have no idea on the wage budget.

I had the rare experience of listening to Danny Baker on the radio on Saturday - not something I would do as I find him annoying and i'd usually be playing footy. But to my joy on comes a Torquay fan, living in Aberdeen, and tells a lovely little story of how he took his daughter to an away Torquay game one Saturday, travelling something like 6/7 hours to get there for 3pm. As he arrives and get's out the car, he can hear a whistle blow and a mass exodus of the stadium ensues and the realisation hits him that it was a midday kickoff. Back in the car for another 6/7 trek home.

My favourite matchday experience was a mid week game at Barnet (1-1 i think), in the days of Rodney Jack. The small band of fans is singing his praises as usual and making jokes to the fat center backs of Barnet. One chap must have been new to 'banter' or had never had the courage to yell out at a match and thought this was his moment. With the away crowd in top spirits and in the middle of a interval between 'rodney jack jack jack' chants, he yells out 'Rodney, get your willy out, that'll scare them!'. The silence and awkward coughs that ensued for what felt like an eternity will never be forgotten by myself.

I just tried to complete the OS list, and I have to say it's quite hard to do so many! I've managed to choose my favorite for all positions except i'm struggling for top class centre midfielders. I have 4, but I really can't think of others that stand out over the past 23(ish) years of me watching.

I have

Alex Russell
Nicky Wroe
Eunan O’kane
Jason Fowler

But true quality midfielders, I can't think of a 5th. A little help?

When you consider the issue that people have highlighted: legends not getting high enough up the list because people didn't see them play. There is a real argument, that Kevin Hill should have won this, purely because he fits the criteria of being a legend and being a modern(ish) member of the squad.

As an exile gull I never get to see the Gulls play as much as I would like, but I never failed to be impressed with the workrate Hilly put in. He earned the respect he got from the fans, year after year. Never scared of jumping or challenging with a big lad - and would almost always win. There was no decline in his performances when buckle dropped him from the team, it just seemed that he wasn't his favourite player.

Scored that wonderful overhead goal and the already-mentioned ninja goal. Absolute legend in the Barnet game, covering every blade of grass.

I always admire how the older generation talk about past players and how good they were and servants to the club. I look forward to doing the same about the record appearance maker in years to come. Like the top scorer record, i don't think it'll ever be beaten.

Without doubt Sammy should be higher. You just have to look at the scoring charts and see what an impact he had on this club. There are some ridiculous scoring streaks he went on - scoring something like 17 goals in 9 games or something.

I wonder if anyone will ever beat his scoring record, with no one staying around long enough to even try. It really would have to be a one-club man that did it.

Sammy, you're a legend.

Greg Goodridge also scored directly from a corner for QPR in the premier league. I remember getting so excited that we had him and Chima at the club at the same time - both internationals in some form. He hogged the ball all the time, but he was pretty good at it. Couldn't shoot though.

Tom Kelly, my favourite Torquay player. Scored a penalty against Gillingham on the last day of the season at home. Looked so cool and calm, i loved him straight way.

Don't remember him getting done for pace against wingers at all, just a solid professional.

My dad was a big fan of Lawrence.

I'm impressed with how many older players are getting recognition on this list. My fear was that it would be only players from the last 10 years that get acknowledged - this being a web-based poll - but it's great that there's many more out there - some i know very little about.

I'm embarrassed to say I'm eagerly waiting to see where Tom Kelly comes in the list.

Darren Moore was one of mine. Never forget the header he scored in the first leg of the playoffs against Preston, and then the 'punch' in the second leg - which used to be online, but I can't find it now.

Absolute rock at the back and a player that I would still have in the team to this day. Perfect for our pitch as he wasn't the most mobile, but he could tackle anyone that came into his zone of terror.