You did well to miss this Sensible and I pray to all that’s holy that we won’t see any more of it. As a regular, when was the last time you heard the Devonport End boo an Argyle team? They did last night. It’s not something Is ever do and we stayed to see the players off, but thousands didn’t. One thing I was surprised to read is that even with the recent lack of preparation time, Argyle have been having two sessions between each game watching videos of the previous game and doing walking-pace re-enactments of key events so as to dissect each performance. That raises a few questions. Is it an overly academic approach? Whilst they’re young, these are after all full professionals, not a youth team. Or is it difficult in the absence of a full coaching team after the defections to Stoke? Does it erode confidence by focusing on the negative? Is it in fact wise to make wholesale tactical changes in mid-season when despite our defensive failings, we were at least consistently in mid-table? Or has it been just too wet to get out on the training pitch? I’m certainly not expecting a hosepipe ban next summer are you? There’s a lot of data that comes out of those little gizmos they wear between their shoulder blades. Do back-to-back games mean there too many kilometres in those legs to prevent extra hours “on the grass”? Lastly, am I reading far, far too much into an offhand remark in a press conference, as interpreted by a journalist? To avoid setting too many hares running, I’m sure I’ve seen the Red Arrrows pilots walking through display manoeuvres on the parade ground to fix in their minds where they would be relative to other aircraft (not in the vertical plane obviously). Also I heard Gary Neville berating some hapless defender for playing the opposition attack onside. He revealed that when the Wunderkinder trained, a strategically placed coach on the sidelines would randomly hold up a card bearing a number. If after the drill any player was unable to recall the number, then they hadn’t been looking across the line in the right way. He said they all got very good at running at full tilt while looking over their shoulders! There’s a lot that goes on in the professional game we don’t know about I’m sure!
I think there is a place for Houghton playing before young talent....needed an older head to settle this game down.....also Edwards brings leadership when on the pitch.....Adam Forshaw would have been a must for this game if fit....would have brought leadership....but injuries have maybe been the reason Leeds/ Norwich let him go. Mumba, Randell, Gyabi & Sousa had no control in mid-field.....and therefore Whittaker, Devine & Hardie where completely starved of any ball up front.
The second goal came in the 76th minute....and Edwards and Houghton both came on 3 minutes later....to late to be of any use....but of course we can all be clever using hindsight. What worries me is that WBA had a reasonably good away record....not as good as some maybe....and we had an above average home record with the most goals scored in the league recorded at Home Park. Yet at the end of the day our attack was totally impotent...not achieving even ONE shot on target....38 of our goals from a total of 51 have been at home.....what does that mean....to me that means no control in mid-field....and Foster waited until the 79th minute to do something about it....far to negative. Young players can be athletic and skilful....but at times an older head gets the job done.....are we playing to many youngsters together at the same time.....maybe. PS.....The only excitement in Plymouth yesterday was the discovery of a WW11 bomb in some ones garden.....pity it wasn't nearer Home Park...we might of had the game called off.
well , its correct in saying it was shocking, worse i have watched since the Pizza cup final. no passion tonight and no entertaining.. we need to start getting back to how we were, I hear some calling for the manager to go.. why so early. it was a difficult period to come into the job and lots of games .. Also hear he has fell out with joe edwards ? not sure how true but he doesnt seem to play and he has a good half in him, is Forshaw still out for a while ? Look forward to a reaction saturday and 3 points a must not a fortress at home now after the last week
