Following Tuesday's spirited Devon derby display against Plymouth Argyle, Alan Knill's next challenge as Torquay United manager will be a trip to his former club Scunthorpe United.
Knill has had two spells at Glanford Park, firstly as a player-between 1994 and 1997- and then his most recent stint as manager from March 2011 to October 2012.
Whilst in charge of the Iron, Knill was unable to stop Scunthorpe sliding out of the Championship and when he was relieved of his duties last year, the Iron found themselves in the League One relegation zone.
Shortly before his departure, Knill was involved in an unfortunate accident-which attracted national media attention-when he was out cycling and collided with a squirrel. He was sent crashing off his bike, but- luckily - he escaped from the incident with cuts and bruises.
However, Scunthorpe fans have been asked by the club to refrain from dressing in squirrel attire when Knill leads the Gulls back to Glanford Park for the first time since the 2003-04 season.
As well as Knill, his assistant Chris Brass, who also worked as his number two during his stint in charge at Glanford Park, will be making his return to North Lincolnshire as will Karl Hawley and Damien Mozika, who both served under Knill.
Footnote: When Scunthorpe defeated the Gulls 8-1 during the 1995-96 season at Plainmoor on October 28th 1995, to equal their club record victory, Alan Knill was amongst the scorers for the Iron.
Thursday, 28 November 2013
THREE IN AT YEOVIL AS MADDEN STAYS PUT
Yeovil Town manager Gary Johnson was a busy man ahead of today's loan window deadline as he drafted in three new recruits in a bid to boost the Glovers' survival prospects.
The loan trio includes Nottingham Forest striker Ishmael Miller, Everton's John Lundstram and Liverpool's Adam Morgan, who will make his move to south Somerset into a permanent one in January.
Miller, 26, started his career with Manchester City and he has also spells in the Championship with West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough.
Lundstram, 19, joins Toffees' team-mate Shane Duffy, who is already on loan with the Glovers, at Huish Park and has represented England at various youth levels. Last season, he played 14 games on loan at Doncaster Rovers.
Morgan, also 19, has experienced Europa League football during his time at Anfield and has previously spent time on loan at Rotherham United.
Central defender Danny Seaborne is the only departure from Huish Park as he heads to the Midlands to join Coventry City on loan, but last season's transfer listed top scorer Paddy Madden remains with Yeovil for the time being.
The Irishman also netted the winning goal in the League One Play-Off last season, but he has failed to find the target in the Championship.
The loan trio includes Nottingham Forest striker Ishmael Miller, Everton's John Lundstram and Liverpool's Adam Morgan, who will make his move to south Somerset into a permanent one in January.
Miller, 26, started his career with Manchester City and he has also spells in the Championship with West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough.
Lundstram, 19, joins Toffees' team-mate Shane Duffy, who is already on loan with the Glovers, at Huish Park and has represented England at various youth levels. Last season, he played 14 games on loan at Doncaster Rovers.
Morgan, also 19, has experienced Europa League football during his time at Anfield and has previously spent time on loan at Rotherham United.
Central defender Danny Seaborne is the only departure from Huish Park as he heads to the Midlands to join Coventry City on loan, but last season's transfer listed top scorer Paddy Madden remains with Yeovil for the time being.
The Irishman also netted the winning goal in the League One Play-Off last season, but he has failed to find the target in the Championship.
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
HONOURS SHARED
The points were shared between Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle as two goals in the first ten minutes decided the contest.
Torquay edged ahead on six minutes after the Argyle defence failed to clear a cross from Nathan Craig, which allowed Damien Mozika time to fire a shot from the edge of the penalty area, which was parried by Pilgrims keeper Luke McCormick into the path of Elliot Benyon, who found the back of the net with a predatory poacher's finish.
Argyle levelled three minutes later from the penalty spot after Craig was adjudged to have handled a free-kick from Luke Young by referee Roger East. Former Gulls loanee Reuben Reid then stepped up to convert the spot-kick to score his eighth goal of the season.
Both sides had chances to add to their respective tallies as Torquay's Jordan Chapell had a shot from outside of the box tipped onto the crossbar by McCormick on 41st minute, whilst Argyle substitute Caolan Lavery hit the post on 75 minutes.
The draw ends a run of three straight defeats for the Gulls, but still leaves in the relegation zone, and the Pilgrims have now extended their unbeaten to eight matches in all competitions.
Torquay edged ahead on six minutes after the Argyle defence failed to clear a cross from Nathan Craig, which allowed Damien Mozika time to fire a shot from the edge of the penalty area, which was parried by Pilgrims keeper Luke McCormick into the path of Elliot Benyon, who found the back of the net with a predatory poacher's finish.
Argyle levelled three minutes later from the penalty spot after Craig was adjudged to have handled a free-kick from Luke Young by referee Roger East. Former Gulls loanee Reuben Reid then stepped up to convert the spot-kick to score his eighth goal of the season.
Both sides had chances to add to their respective tallies as Torquay's Jordan Chapell had a shot from outside of the box tipped onto the crossbar by McCormick on 41st minute, whilst Argyle substitute Caolan Lavery hit the post on 75 minutes.
The draw ends a run of three straight defeats for the Gulls, but still leaves in the relegation zone, and the Pilgrims have now extended their unbeaten to eight matches in all competitions.
Monday, 25 November 2013
GREENS AND GULLS
Tomorrow's Devon Derby between Torquay United and Plymouth Argyle sees a number of the key protagonists going head-to-head with one of their former colleagues or clubs.
We will now take a closer look at the key contests:
Aaron Downes & John Sheridan- Facing a former boss
During the eight years that Torquay's Aussie defender Aaron Downes spent at Chesterfield; three of those came under John Sheridan's managerial reign at the Proact Stadium (2009-2012).
Sadly for Aaron, a series of injury problems meant that he was only able to make 16 leaague appearances for Sheridan and scored once, before he was released at the end of the 2011-12 campaign, so the former Republic of Ireland midfielder will be aware of what he can do.
Guy Branston & Reuben Reid - The old boys return
At different stages of their careers, Guy Branston and Reuben Reid have both turned out for Torquay United. Branston spent 18 months at Plainmoor after initially joining the Gulls on loan from Burton Albion mid way through the 2009-10 season. During the following summer, Guy joined Torquay on a permanent basis and helped the Gulls to reach the 2011 League Two Play-Off final, where they lost to Stevenage, and was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Season.
Reuben Reid spent a seven game loan stint at Plainmoor during the 2006-07, when Torquay's 80-year stay in the Football League came to an end, and found the back of the net twice. During their individual stints at Plainmoor, both players appeared alongside current Gulls skipper Lee Mansell.
Tyler Harvey, Matt Lecointe and Danny Sullivan - School-friends re-united
Long before they entered professional football, Tyler Harvey, Matt Lecointe and Danny Sullivan all attended Ivybridge Community College and represented Plymouth schools together. Tomorrow night, they will be on opposite sides of the Devon derby divide, with Harvey and Lecointe on the green side and Sullivan on the yellow of Torquay.
After being released by Argyle as a schoolboy, Danny has worked his way back into the professional game with the Gulls, and signed his first professional contract last summer. Meanwhile, Tyler and Matt have both tasted first team football with the Pilgrims, and Tyler scored Argyle's equaliser against Torquay on Boxing Day last year; to secure a 1-1 draw for the Pilgrims.
We will now take a closer look at the key contests:
Aaron Downes & John Sheridan- Facing a former boss
During the eight years that Torquay's Aussie defender Aaron Downes spent at Chesterfield; three of those came under John Sheridan's managerial reign at the Proact Stadium (2009-2012).
Sadly for Aaron, a series of injury problems meant that he was only able to make 16 leaague appearances for Sheridan and scored once, before he was released at the end of the 2011-12 campaign, so the former Republic of Ireland midfielder will be aware of what he can do.
Guy Branston & Reuben Reid - The old boys return
At different stages of their careers, Guy Branston and Reuben Reid have both turned out for Torquay United. Branston spent 18 months at Plainmoor after initially joining the Gulls on loan from Burton Albion mid way through the 2009-10 season. During the following summer, Guy joined Torquay on a permanent basis and helped the Gulls to reach the 2011 League Two Play-Off final, where they lost to Stevenage, and was named in the PFA League Two Team of the Season.
Reuben Reid spent a seven game loan stint at Plainmoor during the 2006-07, when Torquay's 80-year stay in the Football League came to an end, and found the back of the net twice. During their individual stints at Plainmoor, both players appeared alongside current Gulls skipper Lee Mansell.
Tyler Harvey, Matt Lecointe and Danny Sullivan - School-friends re-united
Long before they entered professional football, Tyler Harvey, Matt Lecointe and Danny Sullivan all attended Ivybridge Community College and represented Plymouth schools together. Tomorrow night, they will be on opposite sides of the Devon derby divide, with Harvey and Lecointe on the green side and Sullivan on the yellow of Torquay.
After being released by Argyle as a schoolboy, Danny has worked his way back into the professional game with the Gulls, and signed his first professional contract last summer. Meanwhile, Tyler and Matt have both tasted first team football with the Pilgrims, and Tyler scored Argyle's equaliser against Torquay on Boxing Day last year; to secure a 1-1 draw for the Pilgrims.
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
ARGYLE END FA CUP DROUGHT WITH FIVE STAR DISPLAY
Plymouth Argyle's barren FA Cup run has come to an end as the Pilgrims produced a five-star display to defeat Lincoln City.
Reuben Reid scored a hat-trick as Argyle defeated the Imps at the second attempt, following their goalless draw at Sincil Bank a week last Saturday.
Lewis Alessandra opened the scoring before Reid doubled their lead with his first of the night. The Yeovil Town loanee then bagged a brace from the penalty spot-following a foul by Tom Miller- before completing his treble before half-time.
An Andrew Boyce own goal extended the Pilgrims' lead to five in the second half as they secured their place in round two, where Welling United-another Conference outfit- await them.
The win was Argyle's first success in the FA Cup since they beat Hull City in the third round of the competition in the 2007-08 season, and their first victory over non-league opposition in three attempts after being eliminated from the competition by Stourbridge and Dorchester Town in the past two years.
Reid's hat-trick was the first by an Argyle since Vincent Pericard netted three times against Coventry City in February 2006.
Reuben Reid scored a hat-trick as Argyle defeated the Imps at the second attempt, following their goalless draw at Sincil Bank a week last Saturday.
Lewis Alessandra opened the scoring before Reid doubled their lead with his first of the night. The Yeovil Town loanee then bagged a brace from the penalty spot-following a foul by Tom Miller- before completing his treble before half-time.
An Andrew Boyce own goal extended the Pilgrims' lead to five in the second half as they secured their place in round two, where Welling United-another Conference outfit- await them.
The win was Argyle's first success in the FA Cup since they beat Hull City in the third round of the competition in the 2007-08 season, and their first victory over non-league opposition in three attempts after being eliminated from the competition by Stourbridge and Dorchester Town in the past two years.
Reid's hat-trick was the first by an Argyle since Vincent Pericard netted three times against Coventry City in February 2006.
Sunday, 17 November 2013
GULLS BELOW THE LINE
For only the second time since winning promotion back to the Football League in 2009, Torquay United find themselves in the League Two relegation zone.
Results elsewhere meant that their 2-0 loss to Chesterfield sees them drop into the bottom two of the division.
The last time they found themselves in this situation was in October 2009, which was shortly after they won promotion, of course, and were still adjusting to playing at a new level.
Things remained touch and go for Torquay up until the beginning of April; when a run of eight matches unbeaten, which club record run of seven clean sheets, saw them eventually pull comfortably clear of danger.
Back to the present situation, which is still salvageable as they are level on 14 points with Accrington Stanley and Bury, with only goal difference ensuring that the Gulls occupy the final relegation spot, and one point behind 20th-placed Bristol Rovers, who have 15 points.
However, Torquay are now facing a tricky run of fixtures between now and the turn of the year.
In their next three matches, they will be travelling to Accrington Stanley and Scunthorpe United, and sandwiched in between those two matches is a local derby with Plymouth Argyle.
After that, in December, is a home game with Phil Brown's Southend United and then a trip to Dagenham and Redbridge before a West country derby double header at Plainmoor against Bristol Rovers and Exeter City.
It would be a brave person to predict how many points the Gulls would gain from that run of games, but-given the nature of League Two- surprise results do occur.
By my reckoning, the Gulls need 37 points from all of their remaining fixtures to retain their League Two status and that has to be goal everyone at the club needs to focus on.
If they were to fall short of that, and lose their league status; the outcome of their failure to do so could potentially be catastrophic.
Results elsewhere meant that their 2-0 loss to Chesterfield sees them drop into the bottom two of the division.
The last time they found themselves in this situation was in October 2009, which was shortly after they won promotion, of course, and were still adjusting to playing at a new level.
Things remained touch and go for Torquay up until the beginning of April; when a run of eight matches unbeaten, which club record run of seven clean sheets, saw them eventually pull comfortably clear of danger.
Back to the present situation, which is still salvageable as they are level on 14 points with Accrington Stanley and Bury, with only goal difference ensuring that the Gulls occupy the final relegation spot, and one point behind 20th-placed Bristol Rovers, who have 15 points.
However, Torquay are now facing a tricky run of fixtures between now and the turn of the year.
In their next three matches, they will be travelling to Accrington Stanley and Scunthorpe United, and sandwiched in between those two matches is a local derby with Plymouth Argyle.
After that, in December, is a home game with Phil Brown's Southend United and then a trip to Dagenham and Redbridge before a West country derby double header at Plainmoor against Bristol Rovers and Exeter City.
It would be a brave person to predict how many points the Gulls would gain from that run of games, but-given the nature of League Two- surprise results do occur.
By my reckoning, the Gulls need 37 points from all of their remaining fixtures to retain their League Two status and that has to be goal everyone at the club needs to focus on.
If they were to fall short of that, and lose their league status; the outcome of their failure to do so could potentially be catastrophic.
Thursday, 14 November 2013
ARNASON'S WORLD CUP HOPES
Former Plymouth Argyle defender Kari Arnason will be dreaming of reaching the 2014 World Cup in Brazil next summer with Iceland when the European Play-Off matches get underway.
Standing in the way of the Scandinavian island reaching their first major tournament final is a two-legged tie with Croatia, and for Arnason it would indeed be a rags-to-riches journey if Iceland were to make it to Brazil.
His two-years at Home Park were not the best of times for the Pilgrims, the club's financial meltdown saw them enter Administration as well as back-to-back relegations. His departure from Argyle was triggered by a refusal to defer his wages- Arnason and the rest of the Pilgrims' squad were forced to defer their wages during 2011; up until James Brent's takeover of the club was completed- which led to him joining Aberdeen.
He is currently plying his trade with Rotherham United in League One, and made a return to Home Park in Argyle's final home match of the 2012-13 season, which Rotherham won 1-0.
However despite the problems Arnason faced during his stay with the Pilgrims, he still proved to be one of Argyle's better performers during those two years, and he became the 500th player to score a league goal for the Pilgrims when he found the target in their 4-1 win over Reading on December 28th 2009.
If Iceland were to overcome the Croats and make it to Brazil next summer, if would represent a huge upsurge in their footballing fortunes that has seen them rise from being ranked 131st in the FIFA rankings to their current standing of 46th.
It would also see Arnason join the likes of Paul Mariner, Tony Waiters and Billy Bingham on the list of former Pilgrims' personnel who have been involved in the finals of a World Cup.
Footnote: Arnason's former Pilgrims' teammate Rory Fallon-who became the first Plymouth Argyle contracted player to appear in a major finals when he played for New Zealand in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa- is unlikely to be making a second appearance at the finals after New Zealand lost the opening leg of their Play-Off match with Mexico 5-1.
Standing in the way of the Scandinavian island reaching their first major tournament final is a two-legged tie with Croatia, and for Arnason it would indeed be a rags-to-riches journey if Iceland were to make it to Brazil.
His two-years at Home Park were not the best of times for the Pilgrims, the club's financial meltdown saw them enter Administration as well as back-to-back relegations. His departure from Argyle was triggered by a refusal to defer his wages- Arnason and the rest of the Pilgrims' squad were forced to defer their wages during 2011; up until James Brent's takeover of the club was completed- which led to him joining Aberdeen.
He is currently plying his trade with Rotherham United in League One, and made a return to Home Park in Argyle's final home match of the 2012-13 season, which Rotherham won 1-0.
However despite the problems Arnason faced during his stay with the Pilgrims, he still proved to be one of Argyle's better performers during those two years, and he became the 500th player to score a league goal for the Pilgrims when he found the target in their 4-1 win over Reading on December 28th 2009.
If Iceland were to overcome the Croats and make it to Brazil next summer, if would represent a huge upsurge in their footballing fortunes that has seen them rise from being ranked 131st in the FIFA rankings to their current standing of 46th.
It would also see Arnason join the likes of Paul Mariner, Tony Waiters and Billy Bingham on the list of former Pilgrims' personnel who have been involved in the finals of a World Cup.
Footnote: Arnason's former Pilgrims' teammate Rory Fallon-who became the first Plymouth Argyle contracted player to appear in a major finals when he played for New Zealand in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa- is unlikely to be making a second appearance at the finals after New Zealand lost the opening leg of their Play-Off match with Mexico 5-1.
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