TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade

@tufcchris

Chris discusses the NLS game

FAST START

At the risk of being boring and repeating myself, the start to games has got to improve. In Saturday’s narrow win against Bath City, the first half was better but we still didn’t score. That incredible stat of us having not scored in the first thirty minutes of a game since the opening day of the season goes on. That said, it was as bright as it has been from the start for a while. We dominated possession and territory and pushed them back but lacked that final incision in the final third. Tuesday against Yeovil will be a totally different situation. But the first goal will be key, and it’s vital that we get it to give us something to hold onto and push from.

THE NEW BOYS

There is no doubt that the two recent additions from Torquay North (sorry, Fleetwood Town) have made a difference. Callum Dolan looked comfortable on the ball and able to pick a pass out and only lacked that final pass. He cruised through the midfield at times and will crate and score in games to come. Hopefully he won’t still be feeling the affects of a stomach issue by Tuesday. I was surprised to see Theo Williams not starting on Saturday. When you bring a new player into the club, it’s usually to make the squad better. But he certainly made a difference when he came on. Whilst not the biggest, he was comfortable both on the half turn and running with the ball and will make us better. It did cross my mind sadly how good he would be playing off a big man like, say, Aaron Jarvis.

ATTACKING APPROACHES

Something that was an issue at the weekend was the angle of attack and how we were going to score a goal (and eventually took an outrageous deflection to do so). The ball out to the right to match winner Shaun Donnellan and Jack Stobbs and isolate their left back was used repeatedly. But the team was very lopsided, with next to no left side with Lewis Collins wandering where he pleased. That will leave us vulnerable against a better team like Yeovil and needs looking at. Without Aaron Jarvis, the option of Stobbs’ delivery into the box delivered next to nothing and we used moving the ball through much better. The final pass needs to be better against Yeovil.

OLLIE TOMLINSON

Whilst Gary Johnson has rightfully taken stick on a range of topics, his handling of young centre back Ollie Tomlinson is baring fruit this season. He has been solid in every game, and it again struck me on Saturday that he very rarely loses an aerial dual. He anticipates danger very well and reads the situation to eliminate danger. It’s also noticeable how much more vocal he has been as the season has gone on. The spells out of the first team scene and time out on loan has clearly helped his development. This will be tested to the max against messers Nouble and Murphy on Tuesday.

THE OPPOSITION

Tuesday will be the biggest test for Torquay so far. After a patchy start, Yeovil have got into an excellent rhythm in recent weeks and Saturday’s victory over National League Gateshead was their eleventh consecutive win in all competitions. That’s the kind of form and consistency that has so far eluded the Yellows. They have a very settled side and haven’t suffered hugely from injuries so far. They also have four serious options in attack in Frank Nouble, Rhys Murphy, Jake Hyde and now Sonny Cox on loan from them up the road. Whilst their budget may well be higher than ours, they have spent it well and have an experienced manager at the helm in Mark Cooper. Tuesday will see the two retained managers from a relegation season collide at Plainmoor. Let’s hope that Torquay can break the run.