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Torquay to fluke the escape again?
By Nathan Jackson July 9 2006
Not for the first time, Torquay fluked avoiding relegation last season and could they be set to do it yet again? With some of their better players leaving them, they're favourites with a fair few people for the drop but if history is anything to go by, Ian Atkin's ego will save them again.

Manager : Ian Atkins (the guy who once said that we postponed a game against his Carlisle said because we were scared to play him……..whilst ignoring that the pitch was flooded)

Key Player : Jamie Ward

Most Interesting Stat from Last Season : They scored 3 or more goals in a game just 4 times last season, the 4-0 win over Stockport was their only victory.

Tipped by many for : Relegation battle.

Last Season : Torquay were incredibly lucky not to be relegated last season and were it not for a 4 game winning run at the end of the season then they would have finally gotten relegated. Throughout the season, all the Torquay fans were claiming that Andy Marriott kept them in games (even in games that they lose) but no other club had a set of fans saying that Marriott saved the game for them. If they hadn’t won those 4 games in a row, ironically the only time during the whole season that they won back to back games then they would currently be getting ready to play conference football.

This season : Well Marriott has gone now so if he was as vital as Torquay fans say he was then they could be in trouble. Their better players, such as Jo Kuffour have left them and having the only manager who can rival Steve Evans for having the most ridiculous excuses, can only work against them. It would be a major surprise if they even get close to the top half of the table but much like what Carlisle used to be, they’ll more than likely continued to fluke avoiding relegation for another year.

They’ll finish higher if : They get a proven and quite frankly, neither Lee Thorpe or Mickey Evans fit into this category. If they can get their defence organized then they’ll stop leaking the stupid goals then they’ll stand a chance. Another thing that could work in their favour is that they play virtually all their relegation rivals in the opening 2 months of the season.

Prediction : 21st, as I said, they always seem to avoid relegation and but anything more than a relegation battle is unlikely.

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