Bouncing Back in 2014/15...??

[Gullscorer]

It's obviously early days; the season hasn't yet begun, though the big kick-off is only a few weeks away. But Lee Mansell's move to Bristol Rovers has prompted me to look at the respective chances for our two clubs for an immediate return to the Football League.

On the face of it, Rovers, with their larger support and fan-base, along with their apparently better ability to sign players on higher wages than we can offer, might appear to have the better prospects. But the record of Luton Town in the Conference indicates otherwise. It's not all about who has the bigger crowds and the better financial resources.

At Plainmoor, we must obviously rely on other factors for success on the field. Not least of these will be the passion of the fans and their unwavering support for the team through all the highs and lows of the season. Alongside this, the ability of the manager and his team to get the best from the players and mould them into a unified team, and the attitude of the players bringing the right team spirit in the dressing room and the will to win on the pitch.

All obvious basic stuff, but, if we're not careful, can easily fall apart, as we've seen to our cost over the past couple of years. The new season should bring new optimism. But which will be the most likely club to bounce back, Torquay United or Bristol Rovers?

We can look in detail at each club's line-up of players pre-season and their respective prospects, but Luton Town's experience in the Conference tells me I should put a quid or two on the Gulls.

What think you?

[ferrarilover]

This is the same Bristol Rovers who had the fanbase and finances to push for the Championship (and ended in relegation). Then had the fanbase and finances to win L2 at their first and every subsequent attempt (two seasons of barely avoiding relegation before the inevitable drop). They're now the team with more money than God and more fans too. They'll walk the Conference in the same way that Portsmouth walked L2 last year.

All the gear, no idea.

Matt.

[friendlygas]

Hi Gulls,
Well here we go again..pre season training about to start and the time to consider the coming season and how we both react to the disaster that was last season. First thing to get out of the way is the bigger club syndrome as 10,500 fans in the last game against Mansfield made no difference whatsoever in the result and neither did the probability that we had ONE of the biggest budgets. The truth is that it is NOT how much money you have but how you use that money.
If Chris Hargreaves uses his likely smaller pot better than Darrell Clark uses his alledged bigger pot then you will have a better season than us. The only thing a bigger fanbase brings is expectations. If i look back over 50 years of watching Rovers I could probably give us case that the majority of our better results come when the crowd attending has been low!
The next few weeks will be interesting for both of us as we see our squads for next season put in place. Which of us holds the advantage at the moment? I am not sure. You seem to have (due to contracts) your hands tied more in that you may have to get rid of players before you can bring numbers in but that could be an advantage because those very players MAY excel at the level below and may be spurred into action by the realisation that they are no longer Football League players. we,on the otherhand are not far off the position we were in when Mr buckle took charge. our chances will very much depend on the players we bring in but also on managing to keep hold of the back four and Goalkeeper. Very much going to be the unknown I feel as Mansell apart i haven't really heard of our other three signings and i have the feeling that i probably won't know anything about our next 4 -5 signings. All i will say is that they probably can't be any worse than what we had!!
Good luck with your team building and lets hope for a good season to make up for last year!!

[Gullscorer]

Hi Friendlygas. I suspect the biggest factor in a team's success is an elusive indefinable something connected with attitude, confidence, and determination, plus whichever manager is the best sports psychologist. Anyway, best of luck for next season..

[Dave_Pougher]

Being cynical as I am I wouldn't mind a bet on Bristol Rovers remaining In the Conference until after their new stadium has been built.

Make that a double bet with TQY remaining in the Conference whilst Bill Phillips remains in post.


May have a bit of trouble finding a bookies to take that bet!

[Gullscorer]

Well, Rovers are currently mid-table, but it's still early days and a long way to go yet, so they could yet mount a promotion challenge. However, our last visit to the Conference took us two seasons and two play-offs to get back into the Football League, it took Luton five years, and Exeter I believe the same, so Rovers will not find it that easy. And it looks as if their new stadium may not be built for a long time yet.

As for the Gulls, bouncing straight back is again looking to be a somewhat surprising possibility, and if we are fortunate enough to see it happen, or even if we make a serious but unsuccessful promotion challenge, then in view of the events of last season, CH and everyone at Plainmoor will deserve all the plaudits. And we will also perhaps owe John Sheridan at Argyle a very small vote of thanks, since our captain Luke Young will have played no small part in it any success (still can't believe that Sheridan let him go). Indeed, Luke and the rest of our squad are already looking a class above the rest of the division and are probably the envy of many League Two clubs.