The changing teams and times at Plainmoor

Torquay United’s 3-1 home defeat by Yeovil Town caused understandable grinding of teeth among Gulls fans angry at how easily their team had been beaten, writes Dave Thomas.
The Glovers were better in every department and, especially with several key senior Torquay players injured, better in almost every position too.
But in the aftermath of a night that confirmed Yeovil as National League South leaders and favourites for promotion, one thought sprung to mind.
If this Yeovil side met the United team that won the NL South title under Gary Johnson five years ago (2018-2019), who would win? The Glovers of 2023-2024, backed by the biggest budget in the division, are certainly physically strong.
They have a promising winger in Jordan Young who could do untold damage in the months ahead. And, in Rhys Murphy, Frank Nouble and Jake Hyde, manager Mark Cooper has three experienced strikers who will surely deliver the goals.
But with all due respect to their Westcountry rivals, United’s failure to lay a meaningful glove on them – definitely off the ball and, apart from Brett McGavin’s sweet strike, on it too – almost certainly helped to make them look a bit better than they might otherwise have done.
Now, let’s think back to the Gulls class of 2018-2019. In defence we had goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald, Ben Wynter, Jean Yves Koue Niate or Jamie Sendles-White, Kyle Cameron, Liam Davis and then Ryan Dickson.
Midfield? Kalvin Kalala on song, Asa Hall at 31, Jake Andrews at his best, an emerging Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, with added contributions from loanee Frank Vincent.
And up front there was Jamie Reid, Saikou Janneh and one Ruairi Keating. Reid (32) and Janneh (18) scored 50 goals between them, with plenty more from Kalala, Keating,
Andrews, Hall et al.
Fourteenth in the table when Johnson took over from Gary Owers in mid-September, those Gulls ended up winning the championship by ten points from Woking. They finished with 88 points, and would easily have topped 90 if the title hadn’t been in the bag by Easter.
They scored 93 goals, plus another 16 in the FA Cup and Trophy. Wouldn’t that United side have had too much pace, energy and flair for this Yeovil team?
Yes, I may be biased, but I think they would. And, at the very least, I wouldn’t mind paying to watch it!