rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 7, 2013 15:31:26 GMT
With our last Saturday home game going back all the way to the Northampton match on December 15th, I was quite relieved to see that the forecast for Saturday is good with not too much rain due in the meantime! We played Fleetwood on the opening day of the season and brought back a hard fought point from a scoreless game but the club has undergone many changes since. Despite making a robust start to their league campaign, hovering around the play offs, this was deemed not good enough and Micky Mellon was sacked in early December after losing to Aldershot in the FA Cup and while still seventh in the league!  New manager Graham Alexander has been given the resources to improve things as they seek back to back promotions with stand out signing being Jamille Matt, purchased from Kidderminster for a sum thought to be in the region of £300,000. They have also signed Paul McKenna, veteran midfielder from Hull City, on loan until the end of the season and snapped up released Rotherham winger, Gareth Evans. Back up was also sought with David Lucas as a reserve keeper and coach and midfielder Mozesh Gyoria although these two did not start in their previous drawn game against Bradford. Form-wise, Fleetwood have been inconsistent, beating Port Vale 0-2 away and Oxford 3-0 at home whilst losing 0-3 at home to Bristol Rovers and 3-1 away to Northampton. The net result of this is that they are currently in ninth place, just 7 points ahead of us having played an extra game meaning a win for us would really see us close in. However, once their new signings bed in, I expect Fleetwood to mount a late challenge for promotion particularly when you bear in mind that they have guys on seven and eight goals just sitting on the bench! It was quite interesting to compare the teams that played on the opening day of the season. Fleetwood only started Davies (in goal), Beeley and McGuire in both matches with only Brown and Goodall from the remainder of that first day XI even making the bench last time out. The only changes we made from that match at the Cheltenham game was Craig for Cruise on the wing (neither are wingers!) and Jarvis for the injured Morris in an advanced midfield position..... The main question for this game is whether we can get a replacement for Rene. Possibly doesn't help that Ling is still ill and won't be able to attend the next two home games. If someone doesn't come in, I would like to see Craig in the middle with Manse and Jarvis up front with Danny and Bodin on the wings. With this being the first Saturday home game of the year and a decent day forecast, I hope we get a reasonable attendance as there have been some cracking matches at Plainmoor this season and four good results at home this month could put us back on track to where we all want to be. |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 8, 2013 10:51:15 GMT
Actually, any thoughts on who would take our penalties?
Jarvo? Nico? Bodin? Danniesta? Craig? Manse?
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 8, 2013 11:30:44 GMT
I now see that Joe Oastler is struggling with a knock! linkJoe |
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Feb 8, 2013 19:29:44 GMT
Might be a blessing in disguise. Only way we're actually the manager's actually going to make the changes necessary. Having said that, judging by recent decisions, as it's only a knock he'll probably be sent in at 75% anyway
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 9, 2013 14:15:35 GMT
OK, teams are now in. Jarvis up front with Yeoman coming in his former position meaning no striker to bring on. Oastler hasn't recovered in time so Leadbitter has got a start.
Bit of a murky day but looking forward to this one. I'm out tonight so will be posting a delayed match report but hopefully others will get there first!
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petef
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Post by petef on Feb 9, 2013 17:51:22 GMT
Fancy an utterly miserable couple of hours at a cost to your pocket in excess of £20? And you can do it week after week if you feel the need.
Just pop down to Plainmoor for the next match where a warm and friendly welcome awaits.
Stand or sit to watch ninety or so minutes of ineffective, boring, tedious unimaginative football from a set of players that would struggle to shine in a local park game. Effort of course cannot be faulted with most running around aimlessly and booting the ball in the air to the invisible giant front man at every opportunity. Then sit back and watch as the opposition float a ball in to the box and score with a soft header that takes a couple of minutes to hit the home net. You can also look around at the empty spaces on the terraces where once stood cheering, excited and positive supporters or watch and listen as 122 fans from the other end of the country out sing and out support all those around you who in any case look totally bored and bewildered by the whole situation. Probably all asking themselves the same question, why was I born a masochist?
A cynical view of the days events perhaps but as I left 5 or so minutes before the final whistle those were indeed the thoughts that engulfed me. Sure it wasn't all bad but we so lack quality in the important department up front it was unbearable to watch at times. Many will suggest we deserved a at least a draw, in some respects I would agree but so much is wrong within the squad I honestly think we got what we deserved. Most annoying there was no indication that Taylor wanted to take a chance and shuffle the tactical side when we were obviously going nowhere pumping long balls to the hopeless and inefective Jarvis. He could have grabbed the bull by the horns and put MacDonald on and pushed Downes up top against average size defenders and may have just up set things a little.
The only plus points for me were again Downes looked far an above the level of those around him and Leadbitter did at least try and pose a threat down the right hand side. Yeoman worked hard but doesn't have the experience or technical ability to hurt defenders. Billy had a few bright moments in the first half but had little effective support and faded again.
We are a team and possibly a club in demise that's my honest assessment and conclusion and Im not just saying that out of any frustration, the die has been cast we have no money, a week and poor squad and now the support will begin ebb away personally I have made a concious decision to stay away, for the time being at least until I see any prospects of investment in the squad and an improvement in entertainment.
I genuinely hope we can stop the rot soon as it looks like the creeping parasite of relegation and struggle is setting in and taking root.
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Post by Swanny on Feb 9, 2013 18:17:47 GMT
A inevitable scoreline that most of us would have predicted before the match. As expected without Rene Howe we could not hit the back of the net, we struggle to do that even with him in the team. But Rene is the only player we have we can rely on to finish. Today in the first half we did have a number of decent attempts on target. But Fleetwood's keeper was equal to all of them and you wonder how much conviction there was in the shots. Crowd 2,207 with about 100 from Fleetwood in the Bristow Bench - I actually thought the crowd looked worse than that. At this rate we may be struggling to hit 2,000 as this season is really testing the resolve of our fans. There is little to cheer about and the signs look ominous. We don't look capable of scoring more than one goal in a match even with Rene in the team. Sponsors MOTM deservedly yet again going to Downes. Indeed it was Downes himself who went closest heading against the bar in added time today. That says it all to me - our centre half is our best bet of scoring.
Our first half performance was quite impressive except for the scoreline ofcourse. Within 5 minutes following a Nicholson freekick the ball fell to Jarvis in the clear. It's the sort of chance a striker should bury. Jarvis hit the target but the keeper parried his shot. That was the main feature of the first half. We worked some good chances with some decent approach play. Bodin in particular was in excellent form weaving past defenders and bringing some saves from the keeper. There were about half a dozen similiar chances but finishing we simply could not do whether it was Jarvis, Bodin, Craig or anyone else. Nicholson had a shot cleared off the line. On 26 minutes at the other end a cross came over and a looping header just crept inside the post. Poke you felt probably thought the ball was going wide and in the end was too late to get to the ball. Was it a goalkeeping error? - well normally I would expect Poke to save them. Poke did redeem himself for the rest of the match by making some smart saves including a great diving parry at full stretch in the second half. So 1-0 half-time but there was some promise in the performance especially from Bodin.
The second half Torquay did huff and puff but did not seriously threaten enough. Fleetwood had a goal disallowed and at times threatened to get a second. The crowd started to urge stand-in manager Taylor to make changes and he eventually did. Stevens came on for Yeoman who did pretty well at times and a little later Macklin for Craig with only 10 minutes to go. Macklin did some good runs late on but not so Stevens who did not add anything. But the writing was already on the wall and myself and friends around did not really believe we would score. Torquay did try and pressurize but typically the final ball or cross was lacking when we did have a chance. Poor old Jarvis could not win headers when the ball was pumped up to him and never is or will be a target man. And any scraps in the box Jarvis was typically second to them. As I said, it was all so predictable and inevitable and a friend said to me we really lost the game yesterday by not signing a striker. Downes late header against the bar was our best attempt of the second half and our last chance of the match. Fleetwood defended well, their keeper got booked for persistant timewasting and you felt they were relatively comfortable.
As for any positives? We created several chances in the first half, Bodin was excellent in the first half but faded in the second, Leadbitter did well and was very exciting as a right-back when going forward. Downes was again brilliant and we were solid in defence. Macklin showed in the last 10 minutes he should be playing more with his skill and pace. But none of these positives should disguise the fact we are slipping down the table and can't score, well maybe 1 if we have a good day! We are in serious trouble of getting caught in another relegation scrap. I won't be there on Tuesday due to work and quite frankly I don't see much hope either. We have been too reliant on Rene Howe all season to get our goals and without him today we had no plan B. Jarvis quite simply is no Rene Howe and we got our just desserts.
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Feb 9, 2013 18:46:45 GMT
I guess i'm in the minority then  My first foray to the "Theatre of Screams" since Northampton nearly 2 months ago (and only 2 games missed). I actually thought we were the better side over the 90 minutes. I thought we created more chances, tested their keeper more and played the better football. No it wasnt perfect (particularly with the result) but aside from a misjudgement by Poke who seemed to think the header was going wide only to realise too late it wasnt, a neutral would probably have said were were the team in the playoffs and Fleetwood were in the bottom half. Things I noted were, distinct lack of pace in the starting 11 apart from Leadbitter. Sorry management but Craig is no use on the wing. He has no pace to get past opponents and does not have the "O'Kane" slippery twist and mazy run to get past them either. Macklin looked to be more threat in 10 minutes than Craig did for the other 80. Bodin, still an enigma. Several good runs and then tries showboats which get read by the defence. Stepovers and dummies with the defender behind him saying thank you very much and collecting the ball. This isnt the youth team, its League 2 where you need to earn the right to play. Im not going to be too critical of Yeoman or Jarvis because they had little service to work with. Lumping it up is not effective as they dont have the height and they need the ball getting to them in dangerous positions. Mansell and Lathrope looked comfortable as did the back 4. Poke also looked comfortable apart from the goal. Will I be back there on Tuesday? Probably depends how cold or wet it is to be honest. Anyone else think the handball early on was a cast iron penalty? |
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petef
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Post by petef on Feb 9, 2013 20:14:34 GMT
We really are in trouble I have just read this quote from our deluded assistant Taylor on the BBC sport website...
Torquay United assistant manager Shaun Taylor told BBC Radio Devon:
"I don't think we've had a better first half home or away all season, or even maybe last season.
Who are you trying to kid Shaun?
Gawd help us.
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Feb 9, 2013 20:16:20 GMT
Sounds like it was much the same as Cheltenham without the calamitous defending. At least we aren't playing too badly - I just hope we don't lose the confidence that was evidently gained from beating Exeter by losing despite playing well a few times
I wouldn't worry about the Rotherham game - go into that not expecting to get anything. What is key is the Rochdale game next Saturday, and then Aldershot the following Tuesday. If after that we haven't won any of them we're in trouble. But I doubt that'll be the case
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Post by valgull on Feb 9, 2013 20:46:20 GMT
I guess i'm in the minority then My first foray to the "Theatre of Screams" since Northampton nearly 2 months ago (and only 2 games missed). I actually thought we were the better side over the 90 minutes. I thought we created more chances, tested their keeper more and played the better football. No it wasnt perfect (particularly with the result) but aside from a misjudgement by Poke who seemed to think the header was going wide only to realise too late it wasnt, a neutral would probably have said were were the team in the playoffs and Fleetwood were in the bottom half. Things I noted were, distinct lack of pace in the starting 11 apart from Leadbitter. Sorry management but Craig is no use on the wing. He has no pace to get past opponents and does not have the "O'Kane" slippery twist and mazy run to get past them either. Macklin looked to be more threat in 10 minutes than Craig did for the other 80. Bodin, still an enigma. Several good runs and then tries showboats which get read by the defence. Stepovers and dummies with the defender behind him saying thank you very much and collecting the ball. This isnt the youth team, its League 2 where you need to earn the right to play. Im not going to be too critical of Yeoman or Jarvis because they had little service to work with. Lumping it up is not effective as they dont have the height and they need the ball getting to them in dangerous positions. Mansell and Lathrope looked comfortable as did the back 4. Poke also looked comfortable apart from the goal. Will I be back there on Tuesday? Probably depends how cold or wet it is to be honest. Anyone else think the handball early on was a cast iron penalty? |
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Post by valgull on Feb 9, 2013 20:52:43 GMT
Cast iron penalty? Yes.much more obvious and deliberate than the one England "conceded"mid-week.
Also think the goal we conceded was partly due to the referee refusing to allow Aaron Downes back onto the pitch (after injury) until the ball was near our penalty area. He was our most reliable defender and deserved to be Man of the Match. But yes, Michael Poke seemed slow to react.
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Post by loyalgull on Feb 9, 2013 21:37:59 GMT
downes and mansell were visibly hurting today on leaving the pitch after our defeat,maybe pokey as well,the rest didnt look as if they could give a flying fig,something wrong within the squad,other than the football is dire and of park quality
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 9, 2013 23:28:54 GMT
Some good points made on this match thread and have little to add. Wasn't too impressed by Fleetwood and on that showing will struggle to go up.....
We had opportunities to win today and apart from the goal Poke had precious little to do in the first half and only a couple of saves in the second. I agree with Valgull that because the referee delayed Downes coming back on, as the ball was towards that side of the pitch, he wasn't in a position to challenge and the header was horribly looped to just inside the post, would have been a great save to get there - unfortunately, I was directly in line and could see it was going in from contact. Swangull's match report was spot on as usual.
Their keeper played well but annoyed the crowd no end with his time wasting. I was impressed by Leadbitter today and with Macklin's cameo, we looked threatening on that right wing. Bodin did well in the first half . Still think Craig should be in centre with Manse as the Yeoman / Jarvis combo doesn't have enough bite at this level. I suspect we would have won today with Rene playing but hey ho.....
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Post by bristolgull on Feb 9, 2013 23:53:48 GMT
downes and mansell were visibly hurting today on leaving the pitch after our defeat,maybe pokey as well,the rest didnt look as if they could give a flying fig,something wrong within the squad,other than the football is dire and of park quality I hope for all our sakes that the whole squad was hurting after another defeat. I wasn't there today but sounds a slight improvement on what I did see last week at Cheltenham. Why they persist with Craig on the wing is beyond me, he may not be eunan but he can pick a pass and is wasted out wide, put him in the middle and give Macklin more game time on Tuesday to see if he can make a difference with his pace... |
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New manager Graham Alexander has been given the resources to improve things as they seek back to back promotions with stand out signing being Jamille Matt, purchased from Kidderminster for a sum thought to be in the region of £300,000. They have also signed Paul McKenna, veteran midfielder from Hull City, on loan until the end of the season and snapped up released Rotherham winger, Gareth Evans. Back up was also sought with David Lucas as a reserve keeper and coach and midfielder Mozesh Gyoria although these two did not start in their previous drawn game against Bradford.
