Shane - Sky Sports Expert

The one hundred percenters

Defence takes Torquay to the top

Posted: 30th August 2010 11:33

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The one hundred percenters

Buckle: Credit where credit is due

There is no magic formula for our resilience - it's built on hard work and organisation. And the credit for that must go as much to Paul Buckle.

Torquay FanZoner Shane Bailey
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I'm actually a bit reluctant to write this blog.

Mindful as I am that if I say what I want to say, our fortunes are destined to change pretty soon afterwards. But the temptation is just too great to resist. Whisper it quietly, but we are top of the League. We've won four games out of four - which is a pretty decent win percentage by anyone's standards, and we've conceded just one League goal this season.

The goal conceded at Port Vale ended our run, which added to the end of last season equated to, ooh, just the 10 games without a defensive breach. We have the kind of stats you'd only normally expect to see in computer game - and even then only when the gamer in question has cheated a lot.

We did concede another goal actually, but it was in the 121st minute of a Carling Cup tie against Reading, and you know the writing's on the wall when the opposition are awarded a free-kick just as the injury time board is being raised. So we're not counting that one.

Credit

There is no magic formula for our resilience - it's built on hard work and organisation. And the credit for that must go as much to Paul Buckle, as those carrying out his orders. I've been pretty critical of him in the past; it's fair to say I've always had my doubts about his abilities as a motivator and tactician.

But I'm very happy to admit when I'm wrong and to give credit where it's due. He has made mistakes, as all managers do. But he's learning his trade fast and he's looking increasingly like a young manager with a future higher up the ladder. He now looks a far more accomplished coach than I ever thought he would become, and I'm delighted that is the case.

As well as being sound defensively, we are pretty potent at the other end too. Elliot Benyon is now fulfilling the potential many of us could see in him, and has already stirred the interest of a few scouts this season. And he's not the only one getting attention either as we've apparently rejected a bid from the division above for defender Mark Ellis.

Our ultimate prospects this season depend on our ability to keep the squad together, and these two in particular are vital to us. A run like ours is bound to get the players some attention I suppose, but whilst it's nice to have them spoken about, we don't want to lose any!

Performance

In terms of our performances thus far, on the opening day we didn't actually play that well, but beat a fancied Northampton team comfortably.

I didn't get to Lincoln, but it sounded like another solid if unspectacular victory over Mustapha Carayol and friends. Then last weekend we beat one of the big boys in Bradford City, without having to break sweat. In fairness, they were reduced to 10 early on, but you can only beat what's put in front of you and we dominated from start to finish.

To summarise our start, we've played solidly and beaten some decent sides with a degree of ease. It all bodes rather well.

Or at least it would do if I hadn't written this.

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