Torquay United Fans Forum

Jerry wrote:He's just rehashing an old joke:- What's the quickest way to become a millionaire? Start as a billionaire and buy a football club.

He IS an old joke.

BayGull wrote: Come on, get real ... Mr Breed is a human being running a separate business as well as being heavily involved with TUFC.
He is not a millionaire as was Mrs Bristow - so if the chance arises to make some decent money then he will try to take it, as would any sane human being in this day and age.

and therein lies the core root of everything that is wrong about football today and the reason why I have stopped going to football now altogether. There is a movement against the big money Premier League gravy train whereby many folk start going to watch football further on down the chain yet I've noticed at various clubs such as Torquay and York and others that it is actually worse at lower levels. Some of these clubs have a core fanbase of about 2500 yet still continue to piss them off and ignore them whilst year on year the football on offer gets worse, the matchday experience gets worse and the ticket prices and merchandise get more expensive. How is possible to not be able to keep hold of 2500 fans? They all know the football is shit but they still go but it's when those running the club on top of that start taking the piss that fans start rethinking if it's actually worth it. Making these fans feel as though they are contributing by regular communication and engagement takes pretty much sod all work and it keeps money in the club. It's lazy and ignorant. I can't exclusively single TUFC out for this because it's at most clubs.

An owner of a club can come in, try and make a few quid or leave the club in the shit and then they move on after a few years. The club is not in their long term interest so they don't HAVE to engage with fans or make the effort. That's the issue here. Another owner will then take over, do the same and away you go again. Unless the club is run like a family business with long term custodians and a long term strategy then it's just a merry go round and you're going to get mugged off. Simple as that.

A fan run club, although not without it's challenges is exactly that so in theory everyone is in it together and can make decisions together as it should be. There aren't any hiding places or any cloak and dagger stuff which TUFC specialises in.

Football has changed at all levels and whatever your opinion of all of it, there are two dead certs - first of all those who run clubs and the players who play for clubs don't give one shit about any of you and secondly, you'll always be expected to pay for them regardless because you've got a complex about not letting your club down.

That's how they've got you by the short and curlies.

Step back and take an objective view of everything as a whole, take into account how you feel inside, how your support of TUFC impacts your life, does it make you happy or does it make you angry and bitter? You're all different but if you do this then you can step away from all this 'proper fan' bullshit and make a decision based on thoughtful sense and not guilt. If thoughtful sense sees you never give up on your team and you feel that strongly then that's great. That's how it is for you. Everyone has a choice.

Said it before and got told to **** off and will get told to **** off again but you all had an opportunity to help buy the club and run it and thus being in a position to make decisions that affect TUFC instead of relying on someone else.

There can be no complaints other than the fact that the communication side of things is once again, absolutely appalling and it looks like the more trusting amongst the fanbase are again being mugged off despite promises of more accountability, more transparency and more honesty and engagement when the board took over.

Buy the club and run it yourselves otherwise what's the point to it all? You all do what you can and help out financially and you get ignored. It's just run by others who don't seem to do things that make sense and who infuriate you all and just cause despondency and anger. Is it all worth it seriously?

Obviously it is because many would have just **** it off ages ago.

You have to have someone running the club who is 100% accountable to the fanbase. I don't know how but there is no other option save a white knight with shitloads of cash and no brain cells. I half fit the criteria except i'm skint.

It's about trust , cementing a bond and togetherness and I just don't see this anywhere in the club. It's the blind leading the blind. We've all been here before.

I think the poor decision making in terms of managerial appointments et al are excusable because these people running the club are inexperienced. It's understandable that errors will be made but once again regardless, they are just taking your cash, don't acknowledge the generosity it seems and continue to ignore the goodwill, frustration and anxiety amongst the fanbase. Same mistakes i'm afraid. If you are down and out it makes sense to show gratitude and try and get everyone to pull together so that at the very least you have a solid starting point where everyone from the ceo to the person who cleans the shitters at the LWS feels they are singing off the same hymnsheet and can make a difference to move forward. Even if results are shocking and you are rock bottom of the league, if you have a vision and a workable plan then everyone should be aware of them and how you are working towards getting there.

Little niggly things that get in the way should be clarified to the fanbase (as promised) and an explanation given as to how said issue arose and the decision making process and reasons a certain proposed solution was reached. This hasn't happened causing unnecessary animosity and distrust among certain factions of supporters.

Once again from a whole entity, a division has been allowed to form. Has nobody learned anything from past mistakes? It's beyond belief.

The second chance has all but been passed over. 7 points off safety and worse GD which makes it 8. So you need to win 3 games just to get to a starting point.

I'm not sure the club will get a third.

Why fight this? The players are bloody terrible. They're not bothered. They're not fighting. They're out on the piss tonight aren't they whilst some have you might just be making your way into the house after another load of cash spunked up the wall trying to support a club with no identity and players with no ability. Those who say, "well they are entitled to a Christmas do just like we all are so give them a break". Those who say that are in effect correct. You're paying their wages so hats off to you for your impressive understanding and tolerance. Merry Christmas the lads!!

TUFC should start over, operate sustainably and start to look up instead of down. Do you wish to be paying nearly 20 quid a game to watch part timers batter you every week in a league that you have no chance of competing in? How long can you do this for until further gate drops leave the club with no option but to call it a day anyway? Torquay have to flatline then rebuild and rediscover their identity and purpose as a fully resourceful, functional and self sufficient community football club instead of more sticking plasters which are still being used to mask gaping wounds that can never heal.

The thing is you can bicker and whinge on forums until the cows come home but it achieves nothing. You have to make it happen if you really aren't happy and it means that much to you or you leave it to chance.

OK, i'll **** off now but just to wish all you lot as individual people and not as TUFC fans a great Christmas and just remember, there are more important things in life than football. Family, people who love you and who you love. Animals who are part of your family and just being able to wake up in the morning.

If football is nearly as important then do what it takes. Try anything. Work together, don't take people for granted and appreciate everyone all of the time. Not in TUFC's remit at this current time.

davidcaldwell123 wrote:When you have been in the game long enough you will understand how it works, quick example Alloa manager resigns and the manager less team gets a WIN, only their second in 17 games http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/tea ... a-athletic WHY?

Sometimes the manager exerts a negative pressure to the team and when he goes they play more positively, remember players are the same as everyone else, its like a new job, enthusiastic on your first day and by the end of the month its like any other job! Don't be naïve and think footballers wake up and feel they are blessed, its a job that comes with its own challenges and pressures just like any other, players are human just like us all, that why you need to get into their heads and find out what individually and collectively makes them motivated to exceed their performance levels.

1. Assess you teams strengths and weaknesses
2. Play a system that provides defensive stability, but with offensive capabilities, with the teams strengths in mind
3. If their are fundamental weaknesses that inhibit performance, focus on what will provide you with the greatest return
4. If you are offensively weak, or are set up to be defensive tight, spend as much time on set pieces as possible they will WIN you games the stats prove it, be creative and out-think your opposition.
5. Analyse where and when you lose goals and if their are trends identify what may be effecting poor judgement and mistakes at these times?
6. Preparation is key to everything, Sam Allardyce you quoted leaves no stone un-turned, nutrition key to high levels of energy, get it right and you will finish strong get it wrong you will lose energy and concentration. Strength and Conditioning you need to be strong, fast and agile in the modern game. Psychology, its under-estimated who high a factor this is in the modern game, mentally well prepared confident players perform at a high level, they deal with adversity better.
7. Make training harder than matches, everything has to be done at a high intensity, train longer than 90 minutes for at least 3 days a week, each afternoon have the players back for analytics, set pieces, get to know who your playing, who they play, what system they play, where are they strong and weak and adapt your game plan and system to reflect this.
8. Lead your team by example, set standards and collectively get them to accept responsibility for team performances, no excuses, you win and if you don't, you win next week, if you get beat there are consequences, rewards for winning ! They will get the picture quite quick! Behaviour breeds Behaviour, good habits, good habits and good habits, do not accept a drop in standards as it lets you and the team down!!!

Err , someone should tell that to the new York City manager Jackie McNamara - 7 straight losses, conceded 23, out of 2 cups in a week and sank to 92nd in the league.

What goes around? I think I hear from some of you.

God football is SOOOOOOOO bloody pointless.

Well, if you're the new York boss it is anyway.

Sad, really sad to see TUFC in this car crash of a state and i'm hoping still for all you old acquaintances that things improve and quickly. Hope you all are well anyway. Bloody football.

Kids under 10 should be free at ALL football grounds up and down the land when accompanied by a full paying adult for non ticket games when most grounds are half empty anyway. Best a child goes every week, gets immersed in the habit of going, buys some food or drink etc at the game and becomes and feels part of what it is to be a regular football supporter. The ground is better full of kids than empty seats. Clubs won't listen as it's always short term gain so effectively they are signing their own death warrants for the future because small clubs who generally exist year on year churning out rubbish football (which is most) cannot simply compete with TV and the cost of living. They will find out soon enough what their ignorance and stubbornness will mean.

Wonderful news! So pleased for Martin.

Dazza wrote:Like your football clubs?

Hey! Don't get ME involved in this!

I'm just waiting for Alan Knill to replace the sacked York manager Russ Wilcox and then i'll have my comeuppance. :-o

Forget Kelvin. Suit wearing schemer.

The only people who truly care about the club are the fans.

You have fans running the club.

You don't need or never have needed people of the ilk of Mr KT.

Joss Labadie made his long awaited return at Bootham Crescent last night as an 88th minute sub. Sadly not enough time to inflict dental injury on any of the York players. The Daggers got a 2-2 draw after being 2-1 up til late on and now both York and Torquay have something in common. They are both 4th bottom of their respective leagues and it will definitely be a National League fixture next season if the York lads don't get their fingers out of their anuses.

Sounds like a Scottish mountain! :~D

Vital win for you today. So pleased. Kick on now and get climbing that table. Nico knows now he can do it and should get a lot of confidence from today. COYY!!

Dave, you forgot the head to head in the FA Trophy 6 or 7 years back where they battered Torquay 3-0 at Haig Avenue. Went that day. Bloody hell, it was awful.

Just being a pedant mate, superb match preview as always.

Southport is a great place to while away a few hours by the sea before the game. It's a bit like Morecambe only less hoodies with pitbulls and less random assaults. There is a pub on the road before you get to the Haig Avenue that does (did) great food too. Perhaps my best memory of the day out.

I'm expecting you to get back on track up there and keep my fingers crossed for those travelling that they see a long overdue victory.

Sadly Richinns it's only a matter of time. At some point in the future the club will be offered up to new investors once more. You all as a collective as fans need to raise the cash, buy the club and run it yourselves otherwise it's inevitable. You all have been given an opportunity now so it's pretty much up to you all to take it. The usual Torquay apathy and failure to achieve this and you then can't really have any complaints if said vultures take over and decimate the place.

Oh and for the record, i'm not a representative of any parasites although I think my cat has fleas so I do play host them now and again.

hector wrote: Why? Based on what? That he had a long throw?

Based on what do you believe he WON'T keep you up?

There is nothing to say either way.

He might , he might not.

You'll soon find out then you can claim the bragging rights which I'm sure Brucie will be first in the queue should it go terminally wrong. By the same token, if KN gets it right those who disagreed should equally come on, apologise for getting it wrong and give immense credit for an amazing job done by the board and KN.

One thing i'm sure of is that if KN gets it wrong the site's server will have a tricky time coping with demand.

If KN gets it right then the inactivity on this very same forum will be telling.

Added in 8 minutes 48 seconds:
All football forums are , are one-upmanship contests. Someone predicts doom and then when it happens they can't wait to come on and tell everyone what a hugely impressive penis they have and how their cranial abilities are akin to that of the aliens that created humans.

Someone predicts success and then when it happens they can't wait to tell those 'doubters' that they now have the larger member.

If you all worked together then you'd be unstoppable.

Humans eh? Ego's and stubbornness. You'll get nowhere.

I have a gut feeling about Nico that I didn't get with Hargreaves. With all due respect to Nicholson, Hargreaves actually had a lot going for him before deciding to take the job on. He had a well established role with Bournemouth and also a burgeoning media career and to be honest, taking the Torquay job when he did was actually a little bit of a surprise. In contrast, Kev has been plodding along with struggling non league clubs such as Kiddy and Bath City of late and has been somewhat forgotten by the Gulls faithful.

I just feel that this represents a momentous opportunity for KN to start another chapter in his footballing career and cement his status as a true club legend. I felt that with CH, he kind of had this air of arrogance about him as boss that somehow it would work itself out in the end and he thought he couldn't fail and partly this was to blame for the relegation because the players were never given any belief by CH and they lacked a confidence that was never allowed to be rekindled under him. Kev will not be taking the piss. He'll know exactly what this means to everyone and he'll know exactly what he needs to do to dig you out of the shit. Even more important IMO, he'll be motivated as hell and this will rub off on the players. CH couldn't motivate anybody and that is half the battle no matter how shit your players are. Kev i'm sure is aware that if he cocks up big time and the board don't react quick enough to rectify his failure then the club will almost certainly be going ten feet under.

He's under HUGE pressure and that's why to have the knives out for him before he's even started is absolutely **** bizarre. Obviously some 'fans' want the club to go under so they have something else to moan about. Until he's proved he is not capable then he must have united support. I don't for one minute believe it is possible for him to be as clueless as Knill and Hargreaves.

My only niggle is the fact that on occasion Nico has displayed petulance as a player but he must be given the benefit of the doubt.

It's difficult to compare and decide who had the tougher job - CH or KN.

In League 2 I felt that CH had more than enough time to finish higher than just 2 other teams and I know from watching half of Torquay's games that season that there were some absolutely desperately shite sides in that league. In addition I didn't actually think our squad was the worst in the world either. On top of that, dropping out of the football league is pressure but nothing compared to dropping out of the national league and potentially facing closure which is what KN faces as a result of his failure despite having some REALLY shit teams to try and beat but with an admittedly much weaker squad than CH had in the league.

Like taxilady states, there is no other option. Kev Nic can and will succeed.

Come on Kev!!

royalgull wrote:I can answer both of those

Dream job for Nicho, delighted to be here will try and improve results, will play nice football only want people here commited to the club etc etc etc

Nicho is a legend here best candidate for the job, knows the club, knows the area etc etc Real answer, cheapest and easiest option and willing to do it for nothing.

In all seriousness this is exactly what the board SHOULD say. If it's the truth then just say it and move on. Most people can read between the lines anyway so dressing it up is pointless and would devalue their integrity. The fans have enough of people like this in the past and just want the truth however amateurish and stupid it sounds. All they need to say is that Nico was desperate to prove he can do it and it seemed the most convenient and financially suitable option for the club at this present time so it was a mutually agreeable appointment. Nico gets a great opportunity to make a career in management and the club get the opportunity to solve a short term crisis whilst also saving some cash. It's a no brainer. I don't see any need to make it sound a more difficult, considered appointment than it actually was.

I'm sure they will do this on Wednesday night because they are all fans too and still think like one. They know the score.

What is vital is that there are no more secrets kept from the fans because if there are then it's game over. The trust and dedicated support that is hanging by a thread for many a fan at this moment in time will be lost once and for all. Just tell the truth, always.