TALKING POINTS

Rob Dand

Rob discusses the game at Plainmoor

THE 12TH (AND 13TH) MAN

Following the recent injuries to Louis Dennis and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, United had enough players hobbling around the treatment room for a very low impact game of musical chairs. This left the subs bench looking worryingly light for what was only the third game of the season, and the first in a run of three in seven days, all against newly-promoted sides. By Paul Wotton’s own admission, the players on the bench were there out of necessity more so than any degree of merit, which harked back to some of those bad old days under Gary Johnson.

This created a vacuum that the crowd took it upon themselves to fill, most notably after a nervy 10-15 minute spell in the second half when Jordan Young’s (presumably preventative) removal naturally made for a more defensive set up. The Yellow Army generally do back their side when it matters, but in those few minutes before Matt Jay’s welcome strike, the encouragement from the Pop Side will undoubtedly have settled the players and helped them get a foothold back on the game.

YOUTUBE CLIP – MORGAN GOAL

SUMMER SIGNINGS

Nash Sundire was handed his first competitive start, which means that save for the injured Sonny Fish, we’ve now had a good look at all of United’s summer recruits. After a second-half run goalwards that saw him simply fall over in shock before he could take a shot, it’s probably fair to say that Nash won’t be in contention for the Ballon D’Or, but an energetic display saw him start the game in the middle and end it in a makeshift role on the left wing – highlighting his versatility and willingness to do whatever is required for the team. A couple of crunching (but fair) tackles will have also endeared him to the Plainmoor faithful, who had become used to witnessing a pretty lightweight midfield get overrun too easily and too often last year.

Elsewhere, it was another composed performance from captain Matt Worthington, a man who always seems to be exactly where he should be, dropping back to join the defence and capable of dictating the play from deep.

Jordan Thomas also joined on a permanent basis over the summer, and his inconsistent start to the season continued – he made a couple of really well-timed challenges, but also looked meek on occasion. One particularly curious decision saw him hoof the ball out of play for a throw-in in an unfavourable position, which immediately led to the corner that led to the Totton goal. If he really had an uncontrollable desire to boot the ball as far as he could, he definitely had the time to pick a spot further up the field. Paul Wotton obviously believes that his strengths outweigh his weaknesses. Let’s hope he’s right.

YOUTUBE CLIP – TOTTON GOAL

NAMESAKES

Three games into his second season, and Paul Wotton has 7 points from a possible 9. United sit nicely in third, with Hornchurch and Ebbsfleet above holding perfect records so far. In his post-game interview, he rightly implied that last season’s team would probably have bottled both of the last two games, so there are clear signs of progress.

Comparisons to Torquay’s most successful manager of recent times, Paul Buckle, have been there from the beginning. A massive squad overhaul in his first season, a heartbreaking near miss, a strengthened squad with a consistent core… maybe second time lucky?! They were of course also both adult human males called Paul, and I for one have never seen them in the same room. Another important point to make is that Wotton is also tracking well against former Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di’Anno, who never presided over a game of professional football in his life.

YOUTUBE – OWN GOAL FOR TOTTON

LIGHT ENTERTAINMENT

United’s first evening showing ‘under the lights’ at TQ1 was lit by a quartet of floodlights that quite nearly need a bit of a spruce-up, providing the crowd with a dim view of proceedings during the second half. It was a bit like that one episode of Game of Thrones, only with gulls instead of dragons. After an amateur light display from the phones on the terraces that saw Plainmoor briefly resemble a Taylor Swift show, it was decided that the house lights in all four stands should be switched back on. With darker nights to come, hopefully in just a literal sense, perhaps that bulb replacement job will be brought forward?

YOUTUBE CLIP – JAY GOAL

UPCOMING FIXTURES

The next seven days will provide an early test for the already depleted Yellows. Hopefully the likes of Dylan Morgan and Jordan Young will be raring to go come the weekend, but United’s injury list does also include some longer term concerns. The next two games are also against newly-promoted sides, but it would be foolish to write Dover off in particular, having picked up two handy away wins at Bath and Eastbourne already. Is there enough wiggle room in the budget for Paul Wotton to dip into the loan market at this stage? Will Gilbert the Gull be named on the bench? Will I be named on the bench?! We don’t know the answer to any of these questions, but it’s our job to ask them.