Western Morning News (Saturday)
GRECIANS AND GULLS IN ACTION – MATCH PREVIEWS
MANAGER Gary Johnson says Torquay United are a ‘work in progress’ after picking up just one point from three games at the start of the National League season – ahead of today’s game at Maidenhead United.
A first-day 3-1 home defeat to Altrincham was followed up by a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Notts County. On Monday the Gulls lost 4-0 against Woking.
They have played the majority of the last two games with 10 men, with Ali Omar and Chiori Johnson being sent off, and the squad slightly stretched with players like Connor Lemongheigh-Evans and Asa Hall still getting match fit after pre-season injuries.
Johnson said: “There are factors, that’s why you have to give it a little bit of time, because – how else do you get people like Connor and Asa fit?
“There’s not a reserve league; we can train, but it doesn’t give you that real proper energy; going beyond the call of duty, eye of the tiger, all that stuff.
“You have to get that back and unfortunately that’s what’s been happening a little bit.
“I don’t think we ever said we were going to be top of the league after three games; we didn’t say we weren’t. But we knew that there is work to do and that’s exactly what it is.
“We are a work in progress at the moment and as I have said right at the beginning, when the ability comes out in this team then, and the intent, you’ll see a decent group of players.”
Johnson said he wasn’t making excuses, especially as Torquay were 2-0 down in six minutes against Woking, but that the team should be judged after 10 games, rather than three. This is something he has said every season.
There were many changes to the squad in the summer after the disappointment of missing out on promotion, and it would have been incredible if Torquay had hit the ground running with three wins out of three.
But Johnson was pleased with the way the fans responded on Monday, despite the result.
“I thought the crowd were good to be fair – they stayed with us right till the end and there was a lot of supporters advising me as opposed to shouting at me.
“I’ll accept that; not too many times, but there was a bit of advice while people were walking out and nobody had a scream-up so I appreciate that, it’s not the right time to do that; and I thought they were supportive all the way along.
“I have always said they are a football-thinking crowd and they understand the situation and hopefully they will support their team for as long as they need to. They certainly did on that day.”
Maidenhead have started their season reasonably well. They have beaten FC Halifax Town away and Dover Athletic at home, but lost at Weymouth on Monday.