TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

Dom discusses the Trophy game

HOBBLING ON

That TP title doesn’t just reference the players, but also supporters! The winter is hitting hard at Plainmoor and even the most die-hard Gary Johnson fans must be losing their patience with him and Torquay United at the moment. We step away from the league for one weekend, before an impending deluge of NLS fixtures, and travel up to the West Midlands to face National League North team Hereford FC. Having avoided a NL team again, this is a decent chance for the Gulls to make it through to the last 16, and with our wretched form and fitness, it’s also a decent chance for Hereford FC!

THE LINE-UP

In the summer it looked like we’d got a fit squad raring to get going and raring to push to the summit of the National League South. Unfortunately, like our performances against Exeter and Plymouth, this was just a mirage and reality has been totally different. 5 months on we are now left with a horribly thin squad, and with Lewis Collins also now a doubt, we could have less players available than we did against Eastbourne (I know what you’re saying “Collins, well he won’t be missed”). After Theo Williams returned to Fleetwood we do not possess one recognised striker, whilst even the likes of Ryan Hanson and Dylan Crowe seem to have knocks, meaning the pressure is on Osman Foyo to show just why he was signed and Ross Marshall to fill in again at right back (hopefully without coming to blows with anybody in the crowd!). Saturday’s subs Asa Hall, Dan Martin and Callum Thomas could come into consideration for a start, but once again it really is slim pickings.

THE OPPOSITION

Hereford FC are managed by ex-Celtic striker Paul Caddis who took charge of the Bulls last May. They currently sit 5th in the National League North with 43 points from 27 games, a similar record to the Gulls and almost as fewer draws (4). They haven’t started 2024 very well, a New Year’s Day draw at home against Gloucester, followed by a 3-0 defeat away at Scarborough last Saturday, so this is basically an opportunity for both teams to grab their first win of the year. Games between the old Hereford United club and TUFC were fairly common back in our Football League days, with 59 fixtures, the last being in 2012 at Edgar Street when Hereford were relegated and Torquay missed out on the play-offs, a sombre day all-around and we have not been that high in the league standings since. With Hereford FC reforming and bouncing back up the leagues, they enjoy an excellent support (an average home gate of well over 2k) and will, I’m sure, expect a good crowd to see the Gulls.

UNDER PRESSURE?

Is there pressure on Gary Johnson to get results from the owners? It doesn’t feel like it. If we don’t achieve anything this year and stare down another season in the NLS, would Osborne/Edwards be jolted into making a change? I doubt it. Torquay United have slipped into a sad period where they are used to not winning games, and being 18 points behind a team we finished above last season is not a great surprise. This is reflected on the pitch, with our performances lacking real aggression and fight, and it’s reflected in the dreaded ‘Gaffer’ interviews. A losing mentality reigns at Plainmoor, leaving us floating along in a Regional League and hoping the FA Trophy provides us with some cheer. The Yellow Army will travel again and many will expect the worst. Let’s hope the team can pull themselves together for this one and put in a performance worthy of a professional outfit.