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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2009 6:30:11 GMT
In 1994 it was Northampton reprieved at the expense of Kidderminster Thanks for the detail, Jon. Northampton is an easy one to forget, isn't it? Northampton, at the time, were coming to the end of their tenure at the increasingly-inadequate County Ground which they shared with the county cricket club. Indeed, when we played there towards the end of that 1993/94 the place really did look shabby. It's ironic that - should Northampton have been relegated - they would have moved to Sixfields as a non-league club. |
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Post by romfordkev on Sept 3, 2009 6:43:32 GMT
With regards to Merse's post above,I also remember a certain Mrs Hancox touting the young Jimmy Benefield as "the future of Torquay United"!!
In a split second, I was caught between two emotions - did I cry, or piss myself with laughter?!!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2009 8:20:06 GMT
Merse
Indeed, a magnificent bit of management by Leroy. So many young players convince themelves they are ready for the first team and spend their time constantly bending the Managers ear reminding him of this. What better way of reminding them that they still need to develop their technique, fitness, and all round ability to cope with professional football than by giving them a taste of harsh reality via a PSF against decent opposition.
Those lads with the right attitude would be inspired to work harder to achieve the standards required & those banging on unrealistically about elevation to the first time & with a inflated opinion of their own talents would come out of that game with a definite reality check.
Whilst Leroy obviously wouldn't have put that number of youngsters into a League or Cup match, a PSF match would have been a valuable lesson for a big group of them at once. No pressure for a result with it being a pre-season kick about with no points awarded & no expections on such a large group of lads to out play the professional team from Pompey.
It doesn't surprise me that some of Leroy's revolutionary thinking wouldn't make him first choice with some who might have a more traditional view on Managerial appointments, but whether it was through luck or good judgement the appointment resulted in us witnessing some of the most attractive ( & successful) football ever seen at Plainmoor.
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Post by lambethgull on Sept 3, 2009 11:44:49 GMT
I certainly wouldn't castigate any manager for fielding an experimental line up in a pre-season friendly.
Nor would I wish to take anything away from Leroy's promotion season, which was definately one of my most enjoyable experiences as a supporter. Many will say that Leroy was fortunate to inherit some of the players he did - and i agree - but there is no doubt in my mind that his strengths; an innate emthusiasm for attractive football, faith in his players and his abilities as a coach of players were key to our success that season.
Unfortunately, many of Leroy's strengths were also his weaknesses. It's no good seeking attractive football if your squad does not posess the means to achieve it. And its no good having faith in your players if they're not able to repay that faith.
Leroy was not helped by the regime in place at the time, but a better manager would have realised that a change of personnel/resources required a different approach. And what has he done since? Can it really be true that a faction of Torquay supporters are right about Leroy, and everyone else in football is wrong? I doubt it somehow.
Leroy's moved on. It would be great if more of our supporters would too.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2009 12:02:46 GMT
A very fair assessment from Lambethgull. Moving on is obviously necessary but the whole point of the History room is surely to do just the opposite for a short while, to move backwards & discuss old situations, old games & old Managers.
There is indeed a faction of our supporters who will take any & every opportunity to discredit Leroy, and the frequency with which they do this would indicate that they have no intention of moving on anytime soon.
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Post by lambethgull on Sept 3, 2009 12:18:30 GMT
I agree about the history room, Joe, but my comments were aimed more at supporters generally than contributors to this most interesting part of the forum.
Whilst it's true that some do look to knock Leroy, my impression is that this is mostly due to a certain section of our support who seem to think that any team who doesn't play as well as Leroy's promotion side is an inferior 'hoof ball' outfit, and who call for his reinstatement at every opportunity.
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Post by capitalgull on Sept 3, 2009 12:22:01 GMT
I don't think there is a manager who has polarised opinions more, to be honest. (Even more so than some people's thoughts of the current incumbent).
As much as there is a group who feel he wasn't worthy of the name, let us not forget those who felt he walked on water and are happy to say so whenever his name comes up in conversation.
I feel more along the lines that his record since he left Torquay speaks for itself...
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merse
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Post by merse on Sept 3, 2009 14:59:44 GMT
Merse Indeed, a magnificent bit of management by Leroy. So many young players convince themelves they are ready for the first team and spend their time constantly bending the Managers ear reminding him of this. What better way of reminding them that they still need to develop their technique, fitness, and all round ability to cope with professional football than by giving them a taste of harsh reality via a PSF against decent opposition.  Oh I see Joe, I guess then that we could say that not having a fitness coach would encourage the players to do their own study and keep themselves in the peak of condition. Come to think of it we could have saved on turnstile operators too by having biscuit tins at each gate and trust the supporters to voluntarily put their admission money in them. Coming from someone who won't even fork out 10p a day for Gullsworld, that's a bit rich really isn't it! |
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merse
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Post by merse on Sept 3, 2009 15:03:56 GMT
There is indeed a faction of our supporters who will take any & every opportunity to discredit Leroy, and the frequency with which they do this would indicate that they have no intention of moving on anytime soon. ........................and I don't suppose there would be a faction of our supporters who take any and every opportunity to discredit the current manager then?  |
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Sept 3, 2009 17:53:06 GMT
Just a few views to add, firstly merse, Alpine may have good reasons why he does not subscribe to gulls world and I'm sure its not just a case that he won't. Should we move on from Leroy? the thing is all our views and posts we made when Leroy was our manager, all got lost forever when another forum tried to up date its software. So I think its good that in our history room our thoughts from back then can once again be put down and I do promise to make sure they will be here forever  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2009 10:16:24 GMT
Merse I think that would be self evident Merse. With the huge salaries available to the top players I'm sure many of them would make the effort to learn more about how they could improve their own fitness for football rather than live on Big Macs & see lucrative careers slip away from them.But whereas being throw in against the big boys (in this case Portsmouth) proved to the players that however well they thought they were doing they still had a lot of improving to do, so wouldn't the advice,help, & expertise from a fitness coach also help even a diligent young player realise that his self created fitness regime of jogging around the park & going to bed early could be improved upon ? Biscuit tins to collect gate money ? Again it might prove that our fans are a more honest bunch than those at other Clubs that also use 'honesty' boxes and we could pat ourselves on the back for that. But if we were then shown how turnstiles dramatically increased takings we wouldn't be so thrilled with the amount collected in the biscuit tin. Again, being subjected to the next level up will help you more accurately judge the stage you're currently at, just as those youngsters that played against Portsmouth were hopefully inspired to improve, and the biscuit tins realise they need to develop into turnstiles. Incidentally, for anyone interested,I happened to be reading about Stanley Matthews fitness regime recently. A very similar routine to a modern Premier League star I expect |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2009 10:55:04 GMT
Dave R You're right Dave..there is a good reason. Just between you & me I've got this nice young man called Chris managing my pension fund. He's assured me he's found some shrewd investments & that it's doing well. Snag is I've not actually been getting any returns on the money as yet, but young Chris assures me there's nothing to worry about & a cheque should be in the post to me very very soon. Enabling me to once again afford those little luxuries in life such as a subscription to Gullsplayer & a matchday programme when I visit Plainmoor so I can read our two page spread |
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