TT PREVIEW

Louie discusses his team

START TO THE SEASON

When the fixtures came out, we were shocked to see we would be playing eight full-time teams in our first nine games. We quickly learned how much tougher the league had gotten. Realistically, if you had asked me before the season if I would take eight points from our opening five, I would have snapped your hand off. Asking me now, I feel we could have more. Our opening match vs. Maidstone stands out to me. They definitely looked beatable. Unfortunately, we took time to turn up on opening day and ended up scoring a last-minute equaliser. We have picked up two great wins at Slough away and Dorking home, which were amazing performances. Then we look at Maidenhead away. Another great point on paper. Again, I feel we should have won. Maidenhead did not look good at all. Eight points in our first five is definitely not a bad start, but I do feel we could have had better.

HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS

My hopes and expectations always are to win games, one game at a time. Cliche, but I learned my lesson off dreaming to win the league last season way too early. Looking at our squad on paper before the season, I would be lying if I said I did not want to be up the top end, challenging for those play-offs and promotion. I use teams like Worthing as my example. To me, we have a much better squad than Worthing, and look how they have done the last few years. I know the league is tougher than ever this year, but I feel we have strengthened enough to compete with these clubs, as we have shown early on so far. Promotion seems closer than ever this season.

KEY PLAYERS

Pretty much a whole new squad, so this is a little tougher than usual. From what I have seen so far, Michael Johnson, our goalkeeper, has been outstanding, made some unbelievable saves, and been very crucial for us. When Craig King had left, we had to find a replacement. I feel we have found the perfect one. Millar Mathew Lewis, our number 9, is such an exciting player and looks better and better every time he steps out on the pitch, giving 110 percent every week. Honourable mentions: Kyran Wiltshire and George Williams.

THE MANAGER

Lee came in December, when he took us from relegation beckoning to an 11th place finish. The football was exciting. After watching us lose 13 in a row to now seeing a manager that wanted to play football, he made Hemel fans start to enjoy watching their team again. He always says he likes to entertain, play attacking football, and we see that a lot. A young manager with fresh ideas is exactly what we needed. He loves to get the ball wide to our wingers and get the ball in the box, put lots of crosses into the area, and force something to happen.

POSSIBLE LINE-UP

GK – Michael Johnson, LB – Devante Stanley, CB – Kyle Ajayi, CB – Jack Bateson, RB – Samuel Adenola, DM – Kyran Wiltshire, DM – Mathew Achuba, LM – Jake Gray, CAM – Joe White, RM – George Williams, ST – Millar Mathew Lewis

CROWD

I can never predict our crowds. One week we will have a ridiculously low crowd, and then the next, everyone turns up. Hopefully, for what should be a really exciting game, we will have a healthy number. We have a growing fanbase under Lee, so hopefully, that will continue.

PRE-MATCH

The Crabtree, where I am sure most Torquay fans have familiarised themselves with now, is a great pub a few minutes’ walk away.

PROMOTION CANDIDATES

Tough question. I will give you a few names. Ebbsfleet and Torquay are my favourites. Obviously, we can never count Dorking out. I would be rude to not give Hornchurch a shout; however, I do think they will drop a lot.