TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

Dom discusses the home draw

A TOUGH WATCH

Having to watch Torquay United try and play football this season is mentally draining! My build up had been fun, the socials were enjoyable beforehand…and then the game begins. 100 minutes or so of witnessing ‘professional’ players struggle to do the basics is energy sapping, and hugely frustrating. I always start the game in a positive mood willing the team on, only to be disappointed by such desperate quality time and time again. We were eventually rewarded with two moments of quality, but much of the rest was a scrappy embarrassment that makes a mockery of the prices being charged for entrance to games. Afterwards I spent much of the drive home cursing at what was produced by the team after 10 days of rest, and thinking through how we had stooped to such a low level. What an afternoon, and what a grind this season has become, under a manager who has the safest job in football.

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

Most teams who come to Plainmoor appear to have an identity this season, a gameplan and structure set up that they look comfortable with. These plans haven’t always worked, and United have often managed to overcome them (just about), but at least they know what they are. What is Torquay United’s plan/identity? Without a recognised striker, Osman Foyo was charged with the dreaded target man role, which means numerous long balls banged at him with a Eastbourne centre back ready to gobble them up. Other ideas? Long kicks from Halstead aimed at Ross Marshall to head, and hope we can build from there (hope being the key word at Torquay!). Meanwhile around the midfield we leave gaps galore, which meant every time Eastbourne produced a meaningful attack they found space, whilst the defence struggled to work as a unit. Attacking-wise there is so little sharpness and cohesion in touches you wonder just how bad they are in training, as move after move breaks up. There is of course injury problems, but is this really the best we can manage? Disappointing again from United and from Gary Johnson, a guy who used to be our trump card, but is now often out-thought by NLS managers.

DILLON DE SILVA

Let’s get this straight, Dillon De Silva is not a very good player, heck none of them are, but he is worth having in the team and showed that yesterday at Plainmoor. Give the winger a chance on goal and he can find the back of the net, and whilst his crosses often infuriate, he can create, a neat pass to Will Jenkins Davies reminding us of that. DDS needs to get energized out of possession and work harder to close down the opposition, but move the ball out to him and he can make something happen. Compare that to Lewis Collins who again struggled to do anything for United yesterday. I’m not sure what’s happened to the Welshman this season, a combination of poor man-management, no idea of where he is playing and maybe a guy who expected to set the NLS alight, but hasn’t got the confidence or physical strength to make it happen. It’s been tough watching his constant struggles for the Gulls.

THE DEFENCE

What is going on at the back? Eastbourne only had to put a half decent ball into our defensive third and suddenly we are in danger. Even Deano appeared off the pace, and to be honest the Mox looked like he wasn’t moving right even before the game began. A lack of leadership and authority means any team can hurt us this season, our weaknesses are there for all to see and any opposing manager doing his homework will be surprised at how much there is to exploit if their players make the right pass or run. At full back Harris seems to have regressed under Gary since a bright start, whilst Ross Marshall is an accident waiting to happen at right back, despite his very best efforts. The winning goal may well have been offside, but let’s not gloss over the fact that we are a shambles at the back and that any proper team would have punished us far more.

WILL JENKINS DAVIES

Will Jenkins Davies did not have a good game at Plainmoor, but potentially he can become a big player for the Gulls. The Plymouth lad is intelligent enough to move into spaces around the midfield, and is a busy runner off the ball, which allowed him the chance to score the 2nd goal. His touch too often let him down against Eastbourne (this applies to every single outfield player), perhaps the bobbly pitch didn’t help, but if he wants to be a playmaker then being tidy and controlled in possession is key. You can see what he is trying to achieve and he never shies away from the action which is a good sign, you can also see that he has received decent coaching, just not at Plainmoor! Let’s hope things come together for the teenager.