Carl Fletcher in his post match interviews seemed to be a little tetchy with a female reporter when asked why he took Gurrieri off at half-time. The reporter suggested that Gurrieri had been one of Argyle's best players in the first half, Fletcher's immediate response was to say "you must of been watching a different game", he followed that by saying that he wanted to change things around.....so on came a defender Williams who had been out for awhile with an injury and immediately picked up a booking. It was only later on after 66 minutes that he really changed things by bringing on Chadwick and Feeney, and then having two up front,Hourihane and Griffiths being the replaced players......Griffiths being the loan striker who had had no joy at all, who maybe could have benefitted from help up front. Sparksy and Webb commented their surprise as commentators that Gurrieri had been taken off for a defender. The PASOTI best player poll voted Purse & Gurrieri as joint top with Lennox just behind them,no one else really had acquired many votes. It is hard to understand how taking off Gurrieri at half-time, who was having a good game in mid-field and replacing him with a defender Williams would benefit the team being 1-0 down at the time. Why did Fletcher respond to the reporters observation that Gurrieri was having a good game by suggesting that he wasn't having a good game.......every one else thought that Gurrieri was doing alright....how does Fletcher not see what others could see ? Purse again proved his worth by having a solid game in defence, how can he not be central to Argyle's plans even if he is too expensive or is showing dissension to Fletchers way of running things.....with Blanchard picking up a red card, Purse is needed in the centre of defence even more.
Listening to the match on the radio Plymborn we couldn't understand the logic behind taking Gurrieri off as it seemed he was having a cracking game. It was the first time ever that I have heard Sparksy showing how he feels about what is going on up at Home Park, he normally tapers his comments. Chris Webb repeatedly stated that the fans deserved better than what they were getting at the moment, instead of towing the party line. Thank god we got a draw but after reading some of the comments on other sites from fans who were at the match, although the players at times played their hearts out we were dire and it was only down to the fact that Exeter missed a couple of sitters that we managed to get a point. I know that Brent isn't a footballing man but surely he must have someone close to him that is ! The other theme that ran through out Sparksy's commentary was about Purse being put on the transfer list, you could tell by his tone that he definately didn't understand the reasons behind that decision !
Lennox's contract runs out early new year........he was one of three players yesterday that had a good game.....although in Gurrieri's case only half a game. Fletcher was asked by one reporter what was happening there in regards keeping him or not.......Carl's answer was rather wishy washy.....if I was Lennox I wouldn't of been too impressed by Fletcher's response....although he can only be on peanuts for wages.....maybe Fletcher's response was to make sure that he (Lennox) didn't assume that he was a necessity and worth a better contract.
It was clear by Sparksy's comments that Fletcher really doesn't have a clue, everyone can see it except the person who counts - Brent.
The idea was presumably to move Bhasera up to left midfield from left back, a position from which he's done quite well in previous games. You have to let the manager manage and not pick on every individual selection. As you are fond of saying, only results matter. The fact is that in the second half we improved, recovered from 1-0 down to get an away draw against a top 6 side and over 90 minutes probably deserved at least that if not more. After a poor run, that's 4 points out of one at home and one away with a 6-pointer away on Saturday. Win that and we can begin to hope the worst is over. It's the same as Madjo. There's clearly an issue there: from Fletcher's comments he doesn't do enough when the other side have the ball. Most fans obsess about the front end of the formation but it's a team game. We aren't good enough to be carrying a passenger when defending.
I put a similar comment on a thread and was told, that by taking him off it changed the game.. Crap. Fletcher has no idea , taking off the best player. now purse had another good game. Seems like him and Brent have no idea. As for ward coming soon, he will be the same in my view. But what do us fans know! unless your Not distant we know nothing...
With Gurrieri on, we went 1-0 down. In the second half, with him off, we equalised. Purse is captain & senior centre-back and we're 15 games without a clean sheet. He's been put on the list as poor value for money after a run of poor performances and a 2nd madcap red card in 12 months. Suddenly, he's man of the match. I'm a simple soul Joe and try to form opinions on the basis of facts not blind prejudice but you join up the dots how you like.
You said it not me Distant. Was not Blind as everyone agrees he was our best player. He was taken off. i am sure Fletcher does not see it. Idiot. he needs to go quick. It was not taking him off that we scored it was after that the changes up front were made. You have your view and i have mine and mates at the game agreed with mine. Most fans want Fletcher out, even Sparksey and Webb were baffled by his decisions. But Brent must like him as he keeps him here.
It isn't a secret that I want Fletcher gone but even with that in mind I still like to be balanced with opinions and if credit is due to him then I do give it. Sometimes the decisions he makes are bizaar to the masses. I do not agree with the old cliche that they are the professionals and know much more than we the amateurs. I will concede that training players etc is the thing best left to them but watching a game and seeing what is happening does not take a rocket science degree. I have watched thousands of games and would like to think that I can spot a flaw when it is there. Not claiming to be an expert but then again not claiming to be stupid either. It seems that the only one who could see why the Argentinian was removed is Fletcher. I will agree that we went on to get a point out of it so it clearly wasn't a disaster decision. This substitution though is one of many that have had the crowd frowning. Sometimes in my opinion any manager is lucky in bringing somebody on and getting the right result. Chadwick in the last match is one example in that the decision was booed and then he scored to give us the points. Many though have done nothing in that respect. I simply cannot see what he is doing when he does it most of the time and I'm not alone in that. Mostly it hasn't worked out either so his record of turning games is poor to say the least. What the crowd can't see in this case is why take off what seems to be your most effective player and go what seems to be defensive when you are already losing. A point away at Exeter is a good result at the moment so the outcome was good in my book. As notdistant points out they are a promotion chasing side and we are fighting a rearguard action to stay in the league. That is reality of our position and if it was any other top 6/7 side than Exeter it would be seen as a result. Forget the rivalry thing because it is irrelevent. 4 points out of 6 in the last 2 matches is decent form. But, the doubts are that we will maintain it and those doubts are well founded given out previous. I am judging Fletcher on the season so far not one or two games in isolation. Hence why the jury is no longer out and has come back with a guilty verdict. The second "but" though is that I know Fletcher isn't going anywhere and there is no point in keeping on. Brent has decided and will continue to decide no matter what any of us say even if he is wrong in mosts opinion.
We didn't get a point yesterday Sensible because Fletcher subbed Gurrieri it was because Cureton missed two sitters !
Yes but that is all part of any normal game Gat. Chesterfield were played off the park by Argyle for almost 90 minutes. We missed chance after chance in that one and my mate commented that the game was just like the Chesterfield hammering of old but without the goals. We lost. Missing chances happens to every team. The fact is that we got a point after the substitution so that decision wasn't fatal. You have watched loads of games I'm sure where the best team hasn't won, I know I have. The record books show the score rather than who was best on the day and goals win prizes or points in this case. My criticism is that when losing it seems odd to change things by taking off the best player you have on the day and going to what appears defensive mode. It is that sort of thing that has people cringing even if the overall outcome wasn't a disaster. You do afterall have to remember we didn't lose which is the most important part of yesterday's match.
Exeter's home record before yesterdays match was worse than ours.....W3...D2...L5.....they are a poor home team. They are play off contenders purely because of their recent away form which reads...W7...D1...L3. Yesterday was probably our best chance of beating them this season. Fletcher bringing Williams on at half time....replacing a mid-fielder playing well (accept in Fletcher eyes) was total rubbish.....later bringing on two strikers (even though they were Chadwick & Feeney) changed the game in our favour......a win was possible. Cureton will probably not miss two sitters as easy as yesterdays again this season........so even with Exeter's poor home record we should of lost again....poor tactics by Fletcher have cost us so many points this season......most managers would have been replaced by now.....but not bomb-proof Fletcher.
It's no use expecting Distant to agree with the "Fletcher out" brigade - remember Fletch wears a suit
I wore my suit three times in the last year or so.......one wedding......two funerals.........should I wear it next March when I go to the Gillingham game. That of course could be compared with a funeral.....if Gillinghams push for promotion continues.
Football is about more than fancy footwork. It's also about winning the ball and keeping it. The comment that we'd have been 3-0 up if we'd had 2 strikers is daft. You might as well say you would have won the Lottery if you'd picked different numbers. Who's to say if we'd even have had the ball I don't know why he took Gurreiri off. I don't know why he isn't playing Madjo. I'm sure he has reasons to do with the defensive side of the game. I also know we got a good away point. I'm watching West Bromwich (4-5-1) playing West Ham (4-5-1). Earlier Spurs (4-4-2) played Swansea (4-5-1). Up until 2 weeks ago, Spurs were playing 4-5-1. Chelsea play 4-5-1. Man U play 4-5-1. Liverpool play 4-5-1. Arsenal, nobody knows.
If we had started with 2 Strikers we would have won Plym. As for bringing on a Defender at half time, it says it all about the Manager, 1- nil down , one striker and the best player on the park replaced for a defender. Well done fletcher. Brent most love him!! I made that comment distant about we would be 3 nil up and that is what i feel. I don't do the lotto so will never win that .. I think people in suits are Daft LALA and full of s h i t, look at the bankers, politicians and that @@@@ the administrator we had. Oh and Fletcher and Brent .
