TT BLOG

Clive Hayward

@Byehorse

TORQUAY DYING AND DEVON LIVE

On Valentine’s Day, there has been a lot of comment about today’s Torquay United opinion piece on the Devon Live website: ““Gary Johnson is going nowhere whether fans like it or not.” https://www.devonlive.com/sport/sport-opinion/gary-johnson-going-nowhere-whether-9098098

It’s fair to say that love has been in short supply. The view expressed in the article that fans should now pipe down and that continuing to express our dissatisfaction after games is harming the players has not found universal favour.

One Gulls legend, Dave Caldwell, has given it short shrift. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) he said today:

“Only speaking for myself but at a professional level I find it strange even suggesting players are affected by fans?

We are speaking about professional players?”

It is not the fault of the online version of the Herald Express that Torquay are having their worst season- in terms of league position- since the 1920s. Neither is it reasonable- as I have said elsewhere today- for personal abuse to be hurled at the journalist responsible for most of the Torquay United content.

I loved the Herald Express. As a spotty teenager I delivered it on the mean streets of Foxhole in the 1980’s and I avidly read Dave Thomas’ match reports and other articles for decades afterwards. I was very sad when 6 days per week publication ceased and it became a weekly. I miss it a lot.

My beloved Yellows are on an awful run of form. Managers sometimes asked to be judged after 10 games. Well Gary, how do you like these apples?

In a division they won 5 years ago they now have a negative goal difference and as can be seen below their recent record in league and cup is:

Played                10

Won                      1

Drawn                   2

Lost                      7     

Goals For             11

Goals Against     23

I have been through these results and the headlines on Devon Live stories before and after those games. Please make you own mind up about whether they are getting it right. Football is, as the cliché goes, all about opinions. I’ve given mine here and there, and it would be interesting to hear yours.

23/12/23: Chelmsford (A) Lost 2-0

Devon Live headline 23/12/13: “Gulls’ winning run comes to an end”

26/12/23: Truro (H) Lost 1-0

Devon Live headline 26/12/23: “Gulls suffer dismal home defeat”

Devon Live headline 27/12/23: “Torquay United booed off by fans after dismal Truro City defeat”

Devon Live headline 03/01/24: “We should all want a Big Gary Smile throughout 2024:

Devon Live headline “A Big Gary Smile to lift all of our spirits in 2024- starting this weekend when we beat Eastbourne and turn our attentions again to the FA Trophy.”

COMMENT: Let’s see how that goes then?

06/01/24: Eastbourne (H) Drew 2-2

13/01/24: Hereford (A) (FA Trophy) Lost 2-0

Devon Live headline 13/01/24: “Gulls crash out of the FA Trophy”

Devon Live headline 17/01/24: “Nine years is a long time in the life of a car- named after a goalscorer”

COMMENT: Ah, drew with strugglers Eastbourne and out of the Trophy with a whimper. The car was apparently named after Duane Ofori-Acheampong, who lasted 2 minutes on his second debut. I guess it takes all sorts.

20/01/24: Dover (H) Won 1-0

Devon Live headline 20/01/24: “Gulls back into play-offs after grabbing win”

Devon Live headline 23/01/24: “Torquay United boss Gary Johnson says berating players during games does not help”.

COMMENT: As the article rightly says, the Pop Side were singing “Get out of Our Club” during a drab match against the bottom of the table side. A Brett McGavin screamer buttered no parsnips and papered few cracks. It was, as I reported: “Like one of the sad bits in Comic Relief: a tough watch!”

23/01/24: Chippenham (A) Drew 1-1

Devon Live headline 23/01/24: “Ten-Man Torquay United let lead slip to draw at Chippenham.”

Devon Live headline 24/01/24: “How does negativity help Torquay United when it feeds opposition players?”

Devon Live headline: “Torquay United ‘not a million miles’ from where Gulls need to be”

COMMENT: “Not a million miles” was a Gary Johnson quote. We might not be a million miles from a successful season, but I wouldn’t want to walk it from here!

27/01/24: Worthing (A) Lost 4-2

Devon Live headline 27/01/24: “Pressure on Gary Johnson increases after another away loss.”

Devon Live headline 28/01/24: “Torquay United patience wearing thin after Gulls beaten again.”

Devon Live headline 31/01/24: “Torquay United face make-or-break month after patchy form”.

COMMENT: OK, let’s see how that pans out.

03/02/24: St Albans (H) Lost 4-0

Devon Live headline 03/02/24: “Gulls suffer embarrassing home thrashing.”

Devon Live headline 04/02/24: “Torquay United nightmare as fans give Gulls ‘deserved stick’ after 4-0 thrashing.”

COMMMENT: Not a great start to the make or break month. It’s ok to have a go at them now, is it?

06/02/24: Maidstone (A) Lost 3-2

Devon Live headline 06/02/24: “Torquay United beaten again after late loss at Maidstone.”  

Devon Live headline 07/02/24: “Clamour for Torquay United change is becoming deafening.”

Devon Live headline 07/02/24: “Gary Johnson ‘proud of the lads’ despite gutting Torquay United defeat.”

Devon Live headline 09/02/24: “Gary Johnson confident he can turn around Torquay United form”

COMMENT: Well Gary, good chance to start with Slough on Saturday. We won up there, after all.

10/02/24:  Slough (H) Lost 4-3

Devon Live headline 10/02/24: “Fourth straight loss for Gulls after stoppage-time goal”

Devon Live headline 11/02/24: “Torquay United ‘killer’ defeat as fans protest following fourth straight loss.”

Devon Live headline 13/02/24: “Torquay United desperate for a win at fellow crisis club Taunton Town.”

13/02/24: Taunton (A) Postponed

Devon Live headline 14/02/24: “Gary Johnson is going nowhere whether fans like it or not.”

COMMENT: I expect this is right, but I’m not happy about it and I’m certainly not going to shut up. If it was ok to give the club, team or manager “deserved stick” on February 4^th what has changed since?

COYY CLIVE

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