TALKING POINTS

Rob Dand

Rob discusses the loss at Plainmoor for the Gulls

---

DEBUTANTS

In a move that even Bryn the police dog – deceased for several years – could have seen coming, Paul Wotton handed a first start to newest signing Matt Jay, arriving to some fanfare from League Two Colchester United. The unassuming attacking midfielder has dropped down a full two divisions to sign for the Gulls, having also turned out for Exeter over 200 times in his younger years. Whether he jumped at the chance to line up alongside Ed Palmer, or was simply just missing the beach, we may never know.

Bursting onto the scene with a cute through ball that one might describe as ‘deft’ (and indeed, I’m going to), it was clear from his first touch that Jay’s vision and awareness would be a cut above most others on the pitch. He also found himself in good shooting positions on the edge of the box on a couple of occasions early on (the Paul Scholes position, for those of us who remember the late 1900s), and with over 50 career goals to his name he should prove to be a goal threat at this level as well as a provider. His star waned a little in the second half, and in truth it was surprising to see him last the full 90. We must, however, remember that this is a man who has made more appearances in a Colchester shirt in the staff canteen than on the pitch this season. Wotton will no doubt have him leaping gazelle-like along the South West Coast Path by the time you read this write-up. Let’s not forget, this is a league in which several of the slowest men on Earth have flourished. He’s going to be fine.

The new loan signing from Derby County U21s, Manny Ilesanmi, was restricted to a substitute appearance, but he looks a direct and physical option. Whether he can make the step up to senior football will be interesting to see – either way, his arrival offers some relief to current top scorer Cody Cooke, who was starting to cut a frustrated figure as the club’s main striker.

HIGHLIGHTS – MORGAN 1ST HALF CHANCE – YOUTUBE CLIP

GOALKEEPER

The matchday sponsors handed the Man of the Match award to Jordan Young, who it must be said was United’s best player on the day. In truth, the real difference maker on the pitch was Hampton & Richmond’s goalkeeper, Chelsea loanee Max Merrick, a man who has sickeningly been on this planet for less time than both the Xbox and the Arctic Monkeys. The celebratory hug his manager gave him at the final whistle only backs this up.

Since his move from West London to Not-Really-London, Merrick has started three games for the Beavers and kept two clean sheets, providing the platform for two victories (and the other game was Boreham Wood away). He may have had to play the entirety of the game in one of Mark Halstead’s shirts from last season, but what he lacked in appropriate clothing he made up for in shot-stopping ability, denying most of the United line-up during the course of a commanding second-half performance. 

Already an England Under-20 international, it’s unlikely we’ll see him wearing the Number 1 shirt at Plainmoor again any time soon – but just on the off chance, Wotton could do worse than to remember the name for future years.

HIGHLIGHTS – HAMPTON GOAL – YOUTUBE CLIP

MISSING PLAYERS

At the back, Finlay Craske came in for the injured Jay Foulston, resulting in a switch to the left for Jordan Thomas. Jordan Dyer was also replaced due to injury, by Ed Palmer (side note: I’m nearly 40 and my brain can’t cope with all these Jordans – three is enough, Wotton). 

Neither Craske nor Palmer played badly over the course of the 90 minutes, but the fact that the winner came from an attack down Hampton & Richmond’s left hand side, ending with a diagonal ball threaded through the heart of Torquay’s defence (and a well taken finish, if we’re being honest) cannot really be chalked off as a coincidence. Both absentees were a miss, and PW will be hoping that he can get them back in the starting lineup sooner rather than later.

HIGHLIGHTS – HAYFIELD CHANCE – YOUTUBE CLIP

OPTIONS

Whether you’re in line at Subway considering your choice of sauce, or mulling over a prospective life insurance policy, it’s nice to have options. United certainly had no shortage of these in the midfield and forward positions yesterday, with Cody Cooke, Manny Ilesanmi, Jordan Young, Matt Jay, Dylan Morgan, Lirak Hasani, Omar Mussa, Will Jenkins-Davies, Dan Hayfield and Oscar Threlkeld all getting minutes under the belt. This made for some bright interplay at times, with plenty of attempts on goal, but frustratingly did not yield a single return.

With so many potential game-changers knocking at the door, particularly during a relentless final 10 minutes, it was disappointing that the Yellows couldn’t carve out the opportunity for an eventual equaliser, with the final ball or decision so often being the stumbling block. Paul Wotton described the team’s performance as ‘magnificent’ after the game, which in honesty feels like a bit of an oversell, but the intensity was high and the workrate rarely dipped. Each substitution seemed to offer something different, and bring some fresh energy to the attack. All positives – but ultimately meaningless on the day, without being able to deliver that killer blow. But then, if these players had pace, industry and end product, they’d all be playing in League Two, wouldn’t they?

Regardless; how nice it is to see a team with genuine options both in the starting eleven and coming off the bench. So often during Gary Johnson’s tenure he must have looked behind him and wonder if the kitman could do a job (the answer is a resounding ‘no’, if you ever saw that weird preseason friendly at Stoke Gabriel a few years ago).

HIGHLIGHTS – HASANI CHANCE – YOUTUBE CLIP

OFFICIATING

During a high-tempo opening 20 minutes, matchday referee Harry Warner limited his interventions and was unmoved by one or two fair but combative challenges. He didn’t have many big decisions to make, but showed all the courage of a radiator when deciding not to deliver a second yellow card to Alfie Williams for stopping a quick free-kick, after already retrieving the card from his pocket. A cowardly move that certainly didn’t cost United the game, but won’t do anything for anyone’s faith in the standard of officiating at this level.

HIGHLIGHTS – THOMAS CHANCE – YOUTUBE CLIP

COYY – Rob

OTHER ARTICLES

DONATE TO TT

The TT Site now has a donations page here

Any donations much appreciated!

TT PARTNERS

TWITTER – INSTAGRAM – YOUTUBE – FACEBOOK