I’LL MAKE GULLS WINNERS AGAIN
New boss Gary Johnson is a man with a plan
VIDEOS of Cheltenham Town, teaching the players a new language and bringing the enjoyment back – Gary Johnson’s Torquay United masterplan is already in full swing.
Following relegation into the National League South, the Gulls had a mixed start to the season which saw boss Gary Owers depart.
But in Johnson, they have a new manager who arrives at Plainmoor with an impressive set of medals in his collection.
Promoted to the Championship with both Bristol City and Yeovil Town, the swashbuckling side he took from Non-League to Division Two in his first spell, he also won the Conference title with Cheltenham Town before leaving after four games of this campaign.
It’s fair to say the 62-year-old, who began his managerial career at Newmarket Town, wouldn’t have dropped to Step 2 for any club.
But he says Torquay made a great first impression and he wants to be the man to revive the former Football League outfit.
“I’ve come to a club that’s playing a lot lower than it should be,” Johnson told The
NLP. “The football club is better than that. Really it should be a Football League club.
Enthusiasm
“I came here because I liked what I heard and I liked the enthusiasm of the officials – they convinced me they are doing their best to upgrade Torquay’s stadium and back the manager to get into the League as soon as we can.
“The attraction was the football club. With all due respect to a lot of other clubs, I wouldn’t usually drop to that just now. But my first impression, when I had the interview, was good. They told me what I needed to do, what they’d like me to do and I think I can do it. Someone’s got to get Torquay going again. Why not me?” Johnson wants all his players to jump on board with his methods quickly. “I’ve got a language which is my own language and the lads have got to learn so we all talk the same language,” Johnson said, speaking after their 7-0 hammering of Step 5 Lymington Town in the FA Cup. “We know the areas we want the ball to be in, we know the workrate we require. We’re working on our spirit of attack and our spirit of defending – when you do that you’re always looking to win the ball back and when you win it, you’re looking to score a goal.
“You could see from my strikers against Lymington, they were desperate to score a goal. They were all getting in danger areas.
Response
“I keep the same principles. We showed a video to the boys of Cheltenham’s principles when we went up – I’ve got Yeovil’s ones and I’ve got Bristol City’s but they’re all pretty similar. If you’re lucky enough you get a good group of players that understand what you’re trying to do – first and foremost it’s their workrate. Their passion and desire is the first thing. Everything else comes with that.” Johnson says Owers has left a decent squad behind, but it’s one he feels needs an injection of confidence.
He knows yesterday’s game against high-flying Woking can act as a yardstick, but the early signs have been good.
How has his first fortnight in charge been?
“I’ve got to make sure I enjoy these games because it’s not about the place or the teams we are playing against, it’s about trying to get Torquay United back into the League as soon as we can,” Johnson said. “Small steps but you’ve got to do those small steps very quickly.
“I’ve been really pleased with the boys’ response to what I’m trying to do and what I’m trying to give them.
“They look like they are enjoying training, they look like they are enjoying games, the supporters are enjoying watching them play, they’re cheering them on – that’s what we need to get Torquay going again.”
“THE ATTRACTION WAS THE FOOTBALL CLUB. SOMEONE HAS TO GET TORQUAY GOING AGAIN, WHY ME?” NOT – Gary Johnson Torquay boss