Torquay United without Mansell

Post by **Scott Brehaut** » 24 Feb 2014, 15:41

Matt - whilst I don't disagree with what you're saying, how should he go about this?

Simply go into the gaffers office and say, hey boss, I've realised that I'm not as good as I was so please stop picking me? Not sure if that would work to be honest - if the gaffer thinks he is capable then why should he refuse to play? It's not his fault if he is continually being picked - even the much maligned Alan Knill who, if people on here are to be believed was a month away from getting rid of Manse and Nico, picked him continually and kept him as captain.

Yeah, he's not the player he was, but successive managers have continued to pick him, and he is still contracted to the club so he's just got to continue to do what he's paid to do until such a time as he is dropped, or his contract is not renewed.

arcadia · Post by **arcadia** » 24 Feb 2014, 17:35

MidDevon wrote:Whilst I wish to make it clear that I never wish bad on any Torquay player, I am looking actually forward to the possibility of seeing the team play without Mansell as captain and without Mansell in midfield.

Is today's injury the only way we will see Mansell not picked for the next game ?

Last season we had a purple patch after he was sent off and did not play, and I think most of us will agree that the best recent performance was against Portsmouth.

The man cannot lead the team on the pitch and certainly in the last 2 matches has given the ball away so many times his place must surely be at least questioned ? (we counted 8 mis-placed passes against Northampton) , today he ran around, huffed and puffed and possibly touched the ball 15 times.

I would far rather see a team with battling Lathrope making simple and sensible decisions in front of the central defenders....as for captain, the one bright spark in recent weeks has been Pearce, may only be 24, but that lad could rally the troops on the pitch

just my views after another performance when we lost because we made more mistakes that our opponents

I'M SICK OF PEOPLE KNOCKING MANSELL yes he had a bad game Saturday so did the rest of the team.

Post by **Colorado Gull** » 24 Feb 2014, 17:44

There is not doubt that Mansell has been very, very poor recently and it is clear to me that we are better off without him in the team at the moment. Too many mistakes, too many sloppy errors which aren't like him at all, he needs a break. I know he would never do this because he is such a determined player, but he SHOULD say to Hargreaves "it isn't working for me at the moment, I'm using my captaincy correct and saying to you that I think I need a break and would like to be rested for a few games and maybe perhaps help you in supporting and helping the team." If he did this, I would really respect him and believe that this is the right decision.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 24 Feb 2014, 17:51

I don't think Manse is the kind of bloke to do this though Danny. He will want to play every game to try and get us over the line and he probably would feel like a failure if he did this. He wouldn't be of course, it would be a brave thing to do but like I said before, there are 10 other players who failed us on Saturday not just the one so Manse not being in the side won't really make much of a difference IMO.

Post by **Colorado Gull** » 24 Feb 2014, 17:53

I realise he wouldn't do this Andy, that's what I said in my previous post, I just think he should and if he ever did he would get the greatest of respect.

arcadia · Post by **arcadia** » 24 Feb 2014, 17:58

dannyrvtufc4life wrote:There is not doubt that Mansell has been very, very poor recently and it is clear to me that we are better off without him in the team at the moment. Too many mistakes, too many sloppy errors which aren't like him at all, he needs a break. I know he would never do this because he is such a determined player, but he SHOULD say to Hargreaves "it isn't working for me at the moment, I'm using my captaincy correct and saying to you that I think I need a break and would like to be rested for a few games and maybe perhaps help you in supporting and helping the team." If he did this, I would really respect him and believe that this is the right decision.

Look at the squad we've got and who's fit and suspended and now in the right frame of mind who is Hargreaves going to play tomorrow night our own supporters are killing any spirit we might have had. Hargreaves asked the supporters to get behind the team on Saturday. We all like to voice an opinion I'm as bad as the next person but people in this club are tearing a few players apart when the manager needs them most.

Post by **Colorado Gull** » 24 Feb 2014, 18:11

arcadia wrote: Look at the squad we've got and who's fit and suspended and now in the right frame of mind who is Hargreaves going to play tomorrow night our own supporters are killing any spirit we might have had. Hargreaves asked the supporters to get behind the team on Saturday. We all like to voice an opinion I'm as bad as the next person but people in this club are tearing a few players apart when the manager needs them most.

I'm sorry what did I say that was "tearing" Mansell apart?

arcadia · Post by **arcadia** » 24 Feb 2014, 18:25

The problem with Mansell in a struggling team he's one of these players who thinks he can try harder and put it right football does not work like that, it's up to the manager to put this right and calm him down.
I could have picked on any of the posts but Hargreaves needs all the players focased for tomorrow and it can't be easy reading if any of them read this about their captain tonight.

tomogull · Post by **tomogull** » 24 Feb 2014, 18:27

We all like to voice an opinion I'm as bad as the next person but people in this club are tearing a few players apart when the manager needs them most.

[/quote]

I'm sorry what did I say that was "tearing" Mansell apart?[/quote] :aww:

I don't think Arcadia was having a pop at you in particular, Danny - but postings such as (quote) "he can f*** off with his hard work and passion - worst player in Div 2 etc etc" are an insult to a player who has given everything to this club and has had the respect of all the managers he has played under.

arcadia · Post by **arcadia** » 24 Feb 2014, 18:35

tomogull wrote:We all like to voice an opinion I'm as bad as the next person but people in this club are tearing a few players apart when the manager needs them most.

I'm sorry what did I say that was "tearing" Mansell apart?[/quote] :aww:

I don't think Arcadia was having a pop at you in particular, Danny - but postings such as (quote) "he can f*** off with his hard work and passion - worst player in Div 2 etc etc" are an insult to a player who has given everything to this club and has had the respect of all the managers he has played under.[/quote]
Thomo your a star!

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 24 Feb 2014, 18:43

Yeah, it's well known that the players spend at least an hour before each game flicking through this forum.

Arcadia, perhaps this is what you did during your imaginary time as a pro, but our players don't do that, so what's said on here makes **** all difference to how the team plays.

Matt.

ferrarilover · Post by **ferrarilover** » 24 Feb 2014, 18:59

Scotty, I think it's time for Manse to either retire or ask for a loan move to somewhere else. There are all manner of Conference clubs who would love to have him. Hereford are in dire straits, and I doubt Dartford would turn him down either.
He has been miles off the pace for months now. Managers continuing to pick him has nothing to do with talent. He probably looks like a good option in training. His reputation precedes him. Managers see our league position, see him as a midfield general and then assume that his fighting qualities will win the midfield battle.

Sadly, in this modern age, Roy Keane wouldn't get a look in because Michael Carrick has all the same muscle, but comes with the footballing talent of Paul Scholes. Two for the price of one. We see teams come to us the whole season with 6'4", 18 stone enforcers in Manse's position. Thing is, not only is be bigger and stronger than our Lee, he can also pick a pass rather than aimlessly hacking the ball in the vague direction of the opposition penalty area.

Manse is a club legend, he was a big part of the incredible success the club enjoyed between 2007 and 2011, but his time has come. The game has moved on and he (and to an extent, the whole club) has not.

He's a bit like shoulder pads and Whitesnake. Both brilliantly suited to the 80s, but completely irrelevant to today's society.

Matt.

Chris B · Post by **Chris B** » 24 Feb 2014, 19:47

ferrarilover wrote:Sadly, in this modern age, Roy Keane wouldn't get a look in because Michael Carrick has all the same muscle, but comes with the footballing talent of Paul Scholes. Two for the price of one.

Hilarious! If you believe any of that to be true, then forgive my scepticism on any judgement you make on a footballer!

The case with Mansell is simple, bar a couple of seasons when he was surrounded by a talented team, he has always been a lower League Two-upper Conference player. That he made the most of Eunan next to him and notched a dozen goals, a place in the L2 Team of the Season, and a bumper contract was a credit to him. Expecting Knill or Hargreaves to be able to offload him or Nicholson has always been fanciful given the deals they were rewarded with.

Onto his position in the team at present, there seems to be a lot of contradiction among supporters. Some want experience, lament the quality and naivety of loanees, and question whether short-term signings even care. Even Harding - the early season scapegoat - is being heralded as a better alternative. Despite a chronic lack of form over the last two years, and a dwindling of what ability he did have, Mansell was by far the standout of our central midfielders at the league leaders just two games ago.

With Labadie unavailable, Harding unfit and Craig yet again unfancied, we need to hope our captain can use his experience of relegation battles (some successful, others not) to help drag us away from what seems like the inevitable drop.

Torquay supporters have had a rough deal over the last eighteenth months, but that's no excuse for the poisonous place Plainmoor has become. Familiarity - not just with defeat but with certain players - seems to have bred a lot of contempt. Mansell, Stevens and Benyon frequently feel the brunt. It really is time for this to stop, no matter how bleak our situation.

nickbrod · Post by **nickbrod** » 24 Feb 2014, 19:57

An interesting set of opinions but for now does anyone know after Manse limped off and subbed on Saturday whether he's fit to be picked for tomorrow.

AustrianAndyGull · Post by **AustrianAndyGull** » 24 Feb 2014, 20:03

dannyrvtufc4life wrote:I realise he wouldn't do this Andy, that's what I said in my previous post, I just think he should and if he ever did he would get the greatest of respect.

Yep, just seen it Danny. That'll teach me not to read things through properly.

I agree with you too, he would get respect from many quarters I don't doubt if he were to sacrifice himself in this manner.

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