TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman

@DomRoman

Dom discusses the NLS game

SEARCHING FOR SIGNS OF LIFE

Taking the Maidstone United away game out of context from the recent horrific run of form, the team did actually show more signs of life on Tuesday night. United matched Stones for most of the game, and showed a work ethic that was completely missing from the St Albans game. There were even glimpses of football being played in the second half and hopes were suddenly raised that we would actually win a game near the end, before Sam Corne’s bullet strike settled it. Hard to know how much to take from this as A) Stones did not play well and B) It’s hard to trust this team to build on the performance. With the likes of Lapslie and Hall playing 90 mins and Marshall hobbling off, you have to wonder what we will have to offer 4 days later, so this one could go either way that’s for sure.

THE LINE-UP

Ross Marshall hobbled off (as usual) on Tuesday night, so is a doubt for this one. Seldom has a player had so little fitness to last 90 minutes than Ross! With Craske and Tomlinson injured, this could mean a chance for Callum Thomas, or alternatively the formation could be rejigged into some kind of 4-4-2. Asa Hall and Tom Lapslie played all 90 minutes at the Gallagher Stadium, so you can never be entirely confident of them starting again, whilst Brad Ash will be desperate to return to the team after being demoted to substitute and Ethon Archer is pushing to start after a lively appearance at Maidstone. Dillon De Silva and Lewis Collins are the other options, whilst we wait for Aaron Jarvis, Jack Stobbs and Kevin Dawson to suddenly reappear in the Torquay squad. No clues on when that will be!

THE OPPOSITION

Slough Town have a player manager – Scott Davies, and he normally plays as the middle CB of a 3 at the back. They sit in 12th position at the moment, having won 12, drawn 7 and lost 12, whilst scoring 54 goals, which is the 3rd highest in the league. They’ve also conceded 48, so there’s been plenty of entertainment in their games! After a slow start Slough have done well in recent months. This has mainly been down to their sound home form (we were very lucky to beat them in August), but they have also beaten Bath and Aveley away, and drawn at Worthing (and also lost to Dover!). Maybe their attacking approach will allow United to exploit holes on the counter, or alternatively our extremely dodgy defence could be on the ropes again.

THE MANAGER & DWINDLING ATTENDANCES

The whole situation around the club is depressing at the moment, all TUFC social media posts receive numerous negative responses and the fanbase are agitated more than I can ever remember. With the heavy handed stewarding last Saturday and the awful performance of the team, the Yellow Army have become fed up with their football club and this will no doubt be reflected in the attendance and the atmosphere at Plainmoor this weekend. The anger is understandable, especially considering how this manager is seemingly untouchable, whilst there have been no rallying messages to supporters from our captain. This is a moment in time when United could very well be losing supporters, supporters that they may not get back. They have kept ticket prices the same, kept the manager the same and are delivering very little. Maybe we’ll finally grab another win against Slough, but bad feeling will probably linger around Torquay United unless somehow we rouse ourselves to win the play-offs (I don’t even want to think about another season in the NLS with GJ still in charge). What a season.