TALKING POINTS

Matty Orton

@MattyOrton1

Matty discusses the loss at Maidstone

PLAY-OFFS?

-1 GD. 1.5 points a game average. 13 defeats. 1 win in 9. If the current trend continues we are due to finish on or around 69 points.

74 points got you the last play-off spot in the National League South last season, meaning (not to state the obvious) we are currently way off where we need to be, even for the last playoff place.

Then there is the issue of actually winning in the playoffs. Not only having to win an extra game, but also the pressure of winning the final.

The prospect of not only making the playoffs let alone finding a way to win them looks bleak. No home advantage – our away return of points has been dire to say the least and you have to feel that any likelihood of gaining promotion this season will have to come by way of beating Maidstone. Need I say, a team we have failed to beat this season. Not only that, we haven’t beaten Maidstone away in the league since at least 2017, so don’t hold up much hope for that to change any time soon.

Currently, based on those stats, we aren’t making playoffs.

TOO MANY FALSE DAWNS

Regardless of how we got here, I still do feel this team has potential. Finally a bit of presence up front and maybe a proper full back helped last night. But once again, and this has happened season, upon season, upon season under Johnson’s reign, we have been plagued by injuries.

Bad luck? Yeah ok, players get injured, that’s happens at all levels of the game – but this goes beyond that. Another trend and another rinse and repeat question for this current regime – what is going on?

Over-reliance on loans, too many injuries and a constant cycle of players going through the conveyer belt then becomes the norm. The age old recipe for disaster.

Something we’ve also seen before under Johnson, is too little late. Seemingly when the code has finally been broken, we find ourselves short of games and more often than not, short of points.

FAILURE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

The five year plan – failed. The current management team – failed. The proposition of a new ground in Torquay – failed. Being full time in a part time league – failed. Recruitment of a fit for purpose squad – failed. The local press having the balls to call out the current regime and management – failed. The ‘One Club United’ press conference – failed.

We’re about as far from ‘One Club United’ since before the merge in 1910. So we’re about 114 years behind the times . It’s broken. It’s not working. It’s failing. Every part of this football club is falling apart. We, as fans, aren’t stupid, we’re not ill informed, we’ve been around long enough to know how these things work. The ‘scoffing’ and cosiness shown by the current regime is eye watering. The response to every single club media post is embarrassing and you would have thought, at the very least, they themselves, must see that this can’t continue. The club has become a laughing stock and is looking more insular and backwater from the outside than ever before.

THE SIEGE MENTALITY

Before people say, you should get behind the team not berate them, this isn’t about them. The anger nor the frustration isn’t aimed at them. This is about the bigger picture and the current state of affairs regarding every single corner of the club. Simply put, some of the team just aren’t good enough to play for Torquay United. So then ask the question, who is responsible for that? Whose watch has this happened on?

Of course it won’t be played off in the dressing room like that. Johnson will have adopted a siege mentality of ‘us’ vs ‘them’. I want to prove them (the fans) out there, wrong and I need you to go out there and prove it on the pitch, prove it to everybody that they are wrong and you are good enough to prove them wrong. That’s of course the only weapon that he will have left up his sleeve. The problem is they’ve failed, and are currently failing. The whole club is failing.

Think back to the hazy days of Popside fist bumps. In Gary we trust and bouncing round the ground. The whole club, at that time, singing off the same hymn sheet and everyone pulling in the right direction. That is the only way a club can be successful – with everyone on board. You don’t win leagues or promotion any other way.

BS7175 – FLAME RETARDANT BEDSHEETS

Most sheets are flame retardant these days. But anyone taking them to Plainmoor on Saturday please take proof that they are. This is to avoid any confusion with the stewards. Although it should, the BS doesn’t stand for Bullshit, but BS7175 certified sheets are passed for safe use in care homes, schools and hospitals so they should be the safest bet. Happy banner making!