TALKING POINTS

Thomas Kelly

@tommyktufc

Tom discusses the away draw for the Gulls

TACTICAL FRUSTRATION

Last night was a tough watch. Torquay seemingly came to Hampshire to set up shop and try and catch Farnborough on the counter.

The only problem with this was for every (and I mean every) set piece, Torquay had all eleven players behind the ball defending, completely eradicating our attacking intentions. That’s not to say we didn’t have our moments, but they were very few and far between. Jarvis cut a very frustrated figure for large portions of the game and you do wonder whether he wishes he were playing elsewhere. His demeanour seems different since I last see him play.

He should be class at this level but isolated on his own up top, he struggled to create anything of note other than almost capitalising on some panic defending late in the first half.

As did DOA when he came on other than somehow heading a great chance away from goal instead of directing it on target in a great position. Ash wasn’t considered off the bench, Lapslie was played out of position out on the left wing, Moxey appeared to play as a LWB and Collins & Archer seem to have disappeared. Fallen out of favour with the gaffer perhaps? Who knows!

United once again looked vulnerable at the back, with Farnborough often able to exploit the extra space from our back three. It’s just a good thing they left their shooting boots at home.

THE ATMOSPHERE

I’ve watched many a bad Torquay side in my twenty odd years as a fan, but even then I’ve always known the loyal fans to make a good atmosphere. Last night, I’d estimate there was around 100 of the Yellow Army in attendance there to support their football club. I’ve never known a crowd to be so resigned and so downbeat supporting the club we all love in complete decline. We all hope the lads will put in a performance worthy of our expectations and yet, time and time again, often get left disappointed with what we witness.

The performance on the pitch was uninspiring and many would argue is a performance we’ve seen too many times this season. This isn’t the Torquay United I fell in love with and I expect so much better. Sadly the table doesn’t lie at this stage of the season and most in the fanbase have already accepted that we will fail to make the playoffs and look set for a other season in regional football.

RETURN OF KEVIN

Welcome back Kevin. The one real shining light on a drab Tuesday night in Hampshire. He was by far the most vocal player for the 60 mins he played and it was great to see him coaching Will Jenkin Davies during the game. In a squad with very few leaders, fingers crossed with more playing time, he can help sure us up in the middle of the park and bring some sort of stability. He has been sorely missed.

ONE WIN IN TWELVE

Football is a results business and managers live or die by them, at least that’s what it’s like at other football clubs. Whilst we managed to grab a draw, the stark reality is that our form is nowhere near acceptable and anyone with any sense of ambition would have given Gary Johnson his P45 long before now.

We are seven points off 7th having played a game more than Braintree who currently occupy the final play off spot. It’s not good enough. Gary said in his post match interview that reaching the play-offs is not impossible this season, and it further highlights how the standards of this football club continue to get lower and lower.

We are a full time professional football club struggling to make an impact in a regional football division. We’ve gone from aiming to have fun and bringing smiles to fans faces by winning the division, to targeting finishing 2nd, to now just desperately hoping to finish in the lower reaches of the play-offs.

SHOW THE CLUB THE YELLOW CARD

On Saturday, there is a planned peaceful protest where Torquay fans will show the club the ‘Yellow Card’ on the 20th & 60th minutes to show their displeasure at how the club is being run. This has been arranged by the TUST, TorquayTalk, Talking Torquay Podcast, TLAS and the Torquay Supporters Travel Club. These cards will be distributed outside of the ground prior to the Aveley game and more information will be released on social media in due course for those who wish to partake.

Whilst there will be some who don’t want to join in, I hope you understand it’s not a decision that is taken lightly, but with the alarming rate of our decline back into the NLS, an owner completely absent and a manager seemingly un-sackable, completely lacking remorse or any accountability, can you blame the fans for having had enough?

We all care about this football club and I hope the club finally get the message that the majority of fans have reached the end of their tether and the club needs to work with the supporters rather than against them.

It feels like an ‘us versus them’ mentality at the moment and nothing good will come from that. If the club want to be One Club United, they need to practise what they preach.

This club feels more one club divided than United and that needs to change.

COYY – TOM

📢Show the Club the yellow card📢#OneClub #OneProtest #TUST #TUFC pic.twitter.com/0AU32EzXkY
— Torquay United Supporters Trust (@TUSTCOYY) February 21, 2024