TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade

@tufcchris

Chris discusses the NLS game

THAT EARLY START

Something that I have been talking about for weeks and weeks is the importance of a fast start. So what do you know? Two faster starts, two games where we are out of the blocks and closing opposition down from the start, and we have two wins. Scoring first and early gives you the ability to control the tempo of the game far better and means that you aren’t chasing the game and giving the opposition the chance to waste time, game manage or whatever they call it these days. The early goal on Saturday, where we hadn’t been all that dominant changed the game, and that is something that we will need to look to do far more over these festive matches.

MCGAVIN’S CONTROL

A real feature of a run of five wins in seven matches has been the role of Brett McGavin. Playing in a slightly different role a bit deeper than last season, he has been able to get on the ball and has shown that he has the ability to control the game with his range of passes. He has been taking the ball off the centre backs, and trying to spread the play to either wing or through the thirds into the forward players. Brett is a player that is visibly playing with more confidence and was quick to thank his manager after Saturday’s victory. His tally of six goals as he drives the team forward is also an encouraging stat, and ‘Shooters’ role will be important again on Tuesday.

RUN OF WINS

It’s important in any league to get a run of wins to keep forward momentum going. Torquay’s record of eleven wins and eight defeats, with only one draw (which came on the first day of the season) is incredible really but also highlights the consistency that we are still striving for. Two wins and six points this week has been both much needed and key to pushing up to fifth in league table. On paper anyway, December has the opportunity for a run of wins to really push the season forward, and another game against lowly Weymouth at Plainmoor on Tuesday.

THE REUNION

Former players have a habit of scoring against teams, and hopefully that will be the case again on Tuesday night, as Brad Ash faces former team Weymouth. Ash has been a good addition to the Torquay team, something underlined again on Saturday when he ran his socks off at the point of the forward line. He also took the only chance that came his way clinically. I like the way he works, the work rate to the team and his fitness has been very good to keep working. He is now back in the goals, with three in his last four in the League.

THE OPPOSITION

Weymouth had an incredible season last season in NLS, but the loss of their two major goal scorers of Ahkeem Rose and Brad Ash (anybody know where he went?) has led to a tough first phase to the new season. That said, their record of five wins, eight draws and seven defeats so far suggests a side that are not easy to break down. In fact, with 28 goals, they have conceded less goals that Torquay’s 30 so far! But they have scored thirteen less, which shows the difference in league position. An intriguing game awaits on Tuesday evening.