Just listened to Carl Fletcher being interviewed by Sparksy..............the man seemed clueless............he must of set a world record up of how many times you can say "ya know" in one interview. I tried to count them but I found it nearly impossible to keep up ya know. Funny really,but Argyle are unbeaten at home since Fletcher fell into the job,but it doesn't fill me with hope that things will improve enough to avoid relegation..........they are becoming detached at the bottom. When the buy-out is complete and players start getting regular wages will things change ? Listening to Fletcher the answer is no, how could a team be so flat coming out after the break after having a two goal lead against ten men. ? Fletchers answer to why things changed..........was that they had a manager who has been there a long time and had more experience........I missed out at least 3 or 4 "ya knows" in that sentence. Walton scored a good penalty..........but as a captain I don't know if he is up to the job. Please,please Mr Brent get the job done as soon as possible, so we can get new management and new players.......because this lot aren't going to win anything.
We couldn't wait for injury time to be announced and then left, crossed the road where the bus was waiting. I was home 10 past 5 and believe me I don't live near HP. There is only one word to describe it: Shocking! On the way home my son announced "I'm not watching that shower in the blue square"!
I feel sorry for all of you who went it must of been painful...........at least I don't have to endure being there.......but it damn well annoyed me.........as you can probably tell by my comments on more than one thread.
I agree that Fletcher doesn't come across well speaking. The more I see the more I think he isn't up to the job of manager BUT we do need him on the field playing, I hope he has continued training.
Let's not start having a go at people because of the way they speak or look. Football's not renowned for grammatical and oratorical standards generally, as anyone who's seen Jamie Redknapp, Glen Hoddle and Ray Wilkins on TV knows very well [or presumably knows very good according to Mr. Redknapp, who wouldn't know an adverb from an adjective if it fell on him from a great height]. More importantly, that was a dreadful result from 2-0 against 10 men. Presuming a deal is done soon and transfer dealing becomes at least possible, the right man needs to be committing the club to new players because things will be tight financially and if the right players aren't in place by the end of the January window, we're sunk. Three games is not much to judge on but failing to take advantage yesterday was not a good sign at all, even given the currently stretched squad.
I'm perhaps inclined to be more charitable than Plymborn. What struck me most about yesterday was how fragile the defence looked. I think the problem is Cole, he punches everything and doesn't inspire confidence. We started slowly but gained confidence from the penalty and going one up. Getting the second was good and I really thought three points were on their way. The second half was awful - no one wanted to take responsibility and the lack of an out and out striker was obvious. Lumping up ale-house balls to a midget and expecting him to win the header was just plain stupid. On the positive side, there was plenty of fighting spirit and some fantastic last-ditch tackling that eventually earned us a point. When we kept the ball on the deck and moved it quickly, we looked good - but that was for about five minutes out of the second forty five. The defence desperately needs a leader to organise things - at one point five men were running out and one going back to play them all on-side! So, a goal keeper, an experienced defender and a striker - or two - are needed. I'll reserve judgement on Fletcher's abilities for the present. Remember that the great Bobby Robson barely spoke a recognisable language.
Bobbie Robson was a real leader inspiring confidence in his players..........Fletcher is not the man for a club in total crisis.......it isn't fair on him with no management experience to be thrown in the deep end.
Face facts, we have no money, we are not an attractive proposition and we are lucky not to have been wound up and out of business. Fletcher is there and up for the challenge. You might try lending him your support. We are, as you say, a club in total crisis but we lack the wherewithal to buy our way out of it. That won't change with the takeover. Brent is not a Russian sugar-daddy. Hopefully he will bring some much needed stability and planning to the club. Put it this way. Fletcher has picked up four points in three games, which is better than peter Reid could manage with all his experience...
I think that is a little unfair mac, Fletcher has had the benefit of some terrific support from the green army and others who came out in force for his first two home matches in charge, yesterday Fletcher was very lucky to have picked up a point. For Fletcher's only away match he came away with nothing. He is needed on the pitch that much is obvious! It will all become clear if he is up to the job or not come Christmas.
I don't think any of us are clear why Sir Peter Reid left. What we are clear on is that Fletcher has stepped in as caretaker. It may be that that isn't a good move but he's doing what has been asked of him by the club and we should be grateful for that. If it turns out he's not a born manager, fair enough, but he was there when we needed him and any fault lies not with him but with those that asked him. So let's stick with him, he's doing what he can when he's already done more than it was reasonable to ask.
I really do not think discussing who should or should not be manager at this point in time will serve any purpose The truth is that Peter Reid had to assemble a squad who were willing to come to HP knowing they may or may not be paid. Any player worthy of playing in League 2 wasn't going to sign for us. So we've got a squad who quite frankly are the worst I've ever seen representing Argyle in the 48 years I've been going to HP . I'm not going to criticise them as they're looking for an opportunity and generally play their hearts out. But even the great Bill Shankley would struggle to get them off the bottom of this league. Until we are able to acquire some decent players again the manager cannot be judged. Having said that I still think that sticking with Reid may have made the club more attractive to potential new recruits. I know that Reid's results have been diabolical but it's not just since administration that he found his hands tied. We've been having to cut the wage bill ever since he joined the club.
That's the point I was trying to make! Plymborn, for all his .......... doesn't yet seem to twig that beggars can't be choosers. I wasn't having a pop at Peter Reid - why would anyone after his heroic efforts for us? The simple fact is that we aren't in a good place right now and anyone willing to give 100% gets my support. I know I expressed it badly but that was what I meant. Carl Fletcher may be inarticulate, inexperienced etc. BUT he is doing his best. Calling for his head is wrong as well as being pretty silly, given our present level of attractiveness. So let's a;ll get behind him and the team and hope for better days. Also, hope for Larrieu back in goal in place of Cole.
I agree Mac - Larrieu should be Captain and on the field, Cole lacks confidence when rushing out to claim, which led to both goals last match. Mind you now that Fletchers ban is done he will have the option to come on and stir things up. Had Fletcher said no do you think that Ridsdale would have hired another manager? I don't think so. The man stood up to help his club. We should give him a chance to find his rhythm.
Has Fletcher kept his fitness levels up, would he be able to come straight back in..........he has suggested that maybe he hasn't had time to manage and train...........the suit suggests that maybe he doesn't see himself as playing...........in that case Argyle would have got a poor deal. Larrieu should be playing he is far and away the better all-round goalkeeper,and then he could be captain instead of Walton.
I guess the default position is, it's hard to criticise someone in their job if they are'nt getting paid for their labours as they are entitled to.Peter Reid was sacked by Ridsdale purely on results-eight straight defeats.Fletcher in three games has drawn,won and lost,so the jury is still out,but obviously an improvement.The simple truth is it's mid October and we are already fighting a relegation battle to stay in the football league,right here and now I have more confidence in Fletcher winning a game than I did in Peter Reid towards the end of his tenure as manager.As we have said all too frequently over the past three seasons-the next few games will be critical for our survival.
I´m sorry but 4 points from 3 games and people are criticizing his vocabulary give the guy a break. 1 point from 9 games something had to change and it couldn´t be with the playing staff so it had to be at the management level. Yes he had a hard time and yes he operated under restraints but he didn´t get the results and it couldn´t go on like that. I think Sir Reid by the end was as run down by it all as the rest of the club and couldn´t see a way to change it and sorry if this offends some but if you are not part of the answer then you are part of the problem. Will always be a legend for me for his handling of this during the worst time in Argyles history but I think that he had to go. Now get behind Fletch and see what he can do. As for Saturday well with a bunch of youngsters like we have it is going to happen unfortunately but that is the lot we have and we have to live with it. Mac agree 100% on Cole bit I saw of him not at all impressed, couldn´t catch a cold, and with the inexperience we have at the back, especially if we lose King, we need an old head there. Last season our improved form coincided with a certain Frenchmans return.
Let me make this clear: I AM NOT critisizing Fletcher BUT I admit to having concernes not least because he is needed on the field more than for his managing abilities of which are unproven at this stage.
Like you Mrs lalala, I will back whoever is the manager and will always hope the results come with that. I think Fletcher has actually done reasonably well points wise which is all that is important in football. 4 points out of every 9 will see us safe if it can be maintained. I do however think that Fletcher's novice tag does show and it showed quite clearly on Saturday. People all around me were baying for him to change the line up and put on a more attacking force. He failed to do this and I think it was not the Accrington side that TOOK the initiative I think it was Argyle that GAVE it to them. They must have expected to be under the cosh but were never put there in half two. Not believing their luck they went for it and we were lucky they didn't succeed. This has led to criticism of Fletcher and doubt about his ability to manage. If you had witnessed the debacle then you also may have reservations. It doesn't mean people are baying for blood right now it just makes them nervous.
I said awhile back...............Accringtons manager must have thought that Christmas had come early when............Fletcher didn't change anything............reminds me of a rabbit caught in the headlights..........frozen.
