Tuesday night was, in clichéd terms, "just one of those days." In the morning, things looked promising; the sun was shining, and the weather was such that I could have ventured into my University campus in a t-shirt and shorts and not even felt midly chilly.
So following a rather uneventful day’s lectures, and an uneventful evening spent watching Hollyoaks and occasionally playing Football Manager, I made the short journey down to Whaddon Road.
This was my first experience of a match involving Millwall FC. Was their fans’ reputation deserved? If Cheltenham won would they start attacking the home support and vandalising cars? Would a Cheltenham defeat be better for my safety? As it was they remained perfectly well behaved, if not a little bit quiet, though only the hardcore fans would have relished a Tuesday night trip to the Westcountry.
Frustratingly Scott Brown – who surely must be fit by now – remained on the bench, with Andy Lindegaard, who still hasn't been totally convincing, on the left hand side. Ancient full backs Wright and Gill of course kept their places.
The first half was a game of few chances, and rather scrappy, similar to the Bournemouth game. It ended with Dave Bird breaking his nose. Despite carrying on for a few minutes, he was replaced at half time by Adam Connolly, who I was sure had gone out on loan by now. Despite being a free scoring central midfielder on my successful Cheltenham career on FIFA 08, Adam has struggled in the real world, but he was given a chance, and to be fair, he didn't do at all badly.
The goal came ten minutes into the second half, and was scored by Gary Alexander. I'm not sure how to describe the goal, but it was very scrappy, and very "League One" in execution. It will not feature in compilation videos in the future.
Scott Brown's appearance came much too late. Brown, a decent central midfielder, would probably have been a better bet than Connolly to replace Dave Bird. My belief however is that Keith Downing was saving Brown to replace Lindegaard or D'Agostino later in the game. In the end both wingers came off, to be replaced by Brown and cult hero Damien Spencer, who came on, ran about a bit, and nearly scored a header.
Not helping either was the referee. Any dubious offside decision was awarded in Millwall's favour, blatant fouls and handballs were missed, and Millwall's appalling timewasting – "Oh no! I've suffered a terrible injury! I'd best lie on the floor for ten minutes writhing in agony...oh wait it's just a stubbed toe." The man in black’s performance brought the usual cries of "How much are they paying you?" and as the game wore on, it became apparent that Cheltenham weren't going to score. And they didn't.
And thus what I hoped would be a great night became only an "alright" night, and Cheltenham must now look ahead to the game against Gillingham on Saturday, which, due to my dislike of the London Underground, I will probably not be attending.
JAMES LEWIS
Thursday 31 January 2008
Malpas plotting play-off push
It’s been a few weeks since I last reported on Swindon but I wanted time to tick by so I could give a fair assessment on new manager Maurice Malpas. Two own goals by Nottingham Forest a couple of weeks ago was probably not the way Malpas had hoped to seize his first win as new manager but none the less, a win is a win in football. This was undeniably a brilliant result for Swindon, who did superbly in staving off an equaliser.
The play-off push is a tight one, but one that is being accelerated with optimism. To date Town have remained stagnant mid-table. In tenth place with 39 points, we are currently tailgating a play-off place.
The FA Cup game versus Barnet was a frustrating match for Malpas. Billy Paynter scoring at both ends was followed by failure to break through a ten men Barnet for the winner, and the eventual disaster of four missed penalties.
Paynter’s spell of misfortune continued at Crewe last Saturday when he saw red for fouling Michael O’Connor. However, Malpas’s first away victory against Luton earlier this week took Swindon’s unbeaten run to ten games, thanks to Christian Roberts’ 52nd Minute goal. Unluckily for the opposition, their attempt in the 14th minute was declared offside.
Afterwards Malpas said: "I think the pleasing thing is we got three points and the manner in which we played to get them.
"It wasn't a pretty game but I think in the second half we showed more composure and scored our goal."
It is pleasing to note that new players Anthony McNamee and Moses Ashikodi, both from Watford, have joined STFC as Maurice’s first new signings. McNamee’s two-and-a-half-year deal was for an undisclosed fee. Striker Ashikodi is on loan until the end of this season.
Reading Striker Simon Cox has been in the news in Swindon a lot this week as well. His deal has been secured with STFC and he is expected to play against Northampton on Saturday. Meanwhile, Malpas has recently approached striker Lee Peacock and defender Miguel Comminges to extend their contracts. Peacock has agreed to a new contract with Swindon will now remain in the squad for at least another season until 2009.
So it seems that finally Swindon is setting anchor on both its possessions and its sights. It will be interesting to see if we can still achieve the play-offs in the remaining time of this season. To be honest I think it’s remarkable that we are in the great position now to be able to make these ambitions, considering the recent dark days as reported in my earlier posts.
Keeper Brezovan is staying until the end of the season. The team is taking shape with some quality players all fighting to wear the shirt. Truly exciting times for a more robust and stable Swindon. Malpas has impressed fans so far. Let’s hope this remains the case.
NEIL ROBINSON
The play-off push is a tight one, but one that is being accelerated with optimism. To date Town have remained stagnant mid-table. In tenth place with 39 points, we are currently tailgating a play-off place.
The FA Cup game versus Barnet was a frustrating match for Malpas. Billy Paynter scoring at both ends was followed by failure to break through a ten men Barnet for the winner, and the eventual disaster of four missed penalties.
Paynter’s spell of misfortune continued at Crewe last Saturday when he saw red for fouling Michael O’Connor. However, Malpas’s first away victory against Luton earlier this week took Swindon’s unbeaten run to ten games, thanks to Christian Roberts’ 52nd Minute goal. Unluckily for the opposition, their attempt in the 14th minute was declared offside.
Afterwards Malpas said: "I think the pleasing thing is we got three points and the manner in which we played to get them.
"It wasn't a pretty game but I think in the second half we showed more composure and scored our goal."
It is pleasing to note that new players Anthony McNamee and Moses Ashikodi, both from Watford, have joined STFC as Maurice’s first new signings. McNamee’s two-and-a-half-year deal was for an undisclosed fee. Striker Ashikodi is on loan until the end of this season.
Reading Striker Simon Cox has been in the news in Swindon a lot this week as well. His deal has been secured with STFC and he is expected to play against Northampton on Saturday. Meanwhile, Malpas has recently approached striker Lee Peacock and defender Miguel Comminges to extend their contracts. Peacock has agreed to a new contract with Swindon will now remain in the squad for at least another season until 2009.
So it seems that finally Swindon is setting anchor on both its possessions and its sights. It will be interesting to see if we can still achieve the play-offs in the remaining time of this season. To be honest I think it’s remarkable that we are in the great position now to be able to make these ambitions, considering the recent dark days as reported in my earlier posts.
Keeper Brezovan is staying until the end of the season. The team is taking shape with some quality players all fighting to wear the shirt. Truly exciting times for a more robust and stable Swindon. Malpas has impressed fans so far. Let’s hope this remains the case.
NEIL ROBINSON
Monday 28 January 2008
Pride at Pompey, intrigue at Ipswich
These are odd times at Plymouth Argyle, and I’m struggling to decide whether excitement or despondency is the appropriate attitude to take with regards to the remaining three months of the season. Perhaps tommorrow night’s play-off battle with Ipswich will provide us with some answers.
January must this far be regarded as a poor month for Argyle, with unrest in the dressing room, top players leaving, and a run of disappointing league results which has seen the Pilgrims drop from 5th to 11th. Indeed, we are without a league win in four matches, a run which stretches back to the Boxing Day victory over QPR, and Argyle’s last victory outside of Devon was the 1-0 success at Watford on December 15.
In addition, our two top scorers, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Barry Hayles, have been sold to Championship rivals Wolves and Leicester, with the third highest marksman, midfielder David Norris, looking likely to depart in the coming days – probably either to Leicester or tommorrow’s opponents.
The possibility of Norris heading to Suffolk seemed to increase with today’s announcement that he will take no part in the Ipswich tie. Paul Sturrock and the player have apparently come to this decision after much discussion at today’s training session, with Luggy saying:
"Disappointingly, there has been a lot of media coverage from a team that is very interested in David.
"I don’t think he would be mentally attuned to the tussle and I don’t think it would be fair of me to allow people to put the microscope on him. Every bad pass or mistake that he made would be highlighted."
This seems strange in some ways, given that the one thing rarely questioned of Norris is his unswerving commitment. It is still possible that he could remain with Argyle, but given his roots in Peterborough, within an hour of Ipswich, and his undoubted ambition to play top-flight football, the only way this will realistically happen is if the Tractor Boys cannot meet Argyle’s valuation. The situation is complicated by the sell-on clause negotiated by Bolton Wanderers when selling Norris to Argyle, which means they receive half of any fee. Even if Ipswich boss Jim Magilton caves in and offers a reasonable £2.5million, Plymouth would only collect £1.25m of the money.
Argyle’s hopes going into the trip to 8th-place Town have been further dashed by the injury to stalwart centre-half Marcel Seip, which also kept the Dutchman out of Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup Fourth Round loss at Portsmouth.
‘The Dockyard Derby’ defeat, although initially disappointing, may eventually be seen as a blessing. Chris Clark’s early debut goal gave Argyle a real chance of shocking their Premiership hosts, and the pride and positive media coverage garnered from an unjust cup exit should boost morale in players and supporters alike.
Clark, a versatile Scottish attacking midfielder signed from Aberdeen a fortnight ago to little acclaim from the Green Army, could be another Sturrock find, and his fellow transfer window signing Yoann Folly has a chance to prove himself tommorrow night, replacing Norris. His eye-catching cameo role in the home draw with Southampton last week promised much.
Indeed, Sturrock has been putting the £4million received for the four players sold in January to good use, picking up talented players for low fees. This is his blueprint; hungry, committed players, moulded into a tight-knit, effective unit with flashes of flair. Clark cost £200k, and strikers Jermaine Easter from Wycombe and Jamie Mackie from Exeter were £210k and £145k respectively. Folly was free from Sheffield Wedneday, and Hungarian international midfielder Gyorgy Sandor became the latest arrival last week, the 23-year-old joining on loan from Ujpest in a similar buy-later deal which previously secured Krisztian Timar and Peter Halmosi. The ‘cherry on the cake’, as Luggy would say, was the club record £500k capture of striker Steve McLean from Cardiff.
The quality obviously present in this collection suggests that, with or without Norris, Argyle’s personnel may actually be of a higher standard at the end of the transfer window than when it began. This assertion could be shored up with a couple more bargains. Leigh Bromby from Sheffield United is a reported £400,000 target, and with the right-back area an Argyle weakness for several years, he’d be a shrewd acquisition. Rumours also abound of a bid for Oldham’s highly-rated centre-half Neal Trotman, now a real possibility after their ejection from the FA Cup at the hands of Huddersfield.
And Sturrock has said he wants another striker – could this be Derek Riordan, the Celtic man Argyle (or, at least, the Green Army) have allegedly coveted for more than a year? Probably not, as Burnley are currently the only club known to have made a bid, and the Celts are keen to sign Clarets striker Kyle Lafferty, so a swap deal looks on the cards.
Sturrock has made a habit, unlike Magilton, of keeping most of his transfer targets quiet, information sometimes only surfacing hours before an official announcement. So there may be some surprises in the coming days.
The eventual denouement of all this is that, after a tough four weeks, Argyle can go into February full of optimism and with a squad who are capable of relaunching a play-off charge, despite the current five-point gap. Lose at Ipswich though, and that dream will feel some huge Massey Ferguson tyres roll it slowly into the dirt.
RICH PARTINGTON
January must this far be regarded as a poor month for Argyle, with unrest in the dressing room, top players leaving, and a run of disappointing league results which has seen the Pilgrims drop from 5th to 11th. Indeed, we are without a league win in four matches, a run which stretches back to the Boxing Day victory over QPR, and Argyle’s last victory outside of Devon was the 1-0 success at Watford on December 15.
In addition, our two top scorers, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Barry Hayles, have been sold to Championship rivals Wolves and Leicester, with the third highest marksman, midfielder David Norris, looking likely to depart in the coming days – probably either to Leicester or tommorrow’s opponents.
The possibility of Norris heading to Suffolk seemed to increase with today’s announcement that he will take no part in the Ipswich tie. Paul Sturrock and the player have apparently come to this decision after much discussion at today’s training session, with Luggy saying:
"Disappointingly, there has been a lot of media coverage from a team that is very interested in David.
"I don’t think he would be mentally attuned to the tussle and I don’t think it would be fair of me to allow people to put the microscope on him. Every bad pass or mistake that he made would be highlighted."
This seems strange in some ways, given that the one thing rarely questioned of Norris is his unswerving commitment. It is still possible that he could remain with Argyle, but given his roots in Peterborough, within an hour of Ipswich, and his undoubted ambition to play top-flight football, the only way this will realistically happen is if the Tractor Boys cannot meet Argyle’s valuation. The situation is complicated by the sell-on clause negotiated by Bolton Wanderers when selling Norris to Argyle, which means they receive half of any fee. Even if Ipswich boss Jim Magilton caves in and offers a reasonable £2.5million, Plymouth would only collect £1.25m of the money.
Argyle’s hopes going into the trip to 8th-place Town have been further dashed by the injury to stalwart centre-half Marcel Seip, which also kept the Dutchman out of Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup Fourth Round loss at Portsmouth.
‘The Dockyard Derby’ defeat, although initially disappointing, may eventually be seen as a blessing. Chris Clark’s early debut goal gave Argyle a real chance of shocking their Premiership hosts, and the pride and positive media coverage garnered from an unjust cup exit should boost morale in players and supporters alike.
Clark, a versatile Scottish attacking midfielder signed from Aberdeen a fortnight ago to little acclaim from the Green Army, could be another Sturrock find, and his fellow transfer window signing Yoann Folly has a chance to prove himself tommorrow night, replacing Norris. His eye-catching cameo role in the home draw with Southampton last week promised much.
Indeed, Sturrock has been putting the £4million received for the four players sold in January to good use, picking up talented players for low fees. This is his blueprint; hungry, committed players, moulded into a tight-knit, effective unit with flashes of flair. Clark cost £200k, and strikers Jermaine Easter from Wycombe and Jamie Mackie from Exeter were £210k and £145k respectively. Folly was free from Sheffield Wedneday, and Hungarian international midfielder Gyorgy Sandor became the latest arrival last week, the 23-year-old joining on loan from Ujpest in a similar buy-later deal which previously secured Krisztian Timar and Peter Halmosi. The ‘cherry on the cake’, as Luggy would say, was the club record £500k capture of striker Steve McLean from Cardiff.
The quality obviously present in this collection suggests that, with or without Norris, Argyle’s personnel may actually be of a higher standard at the end of the transfer window than when it began. This assertion could be shored up with a couple more bargains. Leigh Bromby from Sheffield United is a reported £400,000 target, and with the right-back area an Argyle weakness for several years, he’d be a shrewd acquisition. Rumours also abound of a bid for Oldham’s highly-rated centre-half Neal Trotman, now a real possibility after their ejection from the FA Cup at the hands of Huddersfield.
And Sturrock has said he wants another striker – could this be Derek Riordan, the Celtic man Argyle (or, at least, the Green Army) have allegedly coveted for more than a year? Probably not, as Burnley are currently the only club known to have made a bid, and the Celts are keen to sign Clarets striker Kyle Lafferty, so a swap deal looks on the cards.
Sturrock has made a habit, unlike Magilton, of keeping most of his transfer targets quiet, information sometimes only surfacing hours before an official announcement. So there may be some surprises in the coming days.
The eventual denouement of all this is that, after a tough four weeks, Argyle can go into February full of optimism and with a squad who are capable of relaunching a play-off charge, despite the current five-point gap. Lose at Ipswich though, and that dream will feel some huge Massey Ferguson tyres roll it slowly into the dirt.
RICH PARTINGTON
Sunday 27 January 2008
King's Lynn vs. Swindon Supermarine. In the SOUTHERN league...
We’ve all been there. You get home at the end of a long day and think, "I wish I had stayed in bed", and believe me this really was one of those days.
The 8:30am leave had been brought forward to 8:00am which meant the players and staff had been ordered to meet at the Hotel for 7:45am. So when the time to leave had come and gone, and there was still no sign of top goal scorer Richard Kear and fellow strike partner Jason Welsh, the manager and the rest of the assembled squad and supporters had begun to get restless.
"Boss its Jason, I’m really sorry my alarm didn’t go off and I’m just leaving Cardiff".
Not the phone call Mark Collier was looking for, knowing, at best, his missing players would not be at the hotel for another hour. The decision was made to go on without the duo and let them catch us up by stopping in Oxford.
Now when league teams set off on an away day, they may pick up the paper, reading remarks of supporters and pundits on their chances and quickly forgetting them. But this is non-league, and the Marine players get the benefit of their travelling supporters company on the team coach.
"Just to let you lot know, I’m not giving up my Saturday, spending a total of eight hours on this coach for the fun of it, I expect a result today", proclaims 80-year-old supporter Mrs Garland.
A 45-minute stop in Oxford saw the missing two catch us up, and we were now good to, eventually arriving at King’s Lynn in good time. Although very few people will have heard of King’s Lynn, they are a big non-league club with a proud history, last season entertaining Oldham in the second round proper of the FA Cup. It’s a club whose fans harbour ambitions of league status, and turn out in large numbers week in, week out. After being told the club shop grosses over £50k a year you could understand why Lynn maybe feel they are not playing in a division befitting their history and support.
Marine were without two key players in defender Leigh Henry and midfielder Gary Horgan so Mark Collier had to shuffle his pack, seeing a number of players playing in unfamiliar positions, and against the league leaders this was sure to be a tough afternoon.
The first half was a reasonably even affair with Marine having the better of the early chances, Ashleigh Edenborough twice going close in the opening minutes. The home side’s Michael Frew was looking lively on the right hand side of midfield and was causing Danny Allen real problems with his pace and skill. It was Frew who set up Lynn’s first chance of the game with Jack Defty heading a fierce cross wide of the upright.
As the first half wore on the game Marine’s injury woes continued with leading marksman Richard Kear seeing his day ended with a re-occurrence of a hip injury, this in turn resulting in Marine losing their most threatening forward option.
The opening goal of the game arrived five minutes before the break. Joe Francis, who has courted the interest of several league clubs, twice cut inside before delivering a pin point cross to the back post that Frew struck home.
Deep in to stoppage time at the end of the first half Marine drew level courtesy of a first class strike from Chris Taylor. Taylor was afforded space 20 yards out and curled a delightful left footed strike past keeper Scott Howie in to the top corner. Without question the goal of the game.
Unfortunately for the visitors Lynn struck back straight from kick off. Frew again got the better of Allen and he picked out Defty who had eluded his marker at the back post and restored his side’s lead with the last kick of the half.
Marine would’ve felt hard done by to be behind at half time, but not for the first time this season lapses in concentration had gifted their opponent’s goals in game that they could ill afford mistakes. The second 45 minutes is up there with the most bemusing halves of football I have seen, and no one inside the ground could’ve predicted what was to come after such a tight first half.
Within in minutes of the restart Marine went close to again drawing level but Kyle Lapham’s long range effort was well held by Howie. Lynn, however, found an opening through Frew, who again delivered a perfect cross to find Francis, who netted his side’s third of the game on 50 minutes.
In their debut season in the British Gas Business Premier League Marine have both won plaudits and gained critics with a philosophy of playing passing football no matter what. Mark Collier sends his sides out with the motto "Play, Play, Play" and this will produce match winning performances or defensive horror shows, reflected in his side having the least number of draws of any in the division.
With his side flowing forward in search of getting a goal back they were picked apart on the counter, and when Taylor upended Defty in the box on 63 minutes the game was put beyond doubt, Francis despatching the resulting spot kick for 4-1.
A glaring miss from Defty and a goal line clearance from Chris Thompson saw the score temporarily remain at 4-1, but it was a matter of delaying the inevitable with Lynn playing superb football. They got their fifth on 73 minutes when Matt Nolan headed home after Frew’s effort had hit the cross bar.
Marine had further chances to restore some pride but a combination of keeper and poor finishing saw the chances go begging. The rout was completed on 80 minutes through Kearan Deane, whose 25-yard strike somehow made its way through a packed box and into the bottom corner.
In truth Lynn could’ve added further goals but so could have Marine. Substitute Mark Draycott was first denied what would’ve been a superb goal by the cross bar, and then the same player saw keeper Howie come out on top in a one on one.
The final whistle brought an end to an unusual game that saw Marine defensively hit self destruct despite creating numerous chances going forward. A reporter in the press box alongside me uttered: "10-6 would’ve a been a more appropriate score line!"
A downbeat squad made their way back onto the coach for the four hour journey home.
"This is not news you are going to want to hear" announces the coach driver, "unfortunately there appears to be a problem with the coach and we are not going anywhere in this tonight."
An hour and a half later a second coach was with us just enough time for Mrs Garland to ‘consult’ the squad on the day’s performance.
"What on earth have you lot got to say for yourselves?"
This was a lady who demanded answers, but the players couldn’t muster much of a response.
"I’d tell you what I thought of it but the language would be too bad" she quipped.
Post-match analysis over we were finally on our way home, arriving back in Swindon just before midnight.
Hours of waiting for missing players and a new coach, a 400 mile round trip and a 6-1 defeat….when Jason Welsh rang to say his alarm had not gone off maybe this was a signal to us all that this was going to be one of those days… the ones where you should’ve just stayed in bed!
LEIGH MOORE
The 8:30am leave had been brought forward to 8:00am which meant the players and staff had been ordered to meet at the Hotel for 7:45am. So when the time to leave had come and gone, and there was still no sign of top goal scorer Richard Kear and fellow strike partner Jason Welsh, the manager and the rest of the assembled squad and supporters had begun to get restless.
"Boss its Jason, I’m really sorry my alarm didn’t go off and I’m just leaving Cardiff".
Not the phone call Mark Collier was looking for, knowing, at best, his missing players would not be at the hotel for another hour. The decision was made to go on without the duo and let them catch us up by stopping in Oxford.
Now when league teams set off on an away day, they may pick up the paper, reading remarks of supporters and pundits on their chances and quickly forgetting them. But this is non-league, and the Marine players get the benefit of their travelling supporters company on the team coach.
"Just to let you lot know, I’m not giving up my Saturday, spending a total of eight hours on this coach for the fun of it, I expect a result today", proclaims 80-year-old supporter Mrs Garland.
A 45-minute stop in Oxford saw the missing two catch us up, and we were now good to, eventually arriving at King’s Lynn in good time. Although very few people will have heard of King’s Lynn, they are a big non-league club with a proud history, last season entertaining Oldham in the second round proper of the FA Cup. It’s a club whose fans harbour ambitions of league status, and turn out in large numbers week in, week out. After being told the club shop grosses over £50k a year you could understand why Lynn maybe feel they are not playing in a division befitting their history and support.
Marine were without two key players in defender Leigh Henry and midfielder Gary Horgan so Mark Collier had to shuffle his pack, seeing a number of players playing in unfamiliar positions, and against the league leaders this was sure to be a tough afternoon.
The first half was a reasonably even affair with Marine having the better of the early chances, Ashleigh Edenborough twice going close in the opening minutes. The home side’s Michael Frew was looking lively on the right hand side of midfield and was causing Danny Allen real problems with his pace and skill. It was Frew who set up Lynn’s first chance of the game with Jack Defty heading a fierce cross wide of the upright.
As the first half wore on the game Marine’s injury woes continued with leading marksman Richard Kear seeing his day ended with a re-occurrence of a hip injury, this in turn resulting in Marine losing their most threatening forward option.
The opening goal of the game arrived five minutes before the break. Joe Francis, who has courted the interest of several league clubs, twice cut inside before delivering a pin point cross to the back post that Frew struck home.
Deep in to stoppage time at the end of the first half Marine drew level courtesy of a first class strike from Chris Taylor. Taylor was afforded space 20 yards out and curled a delightful left footed strike past keeper Scott Howie in to the top corner. Without question the goal of the game.
Unfortunately for the visitors Lynn struck back straight from kick off. Frew again got the better of Allen and he picked out Defty who had eluded his marker at the back post and restored his side’s lead with the last kick of the half.
Marine would’ve felt hard done by to be behind at half time, but not for the first time this season lapses in concentration had gifted their opponent’s goals in game that they could ill afford mistakes. The second 45 minutes is up there with the most bemusing halves of football I have seen, and no one inside the ground could’ve predicted what was to come after such a tight first half.
Within in minutes of the restart Marine went close to again drawing level but Kyle Lapham’s long range effort was well held by Howie. Lynn, however, found an opening through Frew, who again delivered a perfect cross to find Francis, who netted his side’s third of the game on 50 minutes.
In their debut season in the British Gas Business Premier League Marine have both won plaudits and gained critics with a philosophy of playing passing football no matter what. Mark Collier sends his sides out with the motto "Play, Play, Play" and this will produce match winning performances or defensive horror shows, reflected in his side having the least number of draws of any in the division.
With his side flowing forward in search of getting a goal back they were picked apart on the counter, and when Taylor upended Defty in the box on 63 minutes the game was put beyond doubt, Francis despatching the resulting spot kick for 4-1.
A glaring miss from Defty and a goal line clearance from Chris Thompson saw the score temporarily remain at 4-1, but it was a matter of delaying the inevitable with Lynn playing superb football. They got their fifth on 73 minutes when Matt Nolan headed home after Frew’s effort had hit the cross bar.
Marine had further chances to restore some pride but a combination of keeper and poor finishing saw the chances go begging. The rout was completed on 80 minutes through Kearan Deane, whose 25-yard strike somehow made its way through a packed box and into the bottom corner.
In truth Lynn could’ve added further goals but so could have Marine. Substitute Mark Draycott was first denied what would’ve been a superb goal by the cross bar, and then the same player saw keeper Howie come out on top in a one on one.
The final whistle brought an end to an unusual game that saw Marine defensively hit self destruct despite creating numerous chances going forward. A reporter in the press box alongside me uttered: "10-6 would’ve a been a more appropriate score line!"
A downbeat squad made their way back onto the coach for the four hour journey home.
"This is not news you are going to want to hear" announces the coach driver, "unfortunately there appears to be a problem with the coach and we are not going anywhere in this tonight."
An hour and a half later a second coach was with us just enough time for Mrs Garland to ‘consult’ the squad on the day’s performance.
"What on earth have you lot got to say for yourselves?"
This was a lady who demanded answers, but the players couldn’t muster much of a response.
"I’d tell you what I thought of it but the language would be too bad" she quipped.
Post-match analysis over we were finally on our way home, arriving back in Swindon just before midnight.
Hours of waiting for missing players and a new coach, a 400 mile round trip and a 6-1 defeat….when Jason Welsh rang to say his alarm had not gone off maybe this was a signal to us all that this was going to be one of those days… the ones where you should’ve just stayed in bed!
LEIGH MOORE
Johnson refuses to discuss new signings
The January transfer window closes this week and much of the talk surrounding City is whether we will bring in a new striker to shake things up. Goals from our forwards have been in short supply this season with £1million summer signing Lee Trundle only finding the net three times, and Darren Byfield scoring eight goals.
With Steve Brooker out on loan to Cheltenham Town in a bid to regain his match fitness, and Enoch Showumni out of the picture after City accepted an undisclosed bid from Leeds United, (even though he turned down the offer) it is clear we need more options. Gary Johnson has since publicly stated he thinks Showumni should have taken the offer so with his contract up at the end of the season, it doesn’t look likely that it will be renewed.
Some could argue we should start fielding younger players like Tristan Plummer but we need a striker who is capable of holding the ball up front and letting Byfield or Trundle play alongside the target man. Rumours have been circulating for a couple of weeks now with many names mentioned including Coventry’s Dele Adebola and Celtic’s Derek Riordan, neither of which looks likely.
On the subject of new signings, Johnson has always remained tight-lipped about any targets he has, to prevent other clubs being alerted of their availability and to remain respectful to the players who have already taken us so far this season. Gary is in a tricky position as a new signing could bring more goals or upset the tremendous team spirit at the club already.
His only signing of the window so far, Nick Carle, made his home debut on Saturday and to me he looks absolute class. The Australian has a fantastic awareness of the game and is more than comfortable using both his feet, so this is encouraging and he can also play an attacking role if needed. At £500,000 he looks an absolute steal and will surely add quality to the squad. He could surely play at a higher level.
On Saturday we faced Blackpool after a run of two games without a win, so it was important we secured all three points. With the majority of the teams in the Championship competing in the FA Cup, a win would send us top, level on points with West Brom. An early goal from Marvin Elliot sent us on our way to a 1-0 victory and three precious points. Again we failed to score more goals as we were wasteful with our chances and this made for a nervy finale with Blackpool hitting the crossbar and forcing goalkeeper Adriano Basso to make some good saves.
Encouragingly City defended very well without both our regular centre backs Louis Carey and Liam Fontaine, with proves our defence has strength in depth. We are gradually getting to the business end of the season where it is only the results that matter, and hopefully we will still be up near the top in May. So far this has been an incredible season, which has exceded all my expectations, and there is no reason why our current squad can’t take us into the Premier League.
Although I might say different in my next blog if we lose to QPR and haven’t signed anyone!
ANDY DAVIES
With Steve Brooker out on loan to Cheltenham Town in a bid to regain his match fitness, and Enoch Showumni out of the picture after City accepted an undisclosed bid from Leeds United, (even though he turned down the offer) it is clear we need more options. Gary Johnson has since publicly stated he thinks Showumni should have taken the offer so with his contract up at the end of the season, it doesn’t look likely that it will be renewed.
Some could argue we should start fielding younger players like Tristan Plummer but we need a striker who is capable of holding the ball up front and letting Byfield or Trundle play alongside the target man. Rumours have been circulating for a couple of weeks now with many names mentioned including Coventry’s Dele Adebola and Celtic’s Derek Riordan, neither of which looks likely.
On the subject of new signings, Johnson has always remained tight-lipped about any targets he has, to prevent other clubs being alerted of their availability and to remain respectful to the players who have already taken us so far this season. Gary is in a tricky position as a new signing could bring more goals or upset the tremendous team spirit at the club already.
His only signing of the window so far, Nick Carle, made his home debut on Saturday and to me he looks absolute class. The Australian has a fantastic awareness of the game and is more than comfortable using both his feet, so this is encouraging and he can also play an attacking role if needed. At £500,000 he looks an absolute steal and will surely add quality to the squad. He could surely play at a higher level.
On Saturday we faced Blackpool after a run of two games without a win, so it was important we secured all three points. With the majority of the teams in the Championship competing in the FA Cup, a win would send us top, level on points with West Brom. An early goal from Marvin Elliot sent us on our way to a 1-0 victory and three precious points. Again we failed to score more goals as we were wasteful with our chances and this made for a nervy finale with Blackpool hitting the crossbar and forcing goalkeeper Adriano Basso to make some good saves.
Encouragingly City defended very well without both our regular centre backs Louis Carey and Liam Fontaine, with proves our defence has strength in depth. We are gradually getting to the business end of the season where it is only the results that matter, and hopefully we will still be up near the top in May. So far this has been an incredible season, which has exceded all my expectations, and there is no reason why our current squad can’t take us into the Premier League.
Although I might say different in my next blog if we lose to QPR and haven’t signed anyone!
ANDY DAVIES
Thursday 24 January 2008
Mackie signing emphasise gulf between Devon 'rivals'
This morning, after weeks of protracted negotiations, Plymouth Argyle finally completed the signing of Exeter City striker Jamie Mackie, for £145,000.
Less than eight years ago, on March 11 2000, Argyle had struggled to a 1-1 draw at St. James’ Park in a LEAGUE fixture – now, three divisions above, we are buying the Grecians’ best player to bolster our reserves.
And Pilgrims fans have actually been generally split about whether Mackie is a worthwhile signing. Many don’t feel that 11 goals in the Blue Square Premier this season (14 in all competitions) are ample enough proof of Championship-level potential. But the pursuit of Mackie by Argyle boss Paul Sturrock has been dogged, with a series of bids, and the manager clearly rates him. At the moment, the price looks a touch on the steep side, but if the 21-year-old Blue Square December player of the month can score goals in the second tier it will look a snip.
It seems unlikely he will get his chance immediately. Steve McLean has just been signed for a club record fee and looks likely to shine. Rory Fallon shows signs of becoming a useful target man. Jermaine Easter has performed well and, you feel just needs a few goals to boost his confidence. And Lukas Jutkiewicz, on loan from Everton, is a top prospect who has come to Argyle for first-team football.
The primary impression created by the signing saga, though, is a huge reminder of the differences between these clubs who, at times during their histories, could have been described as rivals. Argyle have always been the bigger club – their crowds, fanbase, and legacy of success have always dwarfed City’s, unsurprsing given that the city of Plymouth is more than twice the size of its neighbour up the A38. But there is still a real hatred between the two sets of fans, particularly the younger element, who grew up with Plymouth having only a marginally better team.
Certainly, though, the hatred comes a lot stronger from one way – every Exeter fan I have ever met loathes Argyle with a passion. Once, at Exeter bus station, I came very close to a kicking from a pair of City lads returning from their Conference fixture, simply for wearing an Argyle shirt. We weren’t even playing them! I was only 16, not exactly threatening in appearance, and quietly minding my own business. But that’s to be expected. It’s not uncommon to see red-and-white striped shirts with ‘WE 8 ARGYLE’ printed on the back – I’ve witnessed them all over the country, and it always makes me chuckle. Sure, the Zoo Corner still sings of their mothers’ apparent order to ‘shoot the City scum’, but it’s more out of having no-one else to replace them with – Bristol City are more bothered about Rovers and Cardiff, and Torquay are essentially an irrelevance, who many Argyle fans support as a second team.
For many, of course – the old Navy boys, the Marines, and the dockyard workers, who once comprised the majority of Argyle’s fanbase, and still make up a decent chunk of present and exiled support – the big rivals are Saturday’s FA Cup Third Round opponents, Portsmouth.
The two south coast port currently host the south coast’s two best teams, and although Pompey fans are largely more bothered with Southampton, this match will be the main one for all men of sea and dock. In 1983, the enmity reached its peak when Portsmouth came to Argyle on the final day of the season, needing a win to seal the old Third Division Championship. They won 1-0, but the match was marred by hundreds of Pompey hooligans breaking through the barriers and charging through the Lyndhurst, causing many injuries among the Green Army.
Under Harry Redknapp, and backed by Alexandre Gaydamak’s shady millions, the Hampshire club are at their peak, European challengers for the past few seasons and currently sitting 8th in the Premiership. Despite the fantastic television spectacle and atmosphere Fratton Park’s ‘Battle of the Dockyards’ will surely provide, the BBC and Sky have yet again plumped for such irritating yawn-fests as Wigan v Chelsea, likely to be played in a half-empty stadium.
However, after requests from Navy and Marine personnel across the world, the match will be fed live to the forces, giving them a rare and welcome chance to watch their teams. This is a gesture which must be strongly applauded – but the question remains, why couldn’t ordinary British people have the same privilege? Portsmouth versus Plymouth has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
With Pompey having the noisiest fans in the Premiership and a full ground every week, and Argyle arguably the best travelling support in the football league, this promises to be a cracker – in the stands, at least. On the pitch, the Pilgrims may struggle to deal with stars like Nico Kranjcar and Benjani Mwaruwari – unless all even are at the top of their game, or the hosts field an under-strength side. Argyle’s cause has been somewhat aided with several Pompey players, including Sulley Muntari, away at the African Cup of Nations. If David Norris for the visitors, it is likely to be his swansong in green. Hopefully he’ll want to go out with a banging cup upset.
RICH PARTINGTON
Less than eight years ago, on March 11 2000, Argyle had struggled to a 1-1 draw at St. James’ Park in a LEAGUE fixture – now, three divisions above, we are buying the Grecians’ best player to bolster our reserves.
And Pilgrims fans have actually been generally split about whether Mackie is a worthwhile signing. Many don’t feel that 11 goals in the Blue Square Premier this season (14 in all competitions) are ample enough proof of Championship-level potential. But the pursuit of Mackie by Argyle boss Paul Sturrock has been dogged, with a series of bids, and the manager clearly rates him. At the moment, the price looks a touch on the steep side, but if the 21-year-old Blue Square December player of the month can score goals in the second tier it will look a snip.
It seems unlikely he will get his chance immediately. Steve McLean has just been signed for a club record fee and looks likely to shine. Rory Fallon shows signs of becoming a useful target man. Jermaine Easter has performed well and, you feel just needs a few goals to boost his confidence. And Lukas Jutkiewicz, on loan from Everton, is a top prospect who has come to Argyle for first-team football.
The primary impression created by the signing saga, though, is a huge reminder of the differences between these clubs who, at times during their histories, could have been described as rivals. Argyle have always been the bigger club – their crowds, fanbase, and legacy of success have always dwarfed City’s, unsurprsing given that the city of Plymouth is more than twice the size of its neighbour up the A38. But there is still a real hatred between the two sets of fans, particularly the younger element, who grew up with Plymouth having only a marginally better team.
Certainly, though, the hatred comes a lot stronger from one way – every Exeter fan I have ever met loathes Argyle with a passion. Once, at Exeter bus station, I came very close to a kicking from a pair of City lads returning from their Conference fixture, simply for wearing an Argyle shirt. We weren’t even playing them! I was only 16, not exactly threatening in appearance, and quietly minding my own business. But that’s to be expected. It’s not uncommon to see red-and-white striped shirts with ‘WE 8 ARGYLE’ printed on the back – I’ve witnessed them all over the country, and it always makes me chuckle. Sure, the Zoo Corner still sings of their mothers’ apparent order to ‘shoot the City scum’, but it’s more out of having no-one else to replace them with – Bristol City are more bothered about Rovers and Cardiff, and Torquay are essentially an irrelevance, who many Argyle fans support as a second team.
For many, of course – the old Navy boys, the Marines, and the dockyard workers, who once comprised the majority of Argyle’s fanbase, and still make up a decent chunk of present and exiled support – the big rivals are Saturday’s FA Cup Third Round opponents, Portsmouth.
The two south coast port currently host the south coast’s two best teams, and although Pompey fans are largely more bothered with Southampton, this match will be the main one for all men of sea and dock. In 1983, the enmity reached its peak when Portsmouth came to Argyle on the final day of the season, needing a win to seal the old Third Division Championship. They won 1-0, but the match was marred by hundreds of Pompey hooligans breaking through the barriers and charging through the Lyndhurst, causing many injuries among the Green Army.
Under Harry Redknapp, and backed by Alexandre Gaydamak’s shady millions, the Hampshire club are at their peak, European challengers for the past few seasons and currently sitting 8th in the Premiership. Despite the fantastic television spectacle and atmosphere Fratton Park’s ‘Battle of the Dockyards’ will surely provide, the BBC and Sky have yet again plumped for such irritating yawn-fests as Wigan v Chelsea, likely to be played in a half-empty stadium.
However, after requests from Navy and Marine personnel across the world, the match will be fed live to the forces, giving them a rare and welcome chance to watch their teams. This is a gesture which must be strongly applauded – but the question remains, why couldn’t ordinary British people have the same privilege? Portsmouth versus Plymouth has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
With Pompey having the noisiest fans in the Premiership and a full ground every week, and Argyle arguably the best travelling support in the football league, this promises to be a cracker – in the stands, at least. On the pitch, the Pilgrims may struggle to deal with stars like Nico Kranjcar and Benjani Mwaruwari – unless all even are at the top of their game, or the hosts field an under-strength side. Argyle’s cause has been somewhat aided with several Pompey players, including Sulley Muntari, away at the African Cup of Nations. If David Norris for the visitors, it is likely to be his swansong in green. Hopefully he’ll want to go out with a banging cup upset.
RICH PARTINGTON
Wednesday 23 January 2008
Fleetwood pledges loyalty to Rovers
This morning, on my daily look around the BBC Sport Website, an article grabbed my attention.
Over the weekend, Forest Green had accepted an offer from Crewe Alexandra for their free-scoring striker Stuart Fleetwood. It seemed inevitable that he had played his last game for the non-leaguers, and Rovers fans looked to console themselves with the £175,000 to spend, but Fleetwood had other ideas.
"It is a decision I have reached along with my family", said Fleetwood.
"Everyone at Rovers has made us so welcome, from the Boardroom to the supporters on the terraces. My mother in particular has a genuine affection for the club and everyone she meets each match day.
"The club is now part of my family as well and I am committed with my team-mates to making this the best ever season that the club have experienced in their history.
"Obviously I have been kept informed by the club of all the interest shown and I can honestly state that even if any other clubs come in with a late bid before the transfer window closes, I am not interested.
"The summer may be a different matter but I owe a debt of gratitude to the gaffer (Jim Harvey). At a time when many thought my career had ended, he had faith in me and I love the way he has the lads playing and that has helped me tremendously".
While this could mean Forest Green lose out on a substantial amount of money, Fleetwood's commitment would give them a decent shot at the play-offs, and possible promotion to the promised land of League football.
Fleetwood's attitude is refreshing, it's a nice change to see a player put his club before his wallet, and he's showing real gratitude to manager Jim Harvey for giving him a second chance.
It's good to see loyalty still exists.
JAMES LEWIS
Over the weekend, Forest Green had accepted an offer from Crewe Alexandra for their free-scoring striker Stuart Fleetwood. It seemed inevitable that he had played his last game for the non-leaguers, and Rovers fans looked to console themselves with the £175,000 to spend, but Fleetwood had other ideas.
"It is a decision I have reached along with my family", said Fleetwood.
"Everyone at Rovers has made us so welcome, from the Boardroom to the supporters on the terraces. My mother in particular has a genuine affection for the club and everyone she meets each match day.
"The club is now part of my family as well and I am committed with my team-mates to making this the best ever season that the club have experienced in their history.
"Obviously I have been kept informed by the club of all the interest shown and I can honestly state that even if any other clubs come in with a late bid before the transfer window closes, I am not interested.
"The summer may be a different matter but I owe a debt of gratitude to the gaffer (Jim Harvey). At a time when many thought my career had ended, he had faith in me and I love the way he has the lads playing and that has helped me tremendously".
While this could mean Forest Green lose out on a substantial amount of money, Fleetwood's commitment would give them a decent shot at the play-offs, and possible promotion to the promised land of League football.
Fleetwood's attitude is refreshing, it's a nice change to see a player put his club before his wallet, and he's showing real gratitude to manager Jim Harvey for giving him a second chance.
It's good to see loyalty still exists.
JAMES LEWIS
Errea Cup - the (very) poor man's Champions League?
Midweek cup football conjures up images of glamorous European nights, the romance of an FA Cup replay or even a chance to book an early appearance at Wembley in the Carling Cup.
It is therefore fair to say that, in comparison, Swindon Supermarine’s Errea Cup fourth round trip to league rivals Mangotsfield United failed to grab the imagination, so much so that a sorry crowd of under 100 turned out to see Mark Collier’s men ease their way into the last eight.
Supermarine had been left without a fixture for over a week due to two postponements so the game provided Marine with the perfect opportunity to eradicate from the mind their 5-0 mauling at the hands of Team Bath in their last run out.
Unlike in the previous round, Collier named a strong side, but had to make do without the services of the injured David Stroud and the unavailable Leigh Henry. The absence of the two former Swindon Town youngsters made way for the returning Chris Thompson and the latest former Robin to join the Marine nest, Alex Rigley.
Mangotsfield themselves were without a win in eight, and their team selection suggested this was a game they were targeting to bring to an end that winless streak. The hosts, however, failed to start in the manner their manager might have hoped and Marine took charge from the off.
Top scorer Richard Kear and fellow front man Jason Welsh had both fired early warning strikes before Danny Allen’s ninth minute goal, drilled home from 20 yards. This goal was Allen’s eighth of the season which is no mean feat from left back!
Conceding early failed to ignite the Mangos and Marine continued to dominate but failed to capitalise on their considerable possession and neat football. Despite a wealth of half chances the visitors had to wait till the final ten minutes of the first half for their next real chance in front of goal, with Welsh seeing his fierce effort flash wide of the upright.
They did, however, find the breakthrough for the second just before the interval. Stuart Pearson sent a lovely through ball over the host’s backline. Kear picked up the loose ball and rounded goalkeeper Josh Clapham, calmly side footing in from 10 yards. The 2-0 half time score line reflected Marine’s dominance and with Mangotsfield failing to register a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes it was half a job well done.
The second half was a more evenly contested affair but the hosts were grateful to their keeper Clapham, who denied Welsh with a fine save in the opening stages after the break.
Clapham was again to thank when he thwarted first Kyle Lapham and then Alex Rigley with two smart reaction saves.
Midway through the second half Mangotsfield created their first half chance of the match but Allan Griffin headed wide from a Sam Bailey cross. As the game entered its final stages Collier made three substitutions with youngster Sean Wood making only his fourth appearance of the season. Wood, who has impressed in his other three outings and with a stunning winning goal previously to his name, continued to impress in his latest cameo with a series of strong tackles and effective passes.
At the very end of a fairly uneventful second 45 minutes the home side recorded their FIRST shot on target of the game. However, substitute James Crew saw his shot saved well by Tom King. All in all a job done well done by Marine, whose dominance was not reflected in the final scoreline.
No glamour of Europe, no romance of the FA Cup, not even the chance of an early trip to Wembley – but, nonetheless, through to the next round for Marine.
Supermarine will head north on Saturday to King’s Lynn for a game against the league leaders in front of a crowd of over 1000, and spare a thought for this reporter who will be on the player’s coach leaving Swindon at 8:30am…and there I was thinking we played in the SOUTHERN league.
LEIGH MOORE
Monday 21 January 2008
From the rubble comes creation
When the final whistle sounded at Home Park on Saturday afternoon, the Plymouth Argyle players, as usual, applauded the home supporters stacked across three sides of the ground. One player, however, appeared to clap a little harder.
Midway through the second half of the preceding 1-1 draw with Southampton, a long ball down the right channel of Argyle’s half was pursued by a Saints player, in yards of space. Like Mr. Benn’s shopkeeper clad in green, suddenly David Norris was there, sliding full length across the zippy, moist surface to crunch the ball out of play.
The ‘Zoo’ corner of the Lyndhurst Stand were not shy in displaying their appreciation. An ensuing chant of "There’s Only One David Norris" was the loudest noise of an atmospheric afternoon in front of a respectable 14600 souls, quite clearly in response to continuing speculation of the Peterborough-born midfielder’s impending departure.
Rumours abound that Norris handed in a transfer request last week, and Paul Sturrock has failed to confirm or deny this, suggesting the player is almost certainly on his way. Saturday’s opponents have been tracking Norris since before the summer, joined by Norwich, Leicester, and Ipswich. The latter, rolling in Marcus Evans's debt-laden millions, seem favourites to nab him, with a £1.8million bid currently on the table and the club representing a base much nearer to Norris’s roots.
The majority of Pilgrim fans have resigned themselves to the loss of this committed and diligent performer, with his notably fervent applause for the Green Army on Saturday strengthening this assertion – it being viewed as something of a goodbye. Tony Capaldi, Akos Buzsaky, Barry Hayles, and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the last four first-team players to leave the club, all reacted similarly in their final games. Slowly, the squad which pushed hard for a top six slot this year – and last – under Ian Holloway is being broken up, and you get the sense that this was a strong social as well as footballing group. Greed, ambition, and club decision-making, in varying degrees of concentration, has pulled them away, yet their time at Argyle was clearly a valued one.
For their part, the Argyle fanbase appears to wish Norris little ill in his probable departure. This may come as a surprise, especially since the Southampton clash also featured an updated version of ‘The Syvlan Ebanks-Blake Song’, the now-Wolves striker gleefully exhorted to "fuck off". This bitterness, however, is more to do with the way SEB left – forcing Argyle into a sale at below market value, and refusing even to countenance the idea of a new contract. Norris, it seems, has been more patient, but perhaps that patience is now wearing thin.
He has been a good servant to the Pilgrims since joining from Bolton in 2002, and is generally considered an absolute Argyle legend. As a player, his finishing and control have sometimes let him down, but his energy is unequalled in my years of watching Plymouth, and his commitment has, until recently, rarely been in doubt. Enthusiasm, ebullience, ingenuity – he might never be Premiership-quality in terms of technique, but he could play there on sheer force of personality.
Price-wise, though, Argyle would be fool to accept £1.8m. Norris is worth a fair bit more than that, and with a number of suitors, a bidding war could increase that price by at least 50%. There is also the added inconvenience of the clause which means Norris's former club, Bolton Wanderers, will receive half of any sell-on fee. If a new, promotion-challenging Sturrock team is to be reconstructed from the rubble of Holloway’s side (although of course Norris was Luggy’s signing) the greens will need to splash the cash.
Friday was a good start, with the capture of Steve McLean from Cardiff for a club-record £500,000 fee. The 25-year-old is fits the two most common criteria of a Sturrock signing; he’s Scottish, like the boss, and they worked together at a previous club, Sheffield Wednesday. It was at Hillsborough McLean enjoyed his most successful years thus far, before a short, injury-plagued spell in Wales this season. In addition to several previous problems, this is a minor worry, but McLean’s performance against the Saints was more encouraging. A thoughtful, elegant player, he showed some nice touches, but could have had a crack at goal a couple of times, and may need to build up his strength and match fitness. He will also take a few games to get used to the nuances of his team-mates’ styles and the manager’s tactics, but if he does there is no reason why he cannot prove to be even better than the man he has replaced in the number nine shirt – Ebanks-Blake.
The Southampton match itself fitted the unfortunately typical formula a great deal of home matches in the past eighteen months, including one just over a year ago against the same opponents, which ended in the same scoreline. Argyle start badly, concede early, and proceed to dominate proceedings from then on, with poor finishing meaning they are only able to score once, if at all. The visitors were poor, a shadow of their former Premiership-fixture selves. But Plymouth could not force the win.
On Saturday it was Rory Fallon who at least prevented a greatly unjust defeat, volleying in from Argyle’s most common source of ammunition – the superlative left foot of Peter Halmosi, who almost effortlessly produced a man-of-the-match performance.
Fallon has been much maligned since his arrival a year ago, without really having a sustained opportunity to prove himself. Against the Saints he was excellent, recalling the half-time draw guest, Mickey Evans, in winning so much in the air and proving a constant menace to the visiting defence. Incredibly, Uriah Rennie did not book the Kiwi despite a string of fouls, each knock further unsettling the Southampton centre-halves. A big-man-little-man partnership appears to be Luggy’s preferred attacking blueprint, and if so Fallon has a real chance of establishing himself alongside, probably, either McLean or Jermaine Easter.
Halmosi, meanwhile, remains the absolute jewel in Argyle’s crown. If Norris leaves, it will be a sad day – he is popular and a talented footballer. But if it is a choice between he and the infinitely more talented Hungarian, I have already made my decision. And so, you feel, has Paul Stapleton.
RICH PARTINGTON
Midway through the second half of the preceding 1-1 draw with Southampton, a long ball down the right channel of Argyle’s half was pursued by a Saints player, in yards of space. Like Mr. Benn’s shopkeeper clad in green, suddenly David Norris was there, sliding full length across the zippy, moist surface to crunch the ball out of play.
The ‘Zoo’ corner of the Lyndhurst Stand were not shy in displaying their appreciation. An ensuing chant of "There’s Only One David Norris" was the loudest noise of an atmospheric afternoon in front of a respectable 14600 souls, quite clearly in response to continuing speculation of the Peterborough-born midfielder’s impending departure.
Rumours abound that Norris handed in a transfer request last week, and Paul Sturrock has failed to confirm or deny this, suggesting the player is almost certainly on his way. Saturday’s opponents have been tracking Norris since before the summer, joined by Norwich, Leicester, and Ipswich. The latter, rolling in Marcus Evans's debt-laden millions, seem favourites to nab him, with a £1.8million bid currently on the table and the club representing a base much nearer to Norris’s roots.
The majority of Pilgrim fans have resigned themselves to the loss of this committed and diligent performer, with his notably fervent applause for the Green Army on Saturday strengthening this assertion – it being viewed as something of a goodbye. Tony Capaldi, Akos Buzsaky, Barry Hayles, and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, the last four first-team players to leave the club, all reacted similarly in their final games. Slowly, the squad which pushed hard for a top six slot this year – and last – under Ian Holloway is being broken up, and you get the sense that this was a strong social as well as footballing group. Greed, ambition, and club decision-making, in varying degrees of concentration, has pulled them away, yet their time at Argyle was clearly a valued one.
For their part, the Argyle fanbase appears to wish Norris little ill in his probable departure. This may come as a surprise, especially since the Southampton clash also featured an updated version of ‘The Syvlan Ebanks-Blake Song’, the now-Wolves striker gleefully exhorted to "fuck off". This bitterness, however, is more to do with the way SEB left – forcing Argyle into a sale at below market value, and refusing even to countenance the idea of a new contract. Norris, it seems, has been more patient, but perhaps that patience is now wearing thin.
He has been a good servant to the Pilgrims since joining from Bolton in 2002, and is generally considered an absolute Argyle legend. As a player, his finishing and control have sometimes let him down, but his energy is unequalled in my years of watching Plymouth, and his commitment has, until recently, rarely been in doubt. Enthusiasm, ebullience, ingenuity – he might never be Premiership-quality in terms of technique, but he could play there on sheer force of personality.
Price-wise, though, Argyle would be fool to accept £1.8m. Norris is worth a fair bit more than that, and with a number of suitors, a bidding war could increase that price by at least 50%. There is also the added inconvenience of the clause which means Norris's former club, Bolton Wanderers, will receive half of any sell-on fee. If a new, promotion-challenging Sturrock team is to be reconstructed from the rubble of Holloway’s side (although of course Norris was Luggy’s signing) the greens will need to splash the cash.
Friday was a good start, with the capture of Steve McLean from Cardiff for a club-record £500,000 fee. The 25-year-old is fits the two most common criteria of a Sturrock signing; he’s Scottish, like the boss, and they worked together at a previous club, Sheffield Wednesday. It was at Hillsborough McLean enjoyed his most successful years thus far, before a short, injury-plagued spell in Wales this season. In addition to several previous problems, this is a minor worry, but McLean’s performance against the Saints was more encouraging. A thoughtful, elegant player, he showed some nice touches, but could have had a crack at goal a couple of times, and may need to build up his strength and match fitness. He will also take a few games to get used to the nuances of his team-mates’ styles and the manager’s tactics, but if he does there is no reason why he cannot prove to be even better than the man he has replaced in the number nine shirt – Ebanks-Blake.
The Southampton match itself fitted the unfortunately typical formula a great deal of home matches in the past eighteen months, including one just over a year ago against the same opponents, which ended in the same scoreline. Argyle start badly, concede early, and proceed to dominate proceedings from then on, with poor finishing meaning they are only able to score once, if at all. The visitors were poor, a shadow of their former Premiership-fixture selves. But Plymouth could not force the win.
On Saturday it was Rory Fallon who at least prevented a greatly unjust defeat, volleying in from Argyle’s most common source of ammunition – the superlative left foot of Peter Halmosi, who almost effortlessly produced a man-of-the-match performance.
Fallon has been much maligned since his arrival a year ago, without really having a sustained opportunity to prove himself. Against the Saints he was excellent, recalling the half-time draw guest, Mickey Evans, in winning so much in the air and proving a constant menace to the visiting defence. Incredibly, Uriah Rennie did not book the Kiwi despite a string of fouls, each knock further unsettling the Southampton centre-halves. A big-man-little-man partnership appears to be Luggy’s preferred attacking blueprint, and if so Fallon has a real chance of establishing himself alongside, probably, either McLean or Jermaine Easter.
Halmosi, meanwhile, remains the absolute jewel in Argyle’s crown. If Norris leaves, it will be a sad day – he is popular and a talented footballer. But if it is a choice between he and the infinitely more talented Hungarian, I have already made my decision. And so, you feel, has Paul Stapleton.
RICH PARTINGTON
Three wins in a row lifts Cheltenham out of the drop zone
Who says lightning doesn't strike twice? Rewind back to February 2007, and Cheltenham hosted Bournemouth in a relegation six pointer. In a scrappy game with few chances, Cheltenham won with a header in injury time.
Almost exactly a year later, Cheltenham hosted Bournemouth in a relegation six pointer, and won a scrappy encounter with a header in injury time, David Bird the hero of the day.
Watching the game made me realise a few things.
1. Ashley Vincent is not up to League One standard.
2. The return of Scott Brown has come at a great time.
3. Andy Lindegaard is not comfortable at right back.
The loan signings also did well. Steve Brooker played much of the game before coming off. Brooker is at Whaddon Road to get fit, after an injury ravaged year, and along with Alex Russell, he joins Steven Gillespie, Damien Spencer and both Scott Browns as former Bristol City players at Cheltenham. Even a half fit Brooker is in my opinion better than Paul Connor, with Craig Reid still not getting a look in, and likely to move on if he doesn't get his chance. Russell is a decent partner for Dave Bird in central midfield, while John Finnigan recovers from his continuous injury saga.
All things said and done, the win was crucial and, coupled with a 2-0 success at Hartlepool on Friday night, put Cheltenham into 20th place, a point above Millwall who they meet on January 29. Cheltenham's home form has been half decent this season, while Millwall's has been, well, patchy to say the least. Before that though, they face Carlisle at home, which of course is ex-manager John Ward's return to Whaddon Road. This promises to be a tricky game.
Transfer wise, there are a few players worth looking at, namely Oxford's Rob Duffy. Duffy has Football League experience with Rushden and Diamonds, although it could be argued that while he's guaranteed to get goals, most of these come from the penalty spot.
JAMES LEWIS
Almost exactly a year later, Cheltenham hosted Bournemouth in a relegation six pointer, and won a scrappy encounter with a header in injury time, David Bird the hero of the day.
Watching the game made me realise a few things.
1. Ashley Vincent is not up to League One standard.
2. The return of Scott Brown has come at a great time.
3. Andy Lindegaard is not comfortable at right back.
The loan signings also did well. Steve Brooker played much of the game before coming off. Brooker is at Whaddon Road to get fit, after an injury ravaged year, and along with Alex Russell, he joins Steven Gillespie, Damien Spencer and both Scott Browns as former Bristol City players at Cheltenham. Even a half fit Brooker is in my opinion better than Paul Connor, with Craig Reid still not getting a look in, and likely to move on if he doesn't get his chance. Russell is a decent partner for Dave Bird in central midfield, while John Finnigan recovers from his continuous injury saga.
All things said and done, the win was crucial and, coupled with a 2-0 success at Hartlepool on Friday night, put Cheltenham into 20th place, a point above Millwall who they meet on January 29. Cheltenham's home form has been half decent this season, while Millwall's has been, well, patchy to say the least. Before that though, they face Carlisle at home, which of course is ex-manager John Ward's return to Whaddon Road. This promises to be a tricky game.
Transfer wise, there are a few players worth looking at, namely Oxford's Rob Duffy. Duffy has Football League experience with Rushden and Diamonds, although it could be argued that while he's guaranteed to get goals, most of these come from the penalty spot.
JAMES LEWIS
City falter at the Palace
On Saturday Bristol City faced one of their toughest away games to date, against a Crystal Palace team who were unbeaten in 14 matches going into the game. Realising the big task City faced I soon accepted a point would do nicely against a side completely rejuvenated under Neil Warnock.
In October his side were struggling at the other end of the table and a relegation battle looked likely. Now they have a great chance of securing a play off place, which creates even more competition against the top 10 teams all eyeing a top six finish. So in the circumstances a point would have been a great result for us as they would not have gained any ground on us, but this wasn’t to be the case.
Usually when City are playing I am watching them or listening to radio commentary of the match. But on Saturday, I had to settle for watching the scores on the TV, which was frustrating as I had no idea whether we were playing well or not. We soon fell behind to a Clinton Morrison goal which at the time sounded scrappy, and after seeing the highlights it was a poor goal to concede. Had Louis Carey not been injured we might have avoided it. Judging by the reporters’ comments it sounded an exciting game with chances at both ends but unfortunately we hadn’t found the net.
Our new signing Nick Carle was making his debut, playing just behind Enoch Showumni in a 4-4-1-1 formation which has worked well in the past. Judging by the reports it sounded as though he was having a good game, creating a few chances and nearly scoring himself with a looping header.
As the game wore on I became even more disappointed as West Brom were losing at home to Cardiff 3-1 and we were failing to capitalise on their mistake. As we pushed for an equaliser we left ourselves open in defence and eventually Palace grabbed a second five minutes from time. A free-kick into the box was misjudged by goalkeeper Adriano Basso and Hudson headed into an empty net.
The defeat was only our sixth of the season, which is still a fine record and the second best in the league behind Stoke City who have lost five. From the last two games we have only picked up one point which is disappointing, but we have already demonstrated this season we can bounce back from slip ups.
Next Saturday’s match against Blackpool is the perfect opportunity to put things right. The Seasiders were one of our promotion rivals last year in League One and they have settled in the Championship nicely, especially considering their transfer budget is not quite as large as other teams. Nevertheless this is a game we should expect to win if we want to still be challenging for promotion at the end of the season and Gary Johnson should have the players fired up and ready to go.
This time next week will see the January transfer window coming to an end which is sure to be exciting and hopefully by next week City may have a few new faces in the team help us push onwards and upwards.
ANDY DAVIES
In October his side were struggling at the other end of the table and a relegation battle looked likely. Now they have a great chance of securing a play off place, which creates even more competition against the top 10 teams all eyeing a top six finish. So in the circumstances a point would have been a great result for us as they would not have gained any ground on us, but this wasn’t to be the case.
Usually when City are playing I am watching them or listening to radio commentary of the match. But on Saturday, I had to settle for watching the scores on the TV, which was frustrating as I had no idea whether we were playing well or not. We soon fell behind to a Clinton Morrison goal which at the time sounded scrappy, and after seeing the highlights it was a poor goal to concede. Had Louis Carey not been injured we might have avoided it. Judging by the reporters’ comments it sounded an exciting game with chances at both ends but unfortunately we hadn’t found the net.
Our new signing Nick Carle was making his debut, playing just behind Enoch Showumni in a 4-4-1-1 formation which has worked well in the past. Judging by the reports it sounded as though he was having a good game, creating a few chances and nearly scoring himself with a looping header.
As the game wore on I became even more disappointed as West Brom were losing at home to Cardiff 3-1 and we were failing to capitalise on their mistake. As we pushed for an equaliser we left ourselves open in defence and eventually Palace grabbed a second five minutes from time. A free-kick into the box was misjudged by goalkeeper Adriano Basso and Hudson headed into an empty net.
The defeat was only our sixth of the season, which is still a fine record and the second best in the league behind Stoke City who have lost five. From the last two games we have only picked up one point which is disappointing, but we have already demonstrated this season we can bounce back from slip ups.
Next Saturday’s match against Blackpool is the perfect opportunity to put things right. The Seasiders were one of our promotion rivals last year in League One and they have settled in the Championship nicely, especially considering their transfer budget is not quite as large as other teams. Nevertheless this is a game we should expect to win if we want to still be challenging for promotion at the end of the season and Gary Johnson should have the players fired up and ready to go.
This time next week will see the January transfer window coming to an end which is sure to be exciting and hopefully by next week City may have a few new faces in the team help us push onwards and upwards.
ANDY DAVIES
Monday 14 January 2008
Robins squander chance
In my last blog entry I talked excitedly of where Bristol City might finish at the end of the season. I should, however, know better than to get ahead of myself as I have been supporting City long enough, 15 years in fact, to realise that things don’t always go as planned. Which was certainly the case on Saturday when we hosted Colchester United, a team second from bottom. And with the Robins flying at the top of the league, I could be forgiven for thinking this result was in the bag.
We started brightly and I was out of my seat prematurely on five minutes when I thought a looping header from Marvin Elliot was heading into the net. Unfortunately, his header was saved and within 60 seconds we found ourselves behind to a Kevin Lisbie goal. Our two centre backs, Liam Fontaine and Tamas Vasko looked all at sea when Lisbie was awarded too much space in the box, and sent a low curling effort past Adriano Basso and into the net.
The crowd responded in their usual fashion of urging the team on to bounce back, but I could sense we might be in trouble. Going forward we looked dangerous in the opening minutes, but at the back we were unsettled, our man marking not tight enough. Sure enough, Lisbie again found himself free in the box a few minutes later, but his effort was well saved by Basso. It was clear injured captain Louis Carey was being missed, but it was far too early for manager Gary Johnson to make a substitution.
From then on though, we improved. A tactical switch with wingers Michael McIndoe and Ivan Sproule swapping sides paid dividends on 32 minutes when Sproule ghosted past two defenders in the box and smash an equaliser into the net. Two minutes later we scored again when McIndoe’s free kick was well saved by Dean Gerken only to fall to Vasko, who bundled the ball over the line for City’s second. Celebrations were short lived as the referee’s assistant put his flag up for offside.
From where I was sitting it was hard to tell and I haven’t seen a TV replay yet so I can’t comment. But the players’ reaction clearly said it was a goal. Minutes later, McIndoe saw an effort hit the crossbar and the team headed to the dressing rooms at 1-1.
In the second half there were chances squandered at either end and penalty appeals turned down from both sides. I got the feeling this wasn’t going to be our day and that proved to be the case, with the game ending 1-1. Walking away from the game, to say I was disappointed was an understatement. This was a game that should have been won if we are seriously going to mount a challenge for promotion and instead we dropped two points. The funny thing though, was that the result sent us to the top of the Championship after Watford’s defeat to Preston, even if it was only for a few hours.
Reading the papers this morning I discovered that Gary Johnson locked his players in the dressing room for half an hour to tell them where they had gone wrong. It is clear we need to be more creative at times and certain players need to just take a chance if one comes along. With the January transfer window open I am hoping a striker might be on Gary’s shopping list.
Next up is Crystal Palace, who have gone 14 games unbeaten, so there is no chance the team will be complacent here. Neil Warnock has done a fantastic job but surely this unbeaten run has to come to end sometime. Looking on the bright side, after 27 games we have 48 points and sit proudly in one of the automatic promotion spots so things are not looking too bad!
ANDY DAVIES
We started brightly and I was out of my seat prematurely on five minutes when I thought a looping header from Marvin Elliot was heading into the net. Unfortunately, his header was saved and within 60 seconds we found ourselves behind to a Kevin Lisbie goal. Our two centre backs, Liam Fontaine and Tamas Vasko looked all at sea when Lisbie was awarded too much space in the box, and sent a low curling effort past Adriano Basso and into the net.
The crowd responded in their usual fashion of urging the team on to bounce back, but I could sense we might be in trouble. Going forward we looked dangerous in the opening minutes, but at the back we were unsettled, our man marking not tight enough. Sure enough, Lisbie again found himself free in the box a few minutes later, but his effort was well saved by Basso. It was clear injured captain Louis Carey was being missed, but it was far too early for manager Gary Johnson to make a substitution.
From then on though, we improved. A tactical switch with wingers Michael McIndoe and Ivan Sproule swapping sides paid dividends on 32 minutes when Sproule ghosted past two defenders in the box and smash an equaliser into the net. Two minutes later we scored again when McIndoe’s free kick was well saved by Dean Gerken only to fall to Vasko, who bundled the ball over the line for City’s second. Celebrations were short lived as the referee’s assistant put his flag up for offside.
From where I was sitting it was hard to tell and I haven’t seen a TV replay yet so I can’t comment. But the players’ reaction clearly said it was a goal. Minutes later, McIndoe saw an effort hit the crossbar and the team headed to the dressing rooms at 1-1.
In the second half there were chances squandered at either end and penalty appeals turned down from both sides. I got the feeling this wasn’t going to be our day and that proved to be the case, with the game ending 1-1. Walking away from the game, to say I was disappointed was an understatement. This was a game that should have been won if we are seriously going to mount a challenge for promotion and instead we dropped two points. The funny thing though, was that the result sent us to the top of the Championship after Watford’s defeat to Preston, even if it was only for a few hours.
Reading the papers this morning I discovered that Gary Johnson locked his players in the dressing room for half an hour to tell them where they had gone wrong. It is clear we need to be more creative at times and certain players need to just take a chance if one comes along. With the January transfer window open I am hoping a striker might be on Gary’s shopping list.
Next up is Crystal Palace, who have gone 14 games unbeaten, so there is no chance the team will be complacent here. Neil Warnock has done a fantastic job but surely this unbeaten run has to come to end sometime. Looking on the bright side, after 27 games we have 48 points and sit proudly in one of the automatic promotion spots so things are not looking too bad!
ANDY DAVIES
Sunday 13 January 2008
Canham flattens Marine
The Southern League’s top goal scorer Sean Canham put on a master class of finishing as the former Exeter City man fired four goals in Team Bath’s 5-0 home demolition of inconsistent Swindon Supermarine.
The visitors had started well with captain Kyle Lapham twice testing Bath keeper Darren Chitty from long range and Richard Kear also going close. However as the hosts settled they began to find room amongst Supermarine’s makeshift backline. The deadlock was broken on 17minutes when the lively Takumi Ake beat his man to fire in a low drive past keeper Tom King. Marine looked to regain immediate parity but Ashley Edenborough saw his effort well held by Chitty.
The turning point of the match came on 24 minutes with Canham hitting the first of a remarkable seven-minute hat-trick. A long cross field ball cut apart the visitors and despite strong offside protests, Canham was picked out unmarked at the back post to coolly slot home.
If his first was questioned for offside the second was merely to be admired.
Again a long ball caused confusion amongst the visitor’s rearguard and Canham took full advantage, sending a delightfully weig hted ball above the advancing Tom King and into an empty net.
Canham rounded off his quick fire hat-trick with a well taken solo goal after Dean Smith threaded a neat through ball to find him in space. With 12 minutes of the first half still remaining there was time for Canham to go close to piling further misery on the visitors but King and then Lapham kept the halftime scoreline at 4-0.
The second half was a much more subdued affair in comparison to the goal fest before the interval but when Canham was found once again in space he made sure with a confident finish to take his league goals tally to 18 for the season.
Marine fought to keep the score ine down and to their credit never gave in but their miserable afternoon was compounded when with 10 minutes to play, Gary Horgan saw a second yellow and a subsequent red for a late tackle.
Swindon Supermarine manager Mark Collier remained philosophical despite his side’s torrid day out:
"As a team we are always learning and today is a lesson learnt.
"We never get carried away when we win so we won’t get too despondent with this result."
LEIGH MOORE
The visitors had started well with captain Kyle Lapham twice testing Bath keeper Darren Chitty from long range and Richard Kear also going close. However as the hosts settled they began to find room amongst Supermarine’s makeshift backline. The deadlock was broken on 17minutes when the lively Takumi Ake beat his man to fire in a low drive past keeper Tom King. Marine looked to regain immediate parity but Ashley Edenborough saw his effort well held by Chitty.
The turning point of the match came on 24 minutes with Canham hitting the first of a remarkable seven-minute hat-trick. A long cross field ball cut apart the visitors and despite strong offside protests, Canham was picked out unmarked at the back post to coolly slot home.
If his first was questioned for offside the second was merely to be admired.
Again a long ball caused confusion amongst the visitor’s rearguard and Canham took full advantage, sending a delightfully weig hted ball above the advancing Tom King and into an empty net.
Canham rounded off his quick fire hat-trick with a well taken solo goal after Dean Smith threaded a neat through ball to find him in space. With 12 minutes of the first half still remaining there was time for Canham to go close to piling further misery on the visitors but King and then Lapham kept the halftime scoreline at 4-0.
The second half was a much more subdued affair in comparison to the goal fest before the interval but when Canham was found once again in space he made sure with a confident finish to take his league goals tally to 18 for the season.
Marine fought to keep the score ine down and to their credit never gave in but their miserable afternoon was compounded when with 10 minutes to play, Gary Horgan saw a second yellow and a subsequent red for a late tackle.
Swindon Supermarine manager Mark Collier remained philosophical despite his side’s torrid day out:
"As a team we are always learning and today is a lesson learnt.
"We never get carried away when we win so we won’t get too despondent with this result."
LEIGH MOORE
Argyle's Weekus Horribilis
My last blog predicted Sylvan Ebanks-Blake would be sold in the summer if Plymouth Argyle did not reach the Premiership this season. It’s a horrible cliché for a horrible seven days, but a week is a long time in football. SEB’s sharp finishing in the Hull game clearly focussed minds at Wolverhampton Wanderers and moneybags QPR, who both tabled bids of £1.5million.
It is my belief, despite much conjecture to the contrary on Argyle supporters messageboards, that the PAFC board would not have accepted this figure had it not triggered a release clause in Ebanks-Blake’s contract, meaning he was free to talk to any club who offered that amount. This clause, supposedly, was key to Argyle signing SEB from Manchester United in the first place, with Watford offering a similar deal. In the event, it seems the 21-year-old Cambridge-born striker couldn’t get out of Home Park fast enough. He had a miserable start to his Wolves career though, missing a good chance as his new side lost 3-0 at home to Crystal Palace. My heart bleeds for him, of course.
In a last-ditch attempt to hold on to Sylvan, Argyle proposed a new deal to make him the highest paid player in the club’s history. However, why did this not happen earlier? The board knew the release clause was present in the contract, and there was reported interest from Derby in September. It was obvious, from a fairly early stage of the season, that Ebanks-Blake would be an important player for the Pilgrims – so why was no attempt made to agree new terms, with the release fee increased or removed?
I am sure that if attempts such as this had been made, we would have heard about it, as the Argyle press relations department is always quick to justify announcements which disappoint the Green Army. As it is, despite much hysteria, Ebanks-Blake is Argyle’s only major loss of the transfer window thus far. Akos Buzsaky never really delivered for Plymouth and was nearing the end of his contract. Dan Gosling has great potential but was not a first team regular and there was no guarantee he would ever become one. And Barry Hayles fading ability to cope with the demands of this level has been apparent for some time now (although he did score for Leicester yesterday).
But what we are now left with is a paper-thin squad with more departures threatened. And a pile of money in the bank but no indication that enough of it will be spent on the fees, and more importantly wages, which will attract the necessary calibre of player for a real play-off push.
Yesterday’s gutless 1-0 defeat at Burnley, who had not won any of their previous nine home games, summed up the problems Paul Sturrock faces. Argyle had two untried, 18-year-old first-year professionals, Jake Moult and Dan Smith, on the bench, the latter appearing as substitute. And Lukas Jutkiewicz, the same age and in his first start on loan from Everton, must be wondering what he has let himself in for – forced to lead the line with Jermaine Easter on the right wing. Luggy must take some of the blame for this; while Ian Holloway was sometimes lacking tactically, he was usually less cautious away from home.
But the meagre resources the manager was left him with few options. Sturrock has promised that the players who lacked passion at Turf Moor, obviously deflated by SEB’s sale, will be whipped back into shape, and no one is better at this job that Luggy. But with Peter Halmosi a target for Wigan, with a £2.5million bid allegedly already turned down, David Norris attracting attention at around £1.5million, Argyle’s more talented players will be getting restless if the squad cannot be sufficiently bolstered.
Argyle need a real replacement for Ebanks-Blake – Derek Riordan from Celtic, Billy Sharp from Sheffield United, Freddy Eastwood of Wolves, that kind of player. He won’t come cheap, particularly wage-wise, but, for many greens, this week represents a crossroads in the club’s history.
We’ve been here before – both Tony Waiters in ‘75 and Dave Smith in ‘87 built sides which could have made a real challenge for elevation to the top flight, but neither received adequate support from the Argyle money-men. Now, in our best season in 20 years, Plymouth have a similar chance – and the same things seem to be happening.
So let me suggest something. We have just made more than £3.5million in transfer money – let’s reinvest it in the playing side, spending say just over £1million more than we would have done over the next three years. That means new signings, three-year-contracts – and upgrading the wage structure to give us a real shout of going up. Gates will increase if the fans see Argyle challenging to reach the Premiership for the first time. And if, in three years, we don’t make it, the ‘organic growth’ lobby can say "I told you so" and the rest of us will shut up.
One thing’s for certain though – like the teams of Waiters and Smith, without serious investment, the only way is down.
RICH PARTINGTON
It is my belief, despite much conjecture to the contrary on Argyle supporters messageboards, that the PAFC board would not have accepted this figure had it not triggered a release clause in Ebanks-Blake’s contract, meaning he was free to talk to any club who offered that amount. This clause, supposedly, was key to Argyle signing SEB from Manchester United in the first place, with Watford offering a similar deal. In the event, it seems the 21-year-old Cambridge-born striker couldn’t get out of Home Park fast enough. He had a miserable start to his Wolves career though, missing a good chance as his new side lost 3-0 at home to Crystal Palace. My heart bleeds for him, of course.
In a last-ditch attempt to hold on to Sylvan, Argyle proposed a new deal to make him the highest paid player in the club’s history. However, why did this not happen earlier? The board knew the release clause was present in the contract, and there was reported interest from Derby in September. It was obvious, from a fairly early stage of the season, that Ebanks-Blake would be an important player for the Pilgrims – so why was no attempt made to agree new terms, with the release fee increased or removed?
I am sure that if attempts such as this had been made, we would have heard about it, as the Argyle press relations department is always quick to justify announcements which disappoint the Green Army. As it is, despite much hysteria, Ebanks-Blake is Argyle’s only major loss of the transfer window thus far. Akos Buzsaky never really delivered for Plymouth and was nearing the end of his contract. Dan Gosling has great potential but was not a first team regular and there was no guarantee he would ever become one. And Barry Hayles fading ability to cope with the demands of this level has been apparent for some time now (although he did score for Leicester yesterday).
But what we are now left with is a paper-thin squad with more departures threatened. And a pile of money in the bank but no indication that enough of it will be spent on the fees, and more importantly wages, which will attract the necessary calibre of player for a real play-off push.
Yesterday’s gutless 1-0 defeat at Burnley, who had not won any of their previous nine home games, summed up the problems Paul Sturrock faces. Argyle had two untried, 18-year-old first-year professionals, Jake Moult and Dan Smith, on the bench, the latter appearing as substitute. And Lukas Jutkiewicz, the same age and in his first start on loan from Everton, must be wondering what he has let himself in for – forced to lead the line with Jermaine Easter on the right wing. Luggy must take some of the blame for this; while Ian Holloway was sometimes lacking tactically, he was usually less cautious away from home.
But the meagre resources the manager was left him with few options. Sturrock has promised that the players who lacked passion at Turf Moor, obviously deflated by SEB’s sale, will be whipped back into shape, and no one is better at this job that Luggy. But with Peter Halmosi a target for Wigan, with a £2.5million bid allegedly already turned down, David Norris attracting attention at around £1.5million, Argyle’s more talented players will be getting restless if the squad cannot be sufficiently bolstered.
Argyle need a real replacement for Ebanks-Blake – Derek Riordan from Celtic, Billy Sharp from Sheffield United, Freddy Eastwood of Wolves, that kind of player. He won’t come cheap, particularly wage-wise, but, for many greens, this week represents a crossroads in the club’s history.
We’ve been here before – both Tony Waiters in ‘75 and Dave Smith in ‘87 built sides which could have made a real challenge for elevation to the top flight, but neither received adequate support from the Argyle money-men. Now, in our best season in 20 years, Plymouth have a similar chance – and the same things seem to be happening.
So let me suggest something. We have just made more than £3.5million in transfer money – let’s reinvest it in the playing side, spending say just over £1million more than we would have done over the next three years. That means new signings, three-year-contracts – and upgrading the wage structure to give us a real shout of going up. Gates will increase if the fans see Argyle challenging to reach the Premiership for the first time. And if, in three years, we don’t make it, the ‘organic growth’ lobby can say "I told you so" and the rest of us will shut up.
One thing’s for certain though – like the teams of Waiters and Smith, without serious investment, the only way is down.
RICH PARTINGTON
Monday 7 January 2008
Same old story for Cheltenham
Even having only followed the fortunes, or misfortunes of Cheltenham Town for just over a year, their lack of luck in the transfer market is already starting to get on my nerves. Players reject loan moves due to our obscurity (Phil Jevons), and we also have to contend with Blue Square Premier clubs valuing their players in excess of £250K. Maybe in the case of Forest Green goal machine Stuart Fleetwood, the valuation isn't too excessive but Jamie Mackie? I'd never heard of him until I heard of Cheltenham's interest.
A quick check on Wikipedia told me he'd got three goals since 2005. Thankfully this seems to be wrong information, although in any case, Plymouth Argyle, now with a fresh £1.5M from the sale of Dan Gosling to Everton, have the cash to splash about so £250K will seem like nothing to them. However a move for Bristol City striker Steve Brooker looks to be on the cards, and if he has as much as an affect as Dean Sinclair did, I'll be delighted.
On the football side of things, Cheltenham won a crucial game against bottom club Port Vale 1-0, with Paul Connor getting the goal. Barring a miracle, Vale look doomed, well adrift of 20th place. Cheltenham are still five points behind, with another six pointer against Bournemouth to come on Saturday. Robins fans will be hopeful of a repeat of their last gasp 1-0 win almost a year ago.
The relegation battle looks as intriguing as it did last year, with Luton having been dragged into it by their points deduction, and Bristol Rovers anxiously looking over their shoulders. Statistically speaking, Cheltenham are in almost exactly the same position as they were last season, which should serve to encourage, as they ended up surviving quite comfortably last time around.
Meanwhile, chairman Paul Baker has put forward plans to either expand Whaddon Road, or move stadiums. While Whaddon Road is a lovely, old-fashioned, typical lower league football ground, most people (especially away fans) will admit that its location is obscure to say the least. If I didn't live a stone's throw away I'd struggle to find it without a very good map.
So apart from the lack of luck in the transfer window, things seem to be looking up for the Robins.
JAMES LEWIS
A quick check on Wikipedia told me he'd got three goals since 2005. Thankfully this seems to be wrong information, although in any case, Plymouth Argyle, now with a fresh £1.5M from the sale of Dan Gosling to Everton, have the cash to splash about so £250K will seem like nothing to them. However a move for Bristol City striker Steve Brooker looks to be on the cards, and if he has as much as an affect as Dean Sinclair did, I'll be delighted.
On the football side of things, Cheltenham won a crucial game against bottom club Port Vale 1-0, with Paul Connor getting the goal. Barring a miracle, Vale look doomed, well adrift of 20th place. Cheltenham are still five points behind, with another six pointer against Bournemouth to come on Saturday. Robins fans will be hopeful of a repeat of their last gasp 1-0 win almost a year ago.
The relegation battle looks as intriguing as it did last year, with Luton having been dragged into it by their points deduction, and Bristol Rovers anxiously looking over their shoulders. Statistically speaking, Cheltenham are in almost exactly the same position as they were last season, which should serve to encourage, as they ended up surviving quite comfortably last time around.
Meanwhile, chairman Paul Baker has put forward plans to either expand Whaddon Road, or move stadiums. While Whaddon Road is a lovely, old-fashioned, typical lower league football ground, most people (especially away fans) will admit that its location is obscure to say the least. If I didn't live a stone's throw away I'd struggle to find it without a very good map.
So apart from the lack of luck in the transfer window, things seem to be looking up for the Robins.
JAMES LEWIS
Ebanks-Blake blossoms to bury Tynan's ghost
I was but a glimmer in my father’s (or maybe the postman’s) eye back in 1986. That spring, Thomas Tynan, one of the heroes of Plymouth Argyle’s run to the 1984 FA Cup semi-final, returned to the club on loan from Rotherham United. The Pilgrims were pushing for promotion to the old Division Two and manager Dave ‘Ciderman’ Smith brought Tynan, who had scored 54 times in 107 starts in his first spell at Plymouth, in to spearhead his team in the closing stages. It proved a masterstroke; Tynan bagged ten goals in the final eight matches, including two in the 4-0 win over Bristol City, which clinched promotion on April 29th.
Signing permanently again the following season, the Liverpudlian was the clubs focal point for an ultimately unsuccessful charge towards the top flight, eventually leaving in 1990 with 144 goals from 310 appearances, a feat unequalled at Home Park since the war.
Ever since, the ghost of Tynan, now a taxi driver and evening newspaper columnist in Plymouth, has haunted the club. Until this season, no Argyle side has really come close to matching the 7th place finish in the second tier achieved in 1986-7, when Tynan plundered 19 goals. And Home Park has become something of a striker’s graveyard, even as the glory days returned under Paul Sturrock.
Dwight Marshall impressed many; Mickey Evans was a legend, but a target man, not a poacher. The mythical ’20 goal-a-season’ man has become the worst of clichés, with Argyle unable to raise the funds or develop the talent to finally replace King Tommy. Every new forward provoked fans to suggest ‘flashes of Tynan’ soon after arriving, and every one was ultimately unable to hit those heights.
But that may be changing. Last summer, Ian Holloway plucked Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, just a month old when Argyle went up in ’86, from Manchester United’s reserves for £250,000. Despite initially appearing possibly lazy and out of shape, increased opportunities alongside the veteran Barry Hayles sharpened Ebanks-Blake’s instincts and provided him with the confidence to progress. A goal in his second start, away at QPR, was the first of ten in 2006-7, the majority coming in the second half of the season.
This form carried through to the new season, with the winner at Hull on the opening day. Against the same opposition on Saturday, in the FA Cup third round tie at Home Park, Sylvan again showed the strength, quick feet, and unerring ability to find the target which have become his forte.
Far from providing the foil for Hayles, as he did last season, Ebanks-Blake has led the line almost single-handedly, with his veteran partner running out of legs. With Bazza now the first victim of Holloway’s ‘fool and his money’ policy at Leicester City, (reportedly leaving for £150,000 – more than Argyle paid and with his contract up in the summer) Ebanks-Blake has the opportunity to forge a promising partnership with young Welsh international Jermaine Easter, who scored in every round of the League Cup (bar the final) last year.
One particular trick in the SEB book is proving very successful. Commonly derided for a supposed lack of effort due to his restricted movement in the final third, Ebanks-Blake is in fact playing to his strengths. Hovering on the edge of or just inside the 18-yard box, he edges forward with his back tight to the opposition centre-halves, and looks to receive the ball to feet from midfield. In one sharp movement, he spins his marker and is often allowed a clear run at goal. Argyle’s other attackers take the other defenders out of the equation to give him space. Even with less opportunity to move, the 22-year-old’s eye for goal, vastly improved since profligate early days, means he’s usually a good bet to score.
Against Hull, with Argyle leading 2-1, he broke down the left hand side, laying the ball back for Peter Halmosi and ghosting into the area. The Hungarian winger beat a man before squaring across the crowded penalty area to Ebanks-Blake, whose first time, angled strike found the bottom right-hand corner. It was as good a piece of natural finishing as I’ve seen from a green-shirted player.
Argyle’s mixed results over Christmas have kept them just a point outside the playoffs, and with many of the big guns out of the way for a while. Saturday’s trip to Burnley could be a major test of promotion credentials; Sturrock’s squad is playing well, but is low on numbers, with more players set to follow 17-year-old Dan Gosling, Argyle’s record sale in going to Everton for £1.5million, out of the door. A flu bug is also causing problems.
The Clarets are in poor form and Argyle are clearly a better side in most departments, so a win must be expected, and the same can be said for next week’s home tie with Southampton. It’d be a huge boost for the Pilgrims to travel to Ipswich, whose manager Jim Magilton continues his efforts to poach David Norris, on January 29 with more points than our hosts, and no more star players having left.
Ebanks-Blake should definitely remain, despite reported interest from Derby last summer. However, if he can reach the magical 20 by the season’s end, and Argyle have not won promotion, expect the Premiership vultures to begin their spherical dance.
RICH PARTINGTON
Signing permanently again the following season, the Liverpudlian was the clubs focal point for an ultimately unsuccessful charge towards the top flight, eventually leaving in 1990 with 144 goals from 310 appearances, a feat unequalled at Home Park since the war.
Ever since, the ghost of Tynan, now a taxi driver and evening newspaper columnist in Plymouth, has haunted the club. Until this season, no Argyle side has really come close to matching the 7th place finish in the second tier achieved in 1986-7, when Tynan plundered 19 goals. And Home Park has become something of a striker’s graveyard, even as the glory days returned under Paul Sturrock.
Dwight Marshall impressed many; Mickey Evans was a legend, but a target man, not a poacher. The mythical ’20 goal-a-season’ man has become the worst of clichés, with Argyle unable to raise the funds or develop the talent to finally replace King Tommy. Every new forward provoked fans to suggest ‘flashes of Tynan’ soon after arriving, and every one was ultimately unable to hit those heights.
But that may be changing. Last summer, Ian Holloway plucked Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, just a month old when Argyle went up in ’86, from Manchester United’s reserves for £250,000. Despite initially appearing possibly lazy and out of shape, increased opportunities alongside the veteran Barry Hayles sharpened Ebanks-Blake’s instincts and provided him with the confidence to progress. A goal in his second start, away at QPR, was the first of ten in 2006-7, the majority coming in the second half of the season.
This form carried through to the new season, with the winner at Hull on the opening day. Against the same opposition on Saturday, in the FA Cup third round tie at Home Park, Sylvan again showed the strength, quick feet, and unerring ability to find the target which have become his forte.
Far from providing the foil for Hayles, as he did last season, Ebanks-Blake has led the line almost single-handedly, with his veteran partner running out of legs. With Bazza now the first victim of Holloway’s ‘fool and his money’ policy at Leicester City, (reportedly leaving for £150,000 – more than Argyle paid and with his contract up in the summer) Ebanks-Blake has the opportunity to forge a promising partnership with young Welsh international Jermaine Easter, who scored in every round of the League Cup (bar the final) last year.
One particular trick in the SEB book is proving very successful. Commonly derided for a supposed lack of effort due to his restricted movement in the final third, Ebanks-Blake is in fact playing to his strengths. Hovering on the edge of or just inside the 18-yard box, he edges forward with his back tight to the opposition centre-halves, and looks to receive the ball to feet from midfield. In one sharp movement, he spins his marker and is often allowed a clear run at goal. Argyle’s other attackers take the other defenders out of the equation to give him space. Even with less opportunity to move, the 22-year-old’s eye for goal, vastly improved since profligate early days, means he’s usually a good bet to score.
Against Hull, with Argyle leading 2-1, he broke down the left hand side, laying the ball back for Peter Halmosi and ghosting into the area. The Hungarian winger beat a man before squaring across the crowded penalty area to Ebanks-Blake, whose first time, angled strike found the bottom right-hand corner. It was as good a piece of natural finishing as I’ve seen from a green-shirted player.
Argyle’s mixed results over Christmas have kept them just a point outside the playoffs, and with many of the big guns out of the way for a while. Saturday’s trip to Burnley could be a major test of promotion credentials; Sturrock’s squad is playing well, but is low on numbers, with more players set to follow 17-year-old Dan Gosling, Argyle’s record sale in going to Everton for £1.5million, out of the door. A flu bug is also causing problems.
The Clarets are in poor form and Argyle are clearly a better side in most departments, so a win must be expected, and the same can be said for next week’s home tie with Southampton. It’d be a huge boost for the Pilgrims to travel to Ipswich, whose manager Jim Magilton continues his efforts to poach David Norris, on January 29 with more points than our hosts, and no more star players having left.
Ebanks-Blake should definitely remain, despite reported interest from Derby last summer. However, if he can reach the magical 20 by the season’s end, and Argyle have not won promotion, expect the Premiership vultures to begin their spherical dance.
RICH PARTINGTON
Sunday 6 January 2008
Swindon saved
The new year could have been rung in by the sound of the gates slamming shut for good at the County Ground.
Recent testing times in the boardroom of Swindon Town FC led many fans believing the club was nearing extinction. In 2007, the extent of debt owed to the Inland Revenue became more frighteningly apparent, reportedly amassing to £18 million. The club was on the brink of being pronounced dead; its obituary virtually written. "S.T.F.C R.I.P." was declared on many supporters’ placards.
Remarkably, the club has been reincarnated with fresh optimism thanks to Andrew Fitton’s consortium, whose wealth has a combined value of over a billion pounds.
Just before Christmas, on Thursday 20th December, I was glancing at the Swindon Advertiser website with a tear in my eye. It was reported that the IR was about to enact winding up orders. Scrolling down to the readers’ comments, I noticed that a protest gathering had been organised for 7pm outside the Arkells Stand.
It was at this point I realised it was make or break, and that I had an obligation to attend. So I drove down to the stadium car park, and gathered amongst the small crowd of 25-30 people in the freezing cold. Bearing in mind that this was organised at the last minute on the internet I was quite impressed with the turn out. Fans were patient considering the circumstances, that after months of delays a signature still had not been placed on the dotted line to buy the club.
In what I still think of as a miracle, just before 8pm a spokesman for S.T.F.C came down and announced that the deal had finally been done after so many agonising months. Crowds cheered, cars honked and it was a fantastic moment; just days before Christmas the future of Swindon Town Football Club had been secured.
I was also ecstatic to shake hands with millionaire James Wills shortly after the deal was done, when he stepped out to introduce himself to fans. He gave us photocopies of the press release, which read:
"Swindon Football holdings limited announces that at 7pm on Thursday 20th December 2007, it entered into a conditional agreement to purchase 75% of the issued share capital of Swindon Town Football Company Limited.
"The agreement is conditional on the vendors satisfying the purchasers on certain conditions (including matters relating to Shaw Park Develoments and HR Revenue & Customs) not later than 11th January, 2008.
"The purchasers will have an active involvement in the management of the Club with immediate effect."
Commenting, Fitton said: "I am pleased that we are nearly there. The hard work of reorganising the club will start immediately."
As part of the reorganisation plans, Fitton wants to establish Swindon as a Championship club within three years.
He has said: "Our plan for this club is that we think it has a place in the Championship.
"If in three years time we are in the Championship I will have succeeded, if not I will have failed."
He added: "I don't think it is ever wise to say we'll be in the Premier League in five years time. Those are absurd ideas.
"Where this club should rightly be is a well established Championship club and once we get to that stage maybe other things can happen.
"Our objective now is to make this into one of the best run and managed clubs in the country."
So, a dark era in Swindon Town FC’s history has now passed and can finally move forward with fresh new owners, rebuilding it so that it can climb back up the ranks to where it used to, and so rightly belongs. New Year, New Swindon. Come on you Reds!!!
NEIL ROBINSON
Recent testing times in the boardroom of Swindon Town FC led many fans believing the club was nearing extinction. In 2007, the extent of debt owed to the Inland Revenue became more frighteningly apparent, reportedly amassing to £18 million. The club was on the brink of being pronounced dead; its obituary virtually written. "S.T.F.C R.I.P." was declared on many supporters’ placards.
Remarkably, the club has been reincarnated with fresh optimism thanks to Andrew Fitton’s consortium, whose wealth has a combined value of over a billion pounds.
Just before Christmas, on Thursday 20th December, I was glancing at the Swindon Advertiser website with a tear in my eye. It was reported that the IR was about to enact winding up orders. Scrolling down to the readers’ comments, I noticed that a protest gathering had been organised for 7pm outside the Arkells Stand.
It was at this point I realised it was make or break, and that I had an obligation to attend. So I drove down to the stadium car park, and gathered amongst the small crowd of 25-30 people in the freezing cold. Bearing in mind that this was organised at the last minute on the internet I was quite impressed with the turn out. Fans were patient considering the circumstances, that after months of delays a signature still had not been placed on the dotted line to buy the club.
In what I still think of as a miracle, just before 8pm a spokesman for S.T.F.C came down and announced that the deal had finally been done after so many agonising months. Crowds cheered, cars honked and it was a fantastic moment; just days before Christmas the future of Swindon Town Football Club had been secured.
I was also ecstatic to shake hands with millionaire James Wills shortly after the deal was done, when he stepped out to introduce himself to fans. He gave us photocopies of the press release, which read:
"Swindon Football holdings limited announces that at 7pm on Thursday 20th December 2007, it entered into a conditional agreement to purchase 75% of the issued share capital of Swindon Town Football Company Limited.
"The agreement is conditional on the vendors satisfying the purchasers on certain conditions (including matters relating to Shaw Park Develoments and HR Revenue & Customs) not later than 11th January, 2008.
"The purchasers will have an active involvement in the management of the Club with immediate effect."
Commenting, Fitton said: "I am pleased that we are nearly there. The hard work of reorganising the club will start immediately."
As part of the reorganisation plans, Fitton wants to establish Swindon as a Championship club within three years.
He has said: "Our plan for this club is that we think it has a place in the Championship.
"If in three years time we are in the Championship I will have succeeded, if not I will have failed."
He added: "I don't think it is ever wise to say we'll be in the Premier League in five years time. Those are absurd ideas.
"Where this club should rightly be is a well established Championship club and once we get to that stage maybe other things can happen.
"Our objective now is to make this into one of the best run and managed clubs in the country."
So, a dark era in Swindon Town FC’s history has now passed and can finally move forward with fresh new owners, rebuilding it so that it can climb back up the ranks to where it used to, and so rightly belongs. New Year, New Swindon. Come on you Reds!!!
NEIL ROBINSON
Wednesday 2 January 2008
Promised land on the horizon?
Well the busy Christmas period is over, and it is a time which can make or break a season for any club. Thankfully for Bristol City we have come through this intense time with only one defeat to our name, and that came away against West Brom, arguably the best team in the league. We find ourselves sitting in joint first place alongside West Brom and Watford, all on 47 points after 26 games.
The media have continually mentioned about when the ‘bubble’ will burst and in the beginning I thought this too, but something now tells me this won’t happen. We have shown already we can bounce back from severe defeats as we did at Barnsley (3-0), the 6-0 drubbing at Ipswich, and recently at West Brom when we were on the wrong end of a 4-1 score line.
The team spirit created by Gary Johnson means the players don’t dwell too long on a defeat and refocus their minds quickly on the next fixture. We are taking each game as it comes and as a result have not become unnerved by the new teams we are facing.
Although there are still 20 league games to play I am starting to believe we can sustain our current form and maybe make it to the promise land. Sceptics may say it is too soon for City to get promoted after only coming up from League One five months ago, but when a great opportunity comes along you have to grab it with both hands.
The money we would receive would be welcome even if we were to be relegated back to the Championship. Promotion is worth in the region of £60 million and with parachute payments of about £20 million it would do us no harm financially.
The club are already looking to the future with the capture of exciting attacking midfielder Nick Carle, an Australian International who we have paid £500,000 for from Turkish side Genclerbirligi. Having seen a video of him on the internet, he looks an exciting player with many fancy skills and he certainly knows where the goal is.
2007 has now come to an end and many football supporters in Bristol didn’t want it to end after such a successful year for both Bristol clubs in which both were promoted. Hopefully 2008 will be even more exciting and my next blog will be describing a City victory over Middlesbrough in the F.A Cup on Saturday.
ANDY DAVIES
The media have continually mentioned about when the ‘bubble’ will burst and in the beginning I thought this too, but something now tells me this won’t happen. We have shown already we can bounce back from severe defeats as we did at Barnsley (3-0), the 6-0 drubbing at Ipswich, and recently at West Brom when we were on the wrong end of a 4-1 score line.
The team spirit created by Gary Johnson means the players don’t dwell too long on a defeat and refocus their minds quickly on the next fixture. We are taking each game as it comes and as a result have not become unnerved by the new teams we are facing.
Although there are still 20 league games to play I am starting to believe we can sustain our current form and maybe make it to the promise land. Sceptics may say it is too soon for City to get promoted after only coming up from League One five months ago, but when a great opportunity comes along you have to grab it with both hands.
The money we would receive would be welcome even if we were to be relegated back to the Championship. Promotion is worth in the region of £60 million and with parachute payments of about £20 million it would do us no harm financially.
The club are already looking to the future with the capture of exciting attacking midfielder Nick Carle, an Australian International who we have paid £500,000 for from Turkish side Genclerbirligi. Having seen a video of him on the internet, he looks an exciting player with many fancy skills and he certainly knows where the goal is.
2007 has now come to an end and many football supporters in Bristol didn’t want it to end after such a successful year for both Bristol clubs in which both were promoted. Hopefully 2008 will be even more exciting and my next blog will be describing a City victory over Middlesbrough in the F.A Cup on Saturday.
ANDY DAVIES
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