Torquay United Fans Forum

This looks like a very positive development - a guy with excellent credentials to lead the commercial side of the club and the development of a 24/7 business.

I have to say that the consortium continues to inspire confidence in me - I thought the latest Chairman's chat was totally reassuring that we continue on the road to sustainable success.

I am sure there will be those who consider any investment in anything but the playing budget to be a lost opportunity but this misses the point that playing success must be built on firm financial foundations. I don't want to see our Club in the same straights as last year ever again.

Southampton Gull wrote: 04 May 2025, 19:38 Great summary although I've not seen any Wotton Out posts on here.

I'm not a fan as I've often stated but the target was promotion and he almost delivered so no need for panic from me. I do feel he's too negative and that's probably what grates me the most. That said he's done more than enough to justify the chance to improve us further for a serious crack next season.

What I don't want to see is the same dour performances that dominated this season. He's set us on an upward trajectory thanks to the backing of the Bryn Consortium so I'm expecting a big improvement in the squad next season.

The positivity around the club has been unbelievable after so many years of toxicity and let's all hope it continues.

B+ for me this season and hoping for an A next season.

This sums up my feelings perfectly!

Mussa - Although he made a couple of poor passes early on and was guilty of overplaying towards the end (taking two defenders on rather than releasing Jay when he was free to goal) he nevertheless had a great game, always trying to get us moving forwards
Jay - What a clever goal and it was part of a really energetic performance
Foulston - We are so much better at the back when he is playing but added that excellent third goal
Hayfield - came good second half when Weymouth tired and played some great supporting stuff but should have taken the shot on more than one occasion
Hasani - another energetic performance which kept Weymouth stretched in midfield

Concerned at our inability to score more goals against the 10 men of one of the poorest sides to come to Plainmoor this season.

Hasani - always looking to take the ball and do something constructive with it
Dyer - pick of the back four who had a quiet day
Cooke - ruffled their defensive feathers and a goal
Jay - apart from missing an open goal, generally energetic and did score
Young - tried to make things happen but too one footed

Not sure how this could be accommodated in the tiny space available - the time to have done this was when the Bench was built but the need to maximise the space allocated to Westlands School use made it impossible to build new toilets within the Bench footprint. However, I do agree the substantive point - they are totally inadequate when the crowds are bigger.

Young - most of our attacking threat came from him
Dyer - secure at the back but also made some telling passes
Dreyer - also secure in defence
Cooke - made a difference when he came on and got the all-important goal
Foulston - we look more solid at the back now he’s returned from injury

All the rest were pretty anonymous.

Great crowd total.

Jay - an assist, a goal and most of our threat, such as it was, was due to him and Young
Young - a goal and unlucky to be subbed. Carrying an injury perhaps?
Zanzala - worked hard for little reward because of inadequate service
Dreyer - no coincidence that we conceded two after his substitution
WJD - great tackle and assist for Jays goal

Unfortunately no one else had a good game - in particular both full/wing backs were regularly rinsed and the less said about the other midfield players the better

Yet another match-winning position frittered away. How many 2-0 leads have we now thrown away this season? I am told it might be five! Well, you could see it coming. First half we were clinical, scoring with each of our two attempts despite having less of the possession and fewer opportunities created. Second half was another horror show - probably 80 % possession for BW, almost no football worth the name by United and again only two further attempts both on target but comfortably saved by their keeper. Only four attempts all game!!!!

The problem for me is the apparent lack of leadership on the field and the inability of the team to keep a high line and press the opposition. We just sat deeper and deeper, despite the manager doing his nut for most of the second half and we got our just desserts - for their part BW remained faithful to their game plan, playing football triangles and moving our midfield repeatedly out of position - and got their reward at the death. They were fitter, stronger and braver than us and we were lucky to even get a point - had the shot against the post gone in at 2-0 we would have lost.

I remain puzzled as to how a Wotton team can appear so spineless when teams have a go at them.

Hi Matty, I still remember a similar goal from Eunan O'Kane against Argyle (but can't remember which year) so Matt Jay is not the only United player ever to do that!

Another difficult watch today. First half we were OK but 2-0 probably flattered us at HT. We only had 4 attempts but with 3 on target. The second half was dire - only 2 attempts with 1 on target (a really lame effort too) - and it was nearly all Hornchurch. Their number 5 really bossed the game from the back bringing the ball forward at pace and creating repeated overloads in midfield where all of our players really struggled. It was another match where our full professionals looked tired and out of ideas whereas their part-timers looked anything but. Had the match gone on much longer, we would have lost two points - fortunately the woodwork and Hamon saved us from that and worse. Also noted that the manager was doing his nut for most of the second half as substitution after substitution failed to have any impact. Really it is incomprehensible how we can be so close to the top of the league - in match after match we have been taught footballing lessons by the opposition. Perhaps it is because the quality of the league is poor but I do wonder if, by some miracle, we maintain our momentum to the end of the season and secure promotion how we would fare in the National League.

Difficult one to choose between Palmer and Hamon for top spot so here goes:

Hamon - without the penalty save and some excellent second half saves we would have lost the game so he gets top place for me
Palmer - an assist for the first goal and an excellent pass to put Young through to square to Carson for the second then a great defensive display
Craske - he has been consistently good in recent matches and scored a good snap shot goal
Dreyer - secure at the back under the second half deluge, just wish he would occasionally come forward with the ball like Palmer instead of always passing sideways
Hasani - not much came off for him but kept striving to get on the ball and he and Young were the only midfielders to show any quality

Dreyer - a goal but immense under pressure but just wish he would occasionally bring the ball forward in open play rather than just lumping it
Craske - hardly put a foot wrong in defence and when Carson helped double mark their winger in the second half, eliminated Eastbourne's chief threat on their right wing
Hamon - that fantastic save was crucial
Cook - worked tirelessly and won plenty of ball but insufficient support to take advantage - still went close when hitting the post
Mussa - for the best moment of quality in the whole game - a fine solo goal

Jordan Dyer - not only two goals but also for a great defensive display too
Oscar Threlkeld - don't think he has played well for much of the season but yesterday he was excellent - one first half sweeping volley pass to Morgan on the left wing was almost worth the entrance fee on its own! A real captain's performance.
Dylan Morgan - skilful performance in the first half but was starved of possession later
Cody Cook - worked his legs off and got the chance to score at the end
Jordan Young - frustrated by his inability to use his right peg but two assists were a good contribution.

BTW Drummergull - Foulston was not even playing!

James Hamon - two outstanding saves and two very good ones to secure the result
Jordan Dyer - immense performance to cover for his unusually poor partner, Sam Dreyer
Jordan Young - most of the good work in midfield came through him and his goal was class - if only he could play with two feet!
Dan Hayfield - ran his socks off especially when we went down to 10
Oscar Threlkeld - not generally his greatest fan but I thought he was very effective today