TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman – @DomRoman

Dom looks ahead to the NLS game

MOVING ON

Last weekend’s loss was a tough one to take. The game was in the palm of our hands and we were fully in control, but when push came to shove we could not turn the screw, the away team sniffed a chance and took it (twice). Thoroughly deflating stuff on an afternoon that started with oodles of optimism. But we’ve all been through that process with supporting the Gulls before (and we’ll go through it again!), the only thing we can do is dust ourselves down, re-energize and push on into the next game. The game in question is Slough Town (h). David Brent’s hometown team come to Plainmoor as underdogs, but can we have a better day at the Office this time around? I bloody hope so.

THE LINE-UP

The Cooke and Zanzala combination wasn’t a complete disaster last weekend, Cody did grab a goal and Ozzie caused Chesham problems in the 1st half. But I’m not sure they did enough to keep the partnership intact for this one. PW could perhaps move Matt Jay into a central role, and re-integrate WJD or Mussa into the starting line-up, but whatever the plan, the Gulls need to simply provide more attacking threat. There is currently too much pressure on Jordan Young to make something happen, and it’s vital that other playmakers stand up and be counted. Elsewhere the midfield of Threlkeld and Hayfield is honest and busy, but very workmanlike. Could PW be tempted to throw the new boy Cameron Ashia in, or move the recently overlooked Hasani back for another try? With the squad’s fitness good, at least we have options!

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THE OPPOSITION

Scott Davies’ Slough Town come to Plainmoor in 17th place and a comfortable 10 points above the NLS relegation zone. They’ve actually scored 1 more goal in total than Torquay this season, but have also conceded 26 more, so generally there’s entertainment to be had when the Rebels are around. Slavi Spasov is their top goal-scorer, and their last two games have seen a 3-0 win at home over Aveley, but a 4-0 loss away at Weymouth! We should be able to exploit their defensive frailties and get back to winning ways, but with nerves around, another close and tense game could be just around the corner….

ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK!

I said earlier in the season that I thought Paul Wotton would need to ease off the brakes if the Gulls were to be champions, and it just doesn’t feel like we’ve been attacking enough when it matters. The team have spells where they look like throwing the kitchen sink at the opposition, but it doesn’t quite happen, and in truth games at Plainmoor have been lacking in sparkle. Much of it stems from the Gulls not playing with enough intensity. The ball needs to zip around quicker between players to unhinge defences and our attackers need to be sharper and more cohesive around the box. Too much grind has dragged us down….but due to it being a crazy old league THERE IS STILL TIME! It probably needs the Gulls to win all four games now, and despite this team’s faults I would not write them off. Let’s push them on to get the first one in the bag on Saturday.