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Post by bristolgull on Jan 4, 2014 17:09:55 GMT
Gutted. Needed that second goal. With the other results today, whoever comes in to the hot seat has one hell of a challenge...as if we didn't already know!!
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Post by twoleftfeet on Jan 4, 2014 17:58:23 GMT
Just got back from the match. First one I watched for a few weeks and we played okay. First half was good and we should have had at least a couple of goals. Pearce was good, O’Connor also at right back, the two guys up front worked their socks off. Morecombe came more into it second half but we still had the better chances.
I have to say though that Downs was poor and Mansell was even worse. His fault for their goal. He didn't win headers tackles and his passing was appalling. He made a half hearted attempt to make a tackle on the touchline which he lost, from the resulting play he had an opportunity to make a clearing header and only headed it back into the middle of the area, behind him, and from the that they managed to get their only shot on target throughout the whole game and scored from it.
I can't understand how he plays every game?
I would have put on fresh legs earlier and used my three subs. The pitch was heavy and there were some tired legs towards the end. Downes legs seemed tired from the start mind you as he misplaced pass after pass. The effort from the team was good though so whoever comes in may just need to tweak a few things and perhaps an extra player or two and we are not that far off. And if you replace Mansell that means we will have 11 players instead of 10 and a headless chicken.
Saw Mark Ellis and Danny Stevens at the game. Would love to have the pair of them in the squad at the moment.
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petef
Match Room Manager 
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Post by petef on Jan 4, 2014 18:06:13 GMT
When your lucks out your lucks out as the say.
Deserved the win today, could and should have been out of sight long before they score a wonder goal a few minute from time. Billy was the main culprit for not putting his chances away.
Today though was a day of transition when everyone from the supporters management to players and tea ladies started to play their parts to support and start pulling in the same direction. For far to long many of us and I would bet many of the players could see that Alan Knills ideas on how to set up the side or pull people together for the cause was failing and spiraling towards disaster.
We now have a totally committed set of players who look as comfortable playing a system as I have seen all year so that bodes well.
As suggested we played Pearce and Downes in the middle with O'Connor(MOM and a revelation going forward) at right back and the tidy Lathrope in front which gave us so much more balance and solidity. Damon linked the play very well and always looked for a pass we looked strong in the midfield with Labadie back and HawlEy and Benyon ran their socks off and both played very well indeed. Billy struggled again to find his best on an awful pitch which didn't help . He had a point blank header saved low and in the second half blasted over when put through virtually one on one after the defender had slipped trying to cover. I knew then that we wouldn't win the game, one goal leads are never enough especially when we had put so much effort in over the first three quarters of the game, we were beginning to tire as Morcombe got stronger and pressed for the equaliser. Up until that point we looked a good side and defended everything pretty well and in all honesty didnt look like conceding but then one chink of space on the edge of the area and a snapshot from nothing flies into Pokes top corner. Threllfall couldn't have hit it any better, another day and it would have flown out of the ground such is our luck and the luck you always seem to get when you are at the foot of the table.
Nothing to be ashamed of about todays performance and plenty to encourage all of us but every other result today conspired against us and that hurts. If we do go out of the league but go out fighting and showing the commitment we showed today then I will have no complaints whatsoever and I know for certain there will be plenty of twists and turns before that day of decision finally comes.
All is not lost, far from it and I was hugely encouraged today by Geoff Harrops bravery in tactics, selection and enthusiasm on the touchline rather than watching the down beat Knill week after week ,whoever comes in will have a good man there in Geoff Harrop and whoever it is I hope they do the job with a smile on their face whatever happens and whatever the outcome. The next apointment must be the right fit for all concerned.
Finally a big well done also to Nico and Pearce who both came in from the cold and showed they both have plenty to offer.
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Post by Swanny on Jan 4, 2014 18:19:18 GMT
So close and yet so far! That was a real sickener today as I thought in very heavy conditions there were plenty of positives. Morecambe had hardly threatened all game and Torquay it seemed had done enough to see out the game 1-0. But on 84 minutes following a corner, Torquay could not quite clear their lines but there still seemed little danger. However Morecambe had other ideas and unleashed an unstoppable volley from outside the area that went into the top corner off the crossbar. It was harsh on the Gulls who were the better team for the majority of the match. Crowd 2,004, 26 brave souls from Morcambe, sponsors MOTM O'Connor, twitter MOTM Benyon.
My first priority was to see if there were any special guests in the directors box, but no there were no clues there. I hear radio Devon have just announced that Chris Hargreaves will be likely to be announced as our new manager early next week! It would have been a lovely story if Geoff Harrop's only game in charge was a winning one. I thought it was a great team selection and I was told today that it was Harrop on the phone in the last 48 hours to get Ladbadie back on loan. I thought the players that returned today did a great job and suddenly we looked a lot more secure at the back. We have a lot of height again with Pearce and Ladbadie and they both put in commanding performances. Lathrope returned to do a great job in protecting the back four and O'Connor was a revelation at right back. Well done to Harrop for doing what many supporters have been crying out for weeks to do. We all know how well O'Connor can defend but today at right back he made some great runs and crosses down the right flank.
Torquay's goal came from a Lathrope corner that was headed in powerfully by Downes. Torquay pressed well for the second goal and their clearest chances both fell to Bodin in the second half. Sadly Bodin for all his excellent approach play, his final ball often went astray. In the space of 2 minutes in the second half he had 2 golden chances but hit the ball over the bar with both. The first he hit powerfully that just went over, the second easier one he should have scored but blazed over. Mozika came on for Bodin with 10 minutes to go. Mozika hardly got a touch and sadly 4 minutes later Morecambe equalized. It was a cruel blow on the Gulls and quite undeserved. But sadly Torquay did not get that vital second goal and paid a heavy cost for that. There was a renewed heart and spirit on show today but sadly not the vital 3 points we so desperatley needed. Still, we are now moving in the right direction and well done to the club this week for that.
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Jan 4, 2014 18:47:46 GMT
The first thing to say is the pitch must have been pretty borderline and certainly not helped by a squall of rain/hail at about 2:15 whilst wandering up to the ground. It cut up heavily and spoilt what could have been a good performance, particularly in front of the bench. A few changes in personnel seemed to work well with us being the better team for most of the match (pretty much the same as against Exeter really) but still we were punished for not making the most of our chances. This time though we at least got a point and were unlucky not to have all three. That really did seem like Morecambes only real chance in the game!!! The number of time one of our players was running with the ball only to have it stop on a divot or divert slightly was unfortunate.
I have to take exception to the unwarranted slagging off of Manse today. He was winning more possession than the other midfielders and most of his passing was spot on today including some excellent long balls out to the wings. Yes he lost control of the ball when running several times but certainly no more than anyone else in the team and it certainly wasnt an easy surface to play on.
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Post by twoleftfeet on Jan 4, 2014 19:07:31 GMT
I have to take exception to the unwarranted slagging off of Manse today. He was winning more possession than the other midfielders and most of his passing was spot on today including some excellent long balls out to the wings. Yes he lost control of the ball when running several times but certainly no more than anyone else in the team and it certainly wasnt an easy surface to play on. You must have been watching a different game to everybody else. Plus their goal was indirectly down to him. One or two long balls doesn't mean he had a good game and he certainly didn't win more ball than Damon. |
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Jan 4, 2014 19:22:06 GMT
You must have been watching a different game to everybody else. The only other posters on here at the game dont appear to have singled him out for a slagging? Perhaps its just you? |
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petef
Match Room Manager
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Post by petef on Jan 4, 2014 19:32:37 GMT
Manse has been playing pretty well for the last couple of weeks and is 100% committed as always. Yes he had a dodgy spell when Knill had no idea what to do or who to play along side him or how to turn things around and Mans was probably asking himself a few questions at the time.
For me he had a pretty reasonable game today in very difficult conditions and contributed to a very good team performance something, I haven't been able to say many times this past year. I also thought he was excellent against Exeter last Sunday.
Mansell is far from finished and its time we all stop and think, stop slagging off players remember where we are as a club and the level of performances to expect.
Now is the time to get behind everyone at the club including the ones who maybe not to your liking.There's to much at stake to get on players backs and drain their confidence even more.
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Post by twoleftfeet on Jan 4, 2014 19:58:25 GMT
You must have been watching a different game to everybody else. The only other posters on here at the game dont appear to have singled him out for a slagging? Perhaps its just you? Perhaps it is but then I have played the game. Have you? By the way Ditmar I can't help thinking either you are an insider or you have an insider. Could be wrong though! I appreciate what you are saying Pete and I am behind the club. However, nobody has a devine right to play. There is no sentiment in football and I thought Manse was poor today. When he is gone I will still be here supporting the club so for me the team needs to be picked on merit not for any other reason. |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Jan 4, 2014 20:26:58 GMT
Unfortunately was unable to get to the game today and although picked up the end of the commentary, who were waxing lyrical about the performance, once again, poor finishing has cost us. The missing link is a striker in the mode of Marquis. Need to dig deep now.
Thanks to all who have commented on the match.
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Post by valgull on Jan 4, 2014 20:39:52 GMT
It has previously been noted here twoleftfeet that Manse will run for 90 minutes, and is not afraid to look for the ball and attempt to play it.
ALL players make mistakes - just watch Match of the Day- and Lee Mansell is no exception. But who has been trying to get the team going after every goal conceded in the last few weeks? He has been unlucky with some excellent volleys being blocked or deflected, and missing quality midfielders - like Eunan - alongside him. All the team and management need our support now as always.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Jan 4, 2014 20:48:51 GMT
Almost criminal that both Mozika and McCourt were on the bench whilst Mansell still in the team, but he was never going to get dropped. Sounded like a good performance, so please keep the match reports coming in, ladies and gents. Am looking forward to Wimbledon next Saturday, although they'll target our left side as most sides did pre-November. Looking forward to seeing O'Connor punish them down the other side and very pleased to see the excellent Krystian Pearce back in the starting eleven.
I see Marquis got a quarter of an hour off the bench for Millwall today. And where was Stockley today. Had his loan already run out?
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Post by twoleftfeet on Jan 4, 2014 20:54:11 GMT
It has previously been noted here twoleftfeet that Manse will run for 90 minutes, and is not afraid to look for the ball and attempt to play it. ALL players make mistakes - just watch Match of the Day- and Lee Mansell is no exception. But who has been trying to get the team going after every goal conceded in the last few weeks? He has been unlucky with some excellent volleys being blocked or deflected, and missing quality midfielders - like Eunan - alongside him. All the team and management need our support now as always. I can run for 90 minutes but it doesn't mean I should be in the team. And you could have messi next to him it wouldn't make any difference. Why do you think that Damon was back in the team today? Because Manse is a headless chicken who runs without any thought and Damon will sit and cover for him. Methinks you have a soft spot for him. |
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Jan 4, 2014 21:02:48 GMT
The only other posters on here at the game dont appear to have singled him out for a slagging? Perhaps its just you? Perhaps it is but then I have played the game. Have you? By the way Ditmar I can't help thinking either you are an insider or you have an insider. Could be wrong though! Yes, I have thanks though my full time career took priority. Whether I know players and directors socially is certainly none of your business and I certainly wouldnt post anything told in confidence either. Strange how you appeared just as someone else vanishes and similarly appear to do nothing but slag off the management, various players & the club. |
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Jan 4, 2014 21:06:09 GMT
although they'll target our left side as most sides did pre-November They may not Rob, depends on how TC's knee is looking. Never been a fan of painkilling injections myself as too much potential for further damage. |
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