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Dom Roman – @DomRoman

Dom discusses PW’s 1st year in charge of the Gulls

Paul Wotton’s appointment at Torquay United was no great surprise to most Gulls supporters. There had been a plethora of speculation that the then Truro manager was on his way to Plainmoor having said goodbye to his White Tigers, and on 14th May 2024 the official confirmation came. The busy Bryn Consortium had an energetic new man in charge of footballing matters, let’s discuss his 1st year at the helm shall we…

RECRUITMENT

A look back has to start with Recruitment! Unlike Arne Slot waltzing into Liverpool FC with a squad carefully moulded by Jurgen Klopp, Paul Wotton arrived with only one player on a contract, that player being Austen Booth, someone who wouldn’t even play a competitive game for him! No time to waste, the squad needed assembling for pre-season and a number of new faces soon lined up, all introduced in a fantastic tongue in cheek social media video.

Whilst it would be generous to suggest that every new signing was a good one, there was certainly more hits than misses. That includes Sam Dreyer and Jordan Dyer, two centre backs who proved key to United’s defensive resilience, add to that proven NLS players such as Dan Hayfield, Jay Foulston, James Hamon and Cody Cooke, and it was clear that this was going to be solid squad. As time has gone by certain players have been discarded and other players also jumped at the chance to come to United, most notably Jordan Young and Matt Jay. Young especially has been an excellent signing and we can expect him to shine again next season, whilst Jay will only get sharper after a pre-season under PW.

It’s not been perfect of course, strikers Brad Ash and Ben Seymour failed to make any impression, and the lack of alternate options to Cody Cooke did hurt us as the winter lurched on. Meanwhile the signing of the experienced Oscar Threlkeld looked a risk at the time due to his fitness issues, and although the club captain was generally available for selection, he had an underwhelming season. There could have also been greater pace and energy in the side, but overall it’s hard to be too critical, with tight time constraints the squad was as strong as we could hope for, and everybody who was brought in worked hard when called upon and threw themselves into the challenge.

PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER

Gary Johnson’s press conferences had become more and more painful to listen to, so it was a refreshing change when Paul Wotton stepped in and had all the enthusiasm and drive we want to see from a Torquay manager. Whilst Paul can appear a bit hard nosed and serious, he’s also showed a sense of humour at times and wanted to be open and honest with the press and supporters, which we’ve all appreciated. He hasn’t been afraid to criticise the team when performance levels have dropped, but in the most important moments he’s also been quick to back his squad and remind supporters that they are all committed to the cause. Having spoken to the man himself, he’s more bubbly than his presser persona would suggest, and his engaging personality certainly came to the fore when we enjoyed an interview with him for GEV. Passionate, motivated and ambitious, he’s creating a strong and resilient team spirit at United and PW will do everything possible to push us forwards I’m sure. He’ll know that the pressure is on him to deliver in 2025/26 and he’ll believe he’s the man to do it.

TACTICS

In the pre-season fixtures it became apparent that United would be lining up in a 3-5-2 formation, and those tactics were successful enough in the early weeks, with Matt Carson doing well at left wing back, and the Dreyer/Dyer/Foulston axis steady in defence. In the opener at home we blitzed Enfield with a host of crosses, which Cody Cooke and Brad Ash did their best to get on the end of. But as the season wore on, the 3-5-2 started to become an issue and it was refreshing to see Paul try other options to get the best out of his team. In came a 4-2-3-1 and different variations that mainly utilised Cody Cooke upfront on his own, whilst the likes of Young, Jay, Hasani, Mussa and Jenkins Davies were juggled around to get the best out of the midfield and attack.

In truth the tactical tinkering didn’t always come to fruition and often United’s attacking was too workmanlike, predictable and rigid. Players doing their jobs but not surprising the opposition enough with their movement and interplay. There lies the challenge for PW as Torquay manager, he’s shown he can set up a sound defensive structure, make us hard to beat and win close games, but can he bring more flair and fun into our play so that United can squeeze the life out of the opposition? I need convincing in that area. I can see similar scenarios again next season and similar comments on PW being too conservative (and a lot of close games!), but we shall see. He’s taken us very close to the title, if he can progress as a manager and give United more attacking intent when it matters, then we should be able to take that very important next step.

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THE RESULTS

We all want fancy football don’t we, and games won at a canter, but the results are the all important matter and 89 points from 46 games is a pretty good total from the 2024/25 season. Could it have been more? Well yes of course, there were refereeing decisions that baffled us, and points lost from winning positions, but we came strong at the tail end of the season and can take great heart from that. The FA Cup loss to Bishops Cleeve was the most disappointing result in the early months, and I’m sure the Bryn Consortium will be urging PW to do better next time to swell the Plainmoor coffers. And the Boreham Wood loss was a painful one, a game that showed up some of the weaknesses in the United side and in PW’s management. Let’s hope it’s a big game that this manager and his squad learn from heading into 25/26. The season cannot be truly classed as a successful one because promotion was missed out on, but after some miserable years, it at least feels like we are heading in the right direction on and off the pitch.

STATS ROUND-UP – GAMES 51, WON 27, DRAWS 14, LOST 10 – 52.94% WIN RATE

THE HIGHS

Some of the finest victories for PW in 24/25:

25.08.2024 – DORKING (H) – Paul Wotton’s first big win as United manager came on a sunny day at Plainmoor, as Marc White and his side came to town. Wotton used a counter attacking approach that nullified the Dorking attack and Lirak Hasani came up with a stunner to win the game.

26.11.2024 – WSM (H) – Weston-super-Mare came to United in a fine run of form and sitting top of the table. With the game tied at 2-2 (and Cooke missing a penalty), Hasani was sent off. Rather than look for a draw PW urged his side on in the 2nd half for the win and was rewarded with two goals from Cooke that gave the Gulls a sweet 4-2 victory.

18.04.2025 – TRURO (A) – With the NLS title race closer than any title race has ever been, the Gulls travelled to Cornwall knowing that a win was required. Torquay, with Mussa inserted into a deep midfield role, edged a game of few chances, and Matt Jay was the matchwinner with a fine strike in the second half.

YELLOW ARMY COMMENTS

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Tim Discombe – Need to apply learnings from this season, ie more creativity and positivity.

Dennis Kallmer – Hopefully, Neil Warnock will assist, with his contacts, to bring in more attacking players. Next season will be much tougher.

Martin Peters – Given the state of the club this time last year, he’s done a great job in building a squad that almost got automatic promotion.

Robert Wells – Done a great job. Turned a group of virtual strangers into a winning team that points wise , were joint top of NLS. It’s those silly late defeats & draws ,where we conceded late goals that messed up momentum.

James Etoe – Boring football and tactics. Dont mind him as a manager but play some flippin football. We pay our money to watch us win games, but we need entertainment as well. If he’s applied some of the logic above we’d have been promoted as champions.

Jason Buck – Far too defensively minded. Hopefully he will make some pacey additions, a midfield dynamo and goal scoring machine. Questionable substitutions at times. Given the circumstances he needs another go at getting us out of NLS.

Steve Saunders – Sometimes a bit too defensive for my taste but I admire what he achieved from where we started from so I’m more than happy to go again. He’s also a good communicator who clearly values the fan base so that’s another from me.

Ben Cumming – He did ok but more attacking flair needed.

Martin Danby – Next season we won’t be able to use the old just saved the club excuses though we won’t forget..need to be more attacking motivated for starters plus paul has has a year now so needs to know what we did wrong or what he did wrong..and just go for it!!!!

Mark Horler – Boring football, but getting results. The squad will need to be a lot stronger next season. Three good clubs down from the national league and a relatively lucky season in terms of hardly any impact injuries. Not saying we necessarily got lucky, but he did not do enough for me to think we will run away with the league next season either. It would be great to do better in those exciting one off matches like in the FA Cup and Play Offs.

Mark Hepworth – Assembled a squad that came within 3 goals of winning the league. Don’t mind him at all. Always truthful in his pre/post match interviews.

Les Quaintance – Done alright in his 1st season, hopefully we can go one better this season and go up.

Craig Hughes – Fantastic job by Paul. To miss out on the title by goal difference in his first season with a squad built from scratch is a real testament to Paul’s hard work.

Jake Reeves – Can’t knock him at all this season. Got a good group of players together and have overachieved. Only fair to assess him after next season. Let’s see what the season brings and hopefully we can go one further.

Steve Browning – He done a good job this season,it’s all about next season we have 11 players under contract,4 players been offered a contract if they all sign thats 15 players a lot better than last summer.

Adam Geary – Good manager, plays it a bit safe, reminds me of Southgate’s play style with England. I look forward to seeing what he can do with a bit more financial legroom and a full pre-season with a core squad.

Josh Elston – Came in to a club falling apart got the right players in for the right level and built a Torquay united to be proud of again top bloke top manger and with the financial backing back to the football league Coyy.

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Christopher Hytche @IFaustus – If you take stock of what he walked into you can’t say he hasn’t done a decent job. Perhaps a victim of his own success in the end, with the squad overachieving in the league? Interested in what he can do with a full summer and the core of a squad already here.

Thomas Kelly @tommyktufc – A breath of fresh air after years of GJ excuses. Considering he’s had 1 contracted player to start and time available, I think he’s done brilliantly to get us so close to the title this season. Pressures on a bit next season if we start slow but has my full backing!

Christine @frogspad – Very happy that he’s ours. Think Paul has learnt a lot from this last season. Looking forward to ‘25/‘26, with him in charge.

Steve Harris @steveharris84 – He assembled a team that was tough to beat at the start and then added more attacking options in Jordan Young, Matt Jay and the return of WJD on loan. With a few astute additions he has the potential to go one better next season.

Alan Wills @alanjwills – Paul’s done a great job, in my opinion. He exceeded his brief, and almost achieved the improbable by the finest of margins. Refreshingly honest as well. He’s the man to continue the team’s progress, and take us to the next level.

Jed @JW_460 – The modern football manager… boring to watch but hard to break down, should take a lot of the responsibility on how the end of the season played out, needs to hit the ground running next season or gates will drop and owners will be given difficult choices…

D.Trust @rodentcrap – It was not easy coming into the club when he did , sometimes, we played far too conservatively when we needed to put games to bed ! Big season ahead for all , but I do feel we are in the right hands , on and off the pitch.

Wayne Davidson @Torquaymanor18 – Very good bright young manager. Very honest and is passionate about our club. Let’s hope he sticks with us and hopefully eventually get us back to the football league. The club is in a good place right now.

Joey G @JoeGilberto96 – He’s made a Solid team that’s hard to beat other than a few crazy unprecedented things during some games, we won’t smash many teams but I think this is the sort of manager we need to get promoted.

TTID @TTID_0 – Love him, my favourite manager since Ling.

antcommander @syrve – He’s done fine. It’s difficult to comment without knowing all that goes on at the club, financial restrictions etc. we’d have all done things a little differently, but he’s done it his way and it’s gone well! Ask again next season!

Paul Helley @HelleyPaul – I think he has done very well under tough circumstances. Building a team from scratch and finishing 2nd is quite an achievement! That said it was quite clear we needed fresh faces in midfield and they didn’t arrive. I assumed the “Warnock” connection would have got us a couple.

Joseph Terry @j_wterry – Mentality monster, love that in him. Expects high standards and looks at *everything* professionally. Even just talking to him for a few minutes you can tell what he expects. Backing him into next season, how could I not.

Scott Adams @5566adams – Too defensive But I’ll give him to Xmas and see where we are at.

Alan @alandjames1949 – Incredible progress in one year, no if only or buts , quite remarkable. Stable well run club that can only kick on for promotion and he knows how to build to achieve that.

Sparky @grafter9111 – He openly admitted he’s made mistakes and learnt a lot, he’s done a great job in a short period of time.

Josh Coles @joshcoles78 – With a brand new squad having us only lose the league by 2 goals, sets us up well defensively, but struggles with our attacking pattern. A year in and I’ve not seen a clear direction. When we’ve played sides with half our budget we’ve often struggled to be the better side. 7/10.

Jack McDonnell @jackmcdonnell31 – I think he’s done well tbf good having a localish manager too only from Plymouth I thought he did well at Truro too to keep them in the league when they had all those games non stop big part of the reason Truro went up this season.

Harry @TQ_Harry – Tactically inept, far far better out there.

The Magician Darts @MagicianDarts – Mixed bag. Can’t fault his work rate, commitment, building from scratch. But as a spectacle, not great to watch. Clear in how he wants to play, and not much flexibility, which I think that cost us (in a mediocre league). Loans were 👎🏽ending up with Palmer/Ash/Moxey on the pitch.

Jay Russell @jayrussell – He’s done good. The team is headed in the right direction. None of us like how the season ended, but I would rather be contending for promotion than fighting against the drop.

decZ109 @DecZ1092 – Overall done a good job but his defensive tactics probably cost us promotion in the end. We are also a very hard watch, which is okay if you get promoted but if not then it’s not worth it. 2nd season we need promotion. Fail to do that and people will start turning on him.