TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade

@tufcchris

Chris discusses the first Gulls game of 2024

POSTPONEMENTS HELP?

It has been a very odd Christmas and New Year period for Torquay’s players and fans with only two fixtures across the festive season. Other years have seen four. The fact that both of them saw defeats with no goals scored hasn’t helped the morale of the fanbase. The manner of the defeat to Truro at Plainmoor ten days ago was so frustrating given the weak start that cost us so dearly, and having time to stew on it isn’t usually a good thing. But given the chronic injury situation to such key players, I think that recent postponements at Taunton and Truro may well help us in the long run. Playing the fixtures later in the season when we will hopefully have more players available and new players added to the squad could well be a massive help.

THE PLAY-OFF PACK

Our lack of game-time of late, coupled with the aforementioned no points from two games has seen us drop from second to seventh. Whilst that is still in the playoff positions, it is far from where we want to and need to be. We do have at least one game in hand over most teams around us, but we naturally need to win those to get back in the top positions. The importance of finishing in the top two play off positions and preferably 2nd is so important given the playoff structure in the NLS, that the lower you finish within the playoffs the harder the task is. The run that Hampton and Richmond are on has surprised everyone, and they have become the real challenge to haul in at present. But we need to switch on and get winning again to achieve that, starting on Saturday against Eastbourne at Plainmoor.

TWO POINTS PER GAME

The widely regarded benchmark for a team winning a league or being at the top end is to average two points per game. We have played 24 games and have 40 points, 8 points where that target would place us. By comparison, Yeovil are ahead of that target with 53 from 24. Apart from the reverse to Truro, our home form has been largely good, but the away form is going to be the key. Rearranged matches at Taunton, Truro and Maidstone will be absolutely vital in hauling that record up, and the output against teams in the top half will also need to improve. 92 points from 46 games is probably out of reach now (that is 52 points in 22 games from here!). But get as close to that as we can.

THE OPPOSITION

Eastbourne have been going through a difficult time and find themselves in 21^st and in the relegation zone ahead of the weekend’s encounter at Torquay. They have lost 4 of their last 5 matches, parted company with manager Mark Beard this week and will head to the South West with ex-Gull Adam Murray now in charge. They were totally outplayed apart from a ten minute spell in the return fixture a the end of November, and Torquay will look to repeat that at the weekend. Get a fast start, get an early goal and it could be a successful afternoon for the Yellows. I feel that three points would be particularly important given our cup exploits the week after, when more league matches will take place. Three points feels vital.