TT BLOG
Dom Roman
@DomRoman
Dom looks at GJ’s TUFC teams from this month between 2018-2023
13/10/2018 – EASTBOURNE (A)
This was early Gary Johnson Torquay United, when it was all about attack and the Yellow Army were enjoying their football after years of grind. Man for man the side doesn’t particularly outdo the current side, though you had a younger and fitter Asa Hall commanding the midfield and an improving Kyle Cameron at centre back. What it did have of course was the X-Factor in attack, with the trio of Janneh, Reid and Kalala terrorising NLS defences with their pace, skill and finishing. This made United such a difficult side to contain, and the push to win the title was very much on.
12/10/2019 – NOTTS COUNTY (A)
A year on and the team had changed a fair bit, with Gary Johnson finding early success in the National League. The formation became more rigid as United looked to deal with stronger NL teams, and it appears lightweight in midfield with Matt Buse and Frank Vincent deputising for Asa Hall and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans. Kalvin Kalala was given freedom to roam as GJ tried to get the best out of the Frenchman, but whilst KK ultimately struggled in a higher league, Jamie Reid flourished. Reidy had found his confidence under Gary Johnson and has maintained it to this day.
13/10/2020 – CHESTERFIELD (H)
Two years into his reign, Torquay United remained on an upward curve, and despite Jamie Reid leaving after the COVID curtailed 19-20 season, smart new signings had been made and United set about pushing to the top of the NL table. Only Kyle Cameron is on the 2018 and 2020 line-up, though the likes of Shaun MacDonald, Asa Hall and Jake Andrews were still in the squad. Defensively there were no weak links, whilst CLE and Randell went onto have excellent seasons and Whitfield/Nemane were constant attacking dangers until injuries arrived. Meanwhile upfront, veteran Danny Wright showed all his experience, and the Gulls were soon hitting their peak form under Gary Johnson.
09/10/2021 – BROMLEY (A)
Into 2021 and the downward trajectory had begun, United’s line-up looked to integrate Dan Holman, but he couldn’t regather his Cheltenham form under Gary Johnson. There was still strength, with the likes of Joe Lewis and Ben Wynter very much top tier at NL level, whilst new man Tom Lapslie joined Asa Hall, Armani Little and CLE to form a strong midfield contingent. The team struggled to cast off the Ashton Gate hangover and lacked a change of pace without Whitfield & Nemane, but had enough character and skill to make an excellent push in the second half of the season, with Little especially proving the doubters wrong.
15/10/2022 – HAMPTON & RICHMOND (H)
2022 proved to be the worst summer of Gary Johnson’s time at Torquay United, as basically all of our best players left for pastures new. Only 3 players make an appearance in both 2021 and 2022, Moxey, Hall and Lapslie. We had found ourselves two good strikers in Jarvis and Goodwin, but the squad had got even weaker and tactically whilst this game was 3-5-2, Gary Johnson chopped and changed with very little effect. One-paced and lacking quality, the side paled hugely in comparison to what we had witnessed only 2 years earlier. A team on a downward spiral with a manager who couldn’t stop the slide.
07/10/2023 – MAIDSTONE (H)
And into the present we go. Is this year’s team better or worse than this time last year? Performance levels remain, for the most part, low and the manager has already switched between 3-5-2, 4-4-2 and 4-1-2-3(ish) formations to try and get the Gulls going. Has he got the energy, contacts and tactical nous to reverse this 2 years of downwards trajectory to upwards once more? The Yellow Army need plenty of convincing after another tepid display. Another year in the NLS for Torquay United would not be forgiven by our loyal support, so the pressure is on not just Gary Johnson, but the whole club to galvanise themselves in the coming months.