TALKING POINTS

Chris Wade – @tufcchris

Chris looks ahead to the game at Plainmoor

HOME COMFORTS

After what feels like forever, it is going to be awesome to be back home, and under the Plainmoor lights too. It’s been a long month of only two away matches since we last hosted St Albans in what was a tumultuous game that ended on a sour note with the non giving of a penalty. What the break has given is time for injuries to heal, with both Jordan Dyer and Omar Mussa returning in Saturday’s draw at Eastbourne. The home form will be key, and Tuesday night game always have a bit of magic about them.

SQUAD NUMBERS

The squad number and depth is the topic of conversation on everybody’s lips at the moment. The permanent departures of Austen Booth and Roddy Collins, along with the loaning of the now injured Jaydn Crosbie to Gloucester has left us a little light of numbers. Will Jenkins Davies’ arrival has made a difference to the creativity in midfield, but it has left the squad a little short were a couple of more injuries to crop up. The reappearance of Dyer at the weekend was a tonic though. Paul Wotton was at pains to point out the difference that substitutes made on Saturday, and squad depth is going to be massive in this run of 10 games between 19 October and 30 November.

JORDAN DYER

I have been impressed by what I have seen from Jordan Dyer, so the serious hamstring injury he sustained in the second match of the season was unfortunate. But he has been managed back sensibly and was able to complete 90 minutes at the weekend. His ability to be strong in the air, smooth on the floor as well as drive forward as a wide centre back looks to be a real asset to the team. He could also get a few goals with his dedicated approach, as he did against Exeter in pre-season.

FORWARD CHALLENGES

Whilst we would all have taken where we are after 11 games at this point, the forward line is the cause of much conversation. Cody Cooke is key to how we want to play, and his hold up play and physicality was again important away from home at both Hampton and Eastbourne. But neither Ben Seymour or Brad Ash have yet nailed down the second attacker slot. Seymour is working hard but having little impact in front of goal, with Ash being restricted to short, sharper bursts. I do wonder if Omar Mussa in behind Cooke is something that may link the play better. WJD could also play that role. The forward running off Cooke isn’t impacting games massively at present.

THE OPPOSITION

Worthing come to Plainmoor off the back of a narrow 3-2 win over Tonbridge Angels at the weekend which leaves them in 10^th place, but just 2 points behind their hosts who currently sit in 5th. They have seen a huge transition since the end of last season, with the manager and several star players departing over the summer. But they are very much fancied to be in the mix for promotion, so this will certainly be another firm test of the Yellows’ promotion credentials. Torquay’s home record has been solid if unspectacular so far, so a run of wins would be very welcome indeed.