Only last season Plymouth were regarded as the best team in the south west, which goes to show how quickly things can change in football. Argyle were in the Championship pushing for a play-off place while Bristol City were in League One fighting for automatic pro`motion. This season has seen the tables turn with City establishing themselves as surprise promotion contenders while Paul Strurrock’s side have struggled to stay in the play-offs. Only a few weeks ago, Argyle’s season looked to be over as they lay far adrift from the play-off places, yet a resurgent run of four straight wins in February took them back into the play-offs and had fans dreaming of the Premiership. But they have now lost three games in March and have slipped outside the top six so Saturday’s game is crucial for both teams.
City, on the other hand have maintained their place at the top of the league and have now gone eight games unbeaten. We have managed to take 16 points from eight games which is a fantastic return and certainly promotion form, and hopefully this will continue. But the Westcountry derby will not be an easy game for City as Plymouth will obviously be desperate to get back to winning ways and maintain their push for a top six finish.
In our last meeting in December, the game ended 1-1, with City scoring from a Krisztian Timar own goal. Plymouth goalkeeper Roman Larrieu had a fantastic game and was unlucky to concede a goal after he had made some fantastic saves. Fortunately for City, Larrieu is injured, as is his number two Luke McCormick, so Argyle have a keeper crisis and are looking at bringing in an emergency loan as they are left with only a youth team goalkeeper to stick between the posts. Hopefully, the headlines from this game aren’t ‘loanee goalkeeper makes fantastic save to win the game for Plymouth’!
The game is sure to be sell-out, which is two in a row at Ashton Gate, so the atmosphere should be fantastic. I am sure the game will also be entertaining with both sides wanting to play football instead of looking to kick the ball in the air, which has been the case in recent games at Ashton Gate. The swirling winds will hopefully have ceased so the players should find it easier to play football. On Tuesday, I became frustrated with the lack of football played by City and Watford, but walking away from the game I realised how bad the wind was which would have made play difficult for both sets of teams.
So who do you think will come out victorious on Saturday? Of course I am going to say City but Plymouth will no doubt create a hard game. With quality players like Peter Halmosi and Jermaine Easter, it promises to be an entertaining game. I expect City to make some changes to the side that played on Tuesday, with Lee Johnson looking doubtful and perhaps Ivan Sproule and Darren Byfield could be recalled. I was not happy, to say the least, with having Brian Wilson playing on the right wing against Watford and we looked a better side when Sproule replaced him in the last five minutes. I also have a bet with a Plymouth fan riding on this game, so a win would be all the sweeter.
ANDY DAVIES
Showing posts with label Larrieu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Larrieu. Show all posts
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Thursday, 14 February 2008
'The Three Maccateers' continue Argyle revival
A week is a long time in…blah blah blah.
But how apt a phrase that is today. Six points, two clean sheets, and a pair of commanding performances on, the pessimism pervading Plymouth Argyle at the end of January has given way to renewed hopes of a Championship play-off punt.
Argyle sit just two points outside the top six after Tuesday’s comprehensive 3-0 success at home to ten-man Barnsley, Yorkshire’s best side this year, who beat us 3-2 at Oakwell in August. Indeed, at the final whistle the BBC Sport website – which, for me, is the definitive resource for all football matters – actually had the Pilgrims sat in sixth spot , before a win for Ipswich at Crystal Palace and Burnley’s Andy Cole-inspired comeback at QPR dropped us back down to eighth.
Still, after I’d all but given up on a real run at promotion after the home defeat to Hull a couple of weeks ago, the race is very much back on and I’m chewing away at my green-and-white hat.
Luke McCormick deserves a huge amount of credit for this. Romain Larrieu’s return from injury this season appears to have spurred ‘Super Luke’ on, and, with the Frenchman out of action again, Luke has assumed a commanding status in the Argyle goal. For the first time, as well, McCormick looks the club’s undisputed number one, whoever he is competing with.
The Coventry-born stopper’s lack of height has been a traditional weakness, from the very first time I saw him – away at Tranmere in 2002, when 85 minutes of inspired shot-stopping was undone by two late blunders which gave the home side victory. Under the returning Paul Sturrock, though, McCormick has learned to mask this with aerial confidence and an exemplary all-round game. His kicking has always been long and strong; he thinks quickly and often wins one-on-one contests with opposing attackers.
There were rumours of interest from Middlesbrough in January, but these came to nothing. Luke would probably leave if an offer like this came in, but so would most Championship players. For now he seems content at Home Park, enjoying the lack of national expectation and pressure which goes with a 'bigger' club and quietly guiding his side up the table.
From looking likely to leave the club several times in the last couple of months – first after seeming to back Ian Holloway’s departure in a press statement, and then in the aftermath of an admittedly reasonable declaration that there could only be one first-choice keeper at Argyle – McCormick has established himself as the goalkeeping future at Home Park.
This is arguably less than fair on Larrieu, an Argyle legend and fan favourite, who has been unlucky with injuries. The growth in his abdomen currently keeping the Frenchman out is the latest in a string of problems, with a serious knee injury and a cancer scare forcing lengthy lay-offs while at Home Park. At 31, he is in the prime of his goalkeeping life, and will not want to play second fiddle to his young English rival, but it would be a shame to lose him.
While McCormick kept Barnsley at bay on Tuesday night the other ‘Maccateers’ (and I’m copywriting that phrase, by the way) were making the difference at the other end.
Record-signing Steve McLean’s free-kick gave Argyle a fifth minute lead, and the Scottish striker his first goal in green. The wily forward has been settling well, delighting the Green Army with his cleverness, technique, and reading of the game. But he needed a goal, and while he will never be an arch-poacher like Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who he replaced in the number nine shirt, his overall qualities are of greater value to the team. McLean reportedly loves his new home, and he could form a great partnership with another new arrival.
Jamie Mackie was not, for Pilgrim fans, initially the most exciting signing in our history. He came from Exeter, a club we treat with withering disdain, and had only bagged 11 goals this season in a league three levels lower than the Championship.
On as a sub for the hard-working, pacy Jermaine Easter, however, and he looked a man possessed. Only eleven seconds had passed when Mackie charged into the box, took a pass from Peter Halmosi and displayed tremendous strength and composure in shrugging off two defenders to score. His second goal was even better, receiving the ball down the right channel, teasing and twisting the defender and smashing home.
It was one of the most inspired and surprising cameos I’ve seen from a player in green. Here is a rough diamond, clearly tremendously talented but also oozing arrogance and self-regard, as his dancing celebration displayed – personal glory is obviously a major priority for the 22-year-old from Dorking. But if he plays like that every week he can have a statue outside the Devonport End for all I care. Mackie’s a showman, a superstar in his own head, and with the potential to become one on the pitch as well. If anyone's going to take over SEB's goalscoring mantle, he has staked a prime claim to be that man. It's a little harsh on Easter, who has performed well for Argyle without getting the breaks, or goals. But Mackie made his own opportunities against Barnsley, and sometime's that's the sign of a great player, as opposed to a good one.
And Paul Wotton’s back! What a week!
Roll on Southampton, and I’m getting a bit excited just at the thought of it.
RICH PARTINGTON
But how apt a phrase that is today. Six points, two clean sheets, and a pair of commanding performances on, the pessimism pervading Plymouth Argyle at the end of January has given way to renewed hopes of a Championship play-off punt.
Argyle sit just two points outside the top six after Tuesday’s comprehensive 3-0 success at home to ten-man Barnsley, Yorkshire’s best side this year, who beat us 3-2 at Oakwell in August. Indeed, at the final whistle the BBC Sport website – which, for me, is the definitive resource for all football matters – actually had the Pilgrims sat in sixth spot , before a win for Ipswich at Crystal Palace and Burnley’s Andy Cole-inspired comeback at QPR dropped us back down to eighth.
Still, after I’d all but given up on a real run at promotion after the home defeat to Hull a couple of weeks ago, the race is very much back on and I’m chewing away at my green-and-white hat.
Luke McCormick deserves a huge amount of credit for this. Romain Larrieu’s return from injury this season appears to have spurred ‘Super Luke’ on, and, with the Frenchman out of action again, Luke has assumed a commanding status in the Argyle goal. For the first time, as well, McCormick looks the club’s undisputed number one, whoever he is competing with.
The Coventry-born stopper’s lack of height has been a traditional weakness, from the very first time I saw him – away at Tranmere in 2002, when 85 minutes of inspired shot-stopping was undone by two late blunders which gave the home side victory. Under the returning Paul Sturrock, though, McCormick has learned to mask this with aerial confidence and an exemplary all-round game. His kicking has always been long and strong; he thinks quickly and often wins one-on-one contests with opposing attackers.
There were rumours of interest from Middlesbrough in January, but these came to nothing. Luke would probably leave if an offer like this came in, but so would most Championship players. For now he seems content at Home Park, enjoying the lack of national expectation and pressure which goes with a 'bigger' club and quietly guiding his side up the table.
From looking likely to leave the club several times in the last couple of months – first after seeming to back Ian Holloway’s departure in a press statement, and then in the aftermath of an admittedly reasonable declaration that there could only be one first-choice keeper at Argyle – McCormick has established himself as the goalkeeping future at Home Park.
This is arguably less than fair on Larrieu, an Argyle legend and fan favourite, who has been unlucky with injuries. The growth in his abdomen currently keeping the Frenchman out is the latest in a string of problems, with a serious knee injury and a cancer scare forcing lengthy lay-offs while at Home Park. At 31, he is in the prime of his goalkeeping life, and will not want to play second fiddle to his young English rival, but it would be a shame to lose him.
While McCormick kept Barnsley at bay on Tuesday night the other ‘Maccateers’ (and I’m copywriting that phrase, by the way) were making the difference at the other end.
Record-signing Steve McLean’s free-kick gave Argyle a fifth minute lead, and the Scottish striker his first goal in green. The wily forward has been settling well, delighting the Green Army with his cleverness, technique, and reading of the game. But he needed a goal, and while he will never be an arch-poacher like Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who he replaced in the number nine shirt, his overall qualities are of greater value to the team. McLean reportedly loves his new home, and he could form a great partnership with another new arrival.
Jamie Mackie was not, for Pilgrim fans, initially the most exciting signing in our history. He came from Exeter, a club we treat with withering disdain, and had only bagged 11 goals this season in a league three levels lower than the Championship.
On as a sub for the hard-working, pacy Jermaine Easter, however, and he looked a man possessed. Only eleven seconds had passed when Mackie charged into the box, took a pass from Peter Halmosi and displayed tremendous strength and composure in shrugging off two defenders to score. His second goal was even better, receiving the ball down the right channel, teasing and twisting the defender and smashing home.
It was one of the most inspired and surprising cameos I’ve seen from a player in green. Here is a rough diamond, clearly tremendously talented but also oozing arrogance and self-regard, as his dancing celebration displayed – personal glory is obviously a major priority for the 22-year-old from Dorking. But if he plays like that every week he can have a statue outside the Devonport End for all I care. Mackie’s a showman, a superstar in his own head, and with the potential to become one on the pitch as well. If anyone's going to take over SEB's goalscoring mantle, he has staked a prime claim to be that man. It's a little harsh on Easter, who has performed well for Argyle without getting the breaks, or goals. But Mackie made his own opportunities against Barnsley, and sometime's that's the sign of a great player, as opposed to a good one.
And Paul Wotton’s back! What a week!
Roll on Southampton, and I’m getting a bit excited just at the thought of it.
RICH PARTINGTON
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Honours even in derby battle
It’s fair to say that the atmosphere at Home Park for Plymouth Argyle home matches has slowly disintegrated over the last few seasons. When the Greens stormed through the lower divisions from 2001-2004, blitzing all-comers on the way to two championships in three years, there were countless days when the Devonport End roof virtually struggled to withstand the force of noise from underneath. And, for the biggest games, the Zoo Corner of the Lyndhurst began to develop in a similar way, with hundreds on their feet, united in song, for long periods.
This is something which has slowly fallen away, and there are several reasons for this, aside from the obvious – Argyle, of course, haven’t experienced a promotion season in the intervening period. Success will always get the fans singing, and there were so many massively important ties at the time, with so much riding on them – who can forget Mansfield and Exeter at home in 2002, or Swindon and QPR in 2004? The nervous tension of these games and the large, fervent support was conducive to a raucous, intimidating atmosphere.
That was replicated a couple of times when Argyle first went up to the Championship – Leeds at home in particular – but the disappointments and defeats of a long, hard season, where Argyle struggled with the step up to the second tier, wore down the supporters. An average of 16,420 saw league matches at Home Park in 2004-05, the highest number since 1960-61. This should have been the springboard for a widening of the fanbase and increased success, but the incompetence of Bobby Williamson and conservative tactics of his successor Tony Pulis drove the crowds away.
Bristol City are currently in a similar position to where Argyle were three years ago. Flushed with the feel-good factor from promotion, the crowds are still high and roaring on their team. However, with the Robins having managed to hang on to their messiah, manager Gary Johnson, while the Pilgrims lost ours, Paul Sturrock, to Southampton. City have started their assault on the Championship impressively well, the winning momentum yet to catch up with them.
Saturday, of course, was where the two sides met, and as well as providing an opportunity to decide the strongest side in the Westcountry, it allowed an intriguing insight into the state of two broadly progressive clubs who, sooner or later, should be making real challenges for places in the Premiership.
This was the first Argyle game which came anything close to a derby since promotion to the Championship, and, with City having sold out the Barn Park End, they were obviously up for it too, despite their claims that this week’s home tie with Cardiff means more.
The police, at any rate, were not taking chances. Travelling down on the train with my Turnip companion Andy Davies, and clad in a green shirt and scarf, I was surrounded by a see of Bristolians from Temple Meads onwards. There was certainly a degree of comfort in having the boys in yellow blazers only a couple of yards away.
At Plymouth station the security was stepped up with City fans diverted away from everyone else. I very nearly got dragged with them, but thankfully several determined jabs at my scarf amid the din conveyed to the coppers that this might be unwise. On the way back, I was not able to find Andy until we had passed Bristol, with the City fans having been kept inside the ground for more than 20 minutes after the match, and the train coaches segregated to avoid conflicts.
The Britannia Inn, on the corner of the ground, held a calmer ambience, with red and green mixing happily, but this was obviously not the case inside Home Park. A small segregation area, and the apparent willingness of the stewards to allow the massed opposing ranks in the Zoo corner and away end to stand for the entire game, was conducive to a crackling atmosphere. Even Andy admitted, at the time, that Argyle outsang Bristol. And we had something approaching those days I was referring to; the first time since the Watford FA Cup quarter-final, last season, that Home Park had felt like a real football ground.
And there was the return of personalised songs. An Argyle team entering the field of play in 2003 would have been greeted by an individual chant for almost every player – from ‘Marino, woah-oah!’ (Marino Keith) to the famous Jason Bent Song (he ‘came from Canada to play for Ar-gy-le’, to the tune of ‘John Brown’s Body’, and was compared favourably to the also-dreadlocked Edgar Davids) – but as the folk heroes have been found out at higher levels, and the club have got bigger, the relationship between players and fans has become weaker and these songs have dwindled.
Also, these songs, often started as a joke by small groups of fans, are much harder to spread in the bigger crowds and designated seating of today.
But when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was tugged down in the box by Louis Carey on 23 minutes and got up to smash home the resulting penalty, the former Manchester United trainee’s enthusiastic celebrations were greeted by the Lyndhurst roaring his name to the cheesy tune of KC & The Sunshine Band’s ‘Give It Up’. Sylvan’s further exploits provoked repeat readings, and a classic was born.
Kristian Timar didn’t have the best of afternoons, slicing the ball horrifically over Romain Larrieu’s head for City’s second-half own-goal equaliser, but beforehand he had been treated to several hearty bellowings of his surname. And for Argyle’s man-of-the-match goalkeeper, ‘He’s French, he’s great, he’s David Friio’s mate’ made a welcome return.
I didn’t sit down all afternoon. And though the 1-1 result, while probably a fair reflection of the game, was mildly disappointing given Argyle’s winning position, the atmosphere was how it should be every week.
The problem of making this happen is a complex one which must be examined separately, but certainly the decision to reduce prices for the Hull City FA Cup game on January 5 is a step in the right direction.
As for the best team in the Westcountry…the league table suggests the Robins are on top, but this game was as tight as they come, and for 70 minutes the Pilgrims looked the likely winners. Four months til the rematch. I’m excited already.
RICH PARTINGTON
This is something which has slowly fallen away, and there are several reasons for this, aside from the obvious – Argyle, of course, haven’t experienced a promotion season in the intervening period. Success will always get the fans singing, and there were so many massively important ties at the time, with so much riding on them – who can forget Mansfield and Exeter at home in 2002, or Swindon and QPR in 2004? The nervous tension of these games and the large, fervent support was conducive to a raucous, intimidating atmosphere.
That was replicated a couple of times when Argyle first went up to the Championship – Leeds at home in particular – but the disappointments and defeats of a long, hard season, where Argyle struggled with the step up to the second tier, wore down the supporters. An average of 16,420 saw league matches at Home Park in 2004-05, the highest number since 1960-61. This should have been the springboard for a widening of the fanbase and increased success, but the incompetence of Bobby Williamson and conservative tactics of his successor Tony Pulis drove the crowds away.
Bristol City are currently in a similar position to where Argyle were three years ago. Flushed with the feel-good factor from promotion, the crowds are still high and roaring on their team. However, with the Robins having managed to hang on to their messiah, manager Gary Johnson, while the Pilgrims lost ours, Paul Sturrock, to Southampton. City have started their assault on the Championship impressively well, the winning momentum yet to catch up with them.
Saturday, of course, was where the two sides met, and as well as providing an opportunity to decide the strongest side in the Westcountry, it allowed an intriguing insight into the state of two broadly progressive clubs who, sooner or later, should be making real challenges for places in the Premiership.
This was the first Argyle game which came anything close to a derby since promotion to the Championship, and, with City having sold out the Barn Park End, they were obviously up for it too, despite their claims that this week’s home tie with Cardiff means more.
The police, at any rate, were not taking chances. Travelling down on the train with my Turnip companion Andy Davies, and clad in a green shirt and scarf, I was surrounded by a see of Bristolians from Temple Meads onwards. There was certainly a degree of comfort in having the boys in yellow blazers only a couple of yards away.
At Plymouth station the security was stepped up with City fans diverted away from everyone else. I very nearly got dragged with them, but thankfully several determined jabs at my scarf amid the din conveyed to the coppers that this might be unwise. On the way back, I was not able to find Andy until we had passed Bristol, with the City fans having been kept inside the ground for more than 20 minutes after the match, and the train coaches segregated to avoid conflicts.
The Britannia Inn, on the corner of the ground, held a calmer ambience, with red and green mixing happily, but this was obviously not the case inside Home Park. A small segregation area, and the apparent willingness of the stewards to allow the massed opposing ranks in the Zoo corner and away end to stand for the entire game, was conducive to a crackling atmosphere. Even Andy admitted, at the time, that Argyle outsang Bristol. And we had something approaching those days I was referring to; the first time since the Watford FA Cup quarter-final, last season, that Home Park had felt like a real football ground.
And there was the return of personalised songs. An Argyle team entering the field of play in 2003 would have been greeted by an individual chant for almost every player – from ‘Marino, woah-oah!’ (Marino Keith) to the famous Jason Bent Song (he ‘came from Canada to play for Ar-gy-le’, to the tune of ‘John Brown’s Body’, and was compared favourably to the also-dreadlocked Edgar Davids) – but as the folk heroes have been found out at higher levels, and the club have got bigger, the relationship between players and fans has become weaker and these songs have dwindled.
Also, these songs, often started as a joke by small groups of fans, are much harder to spread in the bigger crowds and designated seating of today.
But when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was tugged down in the box by Louis Carey on 23 minutes and got up to smash home the resulting penalty, the former Manchester United trainee’s enthusiastic celebrations were greeted by the Lyndhurst roaring his name to the cheesy tune of KC & The Sunshine Band’s ‘Give It Up’. Sylvan’s further exploits provoked repeat readings, and a classic was born.
Kristian Timar didn’t have the best of afternoons, slicing the ball horrifically over Romain Larrieu’s head for City’s second-half own-goal equaliser, but beforehand he had been treated to several hearty bellowings of his surname. And for Argyle’s man-of-the-match goalkeeper, ‘He’s French, he’s great, he’s David Friio’s mate’ made a welcome return.
I didn’t sit down all afternoon. And though the 1-1 result, while probably a fair reflection of the game, was mildly disappointing given Argyle’s winning position, the atmosphere was how it should be every week.
The problem of making this happen is a complex one which must be examined separately, but certainly the decision to reduce prices for the Hull City FA Cup game on January 5 is a step in the right direction.
As for the best team in the Westcountry…the league table suggests the Robins are on top, but this game was as tight as they come, and for 70 minutes the Pilgrims looked the likely winners. Four months til the rematch. I’m excited already.
RICH PARTINGTON
Thursday, 6 December 2007
Halmosi and co could make Sturrock king again
Plymouth Argyle's 2-1 defeat against Championship strugglers Norwich City on Tuesday night may have continued an unspectacular start for returning manager Paul Sturrock, but the ingredients seem to be in place to suggest significant success is within reach.
Losing at home to an excellent West Brom outfit in Luggy’s first game back at Home Park was disappointing, but certainly no disgrace. And goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Krisztian Timar, and Nadjim Abdou chalked up the first points of the new regime in Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Scunthorpe.
Norwich seem somewhat revitalised under Glen Roeder, whose knack for making a notable initial impact at a new club continues. He did the same as Newcastle United caretaker in the latter part of the 2005-6 season, and was given the job full-time, eventually discovering St. James’s Park to be as much of a managerial graveyard as most of his predecessors.
Reduced-price ticket schemes for Tuesday’s match (shows what a big draw Plymouth are!) dragged more than 25,000 into Carrow Road, and the big crowd seemed to intimidate referee Paul Taylor, whose decision to award an 87th minute penalty for Paul Connolly’s clearly ball-winning challenge on Darren Huckerby was quite frankly shocking.
But, looking at the bigger picture, the playing staff currently present at Home Park look well-equipped for a Sturrock team.
A few are still there from his last reign, of course. Romain Larrieu and Luke McCormick continue to dispute the goalkeeping jersey, with the former deservedly holding sway at present.
Paul Connolly broke through from the youth ranks in Luggy’s last season and, after looking out of his depth in the second tier for the last few years, appears somewhat rejuvenated at right-back, his performance in the 1-0 win at Sheffield United on November 24 a particular highlight.
Lee Hodges has defied all predictions, and his own advancing years, to adapt admirably to a higher level, although again it has taken time, and those wearying legs have necessitated a move backwards from midfield.
David Norris, a Sturrock find, continues to work his arse off in midfield, and the old tendency to sprint down blind alleys appears to be waning. Paul Wotton, Mr. Plymouth Argyle and the club captain, remains also, and is approaching recovery from knee ligament damage sustained more than a year ago.
But whether he’ll break back into the side must be a moot point. For there is an abundance of talent elsewhere in the squad.
It has often been said of Sturrock that his talents are in the lower leagues; and promotions with Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon Town, and of course Plymouth (esentially twice) seem to support this. He is yet to achieve anything massive above the lower levels, unfairly sacked at Wednesday (they’ve not got any better since) and Southampton (they’ve got a lot worse).
At St. Mary’s Luggy bought Peter Crouch, who scored a hatful of goals and was sold on at a massive profit. Given only thirteen games, Sturrock won a respectable five, but was hounded out by negative media coverage, and, allegedly, a dressing room revolt involving the likes of Kevin Phillips and James Beattie, ‘star’ names who apparently objected to their managers fashion sense and strict changing regimes. Both have long since left the Saints, who have plummeted out of the Premier League and towards financial meltdown.
Sturrock, it seems, does not suffer fools, or big egos gladly. He’ll have been pleased to find a refreshing absence of those at Plymouth. Despite three nightclub-related arrests of Argyle players in the last eighteen months – Marcel Seip (twice) and Ebanks-Blake the culprits – these are a hard-working bunch with a similar team ethic to that instilled in the rampant 2001-2004 sides.
Seip is a rock at the back, magnificently consistent and an excellent reader of the game. Timar, who nicked his second goal in as many games at Norwich, in so doing recalled one Graham Coughlan – a monstrous figure arriving late in the box, splitting the defence, and delivering a powerful header.
The Gallic pairing of Abdou and the veteran Lilian Nalis reflect many of the qualities the David Friio-Steve Adams partnership brought in the centre of the Argyle midfield. Nalis is a vastly improved version of Adams, winning the ball constantly, and subtly orchestrating the midfield, albeit with the technical ability, shooting boots, and attacking thrust the Plymothian lacked. ‘Jimmy’, meanwhile, has some way to go to match Friio’s legendary status, but arriving late in the box and slotting home like he did on Saturday is a good way to go about it.
In attack Ebanks-Blake, Jermaine Easter, Barry Hayles, and Rory Fallon provide Sturrock with a far more competent stable of strikers than during his initial tenure, but the real gem is on the left hand side of midfield.
Hungarian international Peter Halmosi was Argyle’s record signing when joining from Debrecen for £400,000 in the summer, making permanent and impressive loan spell. His displays this season have raised the bar for every player at the club, a constant source of creation and invention. All three strikes against Scunthorpe were products of his assists, and Luggy is clearly a fan.
Halmosi’s humble yet fiercely determined nature – he has made it clear he wants to play in the Premiership – mark him out at the archetypal Paul Sturrock player. He’ll surely be in the top league next season, with or without Argyle.
RICH PARTINGTON
Losing at home to an excellent West Brom outfit in Luggy’s first game back at Home Park was disappointing, but certainly no disgrace. And goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Krisztian Timar, and Nadjim Abdou chalked up the first points of the new regime in Saturday’s 3-0 home win over Scunthorpe.
Norwich seem somewhat revitalised under Glen Roeder, whose knack for making a notable initial impact at a new club continues. He did the same as Newcastle United caretaker in the latter part of the 2005-6 season, and was given the job full-time, eventually discovering St. James’s Park to be as much of a managerial graveyard as most of his predecessors.
Reduced-price ticket schemes for Tuesday’s match (shows what a big draw Plymouth are!) dragged more than 25,000 into Carrow Road, and the big crowd seemed to intimidate referee Paul Taylor, whose decision to award an 87th minute penalty for Paul Connolly’s clearly ball-winning challenge on Darren Huckerby was quite frankly shocking.
But, looking at the bigger picture, the playing staff currently present at Home Park look well-equipped for a Sturrock team.
A few are still there from his last reign, of course. Romain Larrieu and Luke McCormick continue to dispute the goalkeeping jersey, with the former deservedly holding sway at present.
Paul Connolly broke through from the youth ranks in Luggy’s last season and, after looking out of his depth in the second tier for the last few years, appears somewhat rejuvenated at right-back, his performance in the 1-0 win at Sheffield United on November 24 a particular highlight.
Lee Hodges has defied all predictions, and his own advancing years, to adapt admirably to a higher level, although again it has taken time, and those wearying legs have necessitated a move backwards from midfield.
David Norris, a Sturrock find, continues to work his arse off in midfield, and the old tendency to sprint down blind alleys appears to be waning. Paul Wotton, Mr. Plymouth Argyle and the club captain, remains also, and is approaching recovery from knee ligament damage sustained more than a year ago.
But whether he’ll break back into the side must be a moot point. For there is an abundance of talent elsewhere in the squad.
It has often been said of Sturrock that his talents are in the lower leagues; and promotions with Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon Town, and of course Plymouth (esentially twice) seem to support this. He is yet to achieve anything massive above the lower levels, unfairly sacked at Wednesday (they’ve not got any better since) and Southampton (they’ve got a lot worse).
At St. Mary’s Luggy bought Peter Crouch, who scored a hatful of goals and was sold on at a massive profit. Given only thirteen games, Sturrock won a respectable five, but was hounded out by negative media coverage, and, allegedly, a dressing room revolt involving the likes of Kevin Phillips and James Beattie, ‘star’ names who apparently objected to their managers fashion sense and strict changing regimes. Both have long since left the Saints, who have plummeted out of the Premier League and towards financial meltdown.
Sturrock, it seems, does not suffer fools, or big egos gladly. He’ll have been pleased to find a refreshing absence of those at Plymouth. Despite three nightclub-related arrests of Argyle players in the last eighteen months – Marcel Seip (twice) and Ebanks-Blake the culprits – these are a hard-working bunch with a similar team ethic to that instilled in the rampant 2001-2004 sides.
Seip is a rock at the back, magnificently consistent and an excellent reader of the game. Timar, who nicked his second goal in as many games at Norwich, in so doing recalled one Graham Coughlan – a monstrous figure arriving late in the box, splitting the defence, and delivering a powerful header.
The Gallic pairing of Abdou and the veteran Lilian Nalis reflect many of the qualities the David Friio-Steve Adams partnership brought in the centre of the Argyle midfield. Nalis is a vastly improved version of Adams, winning the ball constantly, and subtly orchestrating the midfield, albeit with the technical ability, shooting boots, and attacking thrust the Plymothian lacked. ‘Jimmy’, meanwhile, has some way to go to match Friio’s legendary status, but arriving late in the box and slotting home like he did on Saturday is a good way to go about it.
In attack Ebanks-Blake, Jermaine Easter, Barry Hayles, and Rory Fallon provide Sturrock with a far more competent stable of strikers than during his initial tenure, but the real gem is on the left hand side of midfield.
Hungarian international Peter Halmosi was Argyle’s record signing when joining from Debrecen for £400,000 in the summer, making permanent and impressive loan spell. His displays this season have raised the bar for every player at the club, a constant source of creation and invention. All three strikes against Scunthorpe were products of his assists, and Luggy is clearly a fan.
Halmosi’s humble yet fiercely determined nature – he has made it clear he wants to play in the Premiership – mark him out at the archetypal Paul Sturrock player. He’ll surely be in the top league next season, with or without Argyle.
RICH PARTINGTON
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