The Green Army Gab

"New World".... Take Two

2010-08-05T12:02:00.000-07:00

Saturday marks a new dawn for Plymouth Argyle. Well, one that should of happened 12 months ago. But relegation showed a club that had more problems than it liked to show.

Nevertheless demotion to the npower League 1 seems to have been the wake-up call the club needed. New management has given fans the hope they needed after a season of disappointment, few goals and a stadium re-titled "everyone else’s Home Park".

Under Peter Reid and his 'simple football', Argyle have started playing properly again and the pre season performances, particularly in Holland against giants AZ Alkmaar have proved it.

The team has lost several notable names from the team sheet including Jamie Mackie and Gary Sawyer and most recently Damien Johnson to Huddersfield Town but these have been justifiable to get rid of the deadwood that didn't want to be a part of the Pilgrims or to relieve the heavy financial burden that Plymouth have.

But Reid's invaluable contacts have allowed quality trialists to come to Home Park such as midfielder Anton Peterlin and defender Lee Molyneux that has added strength and depth to his side.
The weekend’s opening game away to Southampton will be a fantastic test to see how far the team has come as the Saints will certainly be no push-over’s as the side, touted as league favourites, only just missed out on the play-offs three months ago.

Then there will be the rest of the league which is full of top opposition with plenty to prove such as fellow demoted sides Peterborough United and Sheffield Wednesday, Swindon town and newly promoted Notts County so this season won’t be easy.

So to my prediction:

We are a championship team, the friendly away to QPR where we dominated for the majority of the match and defensively superb showed this, therefore if we can keep up the performances, even if it means grinding out those 1-0 wins that are a sign of a promotion winning team, with our strikers on top form consistently throughout the entire season, then I really do believe we have a realistic chance of going back up at the first time of asking either automatically or via the play-offs.

And of course you, the Green Army. Without you Argyle would be nothing. So keep up the fantastic support that makes us the force to be reckoned with.

And who knows...come May 2011, the League One championship may be back in the safe hands of ‘Le Keeper’ Romain Larrieu, six years since it was there last.

New Argyle boss is making progress with the Pilgrims

2010-07-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.givemefootball.com/league-one/new-argyle-boss-is-making-progress-with-the-pilgri

With finances tight at Home Park, new manager Peter Reid is relying on trialists to bolster the Argyle squad. And with former Everton player Anton Peterlin on the verge of signing on a one year deal, the persistence seems to be paying off, with hopefully more to come.

The American midfielder played a large extent of the pre-season games for Plymouth, including over an hour of the game against AZ Alkmaar. And it was enough to impress Reid with his energetic performances to earn a deal with the Pilgrims:

"He has done well in the games he's played, he has plenty of energy,” said the Plymouth manager. “We've got experience in [Damien] Johnson, [Carl] Fletcher and [Luke] Summerfield, but he's a bit younger and with legs. When it goes through, we'll be delighted to have him on board.”

Another trialist, former Pilgrim Tony Capaldi, who featured in Holland, is also looking for a deal, but with interest from another club, believed to be Crystal Palace, talks are on-going at the present.

The left back, who played over 100 times in front of the Green Army, is a free agent after leaving Cardiff City in the summer. But another left back who has also left his club in the summer and maybe competing with Capaldi for a contract is Lee Molyneux.

The 21-year-old spent a year with Southampton but only made four appearances in his entire time for the Saints. And the graduate of Everton's youth academy, who joined on trial at the weekend, will feature against Hereford United at Edgar Street in Plymouth’s penultimate pre-season friendly.

Reid is also looking at central defender Stephane Zubar, who is the younger brother of Ronald who plays his trade for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers. Stephane, 23, has been with SC Vaslui in Romania's Liga 1 for the past two years making 33 appearances for them last season.

The manager decided to take a look at the defender after recommendations from the Wolves manager: “Mick McCarthy put me on to him and he will have a few days with us," said Reid.

Pilgrimage to Holland proves successful

2010-07-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

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http://www.givemefootball.com/league-one/pilgrimage-to-holland-proves-successful-(2)

The team’s week was spent at the Papendal National Sport Centre, near Arnhem, a top facility used by many national and international teams. The complex had the latest training equipment and sports medical centre, and provided the players with everything they needed to help them gain full match fitness.

The three games that the Pilgrims had planned were against top-quality opposition, including AZ Alkmaar who had featured in the Champions League only just last season. The other two, NAC Breda and SC Cambuur would also provide stern challenges with Breda playing its trade in the Eredivise and Cambuur only just missing out on a place in Holland’s top division this season.

And stern challenges they were. A win a loss and a draw not sounding like much, but it was the hard working performances that showed great promise ahead of this season in League One. The loss to Alkmaar was only by a single goal, a very dubious penalty.

But Argyle did well throughout the match with the defence of Krisztian Timar, Kari Arnason, Karl Duguid and returning trialist Tony Capaldigiving a committed performance, keeping AZ’s constant attacking threat at bay for the majority of the match.

The win in the first game against was also a battling affair with Plymouth doing well to deal with Breda’s strong possession approach before youngster Joe Mason got the only goal. The striker’s performances during the tour being a definite highlight, scoring three of the five goals Argyle did score whilst in the Netherlands.

And then to the final game staged in the SC Franeker ground where injury to defender Bondz N’Gala and tiredness from a long tour stopped Argyle from getting their second win.

But it wasn’t just on the pitch that benefited the Pilgrims. Spending a week in a hotel allowed the team to spend a lot of time together which for new signing Rory Patterson was just what he and the rest of the team needed:

“It's probably the best way you could think of because you are with the lads all day and night.

"You have breakfast and dinner together, so you get to know each other a lot easier.”

So with the team gelling on and off the pitch, new manager Peter Reid will have been nothing short of ecstatic with the outcome of the tour.

And with Reid’s philosophy of “play it on the deck” beginning to filter through the team, hopefully continuing in to the last two friendlies of pre-season against Hereford United and Queen Park Rangers coming up, the Green Army have “Dutch” to look forward to.

Who Wants Some Onismor?

2010-02-22T16:29:00.000-08:00

In the Western Morning News recently, an article was ran about Zimbabwe international left-back Onismor Bhasera.

This seemed totally out of the blue, an international player who has been touted by several European clubs such as Lens and Le Havre as well as Premier League side Portsmouth who tried to sign him last summer but were scuppered by Bhasera's club Kaier Cheifs.

And now he had suddenly been training with Argyle for the past two weeks, and it raises further questions, why are e looking into a left back when we need a right back?

This can only have two reasons:

1. That Gary Sawyer whose contract runs out this summer seems like he no longer wants to be here and therefore Mariner is already looking for a replacement.

2. Jim Paterson who is our secondary left back and is currently out on loan to Aberdeen, has no future with Plymouth Argyle and there for Bhasera would be a likely candiadate.

I dont know much about this guy but if he is in the international squad for Zimbabwe then he has got to be fairly good then he sounds like he will be a great addition to Plymouth Argyle.

Mickey Evans: Legend of Home Park

2010-02-18T06:13:00.000-08:00

Even Karl Duguid can beat Flop Fabianski!!

2010-02-18T06:00:00.001-08:00

Pitch Problems continue but Pilgrims will soldier on!

2010-02-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

The state of the pitch at Home Park has continued to be a source of difficulty and annoyance this season. Barnsley's visit back in November was called to a halt (being 4-1 down, it was a blessing!!) due to a torrential down-pourand the pitch had never recovered from that. A Snowy january and further downpours in the South-West has not helped the situation and this continued against West Bromwich Albion.

The pitch was boggy to say the least, but this was more to Argyle's advantage as it stopped Albion from playing the ball around and being fluid which they are so good at.

In the end it was 1-0 which was probably a little bit unfair as Plymouth had plenty of chances and should of had a penalty in the first half when Mackie was brought down in the area but to WBA's credit they are second for a reason and it showed.

The main talking point along with the terrible pitch, was the horror tackle by Jerome Thomas on Davvid McNamee, a clear two footed challenge infront of the referee and a straight red was thoroughly desereved. This led to a scuffle between several players from each side which went on to be punished by the FA.

There are talks of a new pitch being laid in the summer but will this be too late, as it is badly in need of TLC now?!?!

The Mystery of Alan Gow

2010-02-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

Within Plymouth Argyle football club, a lot of the ins and outs during the January transfer window were to be expected, however the one that was completely baffling was Alan Gow’s move to Hibernian.

A £200,000 move from Rangers in the summer seemed like an absolute bargain for a talented and creative striker. And the Scotsman was an instant hit getting two goals in two games. He also linked up brilliantly when partnered with Jamie Mackie, setting up the goal that secured an unbelievable away win to Middlesbrough.

But ever since Paul Mariner stepped in as head coach at Home Park, Gow has not been given a chance to show his credentials to the new boss. Even in the F.A Cup, where Cillian Sheridan, whose loan spell was very disappointing, got the nod ahead of Gow.

I can’t see why, with a massive lack of creativity in the final third at times during games, Gow couldn’t have been placed in the attacking midfielder position, or just behind the striker linking up with the midfield.

Instead Mariner has continued to rely on Fallon and Mackie, and though both have scored, they have not been consistent enough.

With the arrival of Kenny Cooper from Germany on loan for the rest of the season, Mariner has bolstered the attack, but was it really needed when Gow was sitting on the sidelines ready and waiting on the side-lines??

Sorry, Mariner but I think you’ve lost out on this mistake and I hope it doesn’t come back to haunt you when, with a lack of goals and threat towards goal, Argyle will find themselves back in League One for the first time in six years, for not giving him a Gow!

So to summarise....CHRISTMAS STYLE!

2009-12-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Hi everybody sorry for the lateness in this post, hetic schedule at university.....

So here is a MASSIVE summary to what has happened so far to the style of "Once in Royal David City" just as its almost Christmas Enjoy :)

Once in royal Plymouth City, stood a lowely scottish man, he could only watch as Argyle lost, once at home and twice away, Leciester, Sheffield and Swansea too, took 3 points and Sturrock was so blue.

The Board called time on dear old Paul's career, with much loss and muuuuuuuch regret, He had pulled Argyle from the slumber, two titles and the heights of Championship, his second spell oh he had tried, but it was not enough for us.

In he came, the legend Paul Mariner, ex-england international and Argyle great, though he had been working in the MLS, the time had come to show his worth at Home (park). Apprentice for the Sturrock now gone, to save us from the relegation zone.

For League 1 is not where Plymouth belong, But Mariner's start has not been the best, 2-0 loss away to Preston, though be fair, they're doing really well. So now to the rest of the season, Mariner needs to sort this Great team out.

I hope that has updated you with all the past two month's going on at Plymouth Argyle

Who Doesn't Love a Crossbar Challenge??

2009-11-26T18:42:00.000-08:00

All the efforts from Plymouth Argyle in the past years, mostly from Soccer am and 1 made by Argyle's very own "Plymouth World"!

Enjoy!!

2009

2008

2006

And we're off to 2018!

2009-11-26T14:39:00.000-08:00

So Home Park has joined the race against 15 other cities to become a host city should England's bid for the 2018 World Cup be successful. The bid was officially launched yesterday on the 26th of November with Plymouth up against the likes of London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle-Gateshead.

I for one am massively delighted to see this happen when it originally was thought up back in August when the new board took over and would absolutely love it if Plymouth were to get that chance. The benefits be excellent:

The chance to push on with the redevelopment of Home Park, which has been several years in the making, to see Home Park become an all seater stadium accomodating 43,000 fans, doubling its current capacit of just under 20,000.

The pulling power of tourism to Devon as a whole with plenty of international fans able to enjoy and discover the true beauty of the South West showing another side of England rather than the stereotypical "its all about London. It would also create jobs and income which can only be good.

On a more personal note, potentially going to see a World Cup match merely an hour down the road from where I live, rather than having to trek as far as London or Birmingham to do so as well as many other people from the South West of England is an awesome thought.

The F.A will be looking to showcase the entirety of England and Plymouth, a largely understated place, a place that most people have never heard of outside of Devon or Cornwall and whose only famous for clotted cream and pasties!!

It will be three weeks before the Football Association makes its decision, and with 10 out of the 15 being selected, Plymouth has as much chance as anyone else.

So good luck Plymouth.......GET ON YOU JANNERS!!!

AND if that wasnt enough, here is the promotional video of Plymouth presented by the very sexual Helen Chamberlain from Soccer AM:

Sturrock Not For Scotland!!!!

2009-11-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

On Western Morning News' website Manager Paul Sturrock was quick to quash any link between himself and the Scotland manager vacancy

We can all sleep a little better now

Sturrock and Scotland???

2009-11-17T09:33:00.000-08:00

With George Burley being sacked by the Scottish F.A, the search has begun for the next Scotland manager.

There have been quite a few big names already linked with the post such as Walter Smith, Dundee United manager Craig Levin,Graeme Souness has already rules himself out, former Scottish midfielder John Collins as well as fomer Pilgrim flop boss Bobby Williamson........and our very own Paul Sutrrock???

The bookies have placed him as 50/1 outsider to succeed Burley.

Crazy,unthinkable I hear you say. Well maybe not so....

For it was Sturrock who had a reasonably sucerssful stint in the Scottish side back in the 80's scoring three goals in 20 appearances and was in the 1982 and 1986 World Cup squads with Sturrock featuring in 2 group games of the later.

And he has been quoted in the past of wanting to coach a national side before he reitres, and no country would be more wanted by him than his homeland.

I personally dont think he will, but you never know......watch this space

The Best Players and Moments of the 2006/2007 season

2009-11-11T02:04:00.000-08:00

An 11th place finish in the Championship, our highest league finish in 20 years, An F.A Cup run that went all the way to the Quarter-Finals, and a team filled with quality such as Ebanks-Blake, Hayes, Buzsaky, Nalis, Halmosi and a super loan spell from Chelsea's Scott Sinclair........GOOD TIMES!!!

Mariner Revolution Continues to Grow

2009-11-04T01:17:00.000-08:00

It’s been three games since Ex-England striker Paul Mariner began to work his magic as head coach at Plymouth Argyle. A loss, a draw and a win; not bad for a man whose only just getting to grips with life in the Championship and not just that, working with a team that has been fighting with relegation since day one of the season.

And these games have not been easy ones either; it was always going to be tough going to Ashton Gate which has not seen an away team win in the league so far. 3-1 may have looked like a bad score but there were positives. Argyle had held Bristol at bay for 73 minutes before Danny Haynes struck the first goal.

And the Pilgrims did not let their heads drop either, within two minute Jamie Mackie had equalised showing signs of resilience and determination from Plymouth which fans had seen in the 2-1 win against Scunthorpe. Not to mention it was Mariner’s first game overseeing the team afterall.

Then onto the Ipswich Town game. In a tense game where both teams were trying to get some points to climb out of the relegation zone, neither wanting to lose, Plymouth took the lead with a fantastic strike from Carl Fletcher. Argyle almost took all three points at Home Park and were unlucky not to as concentration slipped, Gary Sawyer gifting Jon Stead the equaliser, the red card to Darcy Blake not helpful either.

The transformation was beginning to show, a team showing commitment, a desire to win and to get their floundering team out of the grips of League One, which is what they are paid to do. However the next game was to be the true test for Mariner and Sturrock: Middlesbrough. A name that has always been surrounded with top flight football, a team that has had such stars as Fabrizio Ravenelli and Juninho Paulista in the starting 11.

But it is a club in transition, with Gordon Strachan taking the helm only five days before the game against Argyle. So this was the best time as ever to go to the Riverside. A passionate team display resulted in a fantastic 0-1 victory with Sawyer, redeeming his error from the previous week, sending Mackie through the defenders with a long ball, who calmly slotted past Brad Jones getting Argyle to within a point of being free from the relegation places.

And it is not just the results that Mariner has been having an impact on. Paul Sturrock has noticed a significant change in the way he does things saying “it's been a while since I've got my teeth into things like I have over the last ten days, so I've really enjoyed it.

"Him and I have worked hand in hand as far as the training is concerned and I've enjoyed myself as well."

Being a former striker for such teams Ipswich Town, Arsenal and of course Argyle, Mariner was quick to get stuck in with Argyle’s front line, one of which was Ashley Barnes: "I know he's a legend at the club, and hopefully I can learn from him.

"He has already helped me. He told me a few things which I took into the game, and that was good."

This freshness to training has also seemed to have had an effect on the fringe players, with two being involved on Saturday, Yoann Folly and Alan Gow, both who produced excellent performances and will no doubt be in contention for next week’s game against Doncaster at Home Park.

So, bring on the next couple of months, for this will be the time where the Mariner Revolution will hopefully flourish and see Plymouth Argyle lifted to safer heights.

Plymouth Argyle 1 Ipswich Town 1: Cracker from Carl Cancelled By Sawyer Stupidity

2009-10-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

A point. Not three but one. However, I don't know about you but i was very happy with the Pilgrims' performance. It was committed, it was full of effort and it almost ALMOST paid off.

I was literally jumping for joy when i saw Plymouth Argyle had taken the lead! And what a goal it was an absolute stonker, from all of 25 yards. It's fantastic to see the midfielders scoring like Fletcher and Judge, I just wish the strikers would do it too. We have to score more goals than one each game if we are going to win, its just fact.

And it showed as Jon Stead, on as a substitute for Counago, ran on to a terrible back pass from Gary Sawyer and slotted past "Le Keeper" to level the score.

BUT for one I am happy. a point is better than none, and though this is not the rejuvanation i wanted to see with a win IT IS a change! Paul Mariner has already had an impact on the team as everyone gave their all and all we have to do now is work on getting rid of all "zany moments" and we have a real chance of getting out of the bottom 3 and staying in the Championship

THANK YOU PAUL MARINER!

Plymouth Argyle vs Ipswich Town: Make Or Brake!

2009-10-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

Two teams. Two under pressure managers. One crucial match. This is going to be a good'n!!

It is looking good for our team going into Saturday's game. Kari Arnason has recovered from a chest infection that meant he missed the Bristol game on Tuesday. This is excellent news as he does a sterling job in midfield or can always sure up the defence as he showed in previous games.

We have Rory Fallon, Darcy Blake and James Paterson all available if Sturrock wants to change it up a bit, especially Fallon whose one of the only strikers to have scored for us so far this season. and his aerial threat is always a danger.

Im saddened to hear that Bradley Wright-Phillips is still struggling with a knee injury and hope he is able to be back soon, as we really need someone to start scoring plenty of goals.

Then to Ipswich; Roy Keane is waiting to hear if Jon Walters is available for the game. The top scorer for Ipswich with 4 goals is having treatment on a sprained ankle so could miss out. But Ipswich have plenty of attacking options with Jon Stead or Tamas Priskin upfront.

Plymouth starting 11 i would like to see:

1 Larrieu

18 Sawyer

37 Lawry

5 Timar

39 Gray

8 Mackie

11 Arnason

2 Duguid

6 Clarker

14 Fallon

24 Barnes

Score Predictions:

Me: Well i think it will be tight both teams will be giving it their all, but this is the turnaround for Argyle I think, at Home Park, i would love to see a win so I predict 2-0

Jon Parker, my friend and Ipswich Fan: 1-3 win to Ipswich

SO...........let "battle of the bottom" commence!!!

Steve MacLean: All Washed Out

2009-10-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

I think you can all agree it was coming.

Steve MacLean, was in the form of his life......during his time at Sheffield Wednesday between 2004 to 2007 scoring a brilliant 33 goals in 84 appearances and though suffered set backs with a couple of injuries, was loved by the fans and by Paul Sturrock.

Then things went slightly pear shaped at Cardiff. More injuries and Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to contend with MacLean found himself game after game on the bench.

But things looked up for the Scottish player with a 500,000 pound transfer to Plymouth Argyle a record signing fee at the time. This was his chance to rekindle the form he had had under our Sturrock at Wednesday.

............This didn't happen, as during the past 3 seasons with 41 appearances to his name, he only managed 5 goals. And though the start of the season looked good for MacLean as Sturrock tried a new formation with the striker heading the line, which seemed to work against Romanian champions FC Unirea Urziceni as he grabbed the winner in the pre-season friendly. He even started the first 3 games of this season in the Championship.

But, I think it has been increasingly apparent that he is a waste of space, which is a real shame as he cost a very pretty penny and his return was very poor. He vanshied from the squad not even getting on the substitutes bench showing that Sturrock lost faith him too with him stating:

"It is appropriate for both us. Steve obviously wants the ideal move and I am appreciative of it...He has come here and there are all sorts of opinions and thoughts on the reasons why, but it just hasn't worked. We all have to be man enough about the situation and move on."

Therefore todays news that Steve MacLean can leave the club is not a surprise. It means less waste of wages and hopefully some sort of return on that half a million pounds, though im predicting not much at all.

On another note, has anyone seen BWP??? what has happened to him.....please don't say he is another Mpenza!!!

A "zany" moment too far??

2009-10-21T04:05:00.000-07:00

Bristol City 3 Plymouth Argyle 1

As new head coach, Paul Mariner has a serious amount of work on his hands after the only thing keeping Argyle off the bottom of the Championship was Ipswich's failure to get their first win for the 13th time of asking.

Though there is plenty of anger towards Sturrock at the moment from other blogs, declaring his removal, as well as questions over the new board, I for one feel that Mariner and Sturrock can be a winning formula with Sturrocks knowledge of the English leagues and Mariner with his legendary status and years of experience as an assistant manager. And the board have implemented their plans well, and if we can stage a game at home park for the world cup bid then the better!!

But like you, I was left frustrated by the amount of goals we conceded in such a small amount of time. And though there was a small dawn when Mackie equalised after Danny Haynes had volleyed bristol infront, it was a false one as further goals from Jamie McCombe and Nicky Maynard, city's top scorer finished off the poor pilgrims.

Paul Sturrock put it down to "zany moments" and said that "there were a lot of good performances tonight, yet we end up 3-1 losers. Saturday's game with Ipswich is now absolutely huge.

And he is absolutely right, if we can't get a win against the worst team in the league, then what else can we do apart from be positive.......... Saturday awaits!!!!

And So It Begins........

2009-10-21T02:09:00.002-07:00

Hello and welcome to my new blog "The Green Army Gab". My name is Liam McGrath, I am a second year sports journalist studying at Staffordshire University. I live in Kingsbridge, Devon and have always followed Plymouth since i moved down to the nicest place in the U.K in 1999, but now they are my keenest interest which is the reason I have set up this Blog.

With this blog I hope to keep all the budding pilgrims out their, up to date with the latest news from Home Park, my opinions on it and hopefully, yours as well on the best football club in the entire South West of England.

I will be looking forward and previewing Argyle ahead of their games in the Championship, discussing the results, and all the in between "Gab" as well. Through the lows (as you will agree there are a lot of them at the moment!) and the highs of Plymouth Argyle Football Club.

At some point this year I will also be getting an insight into PAFC, as I am in the middle of securing work placement at the "Theatre of Greens", so I will be keeping you posted on my day in day out working, keeping a diary as I go.

I hope you enjoy this blog as much as i am going to enjoy writing it.

Liam McGrath :)