Torquay United Fans Forum

Bloggy wrote:He probably puts money on us losing!

Or getting relegated...

The Farmers Friend wrote:When we beat Wimbledon 4-0 last season he looked furious - ruined his evening...

He probably puts money on us losing!

I've supported the club since the dawn of time, through seven world wars etc. etc. and the only player I've ever shouted anything less than encouragement at is Benyon. Chiefly because, Gulls shirt or not, he's a diver and a whinger. I had an outburst at him after one of his dives last night, but otherwise I stick to encouragement or silent stoicism. Digressing slightly, but it always annoys me that Lee Andrews was given so much grief and is so remembered when at least he was a trier who didn't try and hide, unlike all those forgotten lightweights in that terrible side.

In a small crowd the moaners and abusive types stand out more, and for some reason they tend to be the type who come rain or shine. There's a poisonous, rat-faced bloke who stands near me on the Popside. He never even claps when we score - regardless of how well we're doing. He had plenty to say last night, and you can see he sort of revels in it. When we beat Wimbledon 4-0 last season he looked furious - ruined his evening...

hector wrote:The club have a simple choice - invest or go down.

Comparisons were drawn with Macclesfield when we were still 12 points ahead of the drop zone with games in hand just after Christmas. It was plain back then what could happen and I would make us favourites to be relegated with the position we are in and the form we are displaying.

And what a waste if we do. What a squandering of that was done to rebuild this club, if we fall again because that will be it. So many, I should imagine would turn their back on the club and not be prepared to endure non-league football again that the club will just sink. This is almost more worrying that the season under Roberts because then you could almost understand why it happened and just appreciated the chance of a new start once he and Bateson went. This would just be so terribly tragic if what felt like a progressive club fell into the abyss again.

Spot on, hector. I marvel at Ben's continued spirit and commitment, and pray Knill can make the changes in tactics and personnel to save us, but it's difficult to be optimistic and to ignore the evidence of our results and performances over the last four months.

I think so many are downbeat and lacking the stomach to fight our current plight because there's no-one to vent fury at, like in the case of Roberts and the pantomime villain Bateson. Instead, we have a board supposedly comprising the most able and loyal custodians of our - and their - club. Despite their best efforts and intentions to safeguard our future and build for a brighter one, we still look increasingly likely to be relegated. It would indeed be tragic if Bristow's Bench comes to be looked upon as the financial burden that cost us our Football League status, rather than the proud symbol of our revival.

ROADRUNNER wrote:some of the crtisicm aimed at players from people on the popside was discraceful, i was embarressed to be amongst these morons, and the t-at along from me who shouted to alan knill calling him a w-nker needs to take a long hard look at himself in the mirror this morning, im ashamed to be a torquay fan today, not because the team is not doing well, its because the morons i have to stand next to in these sad times. get a life you idiots or piss off up the road and support someone else, TORQUAY TIL I DIE!

I could hear people shouting abuse on the internet radio. It wasn't one or two, it was a lot. Why do we do that? Why can get behind the team and push them on?

austrainandygull earlier shortly after confirming he wants to go to Accy v Torquay, 'Wibble'

royalgull wrote:Fancy going to Accrington v Torquay?

"I'd rather spend an evening on top of a stepladder in No Man's Land smoking endless cigarettes through a luminous balaclava"

If i may round up the Blackadder quotes with one that couldn't be more appropriate.

We are in the stickiest situation since sticky the stick insect got stuck on a sticky bun

And yeah, i fancy going Accy v Torquay. I'll be there, no idea why but i'm going and hoping for a miracle.

Fancy going to Accrington v Torquay?

"I'd rather spend an evening on top of a stepladder in No Man's Land smoking endless cigarettes through a luminous balaclava"

We've been playing like a cluster of colourblind hedgehogs.....................................................in a bag!

Baaah!

Brucie

You are in grave danger of revealing the truth about our situation.

In the immortal words of General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett

“If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through.”

Despite the usual intemperate language I agree with much of what is said, although I did laugh at their best player being replaced by one that went on to be their best player roasting Nicholson. However, I still have hope that if three decent (ish) players can be brought into the positions mentioned then combined with what we have, we will give ourselves a chance.

Nice words ben - but be sure of one thing, and that is we are going down. That peformance was inexcusable against a pretty lame Wycombe side who lost their best player Grant half way through the game. Still not enough for us - having committed daylight robbery leading 1-0 at half time we managed somehow to contrive to toss another three points away.
Alan Knill looked a forlorn figure on the touchline - he looked like a man who had just come to terms with something ie he has an impossible task and isn't going to save us.
On to Accrington on Saturday - they have a new manager who has turned things around already winning 3-0 at a side who beat us easily a couple of weeks ago.
When we avoided relegation under Colin Lee we had a crap side but a real collective purpose fans and team united with a common cause - to keep us up.
This is lacking this time around I'm afraid. Rene Howe spent ten minutes during the pre match warm up chatting to a Wycombe player - that wouldn't have happened under Lee.
The blame for this predicament lies firmly with Martin Ling and the Board.
We have been pretty much abyssmal all season. Out of every cup in the first round, beaten by Harrogate. Beaten by the likes of Wycombe,Barnet and Wimbledon earlier in the season - teams that couldn't buy a win at that stage.The response to this was that oh well - its ok, the players know they are better than that. The players have an easy ride in training by all accounts. Ling is a lazy manager who spent to much time basking in last years success.
Onto last nights abject surrender.
My heart sank on the way to the ground when I heard that Mansell was out. The issue with this team all season is that we have no quality once our best players are missing.

Any combination of Easton (pathetic last night) Lathrope and latterley Oastler offered us absolutely nothing in midfield. A forward line of Howe,Benyon and Bodin ought to be more than enough at this level but they never got a pass all night and again we created precious little.

Macdonald - No replacement for Downes at all. Missed nearly every header in the second half last night.

Nicholson - roasted by Ainsworth (how old is he 40?) continually when he came on. Nico needs a rest. Trouble is Cruise is his replacement and he looks a liability.

So urgently needed by saturday

A warrior centre half.

A left back who can run up and down the pitch.

A ball playing central midfield player who can tackle.

A decent right winger.

And thats just for starters.

Anyone that seriously thinks that Knill is going to muster these kind of reinforcements must be seriously barking.

Anyone who was not at the game last night probably has no conception of just how much shit we are actually in. Five wins needed in twelve games. Its fantasy island stuff.

The club have a simple choice - invest or go down.

Comparisons were drawn with Macclesfield when we were still 12 points ahead of the drop zone with games in hand just after Christmas. It was plain back then what could happen and I would make us favourites to be relegated with the position we are in and the form we are displaying.

And what a waste if we do. What a squandering of that was done to rebuild this club, if we fall again because that will be it. So many, I should imagine would turn their back on the club and not be prepared to endure non-league football again that the club will just sink. This is almost more worrying that the season under Roberts because then you could almost understand why it happened and just appreciated the chance of a new start once he and Bateson went. This would just be so terribly tragic if what felt like a progressive club fell into the abyss again.