Reflections on a very difficult season can in my mind be summoned up in two words.....MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Five seasons ago an Argyle supporter who being told that coming 21st in Div 2 in 2011/12 was mission accomplished would have hunted for his Football Almanac and discovered that this is the worst season ever in PAFC's history for a league finishing position. We gave the rest of the league roughly a quarter of a season start and survived with two games still to play,although in the end by only two points plus superior goal difference. The results in the second half of the season were due to a very good defence,which off-set our lack of goal scoring potential. There is no doubt that that was down to the pairing of Darren Purse and Maxine Blanchard, Purse a proven tough man at central defence and Blanchard who's career had hit the buffers and was contemplating giving up football and returning home to France and getting an office job....a stroke of fortune for us........and our eventual player of the season (closely followed by Purse)......if that was Carl Fletchers doing, then that is the No1 success for him as an Manager. Goal scoring was a problem area all season and Walton a mid-fielder was top scorer because ot the amount of penalties we received.....missing only one. Loan players were an important requirement........a few came and went.....but some stayed the course with different degrees of success....Paul Bignot was promising but was mainly out of favour by the end of season........Juvhel Tsoumou (scored yesterday) was not always a first choice and had arms and legs that at times did not do what you expected...and certainly missed a few goals........Ashley Hemmings started as if he was Gods gift to us...but faded out a little by the seasons end......Alex MacDonald promised much,and looked too good for this league but didn't score the goals we were desperate for........they have now returned to their own clubs.....will we see any of them again.....who knows ?.........Big Steve Fletcher from Bournemouth spent six games with us and helped to steady the ship up front with his vast experience and guile......showing forewards half his age that it is not just wham bash that gets results. It looks likely that Carl Fletcher will be offered a new contract to manage Argyle next season......the only thing that could stop that would be a possible approach from Bournmouth........some at Home Park would be disappointed if that happens.....others would be pleased. Coming out of administration and having a new owner in James Brent are obviously the main plusses of the season....... also staying out of the Conference goes without saying as well. The retirement of Romain Larrieu is an end of an era........a good servant of the club,never complaining when other goalkeepers arrived and kept him on the bench......we will probably still see him regularly on the bench in his present role with the club........if of course Carl Fletcher stays. Who will take the last promotion place........I think it will be the winners of the Southend v Crewe match............Crewe unbeaten for 16 games will take some stopping.......who where the last team to beat them all those games ago.........Southend 1-0 Crewe.......a coincidence or not.....time will tell.
A fair analysis in my opinion Plym, for me it was a season of 2 halves. The first part of the season we were leaking goals although seemingly we had an experienced and popular manager but the turning point came when he left and Fletcher came in - who would've expected that!? Purse and Blanchard coming in was key in stopping the leakage of goals but we still have no striker who is actually famed for putting 'em away. Next season the fans will become bored with the defensive style of play should it continue so Fletcher (if he stays) needs to sort that out, James Brent has stated that money will be available to him and his aim is to get us back in the Championship - he must be aware of the cost involved with bringing in a decent striker and now that Larriou has called time on his playing career we will need another keeper, we also need to replace those whose contracts are up. In my view James Brent was the best guy for the job and him coming in was a definate plus for us and a huge part in out turnaround. It does look like we have sunk as low as we were gonna go (fingers crossed) so the only way is up now, it may be a slow process but as long as this is the direction we are going then I will be happy.
As much as it pains me to say this I can't argue too much with your post either plym. We were saved by the defence it's true rather than the forwards. We aren't going to have a huge warchest to play with next season as Brent has made it as clear as he can that he is not going to throw loads at the club. We should have one of the highest budgets for pay though so it might be possible to attract a couple up front who know how to put a ball away. It is in the midfield where I think we have most struggle. We need a creative player who can pick a pass and get into the box. No doubt we will get a few on loan players in. Not too bad a bunch in the second half of the season but none really set the world on fire apart maybe from MacDonald who I would sign tomorrow. With the right people around him he would score goals and I have no doubt about that. I liked Vassell out of the baby strikers and think he might come on but again needs the right supply. That's where you need the partnership. Old hand who can hold the ball and lay it off like good old Mickey Evans used to do. The young whipper snapper to tuck it away. Goal keeper is still a problem for me. Cole is a good shot stopper but he makes me cringe everytime a ball is put into the box in the air. Chenoweth is not the standby in my book. Larrieu is no longer a player so we can't call on him anymore. I just want a keeper who commands the 6 yards box and takes a cross. David James come on in but it won't happen. So 5 players for me. 2 up front, 2 in the middle and a keeper unless Cole learns some lessons and adds to his strengths. I think this is as low as we go now. I was hopeful at the start of the season which is always the case. That soon evaporated and in the end was pleased just to survive. No excuses next season if another struggle ensues. We should be better than a lot and relegation should never be a possibility. How high we go is another matter and I'm not about to start predicting that at this stage. I want to see them in action in anger again before forming any expectations. It's a lot less painful that way I've found.
