I've been bored out of my skull for most of this week. It's been raining and nothing much around to take my interest so am looking forward to tomorrow and hope not to be disappointed. Morecambe has great childhood memories for me. My dad was born across the bay from Morecambe and I went there as a kid quite a few times when we visited his family. That's where the sentiment ends mind and am looking for a good match and great Argyle result. A few scares this week mainly about Nelson and his reported broken ankle which wasn't. Think it will have to be a bit of a different line-up tomorrow but I have confidence in all of the players to fill the gaps. Roll on 3pm.
Oh dear...has the weather been that bad.....my son and his family rented a cottage during half term....just outside Tavistock.....they took their bikes with them....a few bike tracks around that way (Dartmoor way).....been wettish up this way but not enough to spoil the week....but enough to stop the washing from drying.
Your clock went back last week ours this weekend.. Hence I was up an hour early for the game not nice at 7am. Great game to listen too Argyle should have scored 5 or so.. Wish I were there..
Shortish match report because it doesn't need a longer one. Not just a justified 3 points, but also a performance that absolutely merited it. After the opening 10 mins in a very warm (hot) home park that effectively put the game to bed, the only question was how many we would end up with. With the continued absence of Reuben, Brunty led the line but it was Carey who cut inside from the right and curled a sublime shot past the motionless Barry Roche. 10 mins later Tanner did something similar and it was 2-0 and pretty much game over. Morecambe huffed and puffed but was Argyle who played all the football and luke had little to do. Second half was even more one way with wave after wave of slick passing attacking football. Only a combination of average finishing and some outstanding saves by the Morecambe MOTM kept the score to 2 when it could easily have been 5 or 6. Everyone played well, Nelse was the sponsor's MOTM but for me it was probably Carey with Mchugh and Tanner also outstanding. Ref was poor and there were a few worrying knocks to Hartley, Jarvis and Boateng although Derek Adams has said they are all ok. 5 points clear of 2nd and 26 clear of the relegation zone- we will be mathematically safe by Christmas at this rate!.
Oh and I forgot to mention that with 5 wins out of 6 and nine scored against 3 conceded, Derek Adams must be nailed on for manager of the month.
Impressive from Argyle....Morecambe's away record of 17 goals came to an halt with a big fat zero today.....a triumph for the best defence in the league. Also 11 wins out of 16 games is 3 better than anyone else in this league....bettered by no other team in England either. What else needs to be said.....Reid out still but we have coped without him......Wylde supposed to have picked up a knock in training....but we march on. Unfortunately the problem is we're drawing attention to ourselves.....our players and of course our manager.....we need to hold on to them all if possible.
Yep its all going well. With the players and Manager on other clubs radar, not a lot we can do about that but just keep going forward.. I am not worried about that, they have to get them first. Will they be better off moving away mid season... NO. Plym when are the Dag tickets on sale? Will you be in the away end? I cant see them on sale as yet here..
Disappointment of the day was the scoreline. As said above it flattered Morecambe and this was the first game in a long time I can say we never looked in danger at anytime. I was so confident of the win I left my scarf in my pocket. Boy wasn't it bloody warm today. I went thinking it would cool down quick enough but not to be and I was cooking. Two great goals again and so well deserved. It's all been said in a very small write up and there isn't anything to add really. On another day with Reid fit we would have gone into orbit score wise I think. Brunt put in so much effort it's hard to criticise him but he lacks pace and his control and finishing leaves a bit to be desired. I can't believe it was only 2 - 0 in the end. I commented on the Ref halfway through the first half to say I thought he and his co-horts were doing ok. For a lot of the game I thought he was ok but boy when he got stuff wrong he did it royally. Don't know about you others who were there today but I thought we should have had one nailed on penalty when Jervis was brought down. If the Ref had given it he would have had to Red the defender. I think he bottled it and the lino stood there motionless like all good linos do always. Great great team performance today from them all. Not sure how Wylde got injured managing to get a knock, he normally doesn't go near enough to anyone to be kicked.
It's the 1st November today so according to my previous prognostications, the league table is now officially meaningful. Plus points: 5 points clear at the top of the division. 5 wins out of last 6 played. More wins than anyone else (as noted by Plymborn). Best goal difference in League 2. We have 3 players in the top 15 scorers in this division. Other than us, only Morecombe have more than one. Both of their two started yesterday but we sent them home goalless. The above has been achieved despite Reuben Reid being unavailable for a number of games. We have the Player of the Month, surely Manager of the Month and the best goalkeeper in the Football League. The Argyle Angels have moved on. Semper Fedelis is back. We are the only club in the league with an inflatable reggae banana. Points to moan about: One club in the English league, supposedly called Manchester City, have a better goal difference than us. Sack the manager. Two of the players Adams has signed have beards. Can we now cease to be downhearted?
The trouble is notdistant, it is burnt into the Argyle fan psychy to be downhearted even when things are wonderful. It stems from being let down so many times just when you either think it's going well or can't get any worse. There is something about this group of players it's true which lends one to think it isn't going to fall apart. The Manager adds to that by his deeds and words. We need to get past January before we start to crow loudly. It's true that January could spell disaster for us if the carcus pickers come calling. We could be safe by then but that isn't really the object of the expectation. I will try to be happier just to please you though.
We will be safe. But we need to go up. or that is the failure. Yes we will probably get bids for some players? but why will they go to a team in our league or the one Higher? As if they all stay together we will be in the higher league. hope fully. I don't see the wheels coming off this time. Brent need's to turn offers away unless they are unreal.
But that's part of the Argyle supporters depression Joe. Whether the owner will withstand the offers if they come. You know my opinion of Brent and his grasping of banknotes when waved. I wish I could be confident he would tell whoever to do one. It would also be nice to see or hear about extention offers to some of these players. Show the supporters the intention if nothing else. I think if the ass falls out of this season then Brent will live to count the cost because a whole load of numbers will stay away if it's the clubs fault. The goodwill shown has been outstanding for a lot of time now but throw it away and people will soon lose whatever heart they have had.
I was just being a bit provocative Sensible! You are right; it's too early to think we're certainties for promotion. Injuries and suspensions in a small squad could hit us badly, the style of football may not work as well on heavy away pitches in the depths of winter, loan players may not be retained, contracted players may get seduced away... even the manager. Adams has been trying to dampen expectations with his comments about bigger budgets at other clubs and describing us as "over-performing" and that's sensible I think. However, 5 points clear at the top at the start of November: we'd have taken that all day long back in the summer when we were managerless wouldn't we?
I would have taken being in the top three in any position and a number of points behind those on top let alone us having points in hand. I have to say whilst I was hopeful of this being a good season before it started I never for a minute expected what has happened so far. I think Adams says and does a lot of right things and everything seems to be going for him up to now. If the tide turns a bit and starts to go wrong for a while it remains to be seen how he will cope with that but I think he will succeed here. We have had injuries and it hasn't derailed us even though the players out have been important ones. Small squad but good in the depth we have. After the last 5 years though with everything that has happened here it isn't surprising a lot are damping their powder and not getting carried away. When you have been where we have it almost seems certain something else will fall out of the sky. It will take a bit of time for that feeling to go away and for people to accept this is real.
