Frustrations

ARGYLE have it all to do again this weekend away to Norwich City, who like a number of clubs are fighting like mad to get away from the wrong end of the Championship table.
It’s been a frustrating period for Paul Sturrock and his Argyle players, who in the last month or so have shown they are capable of holding their own with most teams.
In my last column, I said Argyle might not win at Wolves, but needed to get something from their home matches with Watford and Reading.
As we now know, Argyle did just that – beating Watford, drawing with Reading and as an added bonus won away at Wolves.
All of those teams are either in good form or going for promotion to the Premier League.
Argyle had also drawn at home with Sheffield United – another side with promotion hopes – and it seemed had turned it around.
And, they had, which makes the 1-0 defeat at Swansea on Tuesday all the more frustrating.
Argyle again played well but missed Paul Gallagher, who has returned to goalscoring form just at the right time.
Like every other Argyle fan I really hope Gallagher will be fit for Norwich.


It was a late goal and penalty which sank Argyle at Swansea, which is even more galling for the lads.
To work hard without in-form top scorer Gallagher is a blow. Not only that but other teams in and around the relegation zone picked up points on Tuesday.
The Championship really is that sort of league, isn’t it?
You never know what sort of result you’re going to get from one week to the other.
But, hopefully, it shouldn’t be too hard a job for Sturrock now to try and lift the players for Saturday.
They need a performance as the games are running out and a few of the sides in the same position as Argyle have games in hand.
Still, if they win, which I believe they can, Argyle needn’t worry about what the others do.


ALTHOUGH my heart tells me Liverpool can still overhaul Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title – my head tells me they can’t.
Even if Liverpool were to beat United on Saturday lunchtime at Old Trafford, the home side would still have a match in hand and be four points clear.
With so few matches left to play, this United team are going to be difficult to beat once, let alone twice this season.
Arguably, Fergie’s squad is as good as it gets – one of the best in recent years.
Yes, Liverpool had a great result in the Champions League in midweek, beating Real Madrid 4-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate.
But, in my opinion, this was a poor Real side and Liverpool are not world beaters, yet.
It’s true Rafa Benitez has the magic ingredient in Europe, but I do wish he’d keep quiet when it comes to predicting a positive result at Old Trafford on Saturday.
There’s a world of difference between a poor Real side and an excellent United.

Back to league action

AFTER acquitting themselves so well in the FA Cup at Arsenal, it’s back to the bread and butter of Championship league football for Argyle against another London team, Crystal Palace, on Saturday.
The lads on duty last weekend did the city, club, the fans and themselves proud up at the Emirates against one of the best teams around.
It’s no mean achievement to have gone in at half time goalless against a team of Arsenal’s undoubted quality.
Argyle played very well and caused Arsenal problems, even though they were on the defensive a lot of the time.
But that’s Sturrock’s team for you – hard to beat, hard to break down and with the capability of hitting you on the break.
So, while they’ll be disappointed to have lost 3-1 and not to have taken the third-round tie to a replay, I’m sure the team will take a lot of positives from their performance last Saturday.
Not only will the players who were on duty have impressed quite a few people with their determination and ability.
But the level of support they were given by the Green Army at Emirates will have also made people sit up and take note.
I think the 9,000 fans – and probably a few more dotted around the ground not in the away end – was the biggest visiting support the Emirates has seen.
I’m not surprised because Argyle’s away support is really superb: it was when I was a player and still is now.
That famous ‘P’ word, for potential, comes up again whenever you consider the possibilities of Plymouth Argyle, given the away support and the expectations that arise from the fans’ backing.
So, I was quite surprised to learn recently that Argyle’s home gates were the second worst in the Championship this season.
Only Blackpool are below Argyle in the league table of attendances in the 2008/09 season.
And that’s with Argyle having a pretty good season, having been in or around the play-off places until recently.
So, it’ll be interesting not only to see the crowd at Home Park on Saturday, but also to see players in action after their great day out in north London.
I’m particularly interested in seeing the new loan player from Manchester United, David Gray (pictured right), who was given his debut at full-back against Arsenal.
Having already made successful loan signings in Paul Gallagher and Craig Cathcart, it looks like Paul Sturrock is going to use the loan system to his best advantage for the remainder of the season.
I read recently in the Herald that Paul said he wanted to bring in another striker, to bolster his attack.
Of course, as a striker myself, I’m all for that sort of ambition from a manager – whether he’ll be buying one or taking one on loan, it remains to be seen.
But, I’m certain, he’ll be pleased to have tied up striker Rory Fallon’s contract – that will give Paul piece of mind.
However, on the other hand, there’s the speculation surrounding the interest in Craig Noone, with both Sunderland and Wigan said to be keen on the young winger.
There’s rumoured to be an £800,000 price tag on Noone, which if it’s right and he was allowed to go for that figure, would mean a considerable profit for the club.
However, whether that money would be passed on to the manager to re-invest in new players again, is another matter.
GOOD luck to Nigel Clough in his appointment as Derby County boss earlier this week.
Nigel has a big job on his hands at Pride Park but he has shown in his 10 years at Burton Albion that he is a more than capable manager.
And he has shown he is loyal, too, which is a good trait to have in a professional manager or even footballer these days.
He will need luck, though, as taking a job that his father, Brian Clough, did so well at and made such an impact in, was probably not an easy decision to make.
But he’s a good young English manager being given a job in a well-supported and ambitious club.
So I welcome that, as well as wishing Nigel all the best for the future.

WITH just one home match to come until the second week of January, it’s vital that Argyle get at least a point away to Barnsley on Saturday.
One look at the pre and post Christmas fixture list shows the importance of coming back from Oakwell with at the very least a draw.
After Barnsley, Argyle are home to Southampton on Boxing Day and then face a really tough ask, away to Cardiff City on the Sunday.
After those games, of course, it’s the big one in the FA Cup up at Arsenal, before they take on in-form Crystal Palace on January 10 at Home Park.
Unfortunately, Paul Sturrock’s team have drifted off the Championship play-off pace after getting just two points from a possible 15 in the last few weeks.
Their last league win was six matches ago at home to Cardiff, although I don’t think the stats reflect how well Argyle have played at times.
For my money, they should have beaten Birmingham City instead of losing at home 1-0 in the midweek match.
But they missed a lot of good chances, which is what you can’t afford to do against sides like Birmingham, as Argyle learnt to the cost.
I think the shots on goal ratio for that match was something like 15 to Argyle and two for City – which tells its own story.
Thankfully, Argyle managed to stop the rot of three defeats in a row against QPR at Home Park last Saturday and again dominated a lot of the play.
It was also nice for Steve MacLean to score the equaliser – let’s hope it gives the lad the confidence that I think he needs.
But that’s been a major part of Argyle’s problem this season, in that they can’t get their home form right.
Away from home, the Doncaster Rovers defeat excepted, Argyle have been as good as anyone.
Maybe, it’s a combination of having to take the game to the opposition and the fear factor which has affected Argyle’s tally at home.
It’s a bit worrying, though, as it’s not as if Argyle haven’t been playing well – they have.
Away, Argyle are difficult to beat and good at taking their chances, so for me, it’s a matter of confidence.
So, hopefully, MacLean, if he’s picked, can carry on where he left off at home to QPR.
Likewise, with the team, hopefully, being the away team and not having the onus to take the game to opposition on their shoulders, Paul’s side can go into the last match before Christmas Day with a nice little result tucked under their belts.


I FELT a bit sorry for Paul Ince (pictured below) after he lost his job as Blackburn Rovers manager, because I don’t think he was given a lot of time to prove himself.
But, as with Roy Keane at Sunderland a couple of weeks ago, I’m not altogether surprised.
From the Blackburn board’s point of view, losing 3-0 away to Wigan was probably the final straw.
It’s a pity, but there you are – that’s the reality of life in the big league for you.
While the Sunderland job is still up for grabs, Rovers have taken on big Sam Allardyce.
In the meantime, it has to be said another experienced pro, Joe Kinnear is doing a superb job up at Newcastle United.
Joe, who is on a short-term contract up there, has got the Magpies playing well and has steadied the ship.
It could be that he will be retained by Newcastle, especially if they keep playing as well as they are doing.
Or, if he is released when and if the club is sold, then Joe will have done his re-employment chances a power of good.

Next three tests could be crucial

I AM sure Paul Sturrock will be drumming into his Plymouth Argyle players the need to get a result at Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.The manager will want his team to come home with at least a point from the Keepmoat Stadium, against a Rovers team desperate for a result themselves.Form-wise, Argyle should go to Donny with lots of confidence, but, as we know in this Championship, particularly this year, there are no givens.Rovers may be bottom going into the match, but they won’t want to get cut off from the others around the relegation area.It’ll be a scrap for Argyle, but, as we know away from home, they are as good as anyone in the league.

The problem this season has been their home form and with Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers coming to Home Park next week, it puts more pressure on Argyle to get something on Saturday.Last weekend, Argyle lost to Blackpool when they looked to have the match won, and that’s always hard to take.Argyle hadn’t played at their best but seemed to be heading to their fifth unbeaten league game, after a good goal from Paul Gallagher.Then Blackpool hit them with two goals from Liam Dickinson to leave Home Park with a 2-1 win.But that’s football, especially in the Championship. If you take your foot of the accelerator pedal, there’s always the chance you’ll get beaten.I know it’s often easier said than done, but Argyle really must try to make Home Park a fortress, as they did so successfully a couple of seasons ago.You don’t want managers looking at trips to Plymouth and telling their players, ‘Look, so-and-so got a result there, so this is one game we can get something from’.
Sturrock will want to make sure Home Park is somewhere teams hate to visit – knowing it’s a long way and they’re not likely to come away with anything.But, on the positive side, Argyle are still in the top 10 and not far away from a play-off place.But these next three matches coming up – Doncaster, Birmingham and QPR – could end up being one of the key sequences in the league for Argyle this season.There are a lot of matches to come for the players before the FA Cup tie at Arsenal on January 3, but that’s when Paul will use his squad to its maximum.The Gunners game, I know, is something Argyle fans will be looking forward to, but there’s a lot of football to be played before then.But it would be nice to travel to the Emirates in a good bit of form, wouldn’t it?

THERE’S a fair bit or pressure starting to gather on Premier League managers, particularly those with Manchester United links.The futures of Old Trafford old boys Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes appear to be uncertain – if you believe all you read in the national tabloids.Ince’s Blackburn and Keane’s Sunderland are both in the bottom two, with only West Brom below them.To a certain extent, I can understand the interest that surrounds those two, because their teams are having a rotten run of form, particularly Keane’s.But Hughes’ Manchester City and Bruce’s Wigan Athletic are not in the same boat, so I think it’s premature to start counting down the clock on them.I’m sure with the money Hughes will have at his disposal in the new year, he’ll bring in two or three top signings to add to what I think is already a pretty good squad.I’ve watched Robinho and while he can be frustratingly anonymous, when he comes to life, he’s so talented it’s frightening.The Brazilian can turn a game on its head in a blink of an eye and has done several teams this season.

While one player doesn’t make a team, I’m sure Hughes, with mega-money to play with, is already envisaging a City side with more world-class players joining in January.Wigan don’t have that wealth, but Bruce is moving them in the right direction.Keane really does look like a manager who needs a bit of luck to go his way.Losing 4-1 at home to Bolton last Saturday was probably the final straw for Sunderland fans – particularly after Keane spent a lot of money on players in the summer.Funnily enough, I think Keane comes over well as a manager. He’s honest, forthright and takes failure on the chin.I expect the knives will be out for Arsene Wenger as well after losing to Burnley in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.And that’s despite beating Chelsea last weekend.
I watched the game against Burnley on TV and, to be honest, a fairer result would have been 5-2 or 5-3 to Arsenal.Nicklas Bendtner, in particular, could and should have had a hat-trick.Still, that’s football and good for the Championship with Derby County also in the semi-finals. Burnley looked like a really good team. They played to a plan and kept to it, even when Arsenal were running them ragged.

Change or not?

IT WILL be interesting to see if Paul Sturrock makes many changes to his Plymouth Argyle side for this Saturday’s home game with Cardiff City.
I read in The Herald last week that Paul has said he is considering selecting different starting XIs for home matches.
If Paul does, it will seem a bit harsh on the players who did so well at Coventry City last Saturday.
To grind out a 1-0 victory in this league is a very good achievement, no matter who it is against.Personally, whenever possible, I like to keep to the same line-up, to reward the team if they’ve won, as the lads did so well last time out.
Keeping a team together brings its own rewards, as Paul found out earlier in the season when Argyle went on a nice little run after a disappointing start to the season.
I’m not advocating consistency for its own sake, but as we know in this league, which I think is the toughest of the lot, team spirit can make the difference between losing and winning.
And that’s what Argyle did last week at Coventry – they dug in, defended as a team and waited for the opportunity to come along.
Of course, it paid off with Coventry manager Chris Coleman moaning about Argyle only having one or two shots on goal.
I’m sure that’s what Paul will be wanting to hear from other managers on his travels this season.
Paul has always had the knack of getting points on the road whichever division he’s managed.But you can also see why he wants Argyle to be a more offensive force at Home Park.
I agree, along with most fans, that I would like to see more attacking football from Argyle at home.
It’s a tricky situation for Paul, though, going up against a side like Cardiff on Saturday lunchtime.
‘Should I try and be more adventurous or keep faith with last week’s team?’ is what he is probably asking himself.I
’m looking forward to the match because fixtures between the two clubs over the past few seasons have tended to be quite eventful.Cardiff manager Dave Jones doesn’t do dull games.Although they’ve got ambitions to play in the Premier League and have some very useful players Cardiff aren’t a million miles better than Argyle.
I certainly wouldn’t put it past Argyle to come up with the goods on Saturday. Paul’s team are a handful for any team.
I COULDN’T be more pleased that Craig Noone (pictured above) scored the winning goal at the Ricoh Arena last Saturday.
From what I’ve seen of the lad he’s got plenty of pace and is a real box of tricks on the flanks. He has the makings of being a real gem.
Like Jamie Mackie, who like Craig may not be the finished article yet, he has the magic ingredient – the hunger to succeed.
I’ve been impressed with both those lads who have come from non-league sides and so far have seized their chance to play alongside more established and certainly more costly players.
What Argyle paid for those two lads is sweetie money these days, so maybe, like Reading have done in signing players from the Irish League, looking in the lower divisions is the way forward.

Uplifting wins

AFTER their great result away to Watford, Argyle will go into Saturday’s clash at Crystal Palace feeling a big weight has been lifted off their shoulders.
While it’s true one swallow doesn’t make a summer, I know from my playing days just how important getting that first win of the season is to a team’s morale.
Argyle have made a poor start to the season – probably their worst for a couple of years – so the 2-1 win at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night could not have been more timely for the club.
In my opinion, confidence, or the lack of it, has been one of the main reasons why Paul Sturrock’s team have struggled, particularly at home this season.
I’ve only seen Argyle at home this season, so I can share the fans’ frustrations when the players struggle to produce the goods.
Have the players felt more pressure playing at home than away? Yes, I think they have.
The rule still applies that being the home side, the onus is on you to take the game to the visitors.


When that doesn’t work – and let’s be honest, it hasn’t so far, particularly in terms of creativity – the fans get restless and get on the players’ backs.
The other factor, of course, is I don’t think Paul has been able to field the same line-up twice, because of new players coming in, injuries and suspensions.
But, if he’s good to his word, and I’m sure he will be – and barring injuries – Paul will be able to do so against Palace on Saturday.
Then, who knows, a nice result up there and the same set of players will be in the running for the following Saturday’s game at home to Nottingham Forest.
In The Herald yesterday, Paul said the players who did so well at Watford had earned the right to know they will be playing at Selhurst Park.
That’s only right – it’s a just reward for them.
But it was also telling that Paul left out a few of his big-money signings for the trip to Watford.
He’s given a number of the players a kick up the backside and it seems to have worked.
Now it’s up to those players who have been left out to prove they want to force their way back into the team.


The manager has been big enough and honest enough this season to say that some of his signings have not made the impact he thought they would.
But with loan signing Paul Gallagher starting to show his Premier League class and Emile Mpenza and Nicolas Marin getting close to match fitness, hopefully their freshness will rub off on the others.
But, for the time being, let’s look to Saturday and hope for the same again from Argyle.
I DON’T normally have a pop at professional footballers, but I’m absolutely stunned that Danny Guthrie has not had his three-match ban extended.
The Newcastle United player’s tackle on Hull City’s Craig Fagan last Saturday was awful and in my view, he deserves to be suspended for a lot longer.
Fagan, a fellow pro let’s not forget, has ended up with a broken leg as a result of Guthrie’s challenge.
For whatever reason they want to use, it tells you all you want to know about the FA that they aren’t considering banning Guthrie for longer.
I’m annoyed, too, that John Terry’s appeal against his red card has been overturned.
In my book, Terry’s foul on Manchester City striker Jo last Saturday warranted a straight red from the referee.
The ref, Mark Halsey, sent off Terry for serious foul play rather than a professional foul, which is how the Chelsea skipper has escaped the red.
But that technicality doesn’t alter the fact that in my view it was a cynical stop on a player who could have gone on and scored.
A good result for Terry, but not for fair play.

Tommy Tynan - August 28

Argyle really need to get something from Saturday’s game at Burnley, not only for the benefit of their league position, but also to give the squad and fans a much-needed morale boost.

It’s still early days as far as the league is concerned, but going into the international break without a win and in the bottom three would not be a pleasant proposition.

Burnley are also struggling to find form in the league but they won in the Carling Cup, 3-0 at home to Oldham on Tuesday, so that’s not a good sign for the Pilgrims.

Hopefully, the result won’t be a pointer and it’s just a case of a team relaxing in a different competition.

Burnley are one of only two clubs below Argyle in the Championship table, and although coming back with a win or a draw won’t be easy for Paul Sturrock’s side, it’s turning into a big game.

Luggy pointed out after last Saturday’s defeat and disappointing performance at home to Swansea that the team are lacking confidence.

I think he was spot-on in his assessment. Argyle didn’t look the fluent outfit they had been even at the end of last season.

They’ve got a lot of new faces in the side who will need time to gel – but there was precious little evidence on view last Saturday that they were improving, despite having pre-season friendlies to get to know each other.

The lack of confidence could also be because Argyle are a fairly young side. That’s possible, but there are some experienced players in the side.

For me, though, there just wasn’t any creativity for me from the home side last Saturday.

Fans blame strikers when the goals dry up, but frontmen need the right service. I just wonder where that’s going to come from at the moment.

Now Jermaine Easter has added to Sturrock’s problems saying he wants to leave the club for personal reasons.

Having said that, I couldn’t see anything wrong with Argyle’s disallowed goal from Marcel Seip.

If the referee hadn’t whistled for a foul – and he seemed to be the only one in the ground who saw a problem – the Pilgrims could have ended up with a point.

Although it’s not all doom and gloom, Argyle will need at least that at Turf Moor to persuade the fans, who stayed away big-time against Swansea, that the team are worth spending money on for the next home match in two weeks.