Highs and Lows - and it's only been 3 games

The high came from beating Portsmouth in the League Cup.  But then it was only Argyle-no-money beating kids from Pompey-even-less-money.  But it's been a while since the Greens have progressed in a cup competition.

General service has resumed in the league with a loss on opening day to The Shots and only a draw at the Daggers.  The poor play is still evident under Fletcher's command.  But there is a long way to go yet.

Hiatus

Due to having a new job and thus very little time, I will be unable to update this blog as often as I would like from now on.

PreSeason: Yeovil

Yeovil Town 5 - 0 Plymouth Argyle

Not the best start to the preseason or indication for the league ahead with a 5-0 loss to local rivals, Yeovil; including a red card for Chadwick.  And to come unstuck against ex-players too.  Still, it is only a 'friendly' warm up.  Like Team GB's match verses Brazil.  Maybe.

Return of the Specials

Football Specials operated by Plymouth CityBus make a return next season, operating on Saturday Home Matches only.

The services are:

PA2 Ivybridge - £4 return fare

PA1 Wembury - £3.50 return fare

PA3 Glenholt - £3 return fare
PA4 Tamarton Foliot - £3 return fare
PA5 Whitleigh - £3 return fare
PA6 Saltash- £3 return fare
PA7 Plymstock - £3 return fare
PA8 Plympton - £3 return fare

In addition to the above fares, a £2 return is available on routes when they reach the City Centre, Wolseley Road (Flats), Crownhill, or Stoke Village.

Timetables, routes and stops

Save the last Walts for me

The skipper has abandoned the ship.  Former Argyle captain Simon Walton has left the club to join Hartlepool United next season due to family issues.  Walton made 66 appearances for the Greens in 4 seasons and was the highest goal scorer last season whilst also acting as captain.  His move up north will allow him to spend more time with his family in Leeds, and leaves behind a disappointed Carl Fletcher who paid tribute to the work he did in ensuring the club's league status last season.

'Allo 'Allo

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Rene!

With the departure of Le Keeper, Argyle have been on the look out for a new man between the sticks, and that guy has turned out to be Rene Gilmartin, a 25 year old former under 21 Irish keeper.  Gilmartin has joined on a 2 year deal having been released by his former club, Watford, most of which was spent on loan.  Rene started his career at Walsall in 2005 where he made 35 appearances.  Oh and he's Irish really, not French - you stupid woman!

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.

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.

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.