TALKING POINTS

Thomas Kelly – @tommyktufc

Thomas discusses the away day defeat

MORE MISSED CHANCES

It may not have felt like it at times this season, but Torquay United have been raking in the goals in the National League South, scoring 43 times this season, averaging nearly 2 goals a game with only Worthing finding the net more often than us. That figure really should be a lot higher.

After putting (a very poor) Eastbourne Borough side to the slaughter a few weeks ago, Torquay have been wasteful in front of goal in December, with just the one goal from our last two defeats.

We had plenty of chances against AFC Totton and somehow found ourselves behind at the break. This wasn’t a case of us starting slow like we did against Tonbridge a fortnight ago. Torquay spurned many chances with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton having his shot brilliantly saved when it was destined for the top corner. Jordan Young hit one just wide of goal, as did Louis Dennis. It just felt like we all knew what was destined to happen next.

TYPICAL TORQUAY

We paid for those missed chances and typically in poor fashion. Hamon misjudges a cross which fell straight to Haunstrup who had the easy job of slotting the ball home right on half time. I think Hammy takes the blame for the goal, but he made a superb save in the first half to keep it 0-0.

To their credit, Totton defended brilliantly with several clearances off the line. On another day, we score four or five. I feel like I’ve said this about us before. The reality is, we lost a game we shouldn’t have and it feels Weston on Boxing Day could be a massive indicator as to whether we are capable for challenging for the title.

PENALTY MISERY

After AFC Totton went down to 10 men, the Yellow Army would have been expectant for the Gulls to get back into the game with half an hour still to play & were soon rewarded with a penalty after Kieran Wilson was shoved in the box.

Despite protests from the AFC Totton players, the decision was not going to be overturned and Jordan Young claimed his spot waiting for the ball to fall to him.

Callum Dolan returns and attempts to push Young out of the way, claiming he should be the one to take the penalty kick.

After some debate and reluctance from Dolan, Jordan Young was the one to take the penalty. It all felt uncomfortable from the stands and left many feeling that this had penalty miss written all over it.

Jordan Young took the penalty and as we all know skied the ball over the bar and onto the perimeter fencing.

Poor Jordan took a lot of stick from some in the stands for the rest of the game. I felt that was harsh. He is a quality player and whilst everyone has a bad game or two, it is imperative that he finds confidence and quickly as we look a poorer team when he isn’t pulling the strings in the way we know he can.

I assume that he is the “designated penalty taker” as Paul Wotton announced in his post match interview, so in my mind there is no debate.

I don’t know who is in the wrong here and it would be unfair to speculate, however for the good of the team, stick to the gameplan lads. Fighting amongst ourselves has already proved costly this season. We are a professional football club. Act like you play for one!

THE FINAL BALL

When an opposition goes down to 10 men, I expected the Gulls to have the quality to break in behind the Totton defence with urgency.

Whilst United had all of the possession, our build up play was slow and lethargic for my liking. I appreciate it’s challenging when teams literally park the bus in your own half but we need to be able to break down sides and take opportunities like we had for over half an hour in the second half.

Torquay seemed content to pass it across the park rather than drive forward and even when we did, we didn’t seem to get the ball in the box quickly enough.

I am sick and tired of seeing us play short corners that create nothing. When we did play it in the mixer, we almost found a way back into the game and caused the Totton defence trouble. It seemed some of the lads were trying to do things on their own rather than play the correct pass.

We should have left Hampshire with a minimum of a point. We dominated play but left empty handed.

SEVEN DEFEATS

At this stage of the season last year, Torquay United became Christmas No.1 after a 1-0 victory over Hemel Hempstead at Plainmoor. Whilst being top at Christmas does not guarantee you’ll be top come seasons end, one important thing that will cause some fans to worry is the number of defeats the Gulls have registered already.

By Christmas last season, United had lost just 3 times in the league. This season, defeat at Totton saw the gulls register their 7th defeat of the season, the same number of defeats that the Gulls tallied for the entirety of last season.

AFC Totton came into this game on as the league’s worst form team and had not won a league game since their 2-1 win against Maidenhead back in early November. It’s almost to be expected being a Torquay fan that the Gulls would find a way to lose and they did just that. Not for the first time, not for the last time.

When looking back at league winners in recent years we see that…

Ebbsfleet lost 7 matches in the 22/23 season, Yeovil lost 9 matches in the 23/24 season & Truro lost 9 matches in the 24/25 season.

It means should the Gulls title aspirations be realised, United will have to be much more consistent from now until the end of the season to stand a chance.

Will the Gulls lose only 2/3 more games from now until the end of the season? You have to say its unlikely.

United will need to cut out the silly goals if they want to be genuine title challengers.

FOLLOWING ORDERS

Paul referenced in his post match interview how instructions didn’t appear to be followed from some of his players which strikes me with concern, as it is not the first time he has mentioned this following away day defeats.

The penalty fiasco & player conduct are two examples where professionalism must be maintained. This football club is expectant with the highest crowds and ambitions to achieve promotion this season, especially after coming so close last season.

The Yellow Army are expectant.

There was another fantastic following in Hampshire with what I estimate easily over half the crowd supporting United on. We want to see effort, passion for the shirt and players representing the club in a professional way.

We are all in this together and will always back the team wherever we go. Raise it lads and show us what you can all do.

CODY RETURNS

Welcome back Cody. Despite a brief appearance, it was great to see the striker back on the pitch representing the Gulls. It will take some games before he is back to full fitness but he will be desperate to get back in the goals sooner rather than later. Expect brief appearances over the festive period but I’m sure it won’t be long until he’s in the head of opposition defences again.

BOXING DAY

Boxing Day suddenly feels like a massive game. After 5 consecutive victories in a row, United are now on a run of consecutive defeats and Weston-super-Mare will provide another stern test in what I hope will be a huge crowd at Plainmoor.

The Seagulls have had a fantastic season so far, making it to the 3rd round of the FA Cup and currently sit just a point of top spot in 3rd place.

Weston have registered 5 wins on the road but have tasted defeat on 4 occasions, including recently in a 3-2 defeat away to fellow promotion contenders Dorking Wanderers.

For United, a win is a must in order to raise morale in what has been a challenging few weeks. A defeat won’t end our title hopes by any stretch, but you feel it might play a part come the seasons end.

Let’s support the lads like we’ve done all season and hopefully enjoy the Christmas period with a lot of beer, turkey and 3 points!

Happy Christmas and thank you for your continued support!