Torquay United Fans Forum

My 11 if you could pick from both squads would be

Olejinek

Canners
Saah
Woods
Nicho

Fowler
Russell
Mansell

Howe
Graham
Kuffour

Leroy's team that got promoted will always be special to me as it was my first season as a Gull. My first ever Torquay match was our 1-0 win at Sixfields on the opening day thanks to a Jason Fowler daisycutter and i have many great memories of that season including the memorable 1-0 win over Hull at the KC. Kuffour, Graham, Gritton, Beds et al, we were just immense and although the achievements this season have been incredible in comparison, the quality of some of the football i have seen at times has been poor. We have been thoroughly effective this season but like A.J says it has been laboured and battling for the most part rather than scintillating attacking football. I have seen Torquay play like that this season on the odd occasion, Crewe away springs to mind as we ripped them apart with waves of attacks. Player for player there is little doubt that Leroy's squad was more imperious and had much more quality. Mansell, Lathrope, Ellis, Olejnik and Nico COULD be in there but the rest of our current squad aren't good enough to get in that side IMO.

Oleknik is well ahead of van Heusden and Dearden, and I think the back four as a unit (helped by Lathrope, the formation and the more cautious style) is a match for the 2003/04 side.

In Midfield, Russell and Fowler are players you get at this level once in a generation, and Hill and Hockley did their jobs too (for all the stick, Hockley got 6 goals that season and left Russell and Fowler to attack). Lathrope, O'Kane and Mansell have been fantastic for us though, so that's very tough. Russell vs O'Kane would be a fun pub debate.

Attacking wise it's hard to compare because of the formations but I'd certainly take Graham, Gritton and Kuffour over any trio we have here now.

Leroy produced some of the best football we've ever seen, but Martin Ling has taken a squad of 14 players plus some also rans and taken us to a promotion battle, so again very hard to compare. I dare say if we do make it up then Ling plus a few more of the players would be seen more favourably.

For a mixed team, how about:

[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/1fzamg.jpg[/img]

Not sure how well balanced it is, but look who's out there. 6/5 split, but there's several that could have gone either way, especially along the back 4. Nicholson, Saah/Robertson, Taylor and Canoville wouldn't be a bad defence.

Leroy's team for me. Some very special football against a much tougher league including the likes of Doncaster, Hull and Huddersfield. A striker with over 20 league goals (no penalties) and of course Alex Russell. We murdered some teams that season, and while this season has been fantastic and a great achievement its been a bit more laboured.

Wasn't it mainly Roy McFarlane's squad rather Leroy's. The tactic and passing was Leroy, but Roy brough Russell, Fowler, Graham, Kuffour et all down here didn't he? They were by far the better team.....cept Matt Hockley.

Remember Tom Kelly, He was good.

Leroy's side was a better footballing side - with the exception of Matt Hockley.

I think if we had to select a team from the best of then and now, Howe and Olejnik would be in the XI and probably lathrope is a better player than Hockley as a like for like in the holding midfield role, although it's hard to hard to leave Mansell out. O Kane would probably be an impact sub and Ellis also close.

I'm not so sure it's that hard to compare them. Sure this seasons team has done great things and we have some really great players, but leading with my head and not my heart. Leroys team is head and shoulders above any team I have ever seen in the Yellow and blue. Even Franks teams didn't quite play with the panache that Leroys team did.
There have been flashes of inspiration from teams at plainmoor notably the wins agains't West Ham and one or two others, but for consistancy and style Leroys is the standard by which I judge any.

Got to be Leroy team seeing some great passing skills that season the best season for 45 years of supporting the gulls,and who could forget that day at southend :keepie:

I think it;s hard to compare the quality. Under Leroy we were a fluid passing team where as under Ling we have a great team ethic and togetherness where we fight and battle.

good question sky blue

we were a great team to watch under leroy, some of my happiest moments as a torquay fan were watching the stylish football that season

As the end of season approaches and automatic promotion is a posssibility how do people think the current side compares, player for player, manager v manager, and as a team with the team that Leroy got us promoted with.