Team Morale

[MidDevon]

The most startling thing for me last night was when Ryan Jarvis scored.....and a great goal it was as well.

I was watching the celebrations and noticed that Rene Howe did not seem to congratulate Ryan at all. Maybe he did from a distance, but he certainly did not go up to him and pat him on the back, hug him, kiss him

[AustrianAndyGull]

Don't take this the wrong way Middevon but team morale is bound to be at rock bottom when we keep losing football matches but the point you are making about possible divisions in the squad is a valid one. I don't know if it is the case as i haven't seen as many games as you but all i can do is compare the players that got us out of trouble in our first season back in the league to todays bunch and i also see problems. Manse in particular was immense that season and i've spoke about it before on here about when we played away at Grimsby near the tail end of the season and we got a penalty. Manse popped it away under real pressure and the celebrations and unity were palpable. The interesting thing about that season was that we battled, we played some good stuff at times and we pulled away in the end. This team doesn't even look interested in playing football never mind rolling their sleeves up and i just hope they haven't given up already.

Morale is low we know that but i just believe we need a bit of energy and a bit of fizz. Can't someone book Michael McIntyre for an impromptu pre-match 30 minute gig in the changing rooms before we take on Accrington? That might do the trick!

[Behind-the-Gulls]

There's no leadership on the field,no one driving the players on-asking for that extra ten percent that is needed in these situations. Saah was captain last night but he's not a shouter or motivator on the pitch;consistent as he is as a player.Manse can normally be relied on to spur them on but we need more leaders-experienced pro's who can help motivate and inspire the younger players who will find a relegation tussle a different and difficult experience. I'm sure Knill will have identified this as a problem and be looking for players with these sort of characteristics when he brings in some loan signings.In the situation we're in its imperative.

[Lloyder5]

Confidence was certainly very low, from the beginning

[brucie]

Don't know whether anyone noticed Howe spending most of the pre match warm up chatting to a Wycombe player in the centre circle. Hardly looked like a man with his mind on the job in hand.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Why should he? As if he's going to stick around here in the summer even if we stay up. We're in a total mess. That may be part of the problem, that many players have accepted they must try and move on in the summer and that leaves us in even more trouble.

[Dave]

Well this is indeed a problem, whan you have lost 7 games on the spin players do not just question themselves( and anyone who thinks they do not care are foolish) You also get situations where players despite a losing run, who can not get in the team start asking questions of the coaching staff, and I believe this may have been a problem with Nathan Craig and Nial Thompson.

You will get players who will start looking at those in the starting 11 thinking/moaning what has got or done to hold his place when we are getting beat every week. Also from the moment Alan Knill arrived the talk has been about loan signings, not just from us fans, but from within the club, that just makes players feel more unsettled, those on the bench, out of the squad think thats me done for, and those in the starting 11, begin to think is it going to be me making way, so can go some way to explain why things are looking a lot more tense out there.

I did say I thought not much was needed and there was a need to tap more into what we already have, I now realise that was wrong. There needs to be 4 players brought in, and with 12 games left we are out of time, this must happen before Saturday.

Yes the board are acting, sadly and possibly to late (lets hope not), we have shut the gate now, however the horse is long gone, infact it could well already be on shelf , labled as beef stew.

[AustrianAndyGull]

Well this is indeed a problem, whan you have lost 7 games on the spin players do not just question themselves( and anyone who thinks they do not care are foolish) You also get situations where players despite a losing run, who can not get in the team start asking questions of the coaching staff, and I believe this may have been a problem with Nathan Craig and Nial Thompson.

You will get players who will start looking at those in the starting 11 thinking/moaning what has got or done to hold his place when we are getting beat every week. Also from the moment Alan Knill arrived the talk has been about loan signings, not just from us fans, but from within the club, that just makes players feel more unsettled, those on the bench, out of the squad think thats me done for, and those in the starting 11, begin to think is it going to be me making way, so can go some way to explain why things are looking a lot more tense out there.

I did say I thought not much was needed and there was a need to tap more into what we already have, I now realise that was wrong. There needs to be 4 players brought in, and with 12 games left we are out of time, this must happen before Saturday.

Yes the board are acting, sadly and possibly to late (lets hope not), we have shut the gate now, however the horse is long gone, infact it could well already be on shelf , labled as beef stew.

[MidDevon]

Don't take this the wrong way Middevon but team morale is bound to be at rock bottom when we keep losing football matches but the point you are making about possible divisions in the squad is a valid one. I don't know if it is the case as i haven't seen as many games as you but all i can do is compare the players that got us out of trouble in our first season back in the league to todays bunch and i also see problems. Manse in particular was immense that season and i've spoke about it before on here about when we played away at Grimsby near the tail end of the season and we got a penalty. Manse popped it away under real pressure and the celebrations and unity were palpable. The interesting thing about that season was that we battled, we played some good stuff at times and we pulled away in the end. This team doesn't even look interested in playing football never mind rolling their sleeves up and i just hope they haven't given up already.

Morale is low we know that but i just believe we need a bit of energy and a bit of fizz. Can't someone book Michael McIntyre for an impromptu pre-match 30 minute gig in the changing rooms before we take on Accrington? That might do the trick!

I remember the Grimsby game well, one of my favourites , if not my all time favouraite away game, 2 teams battling against relegation and the team togetherness won it on the day. That spirit was amazing that day, I think i even hugged Zebroski which showed how excited I must have been.

.....it was also rather interesting after the game, if you think Torbay is full of "Skivers not Strivers" you should visit Cleethorpes after your team has won!

[AustrianAndyGull]

Used to go on holidays to Cleethorpes about 3 times a year when i was a kid as we only lived 45 minutes away. My parents didn't have much money then. It was ok then but now it needs bombing to be honest. Happy memories though and i hope we play Grimsby next season whatever league we are in.