We begin the month sitting 4th in the League table just, one point behind current leaders Norwich. We are scheduled for 3 league matches and the Carling Cup 3rd round tie. We start the month with just one injury in the first team squad, that being to Ryan Tunnicliffe who will return to training about 2 weeks into the month. There is an international break at the start of the month, which means he will return to training about the same time as we have our first match, so shouldn’t be unavailable for long.
I am quite hopeful that we can win our Carling Cup tie against Hull at Plainmoor. The first league match, is a game we should win, as we face bottom of the table Brighton, who are yet to score a point. The other two fixtures are away matches against Millwall and Leicester, which promise to be much trickier and close fought battles.
The international break sees seven players called up for international duty at various levels. Adnan Januzaj suffered a stubbed toe during his match, which will see him sidelined for about a week. Baradji scored his first goal for Mali, which must do his confidence a world of good. Lucas and Meppen-Walters also scored in their second matches played during the break, with the latter also creating an assist and claiming the man of the match award.
Brighton (H) Championship
The first match of the month sees us take on take on Brighton, who travel to Plainmoor sitting bottom of the league table. We are clear favourites to win this fixture, but must guard against complacency, which such a match could bring.
The start of the match saw us press forward, but it was clear almost straight away, that Brighton were intent on showing a sturdy defence. In the 4th minute O’Brien gave the keeper an easy save from just outside the area. In the 12th minute Aubameyang looked to have been brought down in the area, but no penalty was given, much to my dismay, and the anger of Willy. We were all over Brighton, with the next shot coming in the 17th minute, an Eccleston blocked shot from an angle which won a corner. Brighton then had a blocked shot the following minute, finally managing to make it forward. In the 22nd Eccleston saw a shot from just outside the area, saved by the diving keeper. We now started to play some awful rubbish, allowing Brighton more time on the ball, with them heading just wide from a corner in the 30th minute. In the 33rd minute O’Brien hit an early cross into the area, with Eccleston arriving to put the ball away from close range to give us the lead. The lads had finally taken notice of a shout I’d made much earlier. Brighton then pressed us back, with us having to defend hard, with us finally getting a clearance forward in the 38th minute, with Aubameyang collected, with his shot from inside the box, deflected behind with a great save from the keeper. Baradji headed the corner over the bar, unable to direct it on target. Aubameyang then fired wide in the 43rd after some very patient build-up play. He then hit a really horrible shot a long way wide in the 1st minute of added time. The half was brought to a close shortly after with us leading by the single goal. I was pleased that we had the lead and our performance. The slender lead is quite worrying, even though we’ve not allowed Brighton many chances, so we must keep concentrating in the second half.
The second half started with us giving the ball away within seconds of the restart, with Brighton making a very slow move forward, before firing over in the 47th minute. The match then turned scrappy, with Brighton firing over from range in the 52nd. We then pushed forward, but failed to create anything, before nearly being caught out with a long clearance, with Olejnik just getting a touch to send the ball wide in the 57th minute. Two minutes later, Eccleston put the ball wide, with our first shot of the half. Brighton then started to put together all sorts of amazing passes, with a shot put wide in the 64th, making me nervous. They put another shot wide the following minute, with the goal kick returned straight back, and some awful defending allowing the striker to get the ball. Eccleston gave the keeper an easy save from 20 yards out, in the 66th. Another shot flew over our bar in the 71st, from about 25 yards out, with Brighton seeming to always have space to pass into. We now seemed to start playing total rubbish again, just giving the ball away. I was getting really frustrated, and Brighton also seemed to be getting away with blatant fouls. In the 82nd they headed just wide from a corner, with our marking non-existent. It seemed like we wanted to let them come at us. They fired over a minute later, with another goal kick just coming straight back. Olejnik was then given an easy save in the 85th with us looking absolutely abysmal. The following minute my frustration was eased, with us finally clearing the ball upfield, with Eccleston racing up the other end, firing straight at the keeper, with the ball bouncing out and flicking left for McManaman to fire home into an empty net and double our lead. The match had really opened up now, with McManaman seeing his shot in the 90th deflected wide by the keeper. In the second minute of injury time Lancashire headed just over from a corner, which brought the match to a close. We had come out as 2-0 victors, but we’d made this a lot tougher than it should have been by playing really poor football at times in the second half.
Result: 2 – 0 (Click To See Stats)
Man of the Match: Nathan Eccleston (ST – Torquay)
I was pleased we got the victory, but at times we allowed Brighton to just come at us, by giving the ball away too easily. We deserved the victory, but with better finishing, Brighton could have upset us, given the number of times we’d allowed them to get through in the second half. Our under-18s had a very bizarre match against Salisbury, going from being comfortably 4-0 up, to conceding 3 goals in the last four minutes, and only just holding on.
Millwall (A) Championship
One week later we travel to London, to the Den where we face Millwall, who are currently 8th in the league, having performed better than expected this season, much like ourselves. Millwall are marginal favourites for this match, but we have won both our previous meetings, so we must feel a certain confidence that we could claim all the points.
We started the match, moving the ball about with confidence, winning a free kick 20 yards out, which Baradji put high and wide in the 3rd minute. Shortly after Millwall apparently had a shot off target, but I don’t remember seeing it. In the 7th Aubameyang struck a shot from 35 yards out, which the keeper pushed wide with a full length diving save. O’Kane fired just wide the following minute from a tight angle. Millwall put the ball just over from 20 yards, in the 10th minute. The following minute I was livid with the referee, for stopping play to book a Millwall player, with Eccleston having been put in the clear with just the keeper to beat; sadly it’s something I guess SI can’t do anything about, and it’s rare it stops a good attack, and occasionally happens in real life. The match then got scrappy, with us having more of the ball. In the 23rd Millwall fired a free kick over the bar, after we’d conceded a dodgy foul. This seemed to signal us to start giving the ball away at every possible opportunity, with Millwall having a couple of blocked shots, before firing wide in the 31st minute and the 35th, all from long-shots. Eccleston fired wide in the 38th from just outside the area, with us finally putting a few passes together again. In the 41st Eccleston put a high cross into the area for Aubameyang, but his header was pretty weak, giving the keeper an easy catch. In the 45th minute Baradji blasted over the bar from inside the area, with our best chance so far. Half-time was reached with the match still goalless. Despite our period of giving the ball away, we had created the best chances, although the foul where play was pulled back, had denied us the best of them.
The second half started with Millwall going on the attack, but we repelled the first assault before giving it away further upfield. A high ball was fired over the top, with a Millwall striker collecting it, and O’Brien made a great tackle, only to see the ball drop in the area to the other striker, who had an empty net to put the ball into. Seriously bad lack meant we were behind in the 47th. In the 50th Oastler passed the ball to Aubameyang in the area, and he turned and fired across the keeper into the far side of the net to level the scores. Millwall headed over from a corner in the 54th. Two minutes later a defensive mistake from a high ball, allowed the Millwall scorer to attempt a chip from 20 yards out, which fortunately went just over the bar. In the 62nd Olejnik was given a fairly easy save from a free kick we conceded just outside our area. With the ball cleared upfield, Eccleston went on a run up the right side of the pitch and seeing the keeper off his line, tried to beat him from 25 yards out, but the keeper got his fingertips there to put it over the bar. A great pass from Eccleston, put Aubameyang in on goal in the 65th, only to see his shot deflected just wide by a great low save from the keeper. From the corner Farkas headed the ball, which the keeper tipped over the bar. In the 76th Eccleston fired wide, with us now looking the more composed team. The following minute Oastler, was put through and fired from the edge of the area, hitting the outside of the post. In the 79th Aubameyang was through, but fired just wide, with a defender and keeper doing just enough to put him off his shot. In the 86th Oastler had a shot from just outside the area, which the keeper was unable to hold, but the defenders were able to stop us getting a shot from the rebound. In the 87th after Farkas had thumped the ball for a throw-in for no sensible reason at all, Millwall hit the post with a shot from a cross, and then fired wide the following minute. In the first minute of added time Meppen-Walters was given the ball and advanced forward, but wasted a good opportunity by putting the ball just wide. The match ended shortly after with the scores level at one each. I was pleased with how we’d played in the second half, after going a goal down, and really should have made this a victory.
Result: 1 – 1 (Click To See Stats)
Man of the Match: Willy Aubameyang (ST – Torquay)
After going a goal down the lads responded by playing some excellent attacking football. I’m disappointed that we just couldn’t find that winner, with the lads doing everything but finding that goal to secure what would have been a deserved win. We were definitely unlucky today with us having done more than enough to justify taking all the points.
Hull (H) Carling Cup 3rd Round
Four days later we are welcoming Hull City to Plainmoor, for the 3rd round Carling Cup tie. This is our second match of the season against them, having beaten them last month at the KC Stadium in the league. We are marginal favourites and definitely have the ability to move through to the 5th round. However, since we beat them, they have been unbeaten with 4 wins in a row, including a 6-0 thrashing of Sheffield United. Ryan Tunnicliffe returns to the team having recovered from his thigh strain, and there is a first start for Álvaro Silva.
We began the match by moving forward with Baradji put through into the area, firing straight at the keeper with just 19 seconds on the clock. Hull fired over from range in the 8th minute, having far too much possession for my liking. We got caught in the 11th minute with a long-ball over the top, and even though Silva positioned himself in front of the Hull striker, the ball was smashed home, in spite of the striker having a severe lack of match fitness. In the 18th O’Kane fired just over the bar from a free kick. We were still giving Hull too much of the ball, but it was Aubameyang in the 24th with the next shot, put just over the bar from the left side of the area. In the 31st, after Hull knocked the ball about for a couple of minutes, they had a chance from inside the area, which was dragged wide. We then made a break to the other end, with McManaman firing straight at the keeper the following minute, with the rebound dropping for Aubameyang to his left, who gratefully put the ball into an empty net to level the scores. In the 43rd Hull headed a corner just over, with us showing again just how awful we have become at defending set-pieces. In the 45th minute Aubameyang had the ball in the net, but was given off-side by a very dubious decision. The half finished soon after with the scores level at one each. We’d created most of the best chances, and had a goal questionably disallowed, so it was frustrating that the scores were level. In spite of having less possession, we had performed fairly well, but really need to improve in the second half.
The second half started with us having to defend, with a thunderous 25 yard shot from Hull being blocked by their own striker in just the 47th minute. Januzaj put the ball high and wide in the 53rd with a rather poor shot from outside the area. Hull took the lead again in the 55th minute with a stunning shot along the ground from outside the area, giving the keeper no chance. Baradji then received a yellow card, which given some of the previous tackles flying about was ludicrous. We were now looking pretty poor, with Karius in goal given an easy save in the 57th. The following minute Aubameyang fired wide from outside the area, when he should at least have tested the keeper, also firing over in the 59th. More pathetic defending allowed Hull another shot in the 61st, which was pulled wide. In the 68th they headed inches over the bar with a corner, with more pathetic marking. In the 71st there was more annoyance with Januzaj going down injured, requiring substitution. In the 82nd the match was effectively over as a contest with a cross headed in from close range, with us just not defending properly. In the 84th Aubameyang fired so wide, it was hardly worth calling it a shot. Only a good save from Karius stopped things being even worse two minutes later, with a terrible defensive mistake allowing a chance. In the 88th McManaman wasted a clear chance by firing straight at the keeper from the middle of the area. Hull headed just over from another corner in the 3rd minute of stoppage time, with us looking a sorry sight. The match ended seconds later with us being beaten 3-1, after a horribly dismal second half display. I was angry with the players, especially our defence for making a crazy number of mistakes.
Result: 1 – 3 (Click To See Stats)
Man of the Match: Aaron McLean (ST – Hull)
This was a dismal night, with our second half performance really letting us down, although losing by a two goal margin was harsh. We’d wasted too many excellent opportunities, as well as being denied a goal which I felt should not have been disallowed. I made sure the players knew that I was upset with them, and there was plenty of good body language being shown. I was glad to find out after the match that Januzaj was okay following his enforced substitution. I was too annoyed to attend the press conference, sending my assistant. The press conference’s are tedious enough at the best of times.
Leicester (A) Championship
Just three days later we’re heading north to take on Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. We are marginal favourites over the team sitting in 22nd position in the table, who were beaten in their last match at home by Barnsley. I’m hoping the lads will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of the previous match.
The first few minutes saw Leicester attacking, with us defending hard, even a couple of corners properly, finally relieving the pressure after 5 minutes. In the 7th Brady fired just over from 30 yards out. In the 11th Leicester gave Olejnik an easy catch with a header from a corner, yet another dismal piece of marking. I don’t know why it’s become so awful. The following minute a stupid mistake just outside the area, allowed a shot, which flew just over our bar. It’s seems the mistakes have become a contagion. In the 14th Eccleston was put through in the right side of the area, but fired into the side netting. Smith was set-up just at the edge of the area, in the 21st, but thumped the ball wide with a disappointing finish. The match turned scrappy and frustrating, with so many great tackles, just giving the ball back to Leicester. They fired over from 30 yards in the 32nd minute. In the 36th Smith hit the post from the edge of the area, allowing Leicester to thump the rebound for a throw-in. He tried again the following minute with the ball deflecting off a defender for a corner. From the corner, Farkas had a shot, which was cleared off the line from inside the 6 yard box. In the 40th Smith gave the keeper another easy save, but if he’d made an early cross Eccleston would have had a much better shot. In the 42nd minute the ball was hit forward, with Eccleston latching onto it to ahead of his defender, and advanced on goal, with his shot coming back off the keeper, allowing him a second chance, and this one he took, to give us the lead. Two minutes later, Brady wasted another chance from the left side of the area, dragging the ball wide. In the 45th, Leicester fired a 40 yard free kick high over the bar. The half finished a minute later, with us leading by the single goal. I was happy with our performance, after we got over our early mistakes.
The second half started scrappy, with Leicester seeming intent on just tripping us up. In the 49th Brady fired a curling free kick just wide of the post from 20 yards out. Leicester fired just wide from the edge of the area in the 52nd, showing they still posed a threat, and the equaliser came a minute later with a rifled shot from edge of the area beating Olejnik. In the 68th minute a free kick from our own half was hit forward with Eccleston, heading across to McManaman, who had just come on from the subs bench, and he somehow controlled the ball using his head twice, before firing home from just inside the area, to give us the lead again, just putting it out of the keeper’s reach. I was not happy when Eccleston was taken out with the ball, thankfully not causing an injury, but still painful and requiring treatment. There was huge frustration when Leicester equalised again, against the run of play, with their striker somehow evading tackles to fire low into the corner in the 75th minute. We quickly gave the ball away after the restart, with Olejnik given an easy save in the 77th, with Leicester now looking like they believed, and then he had to make a great diving save to stop another goal the following minute. In the 80th McManaman was smashed to the ground, but because he’d been offside, the foul we deserved was not given, and he was like Eccleston, suffering in pain. The match then went scrappy again, before Oastler fired just over the bar from 25 yards out. Just before the whistle blew, we were on the attack, with the ball being crossed a couple of times in the area, but somehow we couldn’t get a boot to the ball and score. The match therefore ended as a slightly frustrating two all draw. I felt we’d done more than enough to deserve all the points.
Result: 2 – 2 (Click To See Stats)
Man of the Match: Nathan Eccleston (ST – Torquay)
This was another frustrating draw, were we’d been the better team, creating much more when we had the ball, but just couldn’t finish off the job. That is our second successive league draw and our 4th overall, the same number as we had the whole of last season. Our under-18 team is continuing an outstanding run of results, with a 7th straight victory, showing just how good our youth talent appears to be.
Monthly Roundup
Torquay Fixtures September 2013
The Carling Cup match was a huge disappointment because we certainly had the opportunities to win that game, but our bad defensive mistakes destroyed our hopes. I was pleased with the win over bottom team Brighton, but the two draws were frustrating as we’d created more than enough chances to win those two matches.
Championship Table September 2013
Even though this month had its frustrations, the end result has seen us move up to 3rd position just one point behind the new leader Blackburn. This is because everyone seems to be stealing points off each other, meaning no team has so far managed to build any kind of lead. We are the only club now, who has not suffered a defeat in the league.
Our performances this month see Nathan Eccleston come third in the Championship player of the month, and Luke Hubbins 3rd in the young player of the month award. Nathan Eccleston is also my player of the month, showing great form, providing an assist as well as a goal in two of the matches. The month ends with there being no first team players with an injury.
October has another international break, which means there will only be 5 league matches for us to play. Three of the matches are at home, with all matches likely to be close fought battles. Our home matches are against Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Norwich. We will travel away to play Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday.
With just a week left of the summer 2013 transfer window, Torquay announce their last signing of the year. Having lost the services of two central defenders from last season, one out on a free transfer, and another a loan signing, the club had secured the signature of one new player for this position during [...]
The main tactic I have deployed through my first season in charge at Torquay, has been the good old 4-4-2. These days the 4-4-2 is seen as a bit of a dinosaur and a relic, however in the lower leagues this is the most common formation because it seems to provide the framework around which [...]
Despite the shock of losing your cup game, I think that Torquay is still doing great and being the only team in the league with no defeats says a lot about your forms. Even though the draws are frustrating, you should not worry that much about them becoming too often because you’re dominating the games and pretty soon you should start winning them.
I’m pleased with our league form, even with the two frustrating draws, because all the teams are losing points, so we’re still right in the mix at the top. In the Cup game, I think I made a mistake by playing Silva when he wasn’t really up to speed with the team yet. Better to mess up in a Carling Cup match than in the league though.
Still excellent in the league Ziggy, that’s the most important thing. The cup defeat was a bit of a setback but getting promoted is far more important for the club.
Thanks, I’m very happy that we’re right in the fight, so we will hopefully still be up there come the end of the season.
After the Cup defeat, I went back and had a read through a couple of my old posts on tactics, and realised I’d made a few tactical mistakes. I should have noticed particular things happening when Hull were opening us up. Probably should have brought Silva off as well. It’s easy to forget to do some basic things after the stunning season I had in league one, where I hardly had to make any changes or tweaks in a match.
Unlucky this month Ziggy with some of the results but you are still 3rd and as Calin said without any defeats. It’s always frustrating when you get draws in games that you’re dominating. Good Luck in the next month
Thanks. I’m very happy to have no defeats in the league and in spite of the draws still be just a point off the leader. It’s funny how you get really frustrated by those draws when you’ve dominated, forgetting how often you’ve also held on for a draw or even a win, you didn’t really deserve.
I reckon the League Cup loss will actually work in your favour Ziggy, the season has a lot of tough matches, and the defeat means your players will get more rest than your competitors, which will hopefully give you the edge in the league
Your league form is good, keep up the good work mate. Good luck!
Thanks. As you say, the League Cup is pretty unimportant, and being out definitely reduces our workload. Hopefully this will help us in the long-run.
Its always bad to leave any competition but you will be focusing on the league I’m sure. I always assess cup competitions on the financial benefits and our chances of winning the whole thing…if neither are too positive then I play my reserves or younger players. I think you can take a lot form those league results though, one victory and two away draws is excellent.
Given Hull were drawn away to Arsenal, our chances of advancing further were slim, but still a visit to the Emirates would have been interesting.
I definitely can’t complain too much about the league results, even if those draws were a bit frustrating.
Hey Ziggy
Although a cup exit is always a bitter disappointment you haven’t lost any real ground in the league so that’s a good thing. Your side is still very competitive and is a team for others to watch out for!
Thanks Kevin. I’ve come to the realisation the media prediction of 24th may be working in our favour. I think almost everyone is not taking us seriously, as happened last season.
The AI teams also sometimes do some really bizarre things with the formation. Because I watch the whole match, but at nearly double-speed, I get to react very quickly to things that aren’t quite right as well.