Labadie Recalled by County

[brucie]

Some excellent posts on here. Really it has been too little too late. I have a friend who attends all Plymouth home matches as well as all Torquay home games.
He assures me that Plymouth are a worse side than us. How galling then that they will most likely be staying up whilst we are going down.
They have adopted the policy of signing every man and his dog over the past two months whilst we hardly signed anyone.
Really this season has been an unmitigated disaster and those at the top should hang their heads in shame.

[londongull63]

Yep I think Argyle, Aldershot and Dagenham are definitely bad. Probably York too as long as one win over Argyle doesn't buoy them up too much.
Haven't quite decided about Barnet and Wimbledon after their shortlived little revival.
Only thing Argyle might have going for them apart from that loan signing is Branston, for all his pace limitations, is just he sort of inspirational person who would make sure no-one around him ever gives up until it's mathematical.

[Scott Brehaut]

Rant over. looking for optimism (love the way how players get clobbered if they appear to mentally throw in the towel, yet most people on here do just that! The only way we are definitely down already is if the players have taken the attitude of some posts here). 1. Barnet were abysmal up at their place. 2. They had 2 players sent off the game before last, are they suspended against us? 3. Craig played in the good performance against Southend. 4. Perhaps Morecambe and Bristol Rovers will throw in a couple of reserve team players to see if they should be released, or youngsters to gain experience. 5. Aldershot were pretty lucky to beat an ordinary playing-for-nothing Oxford team. They got a fortunate penalty for something that was no different to when Benyon was brought down at Northampton, and then Oxford had a man sent off.

The difference with the fans getting down and defeatist is that each and every person that turns up, pays to watch players that seemingly don't seem to care.
The players are paid to play football - if they can't do that then the fans, who have paid to watch them, have every right to be down and defeatist.

As you say, everything thinks we are incapable of fluking a win on Saturday and yet other teams around us are doing just that.

It isn't over until we are either mathematically down, or mathematically safe. Until that time lets hold on to our seats, the next few weeks will be one hell of a ride!!

[AustrianAndyGull]

I certainly think we CAN have a go at Notts County. The timing of this stinks, just after the loan window closed when they couldn't be safer from relegation and further from promotion. If they'd at least warned one of their players is on the brink of suspension and they intended recalling Joss in those circumstances at least Knill could have looked for another attacking midfielder as he didn't get his striker, but if he'd just got more midfielders with no indication that Joss could be recalled quite so unreasonably then the club would have faced 'what about our striker' complaints.
Who knows, as loan recalls do sometimes happen, Torquay might have favoured Labadie because they couldn't see much chance of Notts County wanting him back in their mid-table position other than in extreme circumstances.
They must have realised why we loaned him, we were fighting for our lives and wanted a central midfielder, while their season is ending aimlessly, so how would they like the boot on the other foot. And if we've been paying some of his wages they should give that back for shafting us as we would have probably looked elsewhere for perhaps a third string midfielder higher up the league, or a second loanee before the deadline. Ok, even if they had only a slender chance of promotion or relegation and they just wanted him on their bench, I could accept that because we would also want our best possible squad. If it was early season and they thought he'd gained a bit of experience and they just wanted him back as cover, I could accept that.
But it's simply because they've seen on TV he's scored 4 goals. I bet they haven't even watched him here. For all they know he could have been sh*t apart from his two tap-ins, and a close range header. Perhaps watching a good first time shot on the Football League show led them to believe a bloke who they've seen for five months can be a completely changed player over 4 games.
Knill was given money to loan a striker. Having not got one, if he knew County were going to recall Joss so easily he could have gone for another attacking midfielder instead. And also I remember some quote along the lines of we were trying to loan a striker "at the right money". Well if Notts County had warned us this might be coming, then the limit for that striker could have been upped quite a bit by adding Labadie's wages to the loan striker budget, so we could have given Labadie back and got a better class of striker than those we were targetting.
If they are having second thoughts about releasing him, and he is only on the bench for them, then as someone said they would be better off sending someone to watch him play 90 minutes for us.
And yes he was good, but he's not exactly going to single-handedly transform their Divison 1 results if he makes any difference at all. They didn't loan us one of the stars of Div 1.
I remember other teams in our league loaning players who excelled in recent seasons. Gillingham had some free-scoring striker, I think Grimes scored a lot somewhere and they weren't immediately recalled. This is different to when it's happened to us on previous occasions. Surely for a mid-table team like Notts the agreement must be a bit fairer than 'ok, you can keep him as long as he's pretty sh*t for you'.

Rant over. looking for optimism (love the way how players get clobbered if they appear to mentally throw in the towel, yet most people on here do just that! The only way we are definitely down already is if the players have taken the attitude of some posts here). 1. Barnet were abysmal up at their place. 2. They had 2 players sent off the game before last, are they suspended against us? 3. Craig played in the good performance against Southend. 4. Perhaps Morecambe and Bristol Rovers will throw in a couple of reserve team players to see if they should be released, or youngsters to gain experience. 5. Aldershot were pretty lucky to beat an ordinary playing-for-nothing Oxford team. They got a fortunate penalty for something that was no different to when Benyon was brought down at Northampton, and then Oxford had a man sent off.
Finally this idea of just surrendering the game against Gillingham. It's pretty important we make a fight of it even if we end up losing by one goal or even two as our goal difference is currently worth a vital point. If we get tanked then at least 2 teams, Plymouth and Barnet, who we can haul into trouble, get an extra point on us even if they lose.

You are expecting relegation too but won't admit it. All the above is about what other teams may or may not do and somehow desperately looking for a chink of light and that indicates to me that you don't feel we can stay up on our own merits. Neither do a lot of us so what's new?

[Wisconsin_gull]

Women and children to the lifeboats

Need to play with our pants on fire now!

[Gullscorer]

Women and children to the lifeboats

Need to play with our pants on fire now!

Sorry mate, in this age of political correctness and gender equality it's 'abandon ship; every man for himself'...!! =D

[Gullscorer]

... =D ...

[tufcbrett]

We won't be in the BSP next season. Only because it will be named with bet fair as there name. So it won't be the blue square anymore

[royalgull]

Absolutely nothing we can do about it, he's their player and they can do as they please. This is the problem when you are relying on loan players...at some point they go back!

The timing from our point of view is horrendous but Notts have nothing to play for so will be making decisions on certain members of their squad to get some benefit out of their last 4 games, they have no duty of care towards TUFC and our needs. they won't give a toss and nor should they.

Labadie has come in and showed what we desperately lack, presence, composure and a goal threat it's why 90% of our midfielders should be shown the door in the summer. No idea what i'd do Saturday, looks like Lathrope has got the nod which is probably the safe choice but to be honest whoever comes in won't make any difference.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Smiffy that is a MAMMOTH idea! I thought we'd actually be much shorter than 10/3 considering we're 3rd bottom, possibly 11/8 or something. I am certain we're going down but i don't have a hundred quid to put on it sadly nor do i need a season ticket but if any of have no qualms about betting against your own team then i'd be off down the bookies like a shot. Without Poke and Labadie on saturday it's a penalty kick for Gillingham and we could actually be 2nd bottom with Aldershot & Plymouth still having games in hand!! Then we have to go on and win 2 more games. To think we can stay up is mental IMO. We CAN stay up as it's a game of football and anything can happen but anyone genuinely thinking we will is wrong IMO. Also, what impact does Joss leaving have on the rest of the squad? He has come in and lifted everybody with his goals and performances and just when they ( and us ) are coming round to actually getting some belief that we can get out of this, Notts County pull this one and we're back down on planet no hope once again. How WILL the players cope? Lets be honest, they've been pretty tame for most of the season so what makes people think they are suddenly going to turn into warriors for the last 4 games? There is NO evidence of this at all and we are already down, accept and plan for next season. It will make the last 4 games easier to deal with and lessen the disappointment.

[divingbboy]

If you're all ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN that we're going down.....

Then use some sense and get a free season ticket! All it requires is a £100 deposit to a bookmaker, who kindly look after your deposit until they return your money in time for the early-bird season ticket offers. In fact, they return your £100 deposit with a generous £333.33 profit, which funnily enough covers your BSP popside season ticket, and some half time snacks!!!

Somewhat ashamed to admit that I put down £20 at 33/1 back in mid-February. Note: I DO NOT want us to go down, but at least I can temper the blow a bit if we do by providing myself a free season ticket and halftime pasties.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Anyone who put money on us to go down have no worries. I DIDN'T so therefore it means the bet will win now!

To be honest, i think you lot should be clubbing together to get me a few quid to put on us going down now as that will then ensure our league 2 status despite having a team full of fairies. :~D

[Plymouth Gull]

There is NO evidence of this at all and we are already down, accept and plan for next season. It will make the last 4 games easier to deal with and lessen the disappointment.

You'd rather the club came out now and said "Sorry lads, we're already relegated, don't bother spending your money for the next four games"? Talk about throwing the towel in. Bloody hell.

I was there at Carlisle in 2006, I remember coming back from Rushden & Diamonds at the start of April having lost a game that saw us SIX points adrift of the team in 23rd! I remember thinking that was that. Then out of nowhere, this fight appeared. The squad we had that season was crap, this current squad is a tad improvement on that. I remember going to Carlisle not expecting anything and look, we won. That practically sealed our survival. We still have FOUR games to play, but you're happy to ignore all these and prepare for next season anyway.

That is possibly the daftest thing I've ever seen on here, and that takes some doing, so well done. What is the point in giving up now? It's still possible that we can stay up, and although it's unlikely given the blows of Labadie going and Poke injured, it is fundamental that we don't throw this away. Seriously, what would the point be in accepting defeat now and planning for the Conference? Nothing. There isn't a point to it. This club needs League football, and we as supporters should support that until it is mathematically impossible.

I do think we will go down, but until it is impossible to survive then I won't be giving up hope! I'll be at Gills on Saturday and if it comes to it I'll consider getting myself to Morecambe. Bloody hell, some people!

[AustrianAndyGull]

Have i had a go at you for being so positive? No! So why the rant at me. Yes, i happen to believe we are already down whereas you don't. That's fine, i don't mind you coming on and shouting your battle cries from the rooftops, that's your choice. As fans it's out of our hands as to what happens and IMO i haven't seen too much to make me think we can win 2 out of last 4 games. That's all, no need for the personal attack. I'll be at Morecambe too, so f*cking what?!! Is it going to make us win there then ? Jesus Christ man i give up, ooh sorry, already have. Unbelievable.

[brucie]

I have given up as well - Rice in goal. No chance. I fear it could be 6-0 on saturday.