TT BLOG

Clive Hayward – @Byehorse

Clive blogs about Jimmy Ball’s presser

I had to miss Jimmy Ball’s press conference this week due to an inconveniently timed cold. But Torquay Talk won’t let sniffles get in the way. I’ve watched the video, and here is my take.

Will today’s presser be the last of the season? Obviously everyone is hoping not, but failure to beat Dorking Wanderers in this Saturday’s semi-final will bring a sudden full stop to a season which started in August with great optimism, and has gravitated ever since (about once a fortnight, on average!) between hope and despair.

Marc White brings his never-knowingly-undersold club to Plainmoor on Saturday lunchtime looking for his first ever victory on our soil.

Here is Jimmy’s take on it.

Injuries and availability:

We have a fully fit squad, meaning that Jordan Young and Louis Dennis will be in contention for recalls. Will they both play? Nobody was brave enough to ask.

Tonbridge (a):

Surprisingly, perhaps, there was no mention of last Saturday’s win.

Dorking (h):

Understandably, nearly all the questions were on Saturday’s sudden death encounter. It is very tempting to call it “High Noon”, but in the interests of accuracy we must remember that it will be a 12.30 kick off. The club can’t say it, but I will: TV companies dictating kick off times is convenient only for them and perhaps for some of their audiences (both of Saturday’s semi finals will be available for viewers), but 3.00pm would be better for Torquay and Dorking fans alike.

Asked whether he felt the 2-2 draw in March should be cause for optimism, Ball pointed out that his squad now is far stronger than it was then. He rightly pointed out that the bench that night had included barely-fit players, whereas he has 19 ro choose from now.

He said that training has been good this week, with a “Saturday-Saturday Saturday” rhythm re-established. He believes that he will be able to lay his head on the pillow on Friday night with no stone unturned.

But he is realistic enough to accept that it’s all about the players:

“All I want on Saturday is for the players to perform to their levels. If Dorking are better I’ll have to doff my cap, but I think that this group, playing to their abilities, will be a challenge to any team in this league or the league above”.

There was a tiny dig at White. Ball had noticed the Dorking supremo starting to discuss a trip to the seaside before his elderly charges had got through their quarter final against Maidenhead. He regarded that as disrespectful.

Ball definitely feels the fans will have a part to play on Saturday. Whilst acknowledging that last season’s capitulation against Boreham Wood may have left some scars (did it ever!), he wants us to:

“Turn up and support and sing.”

It was a positive message, emphasising the importance of staying behind the team if things get tough.

He seems to take a realistic approach. Although he wants to be sure that he & his staff have been thorough with their preparation and believes that the players are good enough to prevail, one comment was striking in its honesty:

“I don’t know if they’ll freeze again.”

Ball also brings the perspective which is important for any football person, especially at the high stakes end of the season:

“No-one’s going to die on Saturday.”

Next Season:

He’s right, of course. Life will go on, whatever the outcome of these playoffs. He confirmed that the job of recruiting new players has already begun:

“There are clubs who have already finished that are talking to players who I want.”

Without heaping more pressure on to a squad that has not always looked a steely as we would have liked this season, it’s always worth remembering that there are lots of players available every summer. You’re probably also only as good as your last game.

It is very much up to them now.