Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 22, 2024 13:36:25 GMT
A vital game in our battle against relegation - even if bigger battles are being fought off the pitch.
Will be nice to switch off from all of that for a couple of hours and just enjoy the football.
Hang on a minute, I am not going to enjoy the football am I?
A very real chance of our shambolic setup being ripped to pieces by a well-drilled and well-organised team of part-timers.
Would hope that we might sort things out tactically, but won't hold my breath.
I wrongly believed McGavin was suspended for this game. He has reached the magic ten yellow cards mark but not within the 37 game cut-off.
I really hope we drop him anyway and play Lapslie and Dawson as a two man shield in front of the defence, with Hall on the bench as backup.
Downes suggests that Booth and Martin are probably out in addition to Craske. Worryingly, Jarvis is also recovering from a knock.
If Jarvis is fit, we have 17 to choose from - last week's 16 plus Collins. If not, the 16 picks itself.
Finally, a big shout out to the groundstaff at Plainmoor. The going has been heavy in the last couple of games but, given the amount of rain we have suffered, Julian and his team have done brilliantly to get the pitch as good as it has been.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 22, 2024 19:47:37 GMT
Well, Devon Day tomorrow and surprised at how many seats have been sold in Bristows!
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Mar 23, 2024 14:46:56 GMT
No Duane?
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Mar 23, 2024 14:59:38 GMT
Half expecting Jarvis to be missing, but Ofori-Acheampong a surprise. Tomlinson dropped even though no alternative available. No idea how that eleven will line up.Only four subs.
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Post by gateman49 on Mar 23, 2024 17:32:07 GMT
At last a clean sheet and a solid defence with Asa Hall at the heart of things. That's cheered me up after two weeks of gloom.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 23, 2024 18:01:43 GMT
At last a clean sheet and a solid defence with Asa Hall at the heart of things. That's cheered me up after two weeks of gloom. I thought Asa Hall was quite brilliant today. Distribution from the back was much better for him being there. A clear game plan reminded of all and a very good individual performance defensively in the new role. A real Captain’s performance topped off with the winning goal. All those sides now below us lost. Most of them from a winning position, too. We were too disciplined to suffer the same fate today, which feels great. That League table looking so much nicer tonight. Credit to Aaron Downes, too, for what looked like a well drilled United, fighting for each other, from start to finish. |
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Post by gateman49 on Mar 23, 2024 18:08:24 GMT
It was also good to see so many different football shirts (and their contents) coming along.
I saw fans of Carlisle, Bristol Rovers, Leicester, Yeovil, and Nottingham Forest as well as the locals from Exeter and a considerable number of Argyle fans. Presumably a lot of them are exiles but that doesn't take away from the feeling of solidarity and there were good vibes all round the ground.
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Post by Swanny on Mar 23, 2024 18:16:01 GMT
That was much more like it today and a very good morale boosting win for the Gulls. We have been asking for fight from the Gulls now we are in a relegation battle and we got that in abundance today. From the off Torquay took the game to Hampton and were winning battles and second balls. Putting Asa Hall in the middle of a back three proved to be a masterstroke. Within the first 10 minutes Hall was winning headers that came his way. Gone was that horrible uncertainty and misunderstanding and at last our defence looked solid and strong. It was like Hall was that missing piece of the jigsaw we have been searching most of the season for.
Once you get the back line right then everything else falls into place. Moxey playing on the left of Hall had a cracking game as well and in the second half made a crucial goal line clearance. Hall's and Moxey's experience today was invaluable. Marshall did well on the right of Hall. He might not always make the best of decisions but he showed plenty of spirit. Halstead looked assured as well with his handling and on one occasion in the second half stormed a long way out of his box to kick away a dangerous through ball.
There was plenty of industry in the middle today with Dawson, Lapsie and Jenkins-Davis. Hampton offered little in the first half and Torquay made several decent moves and racked up lots of corners. The trouble was that with lots of decent crosses flying in particularly by Stobbs we had no big target man in the box to get on to them. We knew Jarvis was injured but I don't know about big Duane? Was he injured or has he left the club? Ash did well under the circumstances and did win us the vital penalty that Hall dispatched.
Hampton stepped it up in the second half and had at least three decent chances. Torquay also still threatened but nothing that clear cut. Today was all about hanging on to the lead and keeping solid and they passed that with flying colours. Even players like MacGavin was getting stuck in and winning some vital battles. So it was a hard earned victory but deserved in my opinion.
Good to see plenty of Argyle fans around and some Exeter fans. There was some banter about how we hate Exeter. I am sure the Argyle fans joined in with that one. It was a great atmosphere helped by the strong performance and win. A perfect day you could say. It was interesting to see Warnock sat with Nick from the TUST and a few others with them. Let us hope we get a result with them as well!
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 23, 2024 22:19:13 GMT
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Rags
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Post by Rags on Mar 23, 2024 22:43:59 GMT
I wasn't there, but I've slagged Aaron Downes off over the past few weeks/months/years for his appalling defensive coaching/organisation.
Today we kept a clean sheet. So well done Downsey, keep it up!
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Mar 24, 2024 9:41:26 GMT
Having the experienced heads of Hall and Moxey in defence certainly paid dividends and we looked a lot more comfortable. Gives us a bit of breathing space helped by good support with just over 3000 and a multitude of supporters from other clubs but building up the fan base will be a priority for new owners. Although both Marshall and Dawson limped off I did not get the feeling they were particularly bad injuries and they may be back for the next game or a week or two at the most.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Mar 24, 2024 9:44:42 GMT
Cracking first half with Torquay playing well and with some purpose.
Second half we were lucky not to ship at least 4 goals with a combination of goal line clearances and poor finishing from Hampton stopping that from happening.
Still, 3 points.
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