FL2: Torquay Utd v Oxford Utd - 8th March 2013

So many times in the morning when you wake up things do not look as bad as they did the night before. For me that is not the case this morning and the pain of yesterdays defeat is still so very strong. I can’t remember a time when so many fans all started to walk out of Plainmoor when that third goal went in. I know some fans had already left the ground and even I had starting walking myself when the ball hit the back of the net. As it was I had only got level with the halfway line when the ref blew up, but it is something I have never done before.

I do wonder if our fans have had the passion sucked out of them this season, there was just an air of acceptance when the game ended, I found that a bit strange as I was expecting some fans at least to either boo, or shout out some sort of abuse. When things have been this bad in the past there was talk of protests, match boycotts etc, but not this time around as far as I’m aware. Maybe what the club has tried to do off the field this season is one of the reasons, fans have tried to understand and look at the bigger picture.

The gate was better than I expected it to be at yesterday’s game that tells me that most fans had not given up hope before the kick-off, but that may well have changed due to the result of the game and we are in danger of seeing our gates fall rapidly if we do not find a win soon.

The pain of defeat, that feeling of bitter disappointment is nothing new to any football fan, it’s just some of the emotions that go hand in hand with those feelings of joy and happiness when your team wins or achieves something. The problem right now is that Torquay United fans have been suffering for a good while now and there has been very little for them to cheer about, or at least lift their sprits a bit higher than they are.

A new manager coming in gave us some hope, but sadly results have not improved, we ended up pinning all our hopes on a new lone player yesterday and while he did well for us, he was never going to be the answer to all our problems himself.

Like you I do not have a crystal ball, I do not know if we will lose most of our remaining games, or win a good few of them, I can only guess what might happen if and when it looks certain we are going down. In my opinion the fans will just vote with their feet, there will no protests as such, but fans may well air their feelings toward the board of this club and will surely lay the blame firmly on their shoulders.

It all seems a very sad state of affairs to me, so much good work done to get us back into the football league, so many off field improvements made, but this season they have made at the cost of our first team and in my opinion that should never have been allowed to happen.

But it has and its now all about where we go from here, its all about what the board do to try and save us from relegation, the problem being is it might have been left too late, the warning signs were ignored and that for me is unforgivable knowing just what is at stake here.

I do not think the players we have here can give anymore, they have never lacked effort and that is to their credit, but they have shown as a team they are not quite good enough. It is possible we can find and bring in two or three players that can turn our results around, but we all know just how difficult that is for a club likes ours down here in the west country. No real problem if you are the manager of a club in the Midlands lets say, you may be only asking a player to travel 20 miles to come and play for you.

The thought of having only one Devon football league side is not one I want to have in my head right now, but it is a real possibility that might happen, Just what would that do for football in Devon? It would make this area an even more football outpost and that has to be a very bad thing in my book.

Thats my biggest gripes with him to be honest (along with the petulant yellow cards he collects). I gave up counting after six occasions against Wycombe (all within 5 or 6 yards of their penalty area) where he would have a defender behind him, the ball is passed to him but instead of taking a pace or two to the ball, he just stands there and the defender behind him plays the ball off his toes or another defenders get a foot to the ball, just before it gets to him. For {insert your choice of deity here} sake man, move towards the ball a pace or two and get possession of it. That would even give a bit of space to turn and run into the area or hit a shot.

Though he's not the only one in the team guilty of it, from the games i've seen this season, he seems to be the biggest offender.

And how could this have been remedied at that point?

And how would you consider strengthening these positions? And how would you gain a manager with a plan b?

It would be interesting to see how this could be done. (Remember, both outcomes have to achieved with no financial input.)

How did they screw up?

You rude man!

I was merely asking the question of you as you are asking questions yourself! You made a statement, but didn't add the reasoning you felt that way; surely in any debate one has the right to ask for this to be quantified?
I have not at any point suggested I don't like your comments. Quite unbelievable...

Wouldn't dream of making any personal attacks...

Now back to the discussion, What is it that you believe the board of directors have done to screw up? I, for one, am most interested to know.