United aiming to bounce back at Plainmoor
MANAGER Paul Buckle stresses that Torquay United must move into top gear, and fast, as the Gulls attempt to kick-start their stuttering opening to the season against Salisbury City at Plainmoor this afternoon.
Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Crawley, where Tyrone Thompson's early dismissal left United with ten men for 80 minutes, was their second in succession.
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Torquay have not lost three games on the trot since Buckle took over last summer.
"We've got to get up and running," said Buckle.
The Gulls' boss is waiting on fitness reports for several players before he finalises his line-up today — centre-half Chris Todd (groin) missed the Crawley defeat and is still doubtful, but he is not the only one under treatment.
Thompson is definitely out. He starts an automatic three-match suspension after his straight red card at Crawley.
Buckle's selection today will be a centre of attention for supporters, especially after he made five personnel and several other positional changes at the weekend.
"We have brought players into the club, and it's obvious that we need to find our best eleven.
"But you are not going to find that out in a game like that," he said after Saturday's match."
Buckle insisted that he felt perfectly justified in shaking up his side, after the disappointing display in last midweek's 2-0 home defeat by Ebbsfleet.
"I have to be true to the whole squad in the first few games," he said.
"I've got 21 players at the club who are good enough.
"Everybody, apart from Steve Woods, Chris Robertson and Mark Ellis, has started a game now."
Ellis was on the subs' bench at Crawley, but fellow defenders Woods and Robertson, along with midfielder Nicky Wroe, missed out all together.
"There will be no panic and no throwaway comments from me," said Buckle.
"We must put the two defeats behind us, and we will move forward."
United were already a goal down, through Jon-Paul Pittman, before Thompson was sent off on Saturday.
They went on to concede two penalties, converted by Thomas Pinault and substitute Jamie Cook.
But Roscoe Dsane, set up by Tim Sills after he replaced Matt Green at half-time, did open his account for the season to make it 2-1 at one stage.
Buckle praised the effort his side showed, commenting: "Sometimes it's easy to go under in that situation, but the work-rate of the players was phenomenal, with so many things going against them.
"We need to take that into the Salisbury game."
Nick Holmes' City side have made a good start.
Saturday's 1-0 home win over Grays, through a Matt Tubbs penalty, came against ten men.
The Whites have taken nine points from their first four matches, including away wins over Forest Green Rovers and promoted Lewes.
8 Comments
by Kevin Lynch, Newton Abbot
Tuesday, August 26 2008, 12:22PM
“Come on Paul if you don't sort the problem out, you will be looking for another job very shortly!”
by Barry Cryer, Torre
Monday, August 25 2008, 4:09PM
“So if that was Torquay moving into top gear....the rest must already be in overdrive! last season we were the team to be feared with league players in our midst. This season, as BBC Radio Commentators so aptly put it...we are a mediocre non-league side that nobody fears, made up of non-league players. It may have taken a while, but TUFC has finally reached the level it deserves to be in. Perhaps now people will appreciate what we have had over the past years!”
by geoff, bodmin
Monday, August 25 2008, 3:59PM
“another loss!”
by Mike, Enfield
Monday, August 25 2008, 11:34AM
“Supporting United over the years has always prompted much emotion from supporters ¿ we are either up there with a chance or struggling at the other end.
The current reaction after the very poor Ebsfleet & Crawley games is not surprising and PB should understand we supporters simply cannot fathom his logic of playing so many midfielders in defensive positions when it clearly is not working.
I agree with Peter that there does appear to be a hangover from last season, although we did see some poor performances creeping in after the New Year (dreadful games against St Albans & Grays in particular!), with our problem seemingly having no-one in midfield to hold the ball and keep it down a bit.
During the close season PB brought in a number of experienced midfielders and whilst the loss of Phillips was a surprise (we are so lightweight now up front!) it looked very good on paper and I think we rightly believed we could genuinely be up with the front runners again this season.
I actually believe most of our players can do the job for us, but only if playing in their right positions. However, if PB believes that no two from Ellis/Woods/Robertson can do the central role in defence in the absence of Todd they should be replaced; right-back is another problem in my opinion, but that's another issue. Of the many midfielders we now have (and a few former club captains I believe), there must one strong enough who can get hold and direct our tactics on the pitch. At Crawley I thought Lee Mansell was captain the way he was shouting at team-mates; no one else seemed bothered!
It's certainly not too late (I recall Exeter being very average for the first half of last season), but we must keep getting behind the team, particularly with two home game this week. There is a lot of good concerned comment from supporters (and a lot of emotional tosh), but PB will need to sort this out soon (next season could be harder competing against two of Luton, Rotherham or Bournemouth perhaps).
Come on United, let's see some leadership on the pitch and turn this around during the next few games!”
by geoff, bodmin
Monday, August 25 2008, 11:18AM
“I am sure that the authors of the negative comments want nothing more than TUFC to be a success. If you see what the plan is, if you see the team playing to their best as a team, and then you lose then fair play. What was evident in the Ebbsfleet game, and presumably was not much better against Crawley, was a headless chicken display.”
by Local Voter, England
Monday, August 25 2008, 11:11AM
“Peter, I note you comments but to be Honest, this is very much a weaker squad than last season, and will do well just to finish mid table. To be unrealistic hides the real truth. Paul is a young Manager and still has a lot to learn...”
by Peter Yearsley, Canterbury
Monday, August 25 2008, 10:51AM
“Strangest of all is the number of venomous comments about the team, and Paul Buckle in particular, appearing over the past few days. I feel we are still suffering a 'hangover' from the end of last season.Negativity towards our team will not help to restore confidence. Because I live so far away I can't get to many games at Plainmoor but the booing of the team at half time during the Woking game was nothing short of a disgrace. To continue this against Ebbsfleet with TV cameras in evidence was unforgiveable. I think we may have to accept that we could be in the Conference for a season or two more as the team rebuilds. The fans stuck with Exeter City during their 'wilderness years' and look where they are now. Come on Gulls fans let's encourage our team and our manager, and put setbacks in their proper context.”
by Rob Wells, Newton Abbot
Monday, August 25 2008, 10:35AM
“I was a big fan of Paul Buckle last season,but this season his team selection has been quite baffling.Why is he so reluctant to play 3 of our 4 "proper" Centre-Halves?Why does he prefer to play Midfielders as Centre-Halves?
With all due respect Paul,us Torquay fans are scratching our heads at present;trying to fathom it all out.All very strange.”