Friday 31 July 2009

Pilgrim Pete

gets a staring role in the BBC Sport adverts.

Keep an eye out for the adverts on the BBC for their football coverage to see Pilgrim Pete with his mascot friends (or enemies).

No Naked Matches

Probably a disappointment for some of the ladies, but the away kit was launched today. It appears some people got a sneak peak at what it would be when the club accidentally released a negative version of it instead of the long sleeve home shirt.



After the last few years of dabbling with tangergreen, yellow and black, Argyle have returned to the new 'traditional' green and white colour scheme and have a two smart shirts.

Thursday 30 July 2009

Preseason: Heart of Midlothian

Argyle 0 - 0 Harts

A good sign hopefully, the last few matches have seen a positive attitude towards the game, even though there was nothing to see from the 90 minutes' effort. Players have stated that there is a positivity at the club and that the mood is that finally the Greens will be going somewhere. The change of mood in the club is excellent following last season's dour negativity that permeated everything and brought such a bad outcome. The warm up games compared to last season's will hopefully see Argyle go into the season on the right footing, which should have a knock on effect with the momentum continuing. Those at the match have said that the players are working better and producing some good style. Vive la revolution!

Sunday 26 July 2009

Preseason: Unirea and Morecambe

Unirea 1 - 2 Plymouth Argyle
Morecambe 0 - 2 Plymouth Argyle

Preseason back on track with two wins and marking the end of the 'tour'. What's become most interesting to me is that supporters who watch have said that Argyle appear to be hammering out a Plan B of sorts. All through last season there was only one plan and frequently it went wrong. There was no possibility of getting out of trouble, there were very few come backs and once we conceded a goal it was a conclusion that the game was beyond reach. However there appears to have been a change and some semblance of an attempt to turn things around is emerging. Long may it continue.

Thursday 23 July 2009

Departure

The end of the month sees two departures from Argyle, namely keeper Graham Stack will have his contract terminated on 1st August, and Michael Dunford will leave from 31st July.

Stack's departure comes as a welcome relief to many as he is seen as a rotten apple who's caused dissent and rot in the heart of team spirit, whilst Dunford's departure is more natural following the take over and his tenure coming to an end. Dunford has lead from the helm for many years and has over seen a lot of good at Argyle, but is also felt to have caused stumbling blocks and in more recent years held the club back. What ever both should be wished well in their future.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Squaddies

The squad numbers for the forthcoming season have now been finalised:

1 Romain Larrieu
2 Karl Duguid
3 Jim Paterson
4 Carl Fletcher
5 Krisztian Timar
6 Chris Clark
7 Jason Puncheon
8 Jamie Mackie
9 Steve Maclean
10 Bradley Wright-Phillips
11 Kari Arnason
12 Green Army
13 Mathias Kouo- Doumbe
14 Rory Fallon
15 Chris Barker
16 David McNamee
17 Craig Noone
18 Gary Sawyer
19 Marcel Seip
20 Luke Summerfield
21 Graham Stack
24 Ashley Barnes
26 Yannick Bolasie
27 Lloyd Saxton
28 George Donnelly
29 Damien McCrory
30 Simon Walton
31 Yoann Folly
32 Joe Mason
33 Ben Gerring
34 Liam Head
35 Ryan Brett
40 Argyle Foundation

Another New Signing

Now we should never question a signing as we are desperate for all the help we can get, yet why have we signed another player and not sold any, when we are supposed to have too big a squad already? Maybe the new board have caused the old mantra of not enough money and balancing the books to be brushed aside and we can now spend with wanton abandon. Puzzling.

But anyway, Icelandic midfielder, Kari Arnason has signed on a one year deal and will take the number 11 shirt. The 26 year old has played in many countries including Sweden and Denmark as well as Iceland.

Pre-season: Livingstone

Livingstone 2 - 1 Argyle

Oh, it's getting worse an echo of last year where pre-season ended in losses that carried on to the whole of the season and league game. I hope it will not be the same again, yet news from onlookers is worrying as the Greens are regressing to the poor style of play that we saw for far too long. Has Sturrock et al not learnt anything?

Sunday 19 July 2009

Preseason: Torquay and Skelmersdale

Torquay United 3 - 3 Plymouth Argyle (Fallon, Sawyer, Summerfield)
Skelmersdale United 0 - 2 Plymouth Argyle (Fallon, Paterson)

Is there a cause for concern already for next season in what we are seeing in pre-season? The reason being that the opposition are very critical of how the Greens are playing at the moment, even if they are getting the wins. With the exception of the Torquay match, every game so far has been a win. Though you must wonder why a Championship team can only hold out for a draw against a Blue Square when Bristol Rovers (league 1) can beat then 4-1.

For the Gulls game Sturrock appears to have played his near-first XI, with a couple of exceptions (Saxton in goal again, and some half time swaps) and likewise for Skelmersdale a selection from his forst choices (with Larrieu and Wright-Philips). But even so the Skel fans are not impressed by the 'so called Championship club's' performance, though it's very interesting to see that fans' un-favourites are baggibg the pre-season goals, though possibly the 'stroll in the park' style of play could be helping.

Sturrock still has a lot of work to do on the squad, not least trying to offload those he hates to any Tom, Dick or Harry who'll come in for them with an offer of a mint polo and a cheeky smile, but so far even that hasn't happened. The markerting of disgraced players who are constantly talked down in the press, banished from games, left out of training and left behind on the tour is pathetic and quite frankly so Argyle. If other clubs have managed to offload their trash (mainly to the Pilgrims!) and to big up their fallen stars (Barton for example) then it's surely not beyond possibility.

The Scotland tour is now under way with some doubt still cast over the game verses Livingstone.

Wednesday 15 July 2009

The Wright Stuff

Former Southampton striker, Bradley Wright-Philips, son of Ian Wright and half brother of Shaun Wright-Philips, has signed for Argyle. Previously playing for clubs such as Manchester City and Middlesbrough he has been described as a natural goal scorer, and scored 6 from 17 appearances for the Saints last season.

Wright-Philips has signed for 2 years after being released from Southampton and becomes the Green's second signing this summer. He describes himself as being born to score. It remains to be seen whether he will fit with Luggy's style and his talents will be allowed to flourish at Home Park.

Wright-Philips will wear the number 10 shirt.

Preseason: Truro and Parkway

Truro City 0 - 2 Plymouth Argyle (Puncheon, Barnes)
Plymouth Parkway 1 - 3 Plymouth Argyle (Mason, Rickard)

Off to a good start with wins all round. Luggy deciding to play two separate teams at Truro but with second place keeper Saxton completing the full 90 minutes (Larrieu is injured) show that Stack is well out in the wilderness banished never to return waiting to be off loaded to whoever will have him. There are reports of two trialists who are shoruded in secerecy as normal for they don't appear in any match report. One is rumoured to be Kari Anderson, just 1 lucky one who has, so far, the Luggy X Factor. But that still remains to be seen. The youth got off to a poor start on Tuesday as Parkway bagged the first goal, but the Greens then equalised by converting the penalty before taking the lead thanks to Mason and Rickard. Sturrock is pleased with what he's seen, though some supporters state that there were some poor individual performances that have not changed since last season.

That'll do for starters, the first games of the warm up campaign to blow out the cob-webs and should now set the tone for the rest. As last season's pre-season was a washout followed by a washout of a season, these testing the water games are going to be an indication of what we can expect over the year.

Monday 13 July 2009

5 Year Deal

Fancy signing up to Argyle for 5 years?

Well if you do you can now earn up to 25% off the cost over those 5 years with the new cumulative "New World Season Ticket" incentive scheme.

How it works is thus: Purchasing a season ticket for the 2009/10 season will give you 5% discount off the 2010/11 season tickets, which then gives you 10% discount on the 2011/12 season tickets and so on for 5 years, where by 2014/15 you will get 25% off (only on green season tickets).

So Argyle have come up with a scheme to encourage return supporters, and whilst this is rewarding those who already have a season ticket (along with the other incentives they receive), and are more than likely buy again, it does little to attract the new people to buy in the first place. The only thing that will encourage them is good performances on the pitch. And whether that is forthcoming remains to be seen.

Friday 10 July 2009

Plymouth Prices

Matchday ticket prices have seen a shake up yesterday when Argyle announced that the £2.00 surcharge for pay on the pay has been scrapped and the Mayflower Unreserved Seating prices have fallen by £7.00.

Grandstand, Devonport, Lyndhurst, Barn Park
Adult - £24
Over 65 and under 23 - £16
Under 18 - £7

Mayflower Terracing
Adult - £15
Over 65 and under 23 - £12
Under 18 - £5

Many people have bemoaned and cited ticket prices as a reason why the crowds won't turn up, now's the chance to test that theory with prices that no longer discriminate the last minute people, are on a par or lower than other clubs and include cut-price opition for those on a tighter budget.

Monday 6 July 2009

Getting Extra Friendly

An additional game verses Tiverton Town make the full list now:

Monday 13 July. Truro City, Treyew Road
Wednesday 15 July, Torquay United, Plainmoor, 19.45
Saturday 18 July, Skelmersdale United, The Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College Stadium, 15.00
Sunday 19 July - Friday 24 July, Pre-season Tour, Scotland
Monday 20 July, Livingston, Almondvile
Wednesday 22 July, Unirea
Urziceni
Saturday 25 July, Morecambe, Christie Park
Wednesday 29 July, Hearts, Home Park, 19.45
Saturday 1 August, Swindon Town, The County Ground, 15.00
Monday 3 August, Tiverton Town, Ladysmead,19.45

Saturday 4 July 2009

Give it some Heart

The home pre-season match will be verses SPL side, Hearts on Wednesday 29 July, 19.45.

Monday 13 July. Truro City, Treyew Road
Wednesday 15 July, Torquay United, Plainmoor, 19.45
Saturday 18 July, Skelmersdale United, The Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College Stadium, 15.00
Sunday 19 July - Friday 24 July, Pre-season Tour, Scotland
Monday 20 July, Livingston, Almondvile
Wednesday 22 July, Unirea
Urziceni
Saturday 25 July, Morecambe, Christie Park
Wednesday 29 July, Hearts, Home Park, 19.45
Saturday 1 August, Swindon Town, The County Ground, 15.00

Thursday 2 July 2009

Took Over

Following Paul Stapleton's resignation as chairman today, Argyle have announced that Sir Roy Gardener will be his successor following him obtaining 13% of the club's shares.

The former Manchester United chairman, who left in 2005, took over the helm from Stapleton today and already has plans to aim towards top flight football and increase the budget for players, something Pilgrims fans have been longing to hear. Stapleton has stepped down to vice chairman, and he, Gardener, Dennerly, Wrathall and Todd, and Synan (who represents the 38% for K&K) will now be in charge of the Greens and marks the end of the takeover.

So far it has all been positive and with the influence of a football man, not least someone from the biggest club in the world, can hopefully only mean good for the beleaguered Argyle, now it's up to the new board to deliver on their words.

Stapleton to Stand Down

Today at 11.00am.

According to BBC Radio Devon, Stapleton is due to stand down today marking the completion of the takeover, with the new board taking over.

Keep an eye on the local news for breaking details.

Wednesday 1 July 2009

More Pre-Seasoning

A couple of additions to the pre-season schedule make the full list:

Monday 13 July. Truro City, Treyew Road
Wednesday 15 July, Torquay United, Plainmoor, 19.45
Saturday 18 July, Skelmersdale United, The Skelmersdale & Ormskirk College Stadium, 15.00
Sunday 19 July - Friday 24 July, Pre-season Tour, Scotland
Monday 20 July, Livingston, Almondvile
Wednesday 22 July, Unirea
Urziceni
Saturday 25 July, Morecambe, Christie Park
Wednesday 29 July, (opposition to be confirmed), Home Park, 19.45
Saturday 1 August, Swindon Town, The County Ground, 15.00

Late Night Reading

The Tuesday evening game verses Reading at the Madjeski Stadium on the 9th February will now kick off at 8.00pm.

Very advanced warning there!