Torquay United V Bristol Rovers 19th July 2008

Yours is still giving me nightmares ;D ;D worse when someone told me how much it looked like you ;D

Oh don't tempt me, this could get silly

I never like this either, but TBF it was a tactic employed by Buckle the first half of the season last year with some effect.
I would hope that this dosn't become a standard tufc style though. When you look at the pace and talent in our squad you would hope that we are able to make use of it via the "breakaway".

That said, maybe Bucks feels we have enough talent to score plenty of goals from our usual play and can afford to be cautious when defending.

Then again what the hell do I know about tactics!!

I wanted to go today but a combination of having to study for a job interview and a caravan being delivered stopped me (not my caravan I promise, a friend is emigrating and is storing it on my land - that said I do intend to make use of it ~ I have joined the caravan club and feel the need to buy a motorbike and have an affair just to redress the balance!)

Mid life crisis anyone?

I have to agree with pretty much most of what Dave originally started with. In the first half there wasn't much between the teams and I thought Thompson and Wroe made a difference to our style of play. There was much more emphasis of getting the ball on the floor and trying to work an opening. Thought Carlisle did OK as well and put in some decent crosses which I believe Sills will benefit from this season. Great to see Poke back between the sticks - he had an OK first game. What happened to Nicholson? Seemed OK and then vitally lost concentration a few times where Rovers nearly scored. Thought that Hodges put in a better permformance second half and, on today's showing, would start with him at left back. I like Hargreaves but not as a centre half. Little concerned that we have no pace in centre defence which teams will no doubt exploit this year. I'd have to go with the experience of Todd and Woods even though I'm not entirely convinced. Benyon showed a lot of effort and could have scored a couple. Got brushed off the ball quite easy and felt that Sills played better with Green in the second half.
Overall, reasonable display with three weeks to go.

*NB that's tow her off, not toe her off [/quote]

very good ;D

An interesting game and a solid test for the squad. We demonstrated the ability to play some good football in an attacking sense; we were combative in midfield as well as creative and had an opportunity or two up front. Sills in the early minutes should have put a shot on target after a defensive error, but shot across goal and wide. Benyon struggled against a strong defence had an opportunity at 0-0 but sent a weak shot wide. He did however force a good save from the ‘keeper low down to his left when breaking in the inside right channel. Overall however I did not feel he was linking well with Sills and was either poorly placed or too weak to get past a defender to feed on the flicks. The opening goal for Rovers was a great shot from Jacobson the sort of goal you have to applaud and for which no one is at fault. We kept our heads well though and battled on.
The changes in the second half sparked a little more life and Stevens and Carayol both caused problems for Rovers with pace and trickery. The equaliser coming from a decent cross from Carayol, meat and drink for Sills to head home, even if it meant a bit of a knock for the big man. Green was causing the Rovers defence problems and should have scored when through one on one with the keeper late on, but from an angle wide right placed his shot across goal against the left hand upright, the ball rebounding to safety. He did get the ball in the net a little later, but the referees whistle had already been blown. In defence we were our own worst enemies with, I am afraid, Ellis making a few mistakes. Brough and Adams eventually got it going in the middle of the park and certainly by the end were a match for the opposition. Sills and Green look a useful pairing.

Well it’s till early days but here are my opinions after watching the first 3 games, heavily influenced by today.

Poke impressed and showed why he has been such a prime target for us. Back to bench warming for Rice.

We have a problem at right back where Mansell has started slowly. I will always have a regard for Mansell, who never gave up and gave 110% even in our season of woe. He does not impress me as a right back however and this remains an area of the team about which I have concern. If anything Robertson has played slightly the better of the two at right back, but it’s still early days.
Not sure what to make about the centre half position. Merse made a valuable point the other day about the ability of Todd to provide a goal threat at set pieces. For me he is still our best centre half. I do worry about the combined lack of pace though if we are really going to play Hargreaves at CB. I am still struggling to feel comfortable with him at the back but he has a good footballing brain and can probably adapt. Will we be too pedestrian? Woods did OK today (I am not usually a Woods fan). Ellis for me was woeful, full of mistakes.
Nicholson must be under pressure now from Hodges. We looked far more solid down the left defensively in the second half with Hodges in place, but maybe that was down to the Rovers changes. In the first half Nicho was often caught out of position and was rescued by Hargreaves.

Midfield is a strength. I cannot agree that Wroe was poor today for me he had another solid game. Thompson however stands out. I have absolutely no doubt that he will become a fans favourite and he will also get a few suspensions during the course of the season! Brough and Adams provided a different combination and approach. Both made some mistakes, but it seems that Bucks may have given up on playing Brough at centre half he needs another game or two but showed enough for me to indicate that he too can be a good player for us. Adams looked fitter than he did last season and can only benefit from a full pre season. But he will find it difficult I think to force a regular starting place and this will no doubt hamper his game. He was a little rusty today and made an error or two. Out wide Hodges and Carlisle provide an assured solidity and ability. The lift in pace and enthusiasm comes from Carayol and Stevens. Both looked lively today.
The only danger from our depth in midfield is that players not featuring may become disgruntled as the season wears on.

Up front I am afraid for me Benyon demonstrated why he won’t cut it with the big boys. Lightweight and easily brushed off the ball; he does not provide a physical presence that troubles defenders in the lower reaches. A fox in the box is no good if he is spending half of his time on the ground. Green should have scored but has pace and makes intelligent runs. From a distance Sills seemed to enjoy the second half partnership more than the first but that is probably just me.