rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 28, 2018 9:26:37 GMT
After scoring seven goals in the first two games of the festive period we now come up against the side that is led by former Torquay player Chris Todd who with limited resources has a side that is a bit Owers in its outlook in that they do not score many but neither concede. Andre Wright leads the line for them and unsurprisingly has been unable to buck this trend.
A win in this game would equal our record of eight successive league victory set in 1998 but this is very much secondary to keeping the pressure at the top of the table on Woking. I think having a young full-time side helps in this intense period of games where our manager is looking to play free flowing football and what is there not to like at Plainmoor on match days.
It is likely that we will field an unchanged side partly because we do have a lack of options and the sooner the likes of Edwards is fit again even as only an substitute to change things the better. The crowd on Boxing Day was a surprise and hopefully we can maintain 3000 plus with those occasionals becoming a bit more regular.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2018 11:28:37 GMT
Yes, I reckon a different mindset is required for this one, both on and off the pitch. Whereas Truro City, from the first whistle, indicated their desire to play a full part in an open attacking game, taking the initiative whenever they could and getting 'defenders' like Niall Thompson well forward to bolster attacking moves, the likelihood is that Todd's team will place overwhelming emphasis on getting behind the ball, wasting time, disrupting the game, stopping us from scoring. How pleasing it would be to get an early goal, forcing them to bin their plans early on, and seeing if they had any clue as how best to attack us at Fortress Plainmoor. It will be interesting to see Andre Wright again, if he's selected. The West Brom Andre Wright had definite potential, although not necessarily an armoury of attributes that suggested a beckoning successful career at Football League level. But what a shock it was to witness the Owers signed Andre Wright, a couple of years from when we'd last seen him. The inclination to reserve judgement until he got match fit, dissolved into concerns as to whether he'd ever get match fit, as little or no physical improvement could be noted as time went on. Has Toddy at last been able to get Wright back to something like his old speed ? I'm not counting on it, despite the fact you'd expect the lad to want to perform well on his return to a club that was prepared to move him on again after a few months earlier this season. And I shall also be entering Plainmoor with a different mindset to Boxing Day. Tooled up and prepared to fight for my seat if necessary.My Boxing Day approach of good will to all men (except TUST Militants and Torbay Councillors, naturally ) will have fully subsided. The little metal flask which when held by the neck works as a makeshift cosh, is already in my overcoat pocket in readiness for New Years Day. It will be a pity to see the Bristow's Bench steps awash with blood, but in the absence of an acceptable amendment to the current contradictory club policy, attitudes will have hardened and fans will implement their own ' ticketing policy' by the means they consider necessary. While 'Mr X' (two rows behind me) has already been in touch to say his 9 year old granddaughter has created and printed off half a dozen 'RESERVED' stickers enabling him and his mates to sit together on 1st Jan, hopefully the pink lettering and 'My Little Pony' motif won't lead to their authenticity being questioned. But while we speculate whether there'll be more action in the stands than on the pitch, come 1st Jan, as the Public Address blares out the Beastie Boys 'You've got to fight for your right (to a New Years Day Party)', let's take one game at a time, and remember that the 3 points on offer for a win against Gloucester are just as valuable. We've seen Manchester City slip up in recent games, and if we're not in the right frame of mind to tackle Gloucester, or we let our minds wander ahead to the New Years Day dust up, then Saturday could see valuable points dropped. No complacency, no slacking, no over confidence, and then no reason why Saturday won't see us record another win.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 28, 2018 22:41:41 GMT
link - tufc tv with Johnson on the Gloucester match tomorrow and thoughts on the Truro game and crowd as well as adding to the squad which he admits is now one or two short!
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Dec 29, 2018 11:48:41 GMT
A team that can't stop winning up against a team that can't win....
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petef
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Post by petef on Dec 29, 2018 12:50:53 GMT
GJ is well aware that there is inevitably going to be a setback at some point and as we all know its not always the opposition you would expect that cause you an upset. Today is one of those games where you would think a comfortable another win was a formality so its good to see him emphasising the fact in interview. Confidence must be sky high but as we demonstrated on Boxing day even so called lesser teams can get behind us cause problems and score good goals. I hope we start better today but I have noticed that we tend to take maybe fifteen or twenty minutes to get into our stride so not to concerned in that respect as once we have the momentum its carried right through to the final whistle and it often looks like we have another gear if needed. Any sort of win will do with no bookings, sending offs or injuries - Plainmoor will be rocking again.
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 29, 2018 14:40:03 GMT
Massive queues and problems with scanning tickets - stewards directing people with prepaid tickets to the side gate
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Post by stig123 on Dec 29, 2018 16:56:10 GMT
2-1. Sounds like a nervous last few minutes. Woking winning again. Need to keep winning.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2018 18:06:13 GMT
Phew!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2018 18:08:32 GMT
Massive queues and problems with scanning tickets - stewards directing people with prepaid tickets to the side gate If there's money to be made, TUFC will always find a way to f**k it up!
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 29, 2018 18:26:11 GMT
Well done to Gloucester who made a good fist of things and so nearly grabbed an equaliser at the death but make no mistake they were only in the game due to a succession of missed chances which almost came back to haunt us. Attendance of 3071 not as big as the Boxing Day match but still easily our second biggest gate of the season and not bad coming only three days after that match.
We certainly started the stronger team with a lot of good possession and it wasn’t too long before this pressure told with Reid getting clear on the right and his bouncing cross on the edge of the six yard box was headed in by their defender who was caught in two minds with the impressive Janneh waiting to his left. The athleticism of Janneh is something to behold and time and again was getting to balls that he had no right to that were played behind the Gloucester defence. With the work rate of Reidy, it gave their defence plenty to think about and no platform from which to build moves forward.
The second goal was relatively soft with the ball bouncing around in the six yard box and Niate was on hand to side foot the ball into the net from close range. Having Sendles-White in midfield as opposed to Lemonheigh-Evans certainly reduced our creativity by a notch. Kalala sent a left footed shot just wide of the right hand post after cutting inside but otherwise not masses of clear cut chances in the first half.
Ironically, despite not scoring we probably had more chances in the second half with some very good moves that were either shot just wide (Kalala), well blocked (Andrews) headed straight to their keeper (Hall), headed just wide at the far post (Davis), header well saved (Janneh), shot well saved (Reid) and subsequently turned into an empty net but ruled off side (Koszela) - real shame as would have been his first senior goal.
However, Gloucester did have a real go in the last quarter after hardly troubling MacDonald for the first 3/4 of the match where he only had one moment of danger with a slightly dodgy clearance where he unnecessarily came out. In the last 10 minutes their hard work and actually getting the ball in the danger areas paid off with a bit of space about 16 yards out to nicely strike the ball into the back of the net. Shortly after the crowd were celebrating that off side goal, Truro went to the other end and gained a corner in injury time which was headed in but with MacDonald looking like he was manhandled which thankfully the ref agreed with.
I feel that Gloucester were able to add fresh impetus with their three substitutions in contrast to ourselves with our only attacking option being Koszela who understandably is still learning and getting up to speed at this level. It is a pity that Keating was still suspended for this game as he could have started on the wing and let Andrews play in central midfield from the start and having him back completely fresh on Tuesday will be a bonus either as a starter or a substitute. The sooner Edwards is back the better as well.
This equals our record of 8 league wins although very much below our achievement in 1998 and is the type of game you need to win if you are to top this league with Woking again winning.....
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petef
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Post by petef on Dec 29, 2018 18:30:11 GMT
Bit of an odd game that one looked superior in every department but then suddenly looked vulnerable in the last quarter. A gulf in class in the first half and you wondered if we would be getting a cricket score. Just didn't happen though with far to many miss placed passes and when we stopped winning the second ball in midfield we had problems. We really missed Evans today who usually bosses the midfield and links front to back so well. Senles White did ok but hasn't got the mobility or skill set for a midfielder and looks a little off the pace. Anyone know why he didn't play? Not complaining though still an entertaining game and we worked hard without the usual things coming off and a scrappy but hugely important three points.
Today's lesson and a sharp reminder of not letting your foot off of the gas has come just at the right time IMHO and I predict Truro will pose a bigger test again on Tuesday with a front line that is superior to Gloucester City's.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 29, 2018 18:41:55 GMT
We really missed Evans today who usually bosses the midfield and links front to back so well. Senles White did ok but hasn't got the mobility or skill set for a midfielder and looks a little off the pace. Anyone know why he didn't play? Short term 93 day loan expired and new season long loan doesn’t kick in until New Year’s Day so good and bad news!
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Post by Swanny on Dec 29, 2018 18:50:56 GMT
It turned out to be a very important win in the end, but also a nervy one. Having being spoilt in recent weeks watching commanding leads, today was a reminder of how things used to be by just scraping home. Credit to Gloucester, they came on strong in the closing stages - scored one, had a goal disallowed, and had Torquay hanging in there with their attacks and corners. Torquay should have put the game to bed in the second half with a succession of gilt edged chances but we were very wasteful in goal. Thankfully that did not cost us in the end. Sponsors MOTM going to Andrews I suppose mainly for his deliveries. In truth our central defenders were probably our most consistent players today. There was no announcement of the crowd but it looked another good home turn-out but less than 50 from Gloucester.
Torquay started brightly and dominated the first half and both Torquay's goals were quite scruffy, but who cares! Hall put through Reid on our right who slipped it into the danger area looking for Janneh. A defender got there first but slipped it past his own keeper into the net. Fortunate for Torquay but it was a well worked move that put pressure on Gloucester's defence. Torquay's second goal was thanks to Andrews delivery from a corner that broke loose and Niate stabbed home from close range. It was all looking nice and comfortable and with Gloucester's poor goal scoring record, you felt the win was not in doubt. Torquay on the whole in the first found it difficult to break down Gloucester who got men behind the ball and played a high line. Torquay tried to stretch Gloucester to find space but were often caught offside. 2-0 at half-time and it was a decent scoreline and Gloucester had hardly got near Torquay's goal apart from one cross skimming the top of Torquay's bar.
Torquay shuffled the pack in the second half with Sendles-White switching to right back and Wynter pushing forward to midfield. There was a spell in the second half when for the first time in the match Torquay really clicked as an attacking force as we have been accustomed to under Gary Johnson. Torquay played with great pace and purpose that unlocked the Gloucester defence on several occasions. Sadly, Torquay were very wasteful on all those occasions typically opting to pass the ball instead of shooting. Janneh and Kalala did not have their shooting boots on and fluffed some great chances. Kalala did head a long cross from Wynter towards goal but their keeper guessed right and saved.
MacDonald's kicking all game was erratic often not finding a Torquay shirt and not finding enough distance. He made an awful hash from a routine shot that went through him and luckily for a corner. It's a good job the shot was off target. It is fair to say that for the last 10 minutes that Gloucester were the better team. Torquay were just feeding off scraps. Gloucester scored from a low shot after Torquay had not cleared the ball well enough. The last few minutes were unbearable to watch and with each Gloucester attack or corner you feared the worse. Torquay had the odd promising counter attack and after their keeper spilled a 1-on-1 with Reid, substitute Koszela put the ball into an empty net but was ruled offside. More drama was to follow when Gloucester scored from a corner after MacDonald spilled the ball but was fouled in the process. Torquay survived 4 minutes of added time uncomfortably and won 2-1.
Mission accomplished to get another vital win but Torquay made serious hard work of it. They had enough clear chances in the second half to finish the game off but instead let Gloucester into the game and hung on nervously for a narrow win. I guess we missed Lemonheigh-Evans today and I am not convinced it works putting Semdles-White (a defender) in midfield. Too many of our normally reliable strikers were misfiring today. I thought Torquay showed some frailties today and just got away with it. Credit has to go to Todd's Gloucester as well for giving Torquay a huge scare. It goes to show that at this level if you are not quite at your game you can easily get punished. Hopefully this will be a warning for Torquay when they play Truro on Tuesday.
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Post by stig123 on Dec 29, 2018 19:16:45 GMT
Good to see a 3000 + crowd today. I am guessing our next "away" game versus Truro will set a record for number of Torquay fans attending an away fixture.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 29, 2018 19:28:39 GMT
Good to see a 3000 + crowd today. I am guessing our next "away" game versus Truro will set a record for number of Torquay fans attending an away fixture. 57 away fans so once again over 3000 home supporters!
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