Ed @DomRoman is back with his weekly blog in an uncharacteristically quiet week at Plainmoor

1 – Daggers Preview

Let’s be realistic here, it doesn’t look good for tomorrow! Daggers are the highest scorers in the league with 25 goals so far (and boast the league’s top scorer in Corey Whitely), which is exactly the same amount as we have conceded! Meanwhile we’ve only managed eleven (three more than Tranmere, which is shocking from their point of view!). So a home win is the most likely outcome tomorrow?

Well probably. Our defensive record has two sides to it, one with Josh Gowling and one without! With him the team have conceded only 2 goals in 4 games, without him it’s been carnage – so at least the big guy is fit. Owers has also had a full week to bed in new signings such as McQuoid, Murphy and Myrie-Williams (MMM…), and basically try to revive the squad into a winning one. I liked the look of McQuoid last Saturday, he was direct and positive up the left hand side. Maybe he’ll have a certain Liam Davis playing behind him tomorrow, giving that side some balance at last (just don’t you dare play Myles there again Gary!).

Owers has mentioned intensity this week, and that could be a key word. We have been going into games far too tamely, and last Saturday just looked like we wanted to avoid defeat. There’s a fear around the squad at the moment of the worst happening (and generally it then is), and they have to cast this off asap. It’s not impossible we’ll get a result up there, as Daggers have been inconsistent this season and have let in a number of goals themselves.

With our poor goal-scoring record the first one will be crucial – get that and who knows… I just wish we had Jordan Lee and George Dowling back tomorrow, their youthful enthusiasm and confidence in the face of our ongoing ‘fear factor’ would be very helpful.

Dagenham and Redbridge Quick Summary

Last Three Games:

Solihull Moors (A) 2-2 DRAW – 23 SEPT

FC Halifax (H) 3-1 WIN – 16 SEPT

Sutton United (H) 1-2 LOSS – 12 SEPT

Top Scorer – Corey Whitely – 8 goals

Manager – John Still

Full Record: Played 12, Win 5, Draw 5, Lost 2, For 25, Against 17, Gl Diff 8, Pts 20 = 7th

2 – Vincent Dorel

As we get to the end of September I’ll be publishing the player ratings for the month, and in another rubbish month for United, its another keeper who will be near the top of the list. This time it’s Vincent, who was rushed into the club and has barely put a foot wrong since (I hope that doesn’t curse him for tomorrow!).

With Clarky still side-lined, the club are not hesitating to offer him terms to keep the goalie at Plainmoor for longer. He has ticked all the boxes; agile where necessary on shots, comes for crosses and launches the ball out quickly for counter-attacks (plus has liked and retweeted TT tweets so an extra tick for that!) – so has proven a very good signing. For all our defensive frailties the keepers have been basically error-free so far this season, and deserve much better from the guys in front of them have managed!

3 – TULFC

Well at least one Torquay Football team know how to win, and that’s the splendid ladies team who have started their season very well indeed. Last Sunday the girls thrashed Downend Flyers 5-0, which included two more goals from hot-shot Sian Chapman.

That followed up the Plainmoor victory over Bournemouth, and keeps the team on a roll. With an improved squad this season the team is really looking to push forward, I just wish we could say the same for the men!

4 – Match Prediction Time!

TT VIEWS

Dominic @DomRoman – “After a week to work with the squad, I think Owers will get a better performance from the lads tomorrow. However, being realistic I believe Daggers will still be too strong for us: 2-1 to the home team with Murphy getting his 1st for United”.

Luke @lukehunter8 – “I can’t see anything other than defeat away to Dagenham…which obviously means we’ll win! 3-0 Dagenham”.

(Luke hasn’t been great at predicting TU games this season…)

5 – TORQUAYTALK

Unlike the TU team, the TT team has had one of its best months in September. The views on the site have been higher than ever, and with Luke Hunter pushing our social media side we are continuing to get better (and better). We still need more contributors for the match verdicts so don’t be shy! Apart from that keep on the look-out for more items.

Next week we’ll have the Maidenhead game covered (got to win that one), plus there will be the next instalment of our mini-Fanzine series (thanks to Rob Dand) and if we have time we’ll do plenty of tweeting (and another weekly blog). In the meantime thanks for your support in visiting the site and come again soon!

https://twitter.com/rob_dand/status/912668683952164865

Dominic – TT Editor (Win…win….win….)