I assume no one went to the match....did anyone listen to the whole match on the radio ? Listening to the GoS Bury goal recordings.....it comes over that Argyles defenders where lax at picking up attacking opposition players, who does the organizing at such times .....is it down to the captain Nelson....or do they all get involved and pick up those that are designated as their responsibility to mark.....whichever it is it obviously ain't being done very well.....looking at each other after the ball is in the net isn't good enough. Reading other comments, plus match thread comments online....it does seem that McHugh isn't good enough as a full back......with comments such as.....'the winger went past him as if he wasn't there'......must cause panic in the rest of the defence.....aren't mid-fielders tracking back to cover.....we know that that isn't Banton strongest suit would it have been his requirement ? Too many comments also regarding players playing out of their best positions.....assuming Sheridan knows their best positions ? Also the usual moany style of Sheridan being interviewed after the match.....surely doesn't enhance team unity......what's the betting that Tony Pulis could get the same group of players confidently doing their allotted jobs more efficiently......we will never have the chance of knowing. Four games into the season should be enough to decide who is performing adequately and who needs to be left on the bench.....and knowing what tactically works with this group of players or not.....this is where Sheridan should start to earn his crust.
Not the start we hoped for is it.... I totally agree that questions have to be asked of Sheridan. One minute it's 3:2:3:1:1, then it's 4:1:4:1, then it's 4:4:2. I know professionals should be able to adapt but this is League 2 not the Champions League. McHugh is a centre-back by trade and we'll have another Berry on our hands soon: repeatedly played out of position and then abused by the fans. Banton, who was a waste of space against Stevenage, looks to be right-footed to me, hence he keeps checking back rather than pushing on down the outside. Give him a run on the right if he's going to play with 2 strikers in the middle so Reid doesn't need support from Banton & Alessandra cutting in.
I haven't read any comments as yet from Sheridan but can almost guarantee they will be along the lines of "we teach them to do this or that and I have no idea why they don't do it on matchday". He never seems to have an idea why they defend so badly at times or lack passion or look dead on their feet or anything else. On the way out of the Stevenage match there were a number of dissenting voices who were loudly saying Sheridan should go. Not a lot of happy folk that's for sure. Thing is we all know it isn't going to happen unless Sheridan walks on his own and I doubt that. I didn't listen to the game on Saturday because I don't listen much these days. It depresses me and this one would have been no exception. Two nil down in 15 minutes doesn't make good listening. Team wise or rather play wise I think pretty much the same thing could have been written this time as per last match. If Argyle ever decide to actually play both halves positively instead of just 45 minutes then somebody is in for a roasting. As for Sheridan, I think he needs to sort out his best playing formula and a plan B.
