Right lets pretend the league is upside down now that it's matchday. Only just I know. Before I trot off to bed and dream of scoring (no not that scoring) the winner lets have some positivity today. Yes I know that's difficult in these lean times but I'm taking my new mascot to the match so I was told by my grandaughter. Yes her. She doesn't realise that if Argyle win she will have to go again mind you and wear the same clothes etc.
Well I hope she is the lucky charm we need Sensible, although I must say if she is talking and not been to Argyle yet you are mean Grandad My lad has maintained his position after the last game and will not be going, sad as it is 2 tickets going to waste!!! Last time I can remembering him missing a home match was about 13 years ago for chicken pox and that was only because he told his mum that Dad said he could go, wrath of the ex-wife again!!!!I know the old 6 pointer and a must win game is thrown around a lot but I think this is one of the biggest games for us in my lifetime. A loss and I just cannot see us surviving so everything crossed, praying to all Gods going, sacrificing the odd animal or two (gotta hedge your bets) and Nelson winner in 90+2 is the Mex prediction. Give them a big Come On U Greeeeeeens from me please mate.
........and they mustn't be washed either.......cos that would wash the luck away.....sit up wind of her sensible........her mum will disown her of course.....buy a strong deodorant spray for her before you return her.
Oh dear sensible.....how are you going to make sure she keeps coming.....big pocket money bribe maybe ?
Okay so a vital 3 points against a very poor Barnet side who enjoyed keeping possession at the back but showed little attacking threat. Good to see a world class player such as Edgar Davids at HP, but sadly he is a shadow of his former self and apart from a couple of moments, was too easily robbed of possession and played a few bad passes. Back to front;- J.Cole- fairly solid and pulled off a great save at the near post in the second half when the rest of the defence had abdicated all responsibility. Defence- usual sound display but Maxine Blanchard had a few shaky moments. Midfield- much improved - played well and pressed higher up the field esp in first half- also hunted better in pairs which allowed them to pick up more loose balls. Great strike from Connor H-something he is very capable of and could easily be in double figures most seasons. Banton quiet and needs needs to buy some boots that stop him falling over all the time. Gurrieri was outstanding-esp first half. Cox also quiet but fine. Reid- appalling- not sure what he is supposed to bring to the team, he doesn't close down, doesn't score goals, doesn't hold the ball up and doesn't play in other players. Body language awful and it is always someone else's fault. Never thought I would say this but would rather have Chadwick than Reid- whilst he may be equally ineffective at least he tries and looks like he wants to win. Murray, marginally better than Reid but not much (appreciate he scored but i could have put that in). Bottom line is 3 points in the first of my targeted matches. Not expecting anything Saturday or against Bradford on the Tuesday after but bring on Fleetwood which should be another bumper crowd with lots of the Armed Forces in attendance. Only need 5 from 11. COYGs PS for once a good performance from the ref and linos- no yellow cards either, which was surprising for such an important match.
Well here is a prime example of two people who saw the same spectacle and have a different view of things. Good job football is all about opinion. If I were to mark the players out of 10 I would give the entire side an 8. Yes there were better performances by some rather than others it was a sound team performance all around. It would be hard for me to pick a man of the match because nobody stood out as head and shoulders above but they all worked hard including Reid for me. If forced into a corner I would maybe give it to Hourahane. For the first 20 minutes there was only one team in this match and that was Argyle. I said to my mates that it is ok being so dominant but if you don't score then the advantage is lost and if it went on like this then I'd bet we would conceed one against the run. Sure enough we went behind. Complete travesty and a whole lot of poor marking and not taking charge of the ball when and where it mattered. Now, following this event it would be normal for Argyle to cave in and go to rats. But, they simply didn't and seemed to just carry on as before. It was justice that we equalised. Hourihane did really well. He picked up the ball just to the right of the area and cut inside. Went past a couple of players and curled a beauty with his left foot around the keeper and into the net. One of the better goals I've seen for a long time. Argyle continued to dominate for the rest of the half but mostly it was huff and puff. Barnet had set their stall out from the beginning. They rolled the ball out at the back every time and tried to play from there. Argyle originally let them do this but the crowd were giving them some stick about closing the defenders down and a lot quicker. They seemed to respond to this and made it very hard for Barnet for most of the game doing this. People give Reid stick but to be fair to the guy he chased and chased for the whole of the match he was on. He tried hard but he was not always given the backup he needed to do anything. Ok he had a couple of chances to score and looked a bit devoid of confidence when he fluffed them occasionally badly but you could not fault his committment and effort. Edgar Davids is still a class act in my opinion. He may be around 39 now but class is permanent. He still knows how to pass a ball and perhaps was made to lose out a few times by the lack of movement around him rather than anything else. You can see his influence in the Barnet way because they tried and tried to pass their way through or around Argyle all afternoon and never once, even when behind changed that. Having gone in at 1 - 1 at halftime I was waiting for the second Argyle team to come out for the second half. You know what I mean, Argyle never play both halves the same. Either good in the first or good in the second or terrible for both but never good in both. This time they were the same in the second as in the first. It was a comprehensive performance and they justified their winner. Bit surprised it was Murray who scored it because I thought he was maybe just about the least effective of the players throughout. But he did and everyone expected Argyle to go to rats once more. They didn't and the score line is now history. This was a good performance and contrary to lyndhurst's opinion I thought Barnet were nowhere near the worst side I've seen. They can pass the ball and keep it with Davids' influence being there for all to see. I actually thought this match was one of the most entertaining I have seen this season. Nothing like a relegation battle and it is beyond me once more how these players can put in such a competent performance like that and not repeat it over and over. If they did then we would not be looking down the barrel now. I am not going to get carried away as I said I wouldn't because I know from bitter experience that this may not be repeated next week. I still think we are deep in the mire. My grandaughter was bored sh*tless for most of the match. Not really into football and not likely to be so in the near future. She was happy until the crowd took off their seats after scoring but was not impressed by the noise the goal created. I kept teasing her throughout and got a couple of tellings off from dad. I don't think she will be going next time but maybe her presents will have broken the hoodoo anyway. Didn't even get a round in at the pub after just like her dad. I did try telling heer that she would have to go, dressed in exactly the same gear, to every match because Argyle had won but she wasn't that impressed with that suggestion. I will try blackmail but I suspect it won't cut it. I might have to threaten the Barbie dolls as a last resort.
Thanks lyndhurst & sensible for your match views.....interesting. I'm surprised Banton played so differently at home......maybe nursing that thigh injury from Tuesday.....probably more opportunities for him to play away from home.
interesting view sensible-i have certainly seen argyle play much better and lose and as for Barnet-they passed the ball well in their own half but I never thought they were much of a threat. I just thought it was all a bit dull-and have to totally disagree with you about Reid-i honestly thought he was playing musical statues for most of the match because I didn't see him move when he should have been chasing. Dont get me wrong, i very much enjoyed the 3 points, but as you say it just shows how two genuine supporters at the same game can come away with different opinions. anyway it is history, so onwards and upwards... .
As you say lyndhurst a welcome 3 points whatever the view. I admit Barnet did a lot of passing in their own half but they also picked a few in our's at times as well. As for Reid well we will have to beg to differ as you say. He didn't challenge the backs when the ball was being passed around some of the time but he was poughing a lone furrow up there most of the time and had he chased them all he would have been at a standstill by halftime. When he had company he chased. His touch in front of goal is sadly lacking however which does not endear him to the faithful. I was looking forward to Branton today having read the reports from Tuesday but for me he was not the player I was expecting. He wasn't terrible but he didn't take on the back that often or often enough and I wondered if he was carrying a knock. He did have 2 on him most of the time though which in itself can help the others.
On Tuesday Banton had pulled up before his goal,although I hadn't noticed. His goal celebration was rather over the top, so he might of aggravated it with his exuberance of the moment......when he got treatment they didn't hesitate to take him off straight away, so I was surprised that he was fit enough to start four days later. Reading your reports lyndhurst & sensible it seems that they started with one up front yesterday (is that correct)....whilst Tuesday with Ugwu playing it was two.
Just looking at the next few fixtures and they look tough but 6 points from the two at home (Bradford (12th) and Fleetwood (9th)) ought to be our best chances. I'm heartened (a bit) by yesterday, right result and a half decent performance. Not quite sure what Sheridan did to them after his remarks about poor performances at home, but he should keep it up. It would be just like Argyle to go and get something at Gillingham but more important is now being consistent at or improving on yesterday's performance.
Well I thought he would but my eldest folded and went in the end, he had no chance brainwashed from the crib.. call child services. Good points but still unconvincing against a very poor team was the feedback I got and as for Reid well sorry Sensible but ur lucky charm as bored as she was probably had a better take on him than you did..waste of space from the feedback I got. That is how many minutes without a goal? A couple of good assists over the time he has been here, I will give credit for that, but as for the striker we need never in a month of Sundays, another who flatters to deceive, if he is Sheridans kind of striker then bring back Fletcher!!!!! As for Houri another great goal. Why people are on his back I am not too sure, OK a few headless moments over the season but what the hell he is a young kid, captain(who else was there?) and should be still learning his trade not carrying a poor squad. Personally every time I have seen him play he has done OK and could be a great player in a good team. Still a way to go but 3 points gained and results around us went in our favour for once, still not convinced but perhaps there maybe light at the end of the tunnel.
I wasn't saying Reid was great mexijan just that he was being expected to chase like a pack of dogs most of the time and nobody would be able to do that. I can see why people might not be enamoured with him though because as said previously he ain't going to score loads. Lacks any confidence in front of goal. Barnet were not that poor a team. They came to do a job, get a point or nick a result which I think is why they passed it from the back and didn't mind playing it around there until they went one down. They are fairly competent with the ball and have a couple of decent players other than Davids. I will be a little surprised if they go down.
What do you think of our chances now then Sensible did you see enough to think we will get out of this mess?
I have been here so many times in the past few seasons mexijan that predicting which Argyle team will turn up has become impossible. Playing like they did yesterday and they will stand a half decent chance. Reverting to type and playing like they did in the previous home games then no chance at all. I really have to say that I just don't get these players. One match they can put in a very good performance and the next they are pityful. They clearly can play and it isn't as if it's because of the opposition letting them. What gets them up for one match and not for another is a mystery and it might just be to Sheridan as well. Maybe he should show them a video of this match before the next one just to prove to them that they don't have to panic. I refuse to get carried away this time despite the obvious improvement. I've been there done that and got several T shirts. I will reserve judgement until after the next couple but if you were judging on one game then it would probably be yes as an answer.
Interesting but feedback I got was average side, liked to keep the ball but not much else and if we were not so toothless going forward should have put them away with ease. Watched the highlights and fantastic goal from Houri great strike but the pull back and awareness made it. As for our other goal exactly what we have been missing for so long, bit of fortune but good build up and with pressure in the box got we deserved. As for theirs no comment... ok cannot help myself..... piss poor defending from about 5 players, midfield turned too easily, full back exposed but still should have done better, missed interception on the cross slide for goodness sake, then player coming from behind centre half NEVER lack of communication but apart from that unlucky Great save from Cole 2nd half but again we should have killed it off... the chance that PCH made, moved on by Houri then an extra touch when it should have been buried by????? Think it was Ugwhu but watching highlights on phone and no commentary, whoever it was is short of confidence/crap or Bhas(Could not score in a womens prison with a hand full of pardons) So if Barnet are too good to go down Sensible who do you see are the 2 who will? Still 3 points every game with an average performance I would happily take.
That is a bloody hard question mexijan. There could be any 2 from at least 6 teams and a lot will depend on the next 3 or 4 matches. If that doesn't sort out 2 favourites then it will be a complete toss up. The way things have gone for us it could easily be we are one of them. I'm not completely and utterly despondent just yet but I'm not tht confident either.
