2014/15 Prediction League - Game 29 v Plymouth Argyle (away)

Div3North · 05-02-2015, 23:50

Plymouth Argyle

V

Accrington Stanley

2014/5 Prediction League; Game 29 v Plymouth Argyle (away)

Let’s put this into context, shall we? Terry Gornell, Scott Davies and Gerardo Bruna won’t win every game for us, starting now

..........Indeed, as Argyle Manager John Sheridan (once of Chesterfield, whose current Manager just signed a contract extension to 2017

) said recently;

• "We need a bit of know-how to see games through, win ugly and get three points - that's the most important thing. We just make life hard.”

We’ve lost 5 out of our last six

, and the advantage of having – what was it, 6 out of 9 or ten at home - is dwindling by the minute. Plymouth, on the other hand, are dropping down the table, having not won in their last seven

– 3 draws (1-1 against Morecambe, and 0-0 at Southend and at York) and 4 defeats -2 at Hartlepool, 1-0 against Luton at the “Theatre of Greens”

(as I just saw it called, and how naff is THAT?

), 2-1 at home to Oxford and 2-0 at Newport, who have just reduced the price they’re asking Gillingham to pay for the managerial services of Justin Edinburgh, who – a few days ago – didn’t want to go there anyway

. Seven games, three points, 4 goals scored, nine conceded, and in four of those seven they failed to score

; makes us look like Barcelona!

Currently they’re 10th; P28 W11 D7 L10 GF32 GA22 for 40 points and a plus 10 GD – the fifth best in the League; they’re a point behind Stevenage and Exeter (8th and 9th respectively), and four points behind Bury in 7th. They didn’t get beyond Round Two in any of the Cups competitions, but then, neither did we; the League Cup saw them lose 6-5 on pens to Leyton Orient after a 3-3 draw; the PaintyThingy Cup resulted in a 3-2 win over high-flying Swindon at home, followed by a 2-0 defeat away at low-flying Coventry, back home at the Ricoh but still crap

; the FA Cup involved a 2-0 win over AFC Fylde at Home Park followed by a 3-0 reverse at Away Park (Bramhall Lane) at the hands of the Blades. Overall season stats are therefore P33, scored 40, conceded 32.

Recent doings in the Transfer Market saw forward Nathan Thomas leave for Motherwell, 20 year-old defender Jamie Richards go on loan to Dartford (hope he doesn’t get tunnel vision

(get it? Dartford ...........Tunnel visi.....oh suit yourselves

)), and 6’ 4” striker Marvin Morgan – Yeading, Woking, Aldershot and Shrewsbury - (now 31) jump (on loan) from the frying pan of Devon into the fire which is Hartlepool

.................. In have come Irish born former Blackburn Rovers defender Anthony O’Connor (22); Charlton LB/winger Tareiq Holmes-Dennis on loan, at 19 an England Youth international; Chesterfield striker Drew Talbot (28) – once of Sheff Wed and of Luton – has also joined on loan (he played for Sheridan at Chesterfield, but – for a striker – his record of 15 in 231 games isn’t (happily) very special

); Bristol City’s Bobbie Reid (21,MF) has returned on loan, having been there earlier this season but having only 2 goals to his name; and striker Ryan Brunt (21) – Stoke, Bristol Rovers – hopes he’s put behind him the injuries which handicapped him, to the point that he hasn’t actually scored since March 2013, which – for a supposed goalscorer – ain’t thrilling either!

According to today’s Plymouth Herald (!), by the way, Harry Redknapp is “considering joining a consortium which is looking to take over Plymouth Argyle”; as they say, if there isn’t any news around, start a rumour ................

History records that Argyle were re-formed in 1897 as part of the Argyle Athletic Club; they joined the newly-created Division 3 in 1920, coming 11th in their first year with 43 points from 42 games, and followed that up the year after (in the new Division Three South) by coming 2nd to Southampton, both having 61 points and going unbeaten at home all season, but the Saints having the better GD (+47 to +39).; only one side going up, they tried again the year after, and this time came second again (to Bristol City); the next year – surely lightening can’t strike twice? – lightening struck twice - nay, thrice - as they came 2nd to Portsmouth .......they’ve yo-yo’d over the years, their best-ever place being 4th in Division Two (second tier) in 1952/3. What else do you need to know? Well, their record League defeat is 9-0 at Stoke, their record League win is 7-0 over Chesterfield, and between 1907 and 1910 their Manager is recorded as “Committee”, which must have made the half-time team talk interesting!

We beat them 1-0 at our place on 27th September, with a goal from a “tame shot”

(BBC) by Kal Naismith which gave us our 4th win in 5 following the return of the Messiah (mab’s new best mate!

) ..............Our head-to-head is tight; one win, one loss (4-0 at our place, led by one-time Dingle Alex McDonald, who’s just joined Oxford from Burton) and five draws ...........Their 40 goals so far are principally down to striker Reuben Reid (Plymouth, Rotherham, West Brom, Oldham and Yeovil), now 26, who has 14, assisted in the main by ex Morecambe striker Lewis Alessandra (eight), and by defender Peter Hartley (four)

Deadline for entries is, as always, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 7th February. It’s been a topsy-turvy season – more turvy than topsy really. This is a chance to silence the doubters and kick-start the season .......and the same applies to us, too. Go Stanley!

Go Terry!

Hola Gerardo!

And mind you don’t hurt yourself Scott – keeping goal for Stanley has seen off quite a few this season already, and there are still 17 games to go!

Good luck to everyone!

......Keep the Faith! .....

and thanks for playing!