Wednesday, 28 January 2009

Hero to Zero

Plymouth Argyle 0 - 2 Bristol City (McIndoe 62, Fontaine 86)

Back when Sturrock was appointed I said that you should never go back, and that he risks damaging his heroic status at the club, and that's precisely what has happened.
Back in September when we were really in the relegation zone Luggy managed to pull off a wonder stroke that silenced his critics, however since that time things have been steadily going down hill with a catalogue of wrongs: his signings have proved poor - they're either permanently injured or were never picked or have 'attitude problems'; his tactics have become more and more negative and more and more absent; team moral seems to have gone through the floor and the displays of apathy by the players getting more frequent; his press interviews have become more negative ("I hope that player is not here by the end of the window"); his passion has gone.

Now we can blame this on his Parkinsons, that as his illness progresses he is becoming a weaker person, but why persevere if you're not up to it? Unfortunately the negativity has transferred to the fans who are not bothered any more, for many the 'sparkle' has gone. This in turn reflects in the lower gates and poor atmosphere and is used as an excuse by the board to cut spending and apportion blame.


Last night's rain played match was pathetic, though it may be something that City were held out for so long, but at 1-0 down did anyone really expect a come back or was 2,3,4-0 a more realistic possibility. It's certainly what I texted by new QPR fan friend in his mid-match ribbing. The team last night and whatever tactics there should have been were all wrong. But there's going to be no change, the transfer window slams closed in a few days and there is no sign of anything coming in whilst our flare players are clambering to squeeze out. It's a make do and mend situation.

Sturrock does have a pedigree, he's got 4 promotions and no relegations to his name, so he has the ability background to turn it around, many are convinced that we will survive but only because there are worse teams in these 10 bad games we have not moved from 15/16th in the table. But that is not good enough. There is no way Sturrock will be sacked by his bum chums so he has every opportunity to return from Zero to Hero.

Just be quick about it please. Or I'll join my mate at QPR. It sounds much more fun.

Monday, 26 January 2009

My musings on the bottom end of the Championship

It's been a little while since my last post on To be a Pilgrim and unfortunately things didn't go too well in the Forest game. I thought Forest might have a bit about them, Billy Davies is still a good manager in my eyes despite that spell at Derby (though to be fair, any manager would have found keeping that side in the Premier League).

Next up though come Bristol City. They're only a couple of points above Argyle in the league and a win would see the Pilgrims leap-frog them. Last season they had a great one obviously, but I always thought they were punching above their weight a bit I have to admit. They've got a few decent players like Nicky Maynard, Bradley Orr and Marvin Elliot but they haven't looked as good as they did last season and are a beatable side.

I know Argyle have been on a bad run of late, stretching back to that defeat against Blackpool. I don't think relegation talk is necessary just yet. Before the weekend I thought Blackpool were going to slip down into it because they lost so many players that had been there on loan but then they go and beat Birmingham 2-0! That ruined my betting picks anyway, probably ruined a few other peoples selections as well. In truth Birmingham were pretty poor in that game from what I've seen and did not look like a side pushing for promotion.

Another football betting tip for relegation candidates are Norwich City. They look pretty poor and just don't seem to pick up results. They might have battered Barnsley last time out but those kind of score-lines are few and far between for the Canaries and they will be lucky to stay in the league with the way they have been playing lately.

Charlton look gone, probably not much point even discussing them to be honest. When I have watched them play they look like they've been unlucky in some encounters but you can't blame luck all the time. I watched Forest beat them and Charlton were all over them before Forest scored but as soon as they did their heads dropped and it was all over.

Jeff Stelling presents countdown now, brilliant move from Channel 4 - not sure about his co-host though, she's no Carol. Anyway, the point I was going to make was Jeff introduced a contestant and said 'he likes football.... He also likes watching Southampton,' which leads me on to my next point. Southampton are prime candidates for the drop, they've got a young squad, no money and they've only won once in their last ten games - prime relegation material.

Doncaster have won their last three games and held Villa to a credible 0-0 draw in the FA Cup. I didn't see that one coming to be honest! Still, they might fight their way out of it now and as long as it's not at Plymouth's expense then good stuff I suppose, I always have liked to follow the underdog.

There are a couple of other teams I haven't mentioned yet, Watford, Barnsley, Derby and Forest. I think Derby and Forest will probably stay out of it now, along with Barnsley. As I said earlier I think Plymouth will stay out of it, this run won't go on forever. Watford don't look particularly good and could go down though. I'm going too leave it there anyway, I've waffled on enough already! Good luck to the Pilgrims at the weekend and let me know what you think about relegation candidates.

Saturday, 24 January 2009

It's That Time Again

For the Football Fanzine Awards 2009.

FFC Banner

Thursday, 22 January 2009

FFS

Footballers.

What is it about them that turns them into complete idiots. Well we all know that the 'jocks' are not the academic ones at schools, which is probably why many of our countries footballers appear as thick as shit.

And you cannot get much thicker than Shane-White this week who decided to turn the clock back to last summer and emulate Luke McCormick when he was
caught driving under the influence. To happen once in a club is a tragedy, twice is incomprehensible. McCormick was sentenced to imprisonment for his role in the death of two young children when his Landrover crashed into the car carrying them on the M6 last summer, killing the two boys and severely injuring their father. Do we never learn?

History has shown that the human race are perpetual failures and 'lessons will be learnt' are never fulfilled, yet for such a tragedy to happen on our door steps, and a colleague of McCormick to be in similar circumstances is beyond words. Argyle players have done nothing to give the club any good publicity in recent years - from Seip's Union Street brawl to Shane-White. This once 'family run club' has been tarnished by such ill discipline. And goes towards showing that footballers think they are above the common people. OK, you can argue that Shane-White is not a First XI player but are we (as a club) trying to produce our versions of Gerrard or Ronaldo or Barton? If they are the type of players we want our children to idolise then it's yet another reason to be out of the 'football la-la land' that the Beautiful Game has built around itself.

Saturday, 17 January 2009

Green or Brown

Nottingham Forest 2 (Earnshaw 24, Anderson 51) - 0 Plymouth Argyle

To follow Argyle you can be one of two people: a green tint or a brown turd. Apparently there's no in between (a clear crystal??). From today's game a brown turd will be complaining about Sturrock's tactics, the players inability, the board's lack of money and signings and worrying about relegation. A green tint will shrug it off as one of those football things and believe that this level is the best Argyle have ever been, that the board are keeping the club solvant and Sturrock won is 2 championships. I suppose I fall more into the shit.

After today Argyle have won 1 in 9 league games with 2 draws. So a total of 5 points out of a potential of 27. Well is that really good enough? Not really, it's statistically worse that the start of the season with 5 defeats and people were really starting to howl from the roof tops. Yet because we have some points in the bag, everything's ok. Well it's not. There are only 6 points to the drop zone. Well they're going to be filled by Southampton, Watford and Charlton so we're safe. Are we? Who knows what will happen in the next 3 months. You cannot rely on the misfortunes of others, which is what Argyle really have made their forte in the last few years. There's no movement on the transfer market, there's players sat round that Sturrock publically says he doesn't want, which doesn't do their saleability any good - who would by something the salesman says is shite and doesn't want? There's no money to buy anyone and Sturrock has no clue what to do with who is here at the moment.

But hey ho, everything's going to be fine. Even if we go down we'll be a big fish in a little pond and will be in the runing to come back up again. Will we?!?! Doesn't that logic seem slightly flawed? If we can't compete at this level now, why should we want to come back up again and go through the debacle all over again? The third tier of football has probably changed since we left and it might not be the easy ride some people expect.

Thursday, 15 January 2009

Forest at the weekend and a few Championship picks!

This is my first post on 'To be a Pilgrim' and I'm delighted to be here. It would be foolish of me too start writing about Argyle too their die hard fans so I thought I'd concentrate on this weekend's opponents Nottingham Forest and see if I can offer any football betting tips along the way.

I watched the highlights of their game with Charlton last week and although they won 2-0 that score-line really did not reflect the game. Charlton wasted so many chances to open the scoring it was ridiculous. They had at least four decent opportunities to take the lead but somehow missed when it would have been easier to score! The only way to describe that game was a mugging. In terms of attacking threat they rely heavily on Rob Earnshaw and if the Plymouth defence can keep him out they should keep Forest out.

They are a strange animal to predict at the moment though Forest. They've just got a new manager in Billy Davies and even though he was sacked as Derby manager when they were at the foot of the Premiership I still rate him as a boss. No one could have done anything with that woeful Derby side, as Paul Jewell showed, and Davies surely has a point too prove. They also beat Man City in the FA cup, which should give them a boost but I still feel this Forest side is very beatable.

I don't think there is any point underestimating the importance of this tie. A win would put more distance between the Pilgrims and the bottom three. However, a loss would bring Forest to within three points of Argyle and I expect Forest to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season - so the further Argyle are from them the better!

I'm going to leave this game well alone in terms of my football betting tips this weekend, purely for the fact Forest are so unpredictable. My home picks from the Championship this weekend are Coventry and Crystal Palace and I'll go for Barnsley and Sheffield United away - not the bankers perhaps but should have some decent odds. I hope you all have a profitable weekend and the Pilgrims get a result.

Fame at Last

I had the honour of being contacted by the owner of Manchester United's blog to give the Pilgrim's view on 'boy wonder' Craig Cathcart's stay at Argyle.
Using choice quotes from the members of Argyle Talk.

Craig Cathcart. A Pilgrim's View.

Tuesday, 13 January 2009

You say Hello, I say Goodbye

Transfer window time again and it's half way through. So what has happened at the good ship Mayflower?

Well most obviously that Stack is no longer welcome at Home Park by the frank statement issued by Sturrock (Stack For Sale) in which he says he hopes that Graham will no longer be here by the end of the month. Stack started as first choice keeper before being dropped following the run of defeats that saw the Greens relegation fodder in September. And that's where he stayed. Unlike any other player who was dropped, Stack has never appeared again - even on the bench. What has gone so badly wrong? Some online forum members publicly brand him a 'Twat' following unsubstantiated rumours that he is a bad influence in the changing room.

Then there's Walton, the latest dudd "big signing" wheeled out in the summer to appease the fan's annoyance at there being no transfer movement for the biggest deal ever, and then nothing. Taribo West anyone? Unlike West Walton at least featured in some games culminating in his red card at Barnsley which saw him transfer listed for, effectively, insubordination.

And the Mpenza, another dudd flash signing who has features very little since his unveiling due to injury and then in the main just a 10 minutes here or there. This is a pivotal month says Sturrock in order to prove his worth (well, Paul pick him first) or it's the door. Again.

And not forgetting Marin who left by 'mutual agreement' to return to France who couldn't cope with Championship style football. Another waste of time, effort and money.

Sturrock says he's be very disappointed if no one came knocking for any players. Well we are a selling club after all and he does seem to have a lot of players he wants to get rid of.

And at the other end of the scale what have we got? Another loanee from Manchester United, Gray, who if hopefully is on the same scale as Cathcart can only be a good thing. Well he did get straight in the team for the Arsenal game, but then he did score an own goal.

The excuses however have come out as early as the 6th January that it's too cold to see any games. Instead Sturrock has resorted to the old fashioned telephone apparently. So will there be some panic buys in the next few weeks? Why are we so crap at this?

Saturday, 10 January 2009

Off!

Plymouth Argyle - Crystal Palace, Saturday 10 January, 15.00
Postponed due to frozen pitch

Due to the recent ongoing subzero temperatures the pitch at Home Park has frozen to significant depth for the referee to delare it unplayable at today's morning pitch inspection.

Wednesday, 7 January 2009

Two Heads Better than One

Not a new operation to make Rory Fallon a better striker, but a change to To be a Pilgrim. This blog has been running for just over 2 years (really?) and at times I've not been able to devote as much time or interest in it as I would like and thus it can get a bit stale. However, I am pleased to welcome a new guest author onto the team in the form of Gareth Freeman, who is an Online Sports Writer for Betfair. Betfair's sports blogs (betting.betfair.com) have been described by Soccerlens.com (another big football blog) as "head and shoulders above the rest in terms of providing useful betting advice to their readers". Gareth will be posting his views on Argyle and the Championship a couple of times each month and I'm sure he will be giving us a good insight into what the country think of the Pilgrims.

Sunday, 4 January 2009

Arse

Arsenal 3 (van Persie 46, Gray 50 og, van Persie 84) - 1 Plymouth Argyle (Duguid 53) FAC3

Well it's over, no more than was expected but a great day out for Plucky Plymouth.

9,000 Green Army members made the mass exodus journey to The Emirates, the largest away crowd to grace the new stadium, proven by the lack of facilities - the Gunners had to open parts of the ground that had not been used before, and the lack of sufficient toilets caused a talking point and a bone of contention when many fans missed three goals due to queuing. As were the travel arrangements of coaches littering the surrounding streets and Tube stations closures, London were not prepared for 48 coaches, 1 official train, 1 extra express train provided by First Great Western plus numerous other regular service trains and countless other vehicles converging from across the country.

The Arsenal were expecting to totally run roughshod over the small club and were very annoyed to be drawing 0-0 going into the break due to the remarkable skills of keeper Larrieu. They soon turned that round by scoring 2 within minutes of restart, one being an own goal by new loanee and débutante, Gray. Whatever mistake he made, he immediately took the ball up the other end and allowed the skipper to start the Green come back. Much to the angry annoyance of the Gooners supporters. Things started to come apart for the Pilgrims in the second half as Arsenal went on to stick the knife in with a third, ending the game. But it was more than anyone expected.

Sturrock made 6 changes to the team that he fielded against Cardiff, including his newest player, Gray along with McNamee, Gallagher (who picked up an injury forcing his substitution) with Folly and MacLean warming the bench, and it worked fairly well.

But now the magic is over. Time to concentrate on the league. (Ha!)

Friday, 2 January 2009

All Aboard

Due to demand, First Great Western are supply an extra train tomorrow departing Plymouth at 7.30 and Paddington at 19.45. All seats are unreserved.

http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~1506276,00.html

Thursday, 1 January 2009

Babylon

Argyle are set to kick off the new year by signing another loanee youngster, David Gray from Manchester United. The 20 year old is due to complete formalities this week in order to stay till the end of the season. 'Greyhound', Gray's nickname due to his speed, has been mainly playing in a full back position has an attacking instinct and is available for selection at this Saturday's FA Cup match.

In related new as we say hello to Gray, we say goodbye to Marin who has had his contract terminated by mutual consent having only played half an hour and made one start since August.

Tuesday, 30 December 2008

The Season of Goodwill

To all except Welsh assistant referees.

Back to normal now (well as near as possible) after the holidays.

Plymouth Argyle 2 (Fallon 38, Summerfield 57 pen) - 0 Southampton

An excellent result at home on Boxing Day lifted the spirits of the Green Army after a sustained period of no wins with a good performance from the men in green who played their opponents off the field. In front of the biggest crowd of the season the Pilgrims romped home following a powerful header from Fallon, cemented by a penalty by Summerfield early in the second, won because of a handball. Summerfield was a surprise choice to take the kick but most probably did as a two finger salute to the discontent amongst supporters. There were a few changes in the team including the recall of skipper Duguid who was fit again after injury, along with Noone and MacNamee, while others were rested for Arsenal.

Cardiff City 1 (Boothroyd 81) - 0 Plymouth Argyle

And then back to earth with a bump with the only league trip to foreign shores (Wales) where Argyle were denied a goal by the assistant referee who flagged for off-side and has since proven to have been wrong. Nonetheless there it was a much changed team that ran out for the last time at old Ninian Park due to The Big One this weekend, giving some semblance of a return to the good away form however clouded by MacNamee's dismissal in stoppage time. He won't be transfer listed for sure. Even so so many wasted opportunities again. But who gives a shit? We're playing Arsenal next week. Get out the flags (or not as they're banned at the Emirates), sink a couple of pints (dry transport from the Westcountry) and watch the greens get hammered for 90 minutes. The FA Cup where all men are equal, except some are more equal than others, and you'd think is the only game we're playing this year.

Thursday, 25 December 2008

Merry Christmas

Well it's nearly over now, but hopefully you all had a Happy Christmas and are now sat on the sofa struggling with excess wind.

Monday, 22 December 2008

Convenient Scapegoat

Barnsley 2 (De Silva 37, Campbell-Rice 90 pen) - 0 Plymouth Argyle

A crap performance was put squarely at the door of Walton because of his dismissal, resulting in his effective bannishment from the club by being
transfer listed. Walton was red carded from the Barnsley pitch after just 28 minutes on Saturday leading to what Sturrock has declared a breakdown in Argyle's game plan resulting in the defeat. Who knows is this is true? By many accounts the 28 minutes before the incident did not set the world on fire. But Walton's consist ant poor attitude and behaviour have finally proved too much. On the day the club announce credit crunch matters, this could not have been more convenient for the bean counters. After all Walton's never really been popular.

But even so, the run of bad games has equalled that at the beginning of the season and could be out done if there's another loss on Boxing Day. The difference is that we started falling from the right end of the table and the defeat on Saturday did nothing to the Greens position. Any other manager would be having a brown pants moment, but Sturrock has job security so he does need to be worried. The sympathisers say give him time, he's a proven. But how much time does he need? In a few weeks time its likely that the whole personnel at Home Park will change and the rebuilding will start again. You don't have time at Argyle. Maybe that's why attendances are falling chairman, but why bother doing anything to address that?

Thursday, 18 December 2008

Watching Football is Not a Crime

Or is it?

The police have new powers called section 27 to ban anyone from an area for 48 hours if they suspect you of causing disturbance under the Violent Crime Reductions Act. The idea is that you can be removed from an area, such as the local club land for being DUI and potentially disorderly. However at least the South Yorkshire and Greater Manchester Police Forces have been using the order to remove large numbers of football supporters from whole counties under suspicion of potentially causing disturbance. They have at least detained Stoke City and Plymouth Argyle supporters in pubs (where it is purported to have been no disturbance) regardless of age, cautioned under Section 28 and escorted out of the county and beyond (Stoke were removed from Manchester as far as Stoke and Argyle from Doncaster as far away as Birmingham). This is regardless of whether these supporters originally came from where the escort took them or the age of the supporter.

The Football Supporters Federation has launched a campaign against what is considered to be a misuse of the Act.
More details here.

Wednesday, 17 December 2008

Going to the Smoke

I've got a ticket to Arsenal after a load of wangling by other people, so will be off to the big smoke in January to be treated like a load of shit by the Met's finest. Happy days.

Argyle Talk

The fan's forum PAFC Talk has metamorphosed into Argyle Talk and is now available at www.argyletalk.co.uk

Friday, 12 December 2008

Lady Luckless

Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Birmingham City (Carsley 62)

Getting worse. A better performance from the boys in Green but the Blues take their only chance and win whilst the Pilgrims dither about. The Credit Crunch Christmas is biting at Home Park.

Plymouth Argyle 1 (MacLean 83) - 1 QPR (Helgusson 16)

A late equaliser saved further embarrassement from subsititute MacLean in yet another sloppy game at Home Park which saw the Pilgrim behind after just 16 minutes because of a rebounded volley during QPR's first true possession of the game after Argyle's domination. A series of missed opportunities ensued throughout the game, QPR's performance improved as time continued as the green shirts were second to every ball and every shot going high or wide. Thankfully this time the subsititutes lifted the game and were rewarded with a goal.

But over all 5 games without a win is not good enough.

Sunday, 7 December 2008

Lady Luck?

Doncaster Rovers 1 (Stock 37) - 0 Plymouth Argyle

Lady Luck has decided to slap Sturrock on the arse he stated in his post match report. Luck? What's luck got to do with it? 2 games against bottom of the league clubs, two games lost. Great start to December and the festive period. But is typical Argo. Denied by a wonder goal and a wonder save. Not, denied and outclassed by ineptitude and bad football. Not good enough.

Choo Choo

What's this? A train? To the Emirates? Is it true?
It's quite unprecidented in this day and age for a club to charter a train to a match, but Argyle are ruuning a charter train from Plymouth to Finsbury Park (the nearest station to the Emirates), departing at 8am from Plymouth and 6pm from London.


Tickets cost £50 adult and £45 under 16 (accompanied only)

http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/AwayTickets/0,,10364~1476770,00.html

Coach Travel is also available

Thursday, 4 December 2008

8,600

Arsenal ticket details

The club have been allocated 8,600 tickets for the FA Cup draw verses Arsenal at the Emirates.
Concentrate, because this is goint to get complicated:

Tickets will cost between £32.50 and £46 depending on where in the Emirates you are located.

If you have a GREEN SEASON TICKET for the GRANDSTAND or MAYFLOWER RESERVED SEATING, you must get your ticket on Sunday 7 December (10am - 4pm) or Monday 8 December (9am - 5pm).

If you have a GREEN SEASON TICKET for BLOCKS 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 you must get your ticket on Tuesday 9th December (10am - 4pm) and Wednesday 10th December (10am - 6pm).

If you have a GREEN SEASON TICKET for BLOCKS 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 you must get your ticket on Thursday 11th December (10am - 5pm) and Friday 12th December (10am - 6pm).


If you have a GREEN SEASON TICKET for BLOCKS 11, 12, & 13 you must get your ticket on Sunday 14th December (10am - 4pm) and Monday 15th December (10am - 5pm).

If you have a GREEN SEASON TICKET for BLOCKS 14, 15, 16 & 17 you must get your ticket on Tuesday 16th December (10am - 5pm) and Wednesday 17th December (10am - 5pm).


If you have a GREEN SEASON TICKET for MAYFLOWER UNRESERVED/DISABLED STAND you must get your ticket on Thursday 18th December (10am - 5pm) and Friday 19th December (10am - 5pm).

If there are any tickets left they will go on sale to WHITE SEASON TICKET HOLDERS. There will be an announcement on
www.pafc.co.uk on Friday 19th December.

If there are any tickets left they will then go on sale to PILGRIM MEMBERS.


It is unlikely that any tickets will go on general sale.

There will be an equal share of each ticket price available on each day.

Sunday, 30 November 2008

The Biggest Game

FA Cup 3rd Round, Arsenal v Plymouth Argyle, Saturday 3 January, Emirates Stadium.

So Argyle have drawn Arsenal in what is the biggest game in recent years, is it a good draw? Well there's probably zero chance of progession and as it's away no extra gate receipts. So probably not. But it'll give people a day out to see a big team. Ticket details are yet to be confirmed.

Saturday, 29 November 2008

The Trouble with Argyle

Plymouth Argyle 1 (Gallagher 67) - 2 Blackpool (Dickinson 78, Dickinson 81)

Is that they are far too inconsistent. A run of good performances just outside the play offs and then they put in a load of shite, at home as well and not wonder the crowds are sub 10k. By all accounts today was a woeful day, save for Gallagher's 'wonder goal', that turned the crowd from elation to desperation in 3 minutes. This is not how you win fans.

It wasn't just individual problems, it was a collective collusion of crapness that should have wanted a bollocking at half time and definitely full time. Granted the team seemed more up for it at the beginning of the second half so their ears must be ringing, but by the end they should have bleeding ears after such an un'honest' performance. Or were they just 'tired'(!) that they let a late debutante substitute score two goals.

Wednesday, 26 November 2008

A Wee Bit of a Turn Around

Plymouth Argyle 2 (Mpenza , Gallagher) - 1 Cardiff City
Southampton 0 - 0 Plymouth Argyle

Back in September no-one thought that come the end of November the Greens would be in a play off position, but here they are. From the depths of last place to the heights of in 2 months is a fantastic turn around. The performances put in in the last two games were good too, one of which was in front of the country's eyes which normally is a slipping point for the Pilgrims.

The Greens were the better team on Saturday and, though maybe a little poorer on Tuesday, held their own at St Mary's to a 0-0 draw. This was even after enforced changes due to injuries. Does this mean that the team have turned a corner and are able to work together no matter who is in the XI (ie Sturrock can change his team and not play the same men every game)? Or was it a one off.

There are three games this week (Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday) and the main indicator will be Saturday's performance. No doubt though that a poor game would be blamed on the manager's get clause, tiredness.

Saturday, 15 November 2008

PAFC Talk

The fans' forum PAFC Talk has been laid to rest by its owner due to personal reasons.
It is hoped that the forum will be resurrected soon.



UPDATE:
In order to rehost the site, we need approximately £60 a year. If you would like to donate, please do so via the PayPal site:






No-one Saves the Day

Coventry City 0 - 1 Plymouth Argyle (Noone 87)

Who put the ball in the Coventry net? Super Craig Noone. Doesn't really scan that well does it? But at 0-0 going into the break it was a turn around that Argyle came out and scored instead of conceding especially as it wsa Coventry who (you could say predictably) started the second half the better team. But for once it was a substritution who changed the game as Noone came on to score in the dying minutes of the game and hung on for the three points. Up until then there were the usual missed chances, including Mpenza, who had his first start of the season, in the 11th minute that was tipped round the post. Though Coventry were not without their chances either which saw Larrieu push a 30 yard strike just over the crossbar.

So the three points place Argyle currently 9th in the table.

Sunday, 9 November 2008

It ain't Over till the Man Blows

Plymouth Argyle 2 (Doumbe 37, Mpenza 90) - 2 Charlton Athletic (Youga 86, Gray 90 pen)

There are 90 minutes in a game of football.
Well, there are more than 90 minutes in a game of football.


Well, it ain't over till the man blows his whistle, so technically a game of football could go on for days.
But even so, a game has a set period of time and anything can happen. It usually does. In Argyle's case they get comfy on a 1-0 lead, nothing unusual there when leading, go into autopilot and defend the lead, the deeper the better, and again they let it slip away. So they wait until the 90 minutes is over to regain the lead but then concede a penalty immediately afterwards! It's laughable really if it wasn't so frustrating.

Most of the reports coming out of Home Park concluded that Argyle should be happy with the draw, so something must have been bad and Summerfield was on the end of it. But should people be surprised? It's Argyle's party trick and guaranteed that being in the lead is a nail biting event just as playing catch up is a non-event. But to let the lead go twice, and to concede penalties in back-to-back games is ludicrously poor form. It seems that yet again Sturrock's decision on substitutes was lacking in the fans' opinion. But who are we to question the Messiah? What do we really know?

Sunday, 2 November 2008

PG's Trips - Steel City Red Blues

Sheffield United (Beattie 49 pen, Beattie 57) 2 - 0 Plymouth Argyle

Just a quick one today:

We always get shit refs.
2 gifted goals - a fair result? Well the direction of the 3 points, possibly yes. The way the goals happened, probably not. But all in all the slack performance that the Greens gave, they probably would not have got anything from the Steel City's red half. And to be honest, we have not really been playing well for some time. Luckily, everyone else played worse.

A big problem that looms like a black cloud is the ineffectiveness of the team to come back from being behind. In all 15 games when Argyle went behind, never have they managed to score. And secondly, the nervousness in front of goal. The big white netty thing is where the ball should go. You don't get points for farting around and looking all flash in the penalty box, just to lose posession. Goals mean points (and points mean prizes!).

A wasted afternoon.

Thursday, 30 October 2008

O Come all Ye Faithful

The ever popular Argyle Christmas Carol concert will this year be held on Monday 15 December, 18.30 in the Devonport Stand.

Keep Sunday Special

The Argyle Superstore (Home Park) will no longer be open on Sundays, however Centre Spot (Drake Circus) will be open as usual.

Match tickets are currently being handled by the superstore on non matchdays, however Argyle have not stated whether the Box Office will also be closing. Tickets are still on sale at Centre Spot or via e-ticketing.

You may Experience Interruptions to your usual Service

I shall be away for 6 weeks from Sunday 1 November until Sunday 14 December, therefore I may not be able to update this blog as often as usual.
Apologies for any Inconvenience.

Wednesday, 29 October 2008

Wednesday, Tuesday, Which Day?

Sheffield Wednesday 0 - 1 Plymouth Argyle (MacLean 22)

Well they've only gone and done the double. The fixtures computer threw up Wednesday twice in the same month (and then not forgetting the other Sheffield in the same week) and gave the chance for Argyle to beat them within a month. 5 goals to nil.


A sickness bug forced some changes to the squad, which begs the question, would Sturrock have done made changes anyway? It seems not as the defence remained the same. Just one more chance. However elsewhere MacLean was installed along with Paterson and Walton which paid dividend for Steve as he netted the only winning goal in 22 minutes after giving 110% off the blocks against his old club.

By all accounts, a much improved performance. Though can you get worse than poor? Actually, with Argyle, yes you can. But the players have pulled their socks up (or had them pulled up for them) as they held out the early lead that can go astray all so easily.

So this Saturday sees a return to the red side of the Steel City. Stupid really. Lets hope the 4 journeys do not have an adverse affect.

Saturday, 25 October 2008

Appallingly Bad Foul Play

Plymouth Argyle 1 (Cathcart 80) - 3 Ipswich Town (Garvan 28, Garvan 41, Lisbie 48)

There is very little positive to be taken from today's woeful game verses Ipswich save for a few individual performances. Sturrock's faithful (save for one enforced change because Fallon is injured meaning McNamee got a start) were tired and stale in a very poor performance, and Ipswich, knowing what they were getting, took full advantage. The only saving grace being Cathcart's 80th too little too late goal. Couple the team's inadequacies with bad officiating and you have a wasted afternoon at Home Park and 3 lost points in a yo-yo league.

The referee managed to hand out 11 yellow cards and convert another to a red (to David Norris - karma not his best friend) in a stop start, 90 minutes of cluelessness. Oh and a was it or wasn't it penalty. It wasn't, apparently. Argyle were on the offensive from kick off and missed two fairly easy goals but once they were 1-0 down all hope evaporated as goal 2 and 3 came. Few saw Argyle getting anything on the scoresheet as it could have so easily been 4,5..-0.

So what now? Sturrock says time for freshness and about bloody time too, he hopefully in a
roundabout way be saying that he pushed his faithful too far . Ipswich were the football team and Ipswich went home happy. Next week is the turn of the two Sheffields, unusually both away, but they might not have the referee to distract from their performance then.

Wednesday, 22 October 2008

Or Maybe you Can

Plymouth Argyle 1 (Fallon 18) - 0 Preston North End

Preston CrestAfter losing at Derby, Argyle replied with a very scrappy and nail biting win verses Preston. Sturrock kept faithful to the predictable starting 11, but cracks are starting show. Some will say that a win is a win is a win and that there should never be any negativity. But there is always room for improvement. If the team are looking tired then substitutions are needed, but none were forthcoming except for Fallon's injury which might see him out come Saturday. Preston were always in with a chance and came very close many times save for Larrieu's keeping skills, and they had these chances because there was plenty of poor passing and possession all over the field. With games coming in quick succession now, there needs to be some freshening of legs, but it's a huge gamble to make: a win and your fine, a loss and you're head's on the block.


On another Home Park witnesses a bizarre account of officiating with referees and assistants who were clearly confused by this 'football officiating' business. The guys in black were inconsistent throughout the game especially with fouls - near identical offences warranting a host of different outcomes, and an assistant who couldn't tell when a ball was in touch or not. Maybe they were all upset at being told to get off the pitch by one of the groundskeepers during their pre-match inspection.

Update: Apparently Fallon's fine. So we all know the team for Saturday.

Monday, 20 October 2008

You Can't Win Them All

Derby County 2 (Hulse 45, Green 52) - 1 Plymouth Argyle (Gallagher 8)

By all accounts a good solid display with an out of sorts scoreline that doesn't do justice. Aside from a short wobbly period Argyle had a solid game starting well with Gallagher's "wonder goal" off his left foot after just 8 minutes. And 1 goal advantages are not Argyle's speciality. And conceding early goals just gives you time to come back. It's no surprise that the wobbly period happened when Derby, skippered by ex-Green Connolly, scored twice to take all 3 points.

But Derby did have an advantage. They knew what was coming. As I said in my previous post, Derby had 2 weeks to study everything to do with Argyle while Luggy could only fiddle at training. The exact same team ran out at Pride Park that had run out the last 5 games and Derby probably knew who, what, where, how and what sized underpants. Though the Argyle goal probably just served to put their backs up and caught them off guard especially as it was scored from outside the penalty area.

But as the old adage goes, you can't win them all. But not winning in this league has a big impact. Argyle have fallen from 5th to 13th as quickly as they climbed from 24th to 5th. Is it time for a refresh in the team this Tuesday? But then again, what really are the options?

Friday, 17 October 2008

Idiot's Guide to Playing Plymouth Argyle

On the eve of the next league game (verses Derby County) we all wonder who Sturrock will field at Pride Park. Will he stick to his tried and tested formula or go for something different. Most will say if it ain't broke don't fix it. But the trouble with tried and tested is that it can be awfully predictable. If Larrieu, Doumbe, Cathcart, Seip, Barker, Mackie, Duguid, Summerfield, Clark, Gallagher and Fallon always play then other managers will know what's coming. The 'Idiot's Guide to Playing Plymouth Argyle' will soon be flying around Championship Clubs up and down England and Wales. There has to be some sort of element of surprise surely?

Sunday, 12 October 2008

Gooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!

If you want to join in the goal music at Home Park here are the lyrics

Ilari, ilari, ilarie,
O-o-o
Ilari, ilari, ilarie,
O-o-o
Ilari, ilari, ilarie,
O-o-o
É a turma da xuxa que vai dando seu alo


in your best Spanish accent of course. Simple really once you know.

Now, this begs the question as to why we have goal music. Quite simple probably because it's friendly, it's American after all and anything they go is so the customer 'has a nice day'. The days when a crowd would cheer a goal are gone for now because we need to inject a certain amount of holiday camp campness into football so it appeals to the family demographic, and be honest were you not happiest when you were at Butlins or Pontins (other holiday centres are available) or a wedding and the DJ would put on Music Man or Superman and the whole dance floor would fill and your gran would struggle to keep up? Fast forward through Saturday Night and the Macarena into the 2000s with The Ketchup Song and Tragedy. Did they not make you smile? Or go hideously wrong? In fact what has been distinctly lacking recently is a summer hit cheesy song with actions. Probably because people have changed and unless you are forced by a Redcoat or bladdered in Ibiza no one does that anymore.

So why do we have to at football? Because we have to. Short of every supporter snipping the PA system's wires the powers that be believe that supporters are incapable of making atmosphere. And again if you're honest, when the crowds are low and the team play crap, Home Park is very lacking. Sometimes even being 4-0 up does little to raise more than a murmur. Maybe the solution is to have an experimental no-music day and see what happens. If we're sat in silence twiddling our thumbs and drinking Bovril. You'd only have yourself to blame.

And why Ilarie? It was played at the Beijing Olympics apparently. At the swimming

Wednesday, 8 October 2008

MacLean told to Shove Off

Or more politely told that he is able to seek employment elsewhere just 5 months after his then record breaking club signing of £500,000.
So victim #1 of Sturrock's way/budget balancing, who else will follow him out of the door?
Another waste of time, effort and money. It's very unlikely that £500,000 and his wages since will be recouped significantly.

We're on a Break!

Not much happening as league football has to take an international break.
So plenty of time to start knitting all those extra clothes to save fuel bills this winter.

Monday, 6 October 2008

McCormick Sentenced

Luke McCormick has been sentenced for 7 years and 4 months after pleading guilty to driving under the influence and causing 2 deaths by dangerous driving earlier this year. McCormick was twice over the legal limit when the landrover he was driving crashed into a car killing two children and severely injuring the driver. McCormick left Argyle this summer though mutual consent.

McCormick's case has caused consternation throughout the country and many will say, and have already said, that this sentence is not justice enough for what he has done - although the relatives are "pleased" with the verdict but not his eligibility for parole after 3 years and that Luke will still be a relatively young when released. McCormick has wasted 4 lives through his actions and will probably never recover - if he survives his imprisonment.

Sunday, 5 October 2008

You've been Tango'd

Plymouth Argyle 4 (Beevers 15 og, Gallagher 25, Mackie 29, Seip 89) - 0 Sheffield Wednesday

Hee hee, happy days. Argyle in shock 4-0 win puts them 5th in the table. I don't think anyone expected such a drubbing of one of Sturrock's former clubs yesterday. And he showed no live lost for his former tenure.

Once again the winning formula was put out - the same team, the same Blackley in the dugout. A win. And this time with no reply from the opposition. Home Park witnessed 3 goals in 15 minutes with the first coming 15 minutes into the game when Wednesday made the biggest mistake of the whole game and Beevers accidentally put the ball into his own net and at the same time putting the Owls on the back foot. Argyle seized this luck like a gift from God and replied with Gallagher tapping in the delivery from Mackie immediately followed by Mackie bagging his own effort. 3-0 going into the break.

As discovered at Ashton Gate and Selhurt Park half time makes or breaks the game, but even though Wednesday now could argue they had the advantage of the very difficult weather conditions they could only galvanise a short period of attack to put Larrieu under some pressure, who once again remained resolute between the sticks. This once again did lead Argyle to do their usual performance when leading and defend deep leaving them vulnerable. But thankfully this time they did not crumble. Although the game was effectively over Seip decided to grap a bit of attention by netting the 4th and final goal to send the Owls away well and truly shot down. And in someways the club did Tangoman a big favour by banning him for his antics last season - not least he would have froze his nads off if he had gone topless.

Wednesday, 1 October 2008

2 Points Lost or Take the Draw

Bristol City 2 (Akinde 63, Nobel 88) - 2 Plymouth Argyle (Mackie 6, Fallon 18)

A division of opinion over this result, did Argyle lose 2 points or should we be happy with the draw? After the second half performance of City and the scoreline turning 2-2, some have cited that 'we would have taken a draw before the game', whilst others believe that after the strong Argyle first half performance they fecked up and threw away 2 good points. And indeed the Turnips fans certainly agreed that it was a case of 2 points lost with their '2-0 and you fecked it up' chant.


So, what went wrong? Sturrock kept faithful to his winning formula with just one change on the bench with Noone replaced by Paterson. And it paid off immediately with 2 goals within the first 20 minutes from Mackie picking up the ball from Seip, followed by Fallon's 10 yard volley. Going into the break Argyle were well ahead in gameplay and seemed to have it sewn up, but pride does come before a fall and half time is probably the most crucial 20 minutes ever in a football match because this is when games are really won and lost. And it was Bristol who capitalised on this after what must have been a very blue-aired dressing room, the Robins ran out on to the pitch with new found confidence and took over the field and control of the game. Argyle were being held to ransom and it was probably inevitable that they would get a goal back. But not two.

Sturrock's team again tired very easily under the attack and heads began to drop, tempers flared and mistakes were made. And substitutes were made. Ineffective substitutes were made. Again, whilst the opposition took full use of their subs and changed the game, Sturrock made some forced changes because of tiredness that really did not do anything to the team's momentum. The fact that we have professional players who cannot stand a 90 odd minute game is very worrying. What is more worrying is that we cannot make full use of our small squad because of fitness, personal clashes and poor form. On top of that some players have to leave. Not a good situation.

But Argyle do remain unbeaten in 4 games, which considering what has come before is a huge achievement and they remain in the top half of the table in 12th position.

Monday, 29 September 2008

Oi! Dorset, give us our Flag back!

This September, the people of Dorset voted for a new county flag:

Dorset County Flag

Cunningly though they've changed some of the colours so we wouldn't notice.
Bloody cheek really .

Saturday, 27 September 2008

Deforestation

Plymouth Argyle 1 (Fallon 41) - 0 Nottingham Forest

90 odd minutes, one sending off and one dismissed penalty later Argyle had continued their winning streak by defeating Nottingham Forest at home - the first home win of the season. The winning side at Palace and Watford was changed only by a shuffle of the bench with Noone taking Easter's place after he left for Millwall this week. However, it was Rory Fallon not Gallagher who struck home the only goal of the game nearing half time, but the scoreline could have been so different. Forest's best chance went wide by a few centimetres as Larrieu missed the save that was certain to go in only to be intercepted with centimetres to go. Forest has a number of chances in the second half that were thwarted by Larrieu as they lost all the control that had seen them victoriously enter half time, meaning they had to slog out the rest of the game, compounded by Mackie hitting the bar.

Luggy again left most of the managing to Summerfield and the mysterious man in the dugout - now identified as team coach Blackley. Apparently this is due to a dodgy tummy, yet he was as inanimate at Palace. Is Sturrock taking a more back seat to management then? But even so the game was scrappy, and thankfully Forest were not that good. But the first win at Home Park has put Argyle in the top half of the table (12th) and blown away the dark clouds that have gathered this season and Bristol City awaits on the horizon.

Buy 1 Get One Get Another Game Half Price

If you purchase 1 ticket for either of the home fixtures verses Preston North End (Tue 21 Oct) or Ipswich (Sat 25 Oct), you will be able to purchase a half price ticket for the other game.

Therefore purchasing 1 ticket for Preston will entitle you to half price entry to Ipswich and vice versa. A bit complicated, and who would really do it the other way round (ie plan to go to Ipswich game on a Saturday and suddenly decide to go to the Tuesday Preson game as well?) At least its a step in the right direction.

Offer News

Friday, 26 September 2008

Budgetting

Is the credit crunch hitting Argyle? Why does Luggy have to sell players before he can buy any more? How small was our budget this summer? OK, the club broke their signing record with twice with MacLean and Walton (who has so quickly fallen out of favour and looks more like a folly and a waste of money) but £500,000 and £750,000 respectively in the world of football is not that much money. And then there's bench warmer Mpenza rumoured to be on £10,000 a week. Are these players just sticking plasters brought in to heal the board-supporter-manager relationship that was in tatters over the last 6 months, and are already ready to be shipped out in January after not featuring in games and thus won't be seen as great losses? When the day comes that football does finally implode then maybe Argyle will stand tall above those clubs who have gone to the wall, but will that really happen? Until the time comes when every club tightens its belt and footballers are earning minimum wage, Argyle will always be seen as a tight club.

Monday, 22 September 2008

Funny, but Come On

Argyle's latest PR campaign is to produce a poster for each home game which is downloadable from the official website for supporters to print.

The Nottingham Forest effort:

Argyle-v-Forest


Which admittedly is quite funny, but come sweetie darling, on what sort of PR is this? A few posters are going to encourage the missing thousands? Even Eddie Monsoon could do better than that!

PG's Trips: Happy Days are Here Again

Crystal Palace 1 (McCarthy 85) - 2 Plymouth Argyle (Gallagher 28, 56)
Saturday 20 September
Selhurst Park

The Match

So our troubles have finally gone, the Greens are back and on the way up. At least away from home. Even so there are still a number of concerning points - like the "Argyle disease" of taking and defending corners - they can't do it. Simple. And this leads to a very tense finish to the games. Something that is so unnecessary.

In a reversal of recent events it was the Palace home crowd who left early and booed their team off the field. What a difference a week makes. Sturrock, aided and abetted strangely with Stapleton from the dugout, didn't make any changes to the winning team from Watford and paid dividend again. Though it does beg the question of what were the point of the making those million-pound signings and not playing them. A bit of a drain in resources. We've already been told that Sturrock has to sell to balance the books - so speculate that they'll be right out the door again in January. What a waste of time. And not to mention the speculation of the primadonna behaviour of the dressing room of these big egos. There's a lot we don't know and it doesn't help when fans speculate.

The Greens were placed under quite heavy pressure by the Eagles and Romain was challenged a fair few times but fortunately Palace were unable to find the net until the 85th minute when McCarthy was unchallenged in a poorly defended corner. At the other end of the pitch Gallagher provided the two winning goals in clean style. So what of the home form this Saturday? The optimistic fans have berated the fair-weathers for their pessimism and unbelief in King Luggy recently, but with Argyle you can never take anything for granted.

The Ground

Likable. The away 'end' is the end of the Arthur Waite stand which flanks one half of the pitch opposite the dugouts. It's a stand of many levels. The turnstiles are straight off the road onto an open concourse from which you are led down into the refreshment concourse and out into the seats. The front third are plastic bucket seats and the top remaining are older wooden seats. Get the wrong seat and you have a limited view - either cause the sun's too bright or the roof's too low or the pillar's too wide. The gents toilets are down some steps again and although large contain cubicles you have to fight your way out of - pick the wrong one and you're stuck until someone shoulders the door in for you! The refreshments have been 'motorway serviced' with a selection of outlets - the Express Cafe selling burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks with a very very small bar, Wimpy doing slightly more expensive burgers, hot dogs and soft drinks with no bar and The Pie Shop doing very expensive pies and pies.

Wednesday, 17 September 2008

Everything's going to be Alright

Everything's going to be ok. Hurrah! The Greens are going up! Vive la green wave!

Watford 1 (O'Toole 82) - 2 Plymouth Argyle (Duguid 30, Summerfield 70 pen)

Well we can all breathe a huge sigh of relief because Sturrock got out his broom, brushed aside 7 deadwood players and swept in a new regime leading to the first win of the season. Get out the flags and prepare the champagne for promotion.

Following his hard words on Saturday Sturrock made 7 changes to the squad namely Stack, MacLean, Walton, Easter, Puncheon, Barker and Folly out and Larrieu, Cathcart, Summerfield, Paterson, Fallon, Clark and Mackie in. Players who did not fit in with Sturrock's vision or attitude have been hoicked out and have to earn their way back. And it worked ... for now. There are still 6 months of the season to go and though it might have worked on a Tuesday night in Watford, doesn't mean it'll work again. But credit where it's due, he took a huge gamble and it paid off. But if his new signings and big monet players are to be left out and off loaded, then what was the point of signing them and wasting the money to start with?

To all accounts and purposes, Argyle played neat and tidily with the new line up and for once deserved a win with their two goals (nearly 3) coming from Duguid struck the ball off Fallon's wrong-facing pass. The second came courtesy of a penalty taken by Summerfield off a handball. Watford's consolation goal coming from bungled corner defending. Still something to work on. There's no love lost between the two sides.

Saturday, 13 September 2008

Out of Ideas

Plymouth Argyle 1 - 2 Norwich City

Hurrah a new wave of optimism swept through the Green Army after the recent signings and we were well on the road to recovery. Until 15.00 today. When Surrock ran out of ideas.

The lack of fitness of the new signings was made public but people didn't notice that none of the 'new wave' would be playing for much of today's game. So Luggy chose a player who has no intention of ever wearing a green shirt again to be the main strike force. To all intents and purposes the game was worse than the Swansea match - and that takes some beating. Nothing went well and Norwich should have won by 6 clear goals, add to that the Greens were playing with just 10 men following Timar's dismissal for two bookings.

What exactly happened over the last 2 weeks in training? Because it certainly didn't seem like much on the field, many players not even knowing who their team mates in green were. And Sturrock did nothing. It's as if he has no clue what to do to remedy the situation. Some people are calling for his sacking, and to be fair if he was any other manager the situation would be worse. Sturrock is lucky that he is still seen by many as Argyle's Saviour. But for how much longer? 2 games, once the new signings have played? Christmas, when the team has formed properly? Or on relegation? That's the trouble - some have unshakable belief in things coming good, others don't. Who will have the last laugh? One things for sure. Neither will back down.

Thursday, 11 September 2008

Yellow Peril

Don't park your car at Home Park!

Or else you risk a £70 fine, your car towed and 3 points on your licence.

Did you know that there's a 5 minute waiting time limit at Home Park? No? Neither did I. But apparently there is, and the police are out in force to patrol it.

Therefore only use a marked parking space from now on.

(
more)

Information Diarrhoea

After what seems like years of silence from Home Park the new initiative meeting last night released a huge bout of information diarrhoea from Paul Stapleton. In a nutshell, he spoke about:

The Redevelopment of the South Stand
Due to start in 2010 with the new planning application due to go in front of the planning department next year in collusion with a commercial partner. The 10.9 acre site could include 10 pin bowling, indoor tennis courts, conferencing and events facilities and retailing. (
more)

The Argyle Foundation
The new look youth development, named the Argyle Foundation, will see 2,500 (special season ticket holders) pay £117 a year to invest in youth development. In return for the £117 investors will be entered into prize draws with prizes of up to £10,000. (
more)

The Japanese Connection
Is due to turn up investment and players next year once their season finishes. The club is in daily contact with K&K and has viewed various DVDs of players. (
more)

Facilities
In addition, Harpers Park training ground is to be redeveloped in the near future.

So there we have it, a scheme to get more money out of already paying supporters to fund (almost individually!) youth players (but with the chance to win one of our fabulous prizes - cuddly toy?); a possibility that phase 2 (oops, Redevelopment of the South Stand because it doesn't include the corners) dependant upon various other developments and it getting through planning and past the Friends of Central Park's campaign to stop the Life Centre and any development in Central Park; and we maybe getting some Japanese players.

I can see why some people are jumping for joy, letting off fireworks and parading to Home Park on Saturday. I can see why some can't really get excited.


But at least for once, we know something

Wednesday, 10 September 2008

It's Not Our Fault Guv'nor

Paul Stapleton has released a statement today ahead of the "new initiative" tomorrow explaining the delicate balancing act he and the board have had to face over the last year. He states that since 2006 the club have spent £3.8 million on players and that the succession of record signings are evidence that the club lived up to the promise of 'having a go' at reaching the Premier League. Receipts from players totaled £5.4 million, but the excess has had to go to shoring up the falling gate numbers.

So there you have it - there is no money. It's all gone on players and various other unnamed expenditure blamed on the falling gate numbers. So perhaps you could technically say that it fans didn't stay away then there wouldn't need to be any balancing to do. It's all your fault really.


Again.

Saturday, 6 September 2008

One in One Out

Argyle operating a night club policy of one out one in?

Apparently because we've now 'over spent' by bringing in new players, old players will have to leave to balance the books. Why? Again it begs the question of what happened to the money from January and summer? How can there be a shortfall in the books?

Argyle to Axe Players

Tuesday, 2 September 2008

Last Minute (.com)

The transfer window slammed shut today with Argyle sneaking in a signing just before someone's fingers got trapped in the form of Emile Mpenza. Former Manchester City striker has joined the Greens on a one year contract after making 25 appearances last season in which he scored 5 goals. He also has 17 international games and 54 caps to his name.

The signing has been welcomed with flags and a palm-leaved highway by many of the Green Army as Mpenza should obviously boost the strike force of the squad, maybe it's just desperation after such a poor summer that a player of (perceived) quality has joined the team. Likewise the signing has gone far to placate concerns over the lack of goals and recent poor performances. Maybe though it's unfair to heap so many hopes onto one player and all eyes will now be on the next league game verses Norwich as week on Saturday.


Mpenza

Mpenza Pens Deal

Monday, 1 September 2008

New Loanees

As the (slightly extended) transfer window slams firmly shut until January, Argyle have brought in some last minute loanees namely Paul Gallagher and Nicolas Marin.

24 year old Gallagher is on a season long loan from Blackburn Rovers and made his debut verses Burnley (and got his first booking to boot) and likewise French midfielder Marin has come from the first division Sedan.

Anything to help build up such a weak squad is welcomed.

Ooh, What Could it Be?

A new initiative from Argyle to be announced on the 10th and 11th September, by invite only to green members.
Intriguing

At Least it wasn't a Loss

Burnley 0 - 0 Plymouth Argyle

A crucial game which might have decided the direction Argyle were taking this season ended in a no score-draw against fellow relegation zone 10 men Burnley. At least it wasn't a loss, ending the 70 odd years of losing at Turf Moor. But on the other hand it wasn't a win yet and there hasn't been a (recognised) goal for 3 games.


Sturrock's fetish for chopping and changing the team continued as same-day loanee, Gallagher, was included straight away in the squad, almost rivalling the 12:10 signing for last-minuteness. In all accounts it was a better performance from the Greens, though it could hardly get worse than the Swansea game, but even so they couldn't get a goal against a 10-man Burnley. But a point is a point, even if it does nothing much to the league table. Now there's another 2 weeks off before the next league game for some magic to happen.

So glad I didn't make the trip north anyway.

Friday, 29 August 2008

One Step Backwards, Two Forwards?

The speculation about Argyle's ambition has been rife for the last few years but recently it has taken a hard knocking. There seems to be a feeling that rather than being an established Coca Cola Championship club, the board would rather Argyle were a successful League One club. Surely this cannot be right? The thinking behind it is that the success of winning the (then) Third and Second Leagues in quick succession generated loads of interest in the club and high gate prices and thus people were riding the crest of the feelgood wave. And it can be replicated again.

But there's a flaw. In fact several.
1. Relegated clubs do not always do well, there could well be an exodus of players, leaving yet another decimated squad.
2. Relegation means that what extra fans the club had might not turn up.
3. The feeling of 'been there done that'. People have seen Argyle promoted and then stagnate - why should it be different next time around.

Therefore I do not believe that the board want Argyle to be relegated. And anyway if they do, they're bloody stupid. So what is the making of the current situation. Certainly the problems have been deeply ingrained for years and since Sturrock left first time, each subsequent manager has had problems with the frugality of the expenditure. But success was built in frugality so what has changed? Argyle have not moved with the times, football has become one huge megaglomerate money monster. It be anything in the game you must flash the cash. And Argyle have not done that. So far they've been surviving by the skin of their teeth. Sooner or later those teeth will drop out.

Monday, 25 August 2008

Easter to go

Circumstances that cannot be resolved at Plymouth mean that Jermaine Easter is to leave Argyle. Easter has fallen out of favour with supporters and to many will not be a great loss to the side, but we can hardly be letting any more players leave!

Official announcement

A load of Crap

Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Swansea City (Scotland 44)

Absolutely apalling. "The worst performance [I've] ever seen [...]" says Sturrock, "This is going to be a hard season." Not much to encourage anyone of the 8,500 people who did turn up to come again is there. Of course it could all just be a case of 'We wuz robbed' following D'Urso's ruling that disallowed the perfectly good equaliser. A goal that Sky Sports deemed perfectly reasonable (but surprise surprise Swansea manager Martinez agreed with the referee). But no one has trotted out such an excuse as there's a collective depression descended over the Green Army as Argyle are now in the relegation zone. But hey it's only been 3 matches, there's a whole season to go yet. Maybe it's just a dodgy start rather than a dodgy finish or a slip up in the middle.


Sturrock has made just one change from the team that lost 2-0 at Reading, with MacLean replacing Mackie in a team "still waiting to click" (Martinez). We'll be waiting a long time judging why their performance whilst the Swans majestically sailed through the game bagging their winning goal just before half time from Doumbe's misplaced pass.

Next week the Pilgrims travel to Burnley who must be putting out the flags to celebrate their traditional 3 points, as Argyle have not won there in recent years. Let's hope it won't be a case of crash and Burn-ley.

Monday, 18 August 2008

Reading between the Lines

Reading 2 (Sonko 13, 49) - 0 Plymouth Argyle

A shambles by all accounts and a double whammy of two near identical goals by the same player who wasn't in the squad last season. The prudency of resting some of the squad in the equally diabolical performance verses Luton obviously didn't help as there were 6 more changes to the squad that ran out at Kenilworth Road. It looks like such swapping will continue for the forseeable future as no one combination is working at the moment. To be fair Argyle did have some chance of scoring but never looked like really threatening the goal. So once again it looks like Argyle are back to normal business.

Saturday, 16 August 2008

Argyle sign Noone

20 year old Craig Noone [noon, not no one] has been signed by Argyle from Stockport County for yet another undisclosed fee in the region of £100,000.

So continuing the raid on lower leage (and in fact non league) clubs, Argyle are once again showing what they're really about.

High Noone

Wednesday, 13 August 2008

PG's Trips : Championship you're having a Laugh

Luton Town 2 (Jarvis 16, Plummer 78) - 0 Plymouth Argyle [CLC]
Kenilworth Road
Tuesday 13 August 2008

The Match

Oh how the league 2 -30 point fans taunted and oh how right they were. Outclassed and outplayed by a near non-league team. All the good work from Saturday undone. Not good enough.
Sturrock was never taking this match seriously, why bother with a silly little league cup when you're potentially going to be fighting for league survival. Well Luton cared. And cup runs bring in money. Oh I forgot we don't need any of that.
The first half was appalling play by Argyle formed from a combination of 1st and 2nd choice players, but the 2nd choice players really did nothing to show their worth. In fact neither did many of the 1st choices! And that's how it remained, Argyle strangers to the game except for a a brief stint in the second half following what must have been a half time bollocking. Argyle almost redeemed themselves when they found the net only to be disallowed for handball. Not a good night all round. What will Reading bring?

The Ground

Not changed at all. A strange and awkward ground built in people's backyards with the turnstiles and toilets in the front rooms of a terrace row, leading up past the bathrooms next door into a converted terrace with a low slung roof. Perfect for creating noise, if there was anything to create noise about. The seats are so close together you risk splaying your legs into the splits to fit. There are minimal facilities with up to 2 tea bars at either end of the terrace, and obstructed views all round. The pitch is totally enclosed by an odd assortment of stands including conservatory executive boxes down one flank (over which numerous balls are lost), a terrace so narrow it only has bus stop style seating down the other, and an added odd bit stuck up in one corner. It's great!

Sunday, 10 August 2008

Things always happen while you're away

Missing the signings of Walton, Barker and Cathcart just because I was away last week.
Typical innit.

Wolves at Home in the Rain

Plymouth Argyle 2 (Fallon 7, Seip 56) - 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Kightly 19, Vokes 78)

So the jitters of preseason were smashed by a strong thrilling opening game in the lashing rain. Especially as one of the starting XI, Chris Barker, signed at 11:50 the very same day. The conditions were appalling but the newly laid and drained pitch held up really well and so did both teams as there was very little between them at times, but it was Wolves who had to battle to come back both times with two easy goals, the second of which on review could be deemed to have been offside.
Sturrock dropped Timar and gave captaincy to Duguid, increasing rumours that the he wants to permanently give a new signing the skippership, likewise Larrieu was replaced by Stack in goal and the two new signings, Walton and Barker were given pride of place on the pitch. A gamble that paid off as they more than held their own apart from the defencive problems that led to both equalisers. And they probably rue the many missed chances to increase the goal count.

Wednesday, 6 August 2008

Plymouth Argyle - the Definitive Guide for Away Fans

Who are we?

Plymouth Argyle, that's P-L-Y-M-O-U-T-H A-R-G-Y-L-E. Known as the Pilgrims or the Greens.

We are in Plymouth, Devon, the South West, you know the sticky out bit down the bottom left hand corner of the United Kingdom. The place that is not Portsmouth or Wales or France.

How to get here

If you're using prat-nav Home Park's post code is PL2 3DQ.

Travelling by car means finding the M5 south towards Exeter and continuing on the A38 towards Pymouth. When you pass the Welcome to Plymouth sign you need to turn off at the 3rd exit - Manadon Roundabout. Plymouth Argyle FC is signed from here if you get lost. After coming off the A38 take the second exit onto the A386. Continue ahead until you pass a petrol station on the right. The car park and ground are visible on the left.

By train, take any First Great Western, CrossCountry or South West Trains service travelling to or through Plymouth. When you exit the station, turn right and head out to the main road. Here you have a choice. Either turn right and head under the railway bridge and walk, or cross the road by the footbridge and catch a bus from the stop. If walking, cross straight over the roundabout at the bottom of the hill and head up the other side. A sign directs you to turn right into parkland, just follow this wide path straight ahead.

Club Contact details

Plymouth Argyle FC Ltd, Home Park, PLYMOUTH, PL2 3DQ

Box Office telephone number: 0845 338 7232

Box Office opening times: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm; Sat (non matchday): 10am - 3pm; Sat (matchday) 9am - 3pm & half hour after FT; Sun: 12pm - 3pm; Mon before Tue home game & Fri before Sat home game: 9am - 6pm(closed bank holidays)

Argyle Superstore telephone number: 01752 558292

Argyle Superstore (Home Park) opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm; Tue (matchday): 9am - 8.45pm; Sat (non matchday): 10am - 3pm; Sat (matchday): 9am - 3pm & 5pm - 5.30pm

Home Park

Home Park is effectively 2 separate grounds - the newer Devonport, Lyndhurst and Barn Park stands, and the original grandstand and Mayflower enclosure. Away fans are accommodated in the Barn Park end, which is at the farthest end from the car park. Access to this is to the left of the ground only.

The Box Office, Shop and Club Reception are located behind the Grandstand through the private and rough car park (if it rains, bring your wellies!). A trip to the Box Office and back to the away end necessitated a walk around the whole of the ground as there is no direct access between the Box Office and away end.

The away end generally serves alcohol (£3.00 for a bottle of Carlsberg), hot and cold beverages and hot and cold snacks. The club might choose to not serve alcohol depending on whether your support has a naughty following or not.

Depending on how many fans expected the seating may be unreserved, else the from row is row A, working to Y at the back. As you face the pitch, seat numbers get larger from right to left.

Expect stewarding to be quite strict - especially when standing for long periods of time (normally over 5 minutes). If you do not comply, expect to be ejected from the ground.

What to do beforehand?

If you arrive early you might wish to make the 20 minute walk (or bus ride) back into the city centre. Else the nearest pub to the ground is the Britannia Inn on the corner of the large road junction by the bus depot. The management are quite haphazard about whether they open or not on match days, especially afterwards. Facing the Britannia is the Embassy who sometimes allow away fans in. The alternatives are a fair walk away, either though the park to Mutley Plain straight across the junction by the Britannia towards Torpoint you will find Stoke at the top of the hill or back up towards Manadon Roundabout is the Cherry Tree pub.






Monday, 4 August 2008

Luggy in Trouble

For calling Dundee "Scumdee Bastards" when addressing the Arab Army after the game on Saturday

DUNDEE United legend Paul Sturrock has been caught on camera having a foul-mouthed swipe at his former team's arch rivals.
Ex-Scotland striker Luggy, who revealed last week he has Parkinson's disease, made the dig at Dundee FC at the weekend.
The Plymouth Argyle manager entertained his old club in a friendly match at Home Park on Saturday. He was captured on mobile phone footage being given a standing ovation by hundreds of United fans who stayed behind after their side's 1-0 victory.
As Arabs fans chanted, "Paul Sturrock f****** hates Dundee," their idol came on to the pitch from the dressing room with a microphone. The 51-year-old got rapturous applause as he told the crowd of around 200: "You've had a great season. "Make sure you beat those Scumdee b******* the next time you play them."
The jibe was recorded by a fan who posted it on a videosharing website YouTube.

From The Daily Record

How precious of them. Especially when compared with all the chants that get sung on the terraces including 'Sheep-shagger' remarks towards Clark from the Arabs. Or is it cause he's a manager. Wonder if Holloway had said the same, would it have been seen as so serious?

The offending video:


Meanwhile, some light relief:

Saturday, 2 August 2008

Streaker!

Plymouth Argyle 0 - 1 Dundee United (Sandaza 47)

The Arab army bring all the fun of the fair and go home with the goldfish and the giant cuddly toy after obviously taking tips from Yeovil Town by grabbing the goal during the traditional post half time snooze.

After some decision making by Luggy following the contrasting Yeovil and Truro games, he still went with what he considered his strongest team, but made more use of substitutions to allow more players a game. And it nearly worked as the two teams locked each other out during the first half. But the usual half time nap alarm clock had not gone off by the time the teams retook the field and United's Sandaza took advantage. However the lead obviously wasn't entertaining enough as a United fan decided to streak on the pitch. Incidentally why are streakers always the smallest endowed men? The Arab Army in fine voice with the alcohol singing throughout the game. And in some cases the alcohol being drunk throughout the game - do they not know the rules about no alcohol pitchside? Argyle's game fizzled out and limped home resulting in an epic half hour bollocking by Sturrock in the changing room as the real tangerines encamped themselves in the away stand and chanted his name until he finally came out and took their applause.

Thursday, 31 July 2008

Tickets, Please!

Get Away!

Supporters are now able to purchase away tickets on line with Argyle's e-ticketing, as well as home tickets. However Cup tickets are still not yet available on line.

Reading Ticket News

Sale Dates:
Green Members - Thursday, July 31
White Members - Monday, August 4
Pilgrim Members - Tuesday, August 5
General Sale - Wednesday, August 6

Price:
Adult - £23
Over 65's - £17
17 - 21 Year-Olds - £17
Under 17's - £12

Coach Travel (departs 09.30):
Adult Members - £20
Adult Non-Members - £23
Child Members - £18
Child Non-Members - £21

E-Ticketing

PG's Trips : I am Sorry that the 17.25 is running 35 mins late

Truro City 0 - 1 Plymouth Argyle (Easter 19) [PSF]
Treyew Road
Wednesday 30 July 2008


The Match

A much better and spirited performance compared to the previous night. A little worrying that Luggy believes the team he fielded verses Yeovil to have been his strongest XI. Maybe he should swap them over. There was a real friendly atmosphere about the place and with the capacious on tap alcohol, the football did seem to take a back seat for many people. Luggy wasn't in the dugout but watching from the terraces, leaving Kevin Summerfield to oversee the team's tactics.
Summerfield started with the basic 4-4-2 which, though basic, works and provided a strong start. Truro responded with pressure and caused Stack to make some good saves with the hosts probably playing the better football. However the goal came from some poor handling by City skipper which was taken advantage of by Fallon who passed it to Easter.

The Ground

About 20 minutes up hill from the station. Not much help if the train is delayed 35 minutes because someone decides to walk into a train at Exeter.
The ground is flanked on one side by temporary tiered uncovered seating, opposite a covered terrace. Behind the goals equally uncovered. The facilities are all at one end consisting of the club house and bar, and a walk-in tea hut. This being non league, alcohol is allowed on the terraces and home and away fans mix non segregated. Both of which are a novelty and add to the experience. During torrential rain, the lack of cover is not good.

Wednesday, 30 July 2008

Squad Numbers

The squad numbers for next season have been released:

1 Romain LARRIEU (gk)
2 Karl DUGUID
3 Jim PATERSON
5 Krisztián TIMÁR
6 CHRIS CLARK
7 Jason PUNCHEON
8 Yohann FOLLY
9 Steve MacLEAN
10 Jermaine EASTER
12 GREEN ARMY
13 Mathias KOUO-DOUMBE
14 Rory FALLON
16 David McNAMEE
18 Gary SAWYER
19 Marcel SEIP
20 Luke SUMMERFIELD
21 Graham STACK (gk)
24 Ashley BARNES
25 Jamie MACKIE
26 Yala BOLASIE
27 Lloyd SAXTON (gk)
28 Shane WHITE
29 Damien McCRORY
30 Dan SMITH

The only change being Easter who has moved from 36 to 10, along with promotion for White, McCrory and Saxon.