TT PREVIEW

Chris Wade – @tufcchris

FUSTRATION GROWS

One word that best describes how the Torquay United fanbase is feeling right now is frustrated. Are we playing awfully? No. Are we dominating games? Yes. Are we scoring goals? No. Are we winning games? No. And the frustration only grew at the weekend with other chance filled 1-1 draw at Plainmoor against Hampton & Richmond. Whilst it’s good that chances are being created, we need to start taking them. It may only be 5 games into the new season, but every game that you play contributes to your final league position. And three draws out of three is not what we want to see in our home matches. But there’s no time to dwell in this game, and United move on to a fixture at Farnham Town on Bank Holiday Monday.

BIG WEEK AHEAD

This feels like a big week in the season. We really do need to put a firecracker under our season and get some points on the board sooner rather than later. And with the transfer window still open, there is the possibility that we could lose one or more of the squad ahead of the closure of the window on Tuesday. It’s great to see the club having interest in its players (and good luck to Dylan Morgan who left us on Friday) but the challenge then falls on the manager to be able to recruit players of the required quality to keep the squad developing, evolving and importantly, winning. It will be very interesting to see what the squad looks like by the time that we all arrive at Plainmoor again on Saturday.

JACOB BEAUMONT-CLARK

With Morgan having departed, Jimmy Ball was quick to replenish the squad with the arrival of Jacob Beaumont-Clark on Friday evening. And the first view of him on Saturday was positive. He looks to be full of tricks, pace and running at opposition. Teams are always scared of pace, and he looks to have that and the ability to pin teams back. But he looks raw, and the Yellow Army may well have to be patient with him as he adjusts to full-time training and the importance of playing for three points every week. That and the expectation that this club brings in this league. It maybe a little early to start him yet, but he will bring pace and width as the season develops.

BACK TO BACK MATCHES

The rigours of a 46-match season have their busy phases and their quieter phases. But this is certainly busier, and playing 2 matches in 3 days isn’t popular with clubs, although it is an ideal opportunity to get fans in through the doors across the Bank Holiday Weekend. United’s squad was fully fit through pre-season but as the competitive matches have begun, United have found themselves with some bumps and bruises, along with the season ending injury to Jordan Dyer. I can’t see Jimmy selecting the same eleven only 48 hours later, and we may see Jordan Young start a league game for the first time this season. Rotating the squad is key all season, but even more so with such a tight turn around in matches.

THE OPPOSITION

Saturday’s 2-1 win at Horsham was a positive indicator that they are settling into their new level after promotion last season. But they head into Monday’s match with two defeats from two at home, so this feels an important opportunity for Torquay. Getting into the game and getting the first goal is always important away from home, and the team will no doubt be backed by a big following of the Yellow Army roaring them on. It’s a new ground for Torquay United, so let’s have a good day out, and bring the points home to Plainmoor.