So the transfer window has finally closed after a month of mass speculation surrounding Bristol City, linking the club with players from Scotland to Turkey. During the month many names were mentioned by journalists locally and nationally, with the majority of the players being strikers or attacking midfielders. In the end their rumours were proved correct as we signed attacking midfielder Nick Carle from Genclerbiligi and striker Dele Adebola from Championship rivals Coventry City. As is commonplace in the game now, the fees paid for both players were undisclosed, but speculation suggests the club forked out £500,000 on Carle and £250,000 for the services of 32-year-old Adebola.
The signing of Adebola, or at least that type of player (a target man), was always on the cards after City accepted a bid from Leeds United last week, for striker Enoch Showumni. He ultimately declined to talk to Leeds and stated his intention to fight for his place. Yet he found himself sitting in the stands last week against Blackpool as Johnson stated publicly he felt the move would be good for Showumni.
Deadline day was fairly quiet for City as Johnson seemed satisfied with his two new signings, but there was still business to be done with outgoing players, as Kevin Betsy headed to Walsall on a month’s loan and Jennison Myrie-Williams extended his loan with Tranmere until the end of the season. Alex Russell also extended his loan with League One local rivals Cheltenham Town and Showumni finally left for Sheffield Wednesday on a month’s loan. This deal was inevitable, as the day beforehand Johnson had made clear in an interview that he had signed Adebola because the strikers already at the club lacked that physical presence.
In a more intimate interview on Friday, Gary said how he had tried to turn Showumni into a target man, but the Nigerian striker still considered his role to be someone who plays off of someone like Dele. With Steve Brooker still on loan at Cheltenham but likely to return in the near future, Showumni’s time at City looks at an end with his contract set to expire in the summer. To me he has always offered us a strong presence up front, but he lacks good ball control and, for a player of his size, he is very poor in the air on many occasions. It is clear Johnson is looking to trim the squad of players unlikely to cope with the demands of the Championship, and as he always says when discussing possible new signings: "We will only bring players in who enhance our squad."
On Saturday we faced QPR, a side totally transformed from the side we hosted on the opening day of the season, a game which finished 2-2. Since then the club has had three new major shareholders in Formula One tycoons Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, and steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, worth an estimated £15billion and the world’s fifth richest man.
Going into the game I was confident that we could hopefully collect all three points as QPR had signed many players in January. I thought it might take them time to gel; sadly this was not the case as they stormed into a 2-0 lead by half-time with a brace from new signing Patrick Agyemang. In the second half, we improved and we were starting to dominate, but just couldn’t find a way back into the game. Then against the run of play, the home side scored a third through Akos Buzsaky. Adebola saw an effort hit the post late on and his rebound also hit the woodwork. It was clear that it wasn’t going to be our day and it proved the case.
Next up is Sheffield Wednesday at home, in a game we will expect to win. Judging by the manager’s comments after Saturday’s game, the players have a point to prove and hopefully Dele can be convinced that he has made the right move.
ANDY DAVIES
Monday, 4 February 2008
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Discontent growing in Plymouth
On Saturday afternoon, the Plymouth public gave an early indication of how they felt about the January player sales at Home Park. Only 11,011, a figure pleasing only for its palindromic qualities, were willing to fork out and watch Paul Sturrock’s new-look team take on Hull. Their reward was to witness Plymouth Argyle’s play-off hopes take a decisive hit with a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat.
Had we won – against a side who have been the highest ranked of Yorkshire’s nine football league clubs for most of the season, but who we had already beaten twice in 2007-8 – Argyle would now be just two points off the top six going into next Saturday’s grudge match at former manager Ian Holloway’s Leicester City.
As it is, the gap is five, and we are four behind yesterday’s very limited visitors, who are still relying on that old warhorse Dean Windass, soon to reach pensionable age and with semi-automatic limbs. He’s still managed four goals in three games against Argyle’s backline this season, including the Tigers’ winner on Saturday.
While five points is, on the face of it, not insurmountable, the manner of recent performances has left more and more fans looking the other way – at the relegation places. I think that any fears of this happening are unfounded this season, but the horrible sense hanging around is that this era at Home Park has reached its zenith with the play-off flirtations and FA Cup Quarter-Final under Holloway. I’m not going to resign myself to that just yet; Paul Sturrock is a top manager, and could still mould a promotion-chasing team, but this has not happened as yet, and at this level he cannot survive on the shoestring budget which took us through the lower divisions.
And the reality is that over the last couple of years attendances have dwindled at Home Park, with the momentum of previous years slowing and the sense of excitement and anticipation of success among the fanbase giving away to grim ‘consolidation’. This is something that could have happened to Bristol City this season, but Gary Johnson’s side has taken the bull by the spiky bits and rode it, chortling heartily, into real contention for a second consecutive promotion. Its heartbreaking to see the Turnips overtake us as the Westcountry’s premier team quite so easily, but after five years in our shadow, this is the position they now undoubtedly occupy.
Personally, I’ll keep supporting the team, getting to as many games as I can from exile, because I’ve got the bug. Although, like anyone, I’ll make even more effort to attend matches if we’re doing well, I’ll never stop going completely because I need my Argyle fix every so often, and the club just means too much to me; it defines my adolescence, and that history will always be with me. But the club have clearly failed to keep hold of those fans who came back into the fold when we reached the Championship and enjoyed the novelty of big games against the likes of Leeds and Sunderland.
The much-maligned ‘Janner apathy’ does exist, but only because the people of Plymouth have never seen their club make a serious attempt to give the city the Premiership club it deserves. It’s a case of making them believe before they’ll come, and they’ve been let down so many times before that cynicism reigns, particularly among the older ones. But Argyle had a whole new generation they could convince of their ambition, and that has not happened.
Still, even if this season is over, (and I find it easier to just accept that now than have my hopes dashed again) I’ll still be here, attempting to pick apart the essence of the Green dream. Life goes on.
RICH PARTINGTON
Had we won – against a side who have been the highest ranked of Yorkshire’s nine football league clubs for most of the season, but who we had already beaten twice in 2007-8 – Argyle would now be just two points off the top six going into next Saturday’s grudge match at former manager Ian Holloway’s Leicester City.
As it is, the gap is five, and we are four behind yesterday’s very limited visitors, who are still relying on that old warhorse Dean Windass, soon to reach pensionable age and with semi-automatic limbs. He’s still managed four goals in three games against Argyle’s backline this season, including the Tigers’ winner on Saturday.
While five points is, on the face of it, not insurmountable, the manner of recent performances has left more and more fans looking the other way – at the relegation places. I think that any fears of this happening are unfounded this season, but the horrible sense hanging around is that this era at Home Park has reached its zenith with the play-off flirtations and FA Cup Quarter-Final under Holloway. I’m not going to resign myself to that just yet; Paul Sturrock is a top manager, and could still mould a promotion-chasing team, but this has not happened as yet, and at this level he cannot survive on the shoestring budget which took us through the lower divisions.
And the reality is that over the last couple of years attendances have dwindled at Home Park, with the momentum of previous years slowing and the sense of excitement and anticipation of success among the fanbase giving away to grim ‘consolidation’. This is something that could have happened to Bristol City this season, but Gary Johnson’s side has taken the bull by the spiky bits and rode it, chortling heartily, into real contention for a second consecutive promotion. Its heartbreaking to see the Turnips overtake us as the Westcountry’s premier team quite so easily, but after five years in our shadow, this is the position they now undoubtedly occupy.
Personally, I’ll keep supporting the team, getting to as many games as I can from exile, because I’ve got the bug. Although, like anyone, I’ll make even more effort to attend matches if we’re doing well, I’ll never stop going completely because I need my Argyle fix every so often, and the club just means too much to me; it defines my adolescence, and that history will always be with me. But the club have clearly failed to keep hold of those fans who came back into the fold when we reached the Championship and enjoyed the novelty of big games against the likes of Leeds and Sunderland.
The much-maligned ‘Janner apathy’ does exist, but only because the people of Plymouth have never seen their club make a serious attempt to give the city the Premiership club it deserves. It’s a case of making them believe before they’ll come, and they’ve been let down so many times before that cynicism reigns, particularly among the older ones. But Argyle had a whole new generation they could convince of their ambition, and that has not happened.
Still, even if this season is over, (and I find it easier to just accept that now than have my hopes dashed again) I’ll still be here, attempting to pick apart the essence of the Green dream. Life goes on.
RICH PARTINGTON
Friday, 1 February 2008
Transfer deadline blues
Roughly £4.9million received in player sales. Only £1.5million spent. When I mused in previous blogs that, despite the gloomy outlook, Plymouth Argyle might end the January transfer window with a stronger squad than they began it, I was possibly being a little over-optimistic.
Of course, money isn't everything, and the cut-price signings we have made could easily prove to be better than the players sold. But Argyle seemed to lose out to their Championship rivals on so many big targets this month, it almost became a cruel joke. Preston signed both Aberdeen right-back Michael Hart and Oldham’s highly-rated centre-half Neal Trotman. Talented Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Glenn Whelan, who many felt would be a strong replacement for Argyle’s departing David Norris, has instead joined Stoke.
Sheffield United defender Leigh Bromby went to Watford, although for an inflated price of £600,000 (which could rise to £850,000). The £400,000 bid Paul Sturrock tabled for the right-back seemed reasonable, but clearly those kind of offers are not enough to secure the kind of players who can secure Argyle a play-off place, when competing against a relegated Premiership club who have ridiculously huge parachute payments to call on.
Much of Luggy’s wheeling and dealing has indeed been attempting to sign a right-sided full-back to provide competition for Paul Connolly, who has pretty much had the run of the role since David Worrell left in 2005. There is a groundswell of opinion among Argyle fans that Connolly is one of the weaker links in the team, and that, at least, further options in that position would be welcome, particularly after the sale of the versatile youngster Dan Gosling to Everton. However, it seems efforts to secure this have been unsuccessful.
Left-back has been another problem position, with Lee Hodges ageing and technically deficient despite his boundless, admirable commitment. Youth product Gary Sawyer, who looked towards the end of 2006-7, has not progressed as hoped this season, with many believing he is more at home in the crowded centre-back position. Luggy moved yesterday to strengthen here, with Motherwell’s Jim Paterson coming in for a reported £250,000. This looks a good signing and, with Paterson apparently good going forward as well as defending, Peter Halmosi can expect increased support down an already dangerous and potent left side.
Norris, of course, has gone, with Argyle eventually receiving £1.25million of Ipswich’s £2million fee, thanks to the Tractor Boys’ close ties with Bolton, who originally held a 50% sell-on clause on the player. This seems a reasonable return with the player out of contract in eighteen months – he’d never have signed another one, and his value in the summer would have been lower. The question now is whether any of the three new midfield recruits – Chris Clark, Yoann Folly, or the currently imjured loanee Gyorgy Sandor – can adequately replace Norris. Clark looks the most likely, with a goal and some impressive performances already under his belt. If Sturrock prefers the Scot in the centre, Nadjim Abdou could return to a right-sided role.
Up front, the pressure is all on Steve McLean, already appreciated by many fans, despite his penalty miss in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Ipswich. This result was an odd one, with the hosts dominating, but Argyle having a great chance to win it. McLean will be expected to pick up Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s goalscoring mantle, although it remains to be seen whether big man Rory Fallon or the pacy, improving Jermaine Easter will partner him. Personally I’d like to see the two smaller, skilful players in tandem, but it seems unlikely – Luggy likes a target man and a goalscorer.
Tommorrow the Pilgrims face Hull, in a game which - and I can not stress this enough - we simply MUST win to stay in touch with the play-off hunt. Having beaten the Tigers twice this season already this should be more than possible. If not we’ll have to start looking over our shoulder – four points behind the top six, we’re also only ten points ahead of the bottom three…
RICH PARTINGTON
Of course, money isn't everything, and the cut-price signings we have made could easily prove to be better than the players sold. But Argyle seemed to lose out to their Championship rivals on so many big targets this month, it almost became a cruel joke. Preston signed both Aberdeen right-back Michael Hart and Oldham’s highly-rated centre-half Neal Trotman. Talented Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Glenn Whelan, who many felt would be a strong replacement for Argyle’s departing David Norris, has instead joined Stoke.
Sheffield United defender Leigh Bromby went to Watford, although for an inflated price of £600,000 (which could rise to £850,000). The £400,000 bid Paul Sturrock tabled for the right-back seemed reasonable, but clearly those kind of offers are not enough to secure the kind of players who can secure Argyle a play-off place, when competing against a relegated Premiership club who have ridiculously huge parachute payments to call on.
Much of Luggy’s wheeling and dealing has indeed been attempting to sign a right-sided full-back to provide competition for Paul Connolly, who has pretty much had the run of the role since David Worrell left in 2005. There is a groundswell of opinion among Argyle fans that Connolly is one of the weaker links in the team, and that, at least, further options in that position would be welcome, particularly after the sale of the versatile youngster Dan Gosling to Everton. However, it seems efforts to secure this have been unsuccessful.
Left-back has been another problem position, with Lee Hodges ageing and technically deficient despite his boundless, admirable commitment. Youth product Gary Sawyer, who looked towards the end of 2006-7, has not progressed as hoped this season, with many believing he is more at home in the crowded centre-back position. Luggy moved yesterday to strengthen here, with Motherwell’s Jim Paterson coming in for a reported £250,000. This looks a good signing and, with Paterson apparently good going forward as well as defending, Peter Halmosi can expect increased support down an already dangerous and potent left side.
Norris, of course, has gone, with Argyle eventually receiving £1.25million of Ipswich’s £2million fee, thanks to the Tractor Boys’ close ties with Bolton, who originally held a 50% sell-on clause on the player. This seems a reasonable return with the player out of contract in eighteen months – he’d never have signed another one, and his value in the summer would have been lower. The question now is whether any of the three new midfield recruits – Chris Clark, Yoann Folly, or the currently imjured loanee Gyorgy Sandor – can adequately replace Norris. Clark looks the most likely, with a goal and some impressive performances already under his belt. If Sturrock prefers the Scot in the centre, Nadjim Abdou could return to a right-sided role.
Up front, the pressure is all on Steve McLean, already appreciated by many fans, despite his penalty miss in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Ipswich. This result was an odd one, with the hosts dominating, but Argyle having a great chance to win it. McLean will be expected to pick up Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s goalscoring mantle, although it remains to be seen whether big man Rory Fallon or the pacy, improving Jermaine Easter will partner him. Personally I’d like to see the two smaller, skilful players in tandem, but it seems unlikely – Luggy likes a target man and a goalscorer.
Tommorrow the Pilgrims face Hull, in a game which - and I can not stress this enough - we simply MUST win to stay in touch with the play-off hunt. Having beaten the Tigers twice this season already this should be more than possible. If not we’ll have to start looking over our shoulder – four points behind the top six, we’re also only ten points ahead of the bottom three…
RICH PARTINGTON
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)