Wednesday 20 June 2012

Kitted Up

It's here, the new Argyle strip for the new 12/13 season


Going back to Puma as manufacturer and the canary yellow away kit of a few years ago, but with a hit of the classic 'Topps' kit that was a retro hit with the fans by having the band across the chest.  Now the New World is the old world, the club's crest is its rightful incarnation, and in a new departure for Argyle, is that sponsorship I spy on the back as well as the front. The kits will go on sale first from 9am on Saturday 11 August, although pre-orders will be taken in store, on line and by telephone from Wednesday1 August.
All in all a very smart kit, although you can't please everyone - where's the Argyle black and the green is the wrong shade again.  Still won't be the Green Army without something to moan about.  At least we're not being forced to play in red like Cardiff.

Tuesday 19 June 2012

It's a Fix

League fixtures have been released and with all 3 Devon teams being in the same league after many years, there are quite a few highlights.  Old foes Exeter will be clashed with at home on Easter Saturday (30 March) and away preChristmas, whilst Torquay is the Boxing Day home game and an away trip early on in September (Sat 8th).  Both promise to be big gate games, and following trouble at the last Exeter-Argyle meetings, very dicey too.

The season kicks off home to Aldershot (Sat 18 August) and ends on one of the long away trips to Rochdale (Sat 27 April),  other long trips include York on Easter Monday (1 April) and Fleetwood (Sat 17 November).  Again, there are only a handful of Tuesday night games, most being in the first half of the season, and include Dagenham away (21 August), Rovers home (18 September), Wycombe away (2 October), Cheltenham away (23 October) and Burton home in November; whilst New Year's Day sees a trip to the other "Westcountry" rivals, Bristol Rovers.

Full fixtures here.

Saturday 16 June 2012

Battle of the Ports

Step back in time to when Gus v Pompey was a big event in dockyard terms, and it hasn't totally gone away even in football.  So this year's first round of the League Cup sees Argyle pitted against Portsmouth at Home Park taking place either 14th/15th August (is the fireworks championship night again?).  We've met 90 times and Argyle have only won on 36 of those occasions, the last meeting being the FA Cup in 2008 when Portsmouth won in spite of the Greens taking the lead.  I remember they did a great Chilli burger outside the ground.

Additionally, only 2 days to league fixtures are released this Monday.

Thursday 7 June 2012

PreSeason 2012

Preseason friendlies are starting to be arranged now, so far with
Saturday July 21 v Yeovil Town (A) 15.00
Tuesday July 24 v Truro City (A) 19.45
Friday July 27 v Weston-super-Mare (A) 19.45
Tuesday July 31 v Tiverton Town (A) 19.45
Wednesday August 8 v Preston North End (H) 19.45

The Truro away match now becoming a tradition, along with revisits to Yeovil, Weston and Tiverton.  And Ridsdale returns to Home Park with his new team, PNE. No money for a tour this year!

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Flied Lice Bilds?

What is it with football in the UK?  With the pursuit of money and fortune that history and tradition can be ridden roughshod over the ordinary supporter without hindrance.  It was bad enough when Argyle went Japanese and introduced a new badge and a new song with the so called 'New World', my god it was galling when pandering to Sturrock that orange became out official away colour.  But to annihilate the Bluebirds is beyond belief.  OK, some may argue that Cardiff and imposters in the EFL anyway, but just to insure the bucks come rolling in ('future investment') a 'rebrand' is essential.  Bollocks!

So what do the new Chinese owners of Cardiff want?  Essentially for them to give up their traditions - a blue kit to be replaced by a red one because it's luckier and scientifically more successful (try telling that to Man City fans this season), and replace their club crest with a Welsh Dragon to promote identity.  Now come on!  What utter shite is this - how can you ditch a club's history?  It's not without precedent though - look at Arsenal's new strip including Spurs's blue.  Or QPR's rebrand.  

The trouble with football is that its got too big for its boots - in the persuit of wealth it has forgotten who is at it's heart - the fans; and granted the Cardiff supporters will probably adapt like a lot of others have.  But, if we allow 'outsiders' free reign over what many hold dear, what hope has the humble man or woman got?  And ultimately we are to blame - for it is the supporter who has encouraged such spending and outstripped what our own country has to offer.  When have to appease those who hold the purse string - no matter how incompetent (in Argyle's case) or how much you protest (just look at how influential the Man U traditional were at ousting the Glazers ie naff all) the supporter, the history, the tradition means fuck all.