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Now that we have completed 17 matches, 8 at home and 9 away, I have been looking at the results in what is generally agreed to be quite a tight league two this season with nearly all teams capable of beating one another.

Obviously our home form is quite impressive as we have won the last 4 home matches on the bounce and remain undefeated at Plainmoor in the league.

4 of our 8 home games have seen us play clubs in the top 7 and we have seen off Gillingham in top spot and Rochdale a game I saw. We have also avoided defeat away at Port Vale in second spot and Fleetwood Town in 5th spot.

Defensively we are very similar to goals conceded to all the clubs in the top 7 with the single exception of Gillingham who have only conceded 12 goals in 17 games.

Clearly our away form is disappointing but the 4 games we have lost away have all been by a single goal which tells me that we are competitive and there is reason to believe that this squad will at very least finish in the top half and might find a play off spot if Martin Ling can bring in a goal scorer so that we are not completely reliant on Rene Howe.

The next 8 games to the year end are all against clubs ranked 10th to 24th in the table with the single exception of Bradford away who are 4th.

Given the lack of money and the very poor gates we attract I think supporters should get behind the team and remember that we are very fortunate to have a league team when so many clubs are swimming against the tide in the Blue Square Premier. Have faith and to the pessimists, who are unduly negative, I say you probably take a negative view because you are unsuccessful yourself and therefore always see things in a negative way.

Good post; I agree completely.

I would only add that a team's league position, particularly this season, gives absolutely no indication as to the difficulty of the game or strength of the opponents. We should go into every game, against every team, as if we were playing the league leaders, with focus, energy and determination. If we play a bottom-of-the-table team thinking all we have to do is to turn up on the pitch and go through the motions, we will be in trouble.

But I'm sure Lingy and the players know this. So it would be nice to see them, when they get their shooting boots on, slaughter such a team 5-0 or 8-0...

I think there is no denying the progress the club has made on and off the field in the last 5 years and i am extremely pleased with the club at the minute. There are many reasons for optimism.

Its just a shame 3 of our 4 defeats this season are to teams that currently occupy the bottom 5. We have to be optimistic as thats why we support and love Torquay. If we all wanted the easy ride just Support Man Utd, but that would be boring and unforgivable. Just hope we win at York as im going and looking forward to the overnighter.