No Reid tonight and still Brunt isn't in the team......a problem without Reid up front to nick a goal. Oxford deserved to be in the lead at half-time....but give Argyle credit they did come back into the game in the second half.....just lacking penetration and a more clinical finish. We are definately lacking another striker to cover for Reid.....over a season that could cost us promotion. Great finish by Stevenage at the end to get an equalizer and rob Portsmouth of two points....so the end result not to bad for us.
We are bound to lose some games no matter how well or badly we play. This was one of those you might be forgiven for not expecting much from. The next one will be hard as well but probably not quite as hard as this one. We have others in the side who can score not just Reid. You are always going to miss a 20+ striker though. I did note the Pompey result and thought it had ended 1 - 0 till I logged in again and saw it wasn't. Even though they are everyone's favourite to go up this season they have had their own fair share of luck previously with Ref decisions. Played 10 men a few times and had penalties given. I'm sort of disappointed tonight but then if Argyle don't win I always am. Not as much damage done to positions as might have been so onwards as they say and still all to play for,
Sounds like a little pressure developing regarding finance from Derek Adams, Before and after the match in interviews Adams mentioned that Oxford have a larger squad and financially that "they" are going for promotion this season.....suggesting that although we are a "larger" club in this Division we have restrictions until the new year. He has already said that he is still looking at Deniz Mehmet a goalkeeper.....BUT cannot do ANYTHING until the new year. Personally if McCormick, Carey or Reid spend too much time injured this season....I feel Adams will start to blow off regarding what are PAFC's expectations this season ....promotion or do we always balance the books first before new players are thought of. We undoubtedly have a thin squad, and we are only a quarter of the way into this season....and in two months time two of our first squad choices will be returning to their own clubs....can Adams hold on to them as well as strengthen his team for the long haul.....automatic promotion must be achieved this season....or he will lose key players come next summer,...... watch this space. Over to you Mr Brent.
I'd be annoyed - and surprised - if Adams did throw his toys out of the pram regarding the budget as it was pretty clear at the time of the appointment what the situation was and that was only 4 months ago. However, we do have a small squad and injuries and suspensions are going to have to be covered. Hopefully there's a contingency for that but unfortunately even if there are funds, it's not going to possible to replace the likes of Reid, Carey or McCormick like for like. Of all of them, McCormick is the one I'd least like to be without. Strange starting 11 last night, you'd have thought Brunt was the obvious choice although I did read that Oxford play a very narrow formation and perhaps Adams hoped there would be space for us on the flanks. I'm not sure we can be that confident when playing away at a team in the top 3. The task especially in the first half is surely to stop them playing rather than trying to be too clever by taking advantage of their style. At least Adams sticks to his principles and is aggressive, it will be exciting, maybe more than we'd like.
And another set of complaints from supporters about Wylde once more. He leaves the Back too exposed and does not take any pressure off by tackling back. This is becoming a bit of a theme now. Managers of the opposition will see this if he is in the starting 11 and will try to exploit it. You cannot keep putting him on the pitch and then look to sub him after 30 minutes every game. He is great going forward but doesn't appear to have a reverse gear.
We started with only McHugh in a holding role and suffered throughout the first half. In the second half we did better with McHugh and Simpson holding. That's the exactly the same as against Accrington when we got mullered in the first half but did better after McHugh came on. Wylde may not be the best defensively but it's that holding midfield area that's vital. If you go gung-ho all the time, you'll get caught out.
I felt brave in stating that about Wylde because there is now a growing band of people supporting the theory. Having said before that it seemed to be just me it clearly isn't. He is a luxury player who we might not be able to afford as time goes on.
Wylde is a luxury player just as Carey is. Neither like a tackle. Wylde makes chances and is always a threat. Wakefield of Accrington was booked for cynically bringing down Wylde in the 75th minute on the halfway line when otherwise he was long gone. He had the beating of their fullback all afternoon. It's about balance and we need McHugh every week.
We do have the makings of a good team.....the tinkering around with the team against Oxford was of course because of Reuben not being available.....maybe leaving Brunt on the bench sends a message to Brunt that he is very much on the periphery of this team.....can he up his game.......during pre-season he did quite well....scoring a few goals.....it is difficult to prove to the manager your potential when you are only a bit player.....he hasn't succeeded in doing that at present.....probably why he was on the bench and playing second fiddle to Jervis when Reid wasn't available......Reuben's fitness is essential to our promotion prospects......even when he isn't scoring he will tie up their defence more than any other player we have.
I'm not disputing Wylde's ability to go past a fullback and I've never said otherwise. But, in this day and age you cannot leave your own fullback exposed like he does. That is a liability not a luxury. How you can class Carey in the same way I just don't know. He has been instrumental in both scoring and laying on goals this season by harrassing and tackling players and winning the ball. Admit it's not a full on 50/50 type tackle but Wylde avoids contact at all cost. He shys away from one completely. Whilst the standard of passing football has improved in this league there is still a bit of blood and snotter stuff and you need players to both show skill and speed as well as getting stuck in when required. The returns from Wylde have not in my opinion justified his time on the pitch lately.
Surely we can afford to keep picking 'luxury' players whilst in the top three- that's the point. If we really go off the boil and start to struggle then it might be time to tighten things up bit. At the moment I would much rather see Wylde marauding down the wing and not defending, than a turgid team who struggle to create chances. Anyone still remember last season?
The way we have been sneaking results lately I'd rather see us change before we struggle even more. I don't want to see a "turgid" team as you are right we have seen enough of that but I still want to see a winning one. I'm beginning to feel sorry for Sawyer.
Horses for courses really. Away at Oxford is not the same as at home to Cambridge or Yeovil come December.
