TALKING POINTS

Dom Roman – @DomRoman

Dom discusses pre-season so far

OPTIMISM

Yes it’s important to not get carried away by pre-season, you only have to go back to 2023, when the Gulls looked red hot in the usual pre-season fixtures, only for the season to quickly turn into one of the dampest squibs in the club’s history. But we should feel optimistic. We have strong continuity, keeping the players we wanted to keep and we have strengthened with players who should be amongst the best in the NLS. We have got a highly motivated manager who would have learnt some lessons last season and the squad appears to be an excellent mix of youth and experience, solid defenders and dangerous attackers. All in all a set of characteristics that sets us up very nicely for 25/26. The Gulls players enjoyed the game against Newport, knitting together moves and looking very happy back in front of a merry Yellow Army.

DYLAN MORGAN

It wasn’t the entrance Dylan Morgan would have wanted last season at Plainmoor, unlike Jordan Young, he found the transition from Yeovil to Torquay difficult and much of that was down to injuries, which left supporters wandering what he would add to the squad. Well he’s now fit and he’s absolutely raring to go! Two goals at Buckland and another smasher at Plainmoor on Saturday showed what he’s all about, and he was a constant source of menace to the County defence. Keep this up in pre-season and Morgan’s claim on a first team place will be hard to ignore, let’s hope he remains injury free.

MATT IMMEDIATELY SHOWS HIS WORTH…

Experience and leadership in Midfield? Tick. Smart distribution and contol? Tick. Worth the wait? Tick. The Matt Worthington transfer has been gossiped about for a while in Yellow Army circles, and I’m sure Paul Wotton was delighted to finally get his man last week. The captain showed what he’s all about at Plainmoor and he’ll be desperate to win another NLS with the Gulls. Last season our midfield was often a weak point, the summer signings should rectify this.

YOUNG’S DELIVERY & DENNIS SHINES

Jordan Young’s left foot will play a hugely important part in United’s season again! Whether it’s set pieces, general play crosses or shots, the pace and whip JY can put on his delivery is such an asset for PW to utilise. Newport certainly struggled to cope, and the likes of Dyer, Dreyer, Cooke & Dennis will be relishing the chance to get on the end of his left foot beauties. Speaking of Louis Dennis, he also looked the part at Plainmoor. Playing behind Cody Cooke, the attacker cleverly found spaces and was very purposeful indeed, grabbing a deserved goal with a poachers finish. If the attack comes together once the real action starts (and nothing can be taken for granted), then United will be hard to stop.