Torquay United Fans Forum

The players are not playing well because they are playing at Plainmoor under Alan Knill. At any other club most of them would shine much more brightly.

hector wrote: The fear of losing Mozika is not a reason to keep Knill. I would not be that bothered if Mozika went. He can be a bit of a headless chicken and certainly would not come close to some of the midfielders we have had. Easily replaceable, in my view and if the added bonus is that Knill goes, then it is a gamble worth taking.

I never said it was a reason to keep Knill, just making a point.

Jeff wrote:To say that Tonge is one of the worst ever players to play for TUFC is utter tripe. Yes he's having a poor season, but I could easily rattle off several names from the last 10 years alone that wouldn't even be fit to lace his boots. Lets not go overboard.

On the subject of the playing squad, I'd surmise that if Knill was to go we'd lose Mozika as well given the fact there is a precedent of them following each other around.

The fear of losing Mozika is not a reason to keep Knill. I would not be that bothered if Mozika went. He can be a bit of a headless chicken and certainly would not come close to some of the midfielders we have had. Easily replaceable, in my view and if the added bonus is that Knill goes, then it is a gamble worth taking.

Just look at the bench, that tells you all you need to know. Nothing against Sullivan and Chaney and I wish them all the best in their development and hope for a bright future in the game for them, but they are not going to change a game or get us out of the mess. Pearce needs to come back into the team, Nicho, Lathrope, Thompson and Yeoman back into the matchday squad. Too many players guaranteed a start and getting away with continually poor performances.
We are on the back-foot before we start.

My son said that Tonge was useless again today. Thats the trouble with Knill he cannot see the **** obvious. Put Pearce in - Move O'connor to right back. That actually makes the team stronger. But apparently now HAwley is an excellent player according to Knill - so we are well and truly up shit creek without a paddle.

To say that Tonge is one of the worst ever players to play for TUFC is utter tripe. Yes he's having a poor season, but I could easily rattle off several names from the last 10 years alone that wouldn't even be fit to lace his boots. Lets not go overboard.

On the subject of the playing squad, I'd surmise that if Knill was to go we'd lose Mozika as well given the fact there is a precedent of them following each other around.

I actually think we have some good individual players, don't think that's the problem. What we don 't have is a team.

The danger signs first became apparent in the summer. Apart from the full back from Rotherham (one of the worst players ever to represent TUFC), most of the others were panic, last-minute signings or rejects at the bottom of the pile. This is the worst squad to represent TUFC for many a long year and, as everyone now finally, at long last, recognises, we are finished. Some say as a football club, many (me included) as a league club. I repeat: we'll win one or two more games, get a draw here and there, but relegation is inevitable. And, again as many are finally forced to recognise, it's too late now.
The only way out is by the door that will never open: get some decent players in!

The bench is very unbalanced,

I'd have Lathrope, Nicho and yeoman on the bench over Chaney, Sullivan and Hawley

Poke - Good keeper, under far too much pressure from the lack of quality ahead of him
Tonge - Seen nothing from him apart from 1 or 2 good runs forward(this whole season, not per game!!!)
Cruise - Not good enough, but the best left back we have
Downes - What the hell has happened to him, he's gone from our best CB, to a liability
O'Connor - Good player, but agree with OP, and he's making mistakes whilst trying to do too much
Mansell - Lots of energy, very litle quality
McCourt - Hit and Miss, never know whether you'll get the good performance or the bad one!
Mozika - I like him, has more quality than our other midfielders, but is let down by those around him
Chappell - Our only spark, has the ability and does have moments of real quality, but he's a winger, and is our top scorer and biggest threat, yet he get's subbed nearly EVERY GAME!!!
Bodin - Good player, just has no confidence and get's a very rough ride from our fans even if it's only the 1st minute and he misplaces a pass.
Hawley - Terrible footballer. Doesn't care, doesn't work hard and couldn't give a f**k about putting the effort in.

I'd love to watch training for a week and see exactly what they do. I just can't see how footballers at this level cannot control a football, or why the passes are never into space ahead of players to run on to, rather than having to stop and turn back. Why Hawley cannot control the ball and hold it up, why we don't seem to be able to cross the ball. All very basic skills!!!!!

Knill is one thing but have a look at our squad. A couple of players aside it is bloody awful and perhaps we are not only being badly managed but we are just simply a bunch of sh*te players. Pearce looks quality but never gets a look in, Downes looks like he is bambi on ice far more these days, Bodin should have been released last summer whilst we still paid him, maybe Chappell isn't as good as everyone makes out. I've seen p*ss all from him apart from at Northampton. Hawley should be harpooned, Tonge is as innocuous as they come and equally as ineffective, Cruise is utter garbage, Nico isn't but hasn't the legs anymore, Mansell looks like he needs a long rest, Mozika looks ordinary, Benyon is a goalscorer but ends up spending his gametime having to MAKE opportunities for others instead of the other way around, Craig should be working in the canteen, O'Connor is quality but has succumbed to the vast sh*tness all around him, Cameron wouldn't get in at Truro, in fact the only decent players we seem to have our the keepers.

I expect to be told I'm wrong but when you look closely at them individually they aren't that great in all honesty. I have had my Downes glasses on for a while now but I'm starting to see that he is struggling. We're just sh*t.