SBRed Match Thoughts Plymouth Argyle v Barnsley

[animallittle3]

If you count the first time I walked through the turnstiles at Oakwell which would have been in 1967 then this is my 58th season following the club .

I have to confess this is probably the least I've looked forward to a new season , it's not anything in particular but what was once there just isn't anymore .

Just to put it in some kind of perspective I've seen us play down at Home Park on at least 5 occasions .

However I'll tune in tomorrow afternoon none the less and hope the team can get a good win in what looks to be a pretty difficult opening game .

Here's hoping for a good and successful campaign and we have one of those surprise campaigns that we've enjoyed on a few occasions .

[Shadrack the Red]

You never know what to expect on the first day of the season, whilst we have strengthened this summer on paper we still appear to have pieces of the jigsaw missing and appear to be suspect at the back but quite strong on the forward front, although Argyle were in the championship last season I think they might suffer from a relegation hang over and on that basis my cup half full logic fancies us for 3 points today, I really hope so especially with our Red army having a 600 mile round trip to lend their support , so off we go !!!

[animallittle3]

You never know what to expect on the first day of the season, whilst we have strengthened this summer on paper we still appear to have pieces of the jigsaw missing and appear to be suspect at the back but quite strong on the forward front, although Argyle were in the championship last season I think they might suffer from a relegation hang over and on that basis my cup half full logic fancies us for 3 points today, I really hope so especially with our Red army having a 600 mile round trip to lend their support , so off we go !!!

Just looking at the Argyle squad it's much changed since they won the league one title two season's ago , Mumba and Edwards are still there but they've lost players such as Hardie and Morgan Whittaker and they don't at least on paper look too strong up top .

Saying that Home Park is sold out today , at least in the home areas and they'll have the backing of 16k fans which isn't too shabby at all given the relegation last season .

It obviously goes without saying we have to keep it tight early doors , conceding the early goal and feeding the large expectant crowd isn't where we need to be .

Keep it tight , play on the break and who knows , big crowds can and often do work against you and especially when they think a drop in quality opposition from the season before should be giving them a routine opening day win .

[NerfHerder]

Agree about it being hard to predict early season.

That being said, I can see lots of goals in our games given how good our attacking group looks and how we will be lining up defensively. Could be a good bet for both teams to score this season.

[animallittle3]

2-0 up at the break , what could possibly go wrong ?

Worth the lead for me and taken advantage of some dreadful Argyle defending , I can do getting gifted goals all season .

Nice to see us getting stuck in too and it's clearly something Argyle don't like , not seen that for a while from us .

What a strike from Phillips btw.

[pass_and_move]

Well pleased with that. Some very good football at times but for me our workmate was second to none. Great energy from our lads. Worked their ballax off and looked far better organised. Very satisfying performance. Thought the ref was very poor. The 2 yellow cards Sheppard received didn't warrant a sending off. The referee clearly didn't realise he had already booked the lad. Aye well, fortunately it didn't cost us. I'm just chuffed to bits with the effort and workmate that was put in and that's all we ask

[animallittle3]

Very well done indeed , showed alot of resilience and togetherness out there this afternoon with everybody digging in for the cause .

The Shepherd sending off was a complete joke , the ref was itching to get that red card out , he couldn't help himself , complete pryck of a referee .

OK Argyle were dreadful at the back and gifted us all 3 goals but I was impressed with how we dug in at 2-1 and down to 10 men when Plymouth were throwing everything at us , we'd have buckled the last 2 seasons .

Great to start the season with a good away win .

[Shadrack the Red]

A big well done to the Reds , fully deserved in my opinion despite the best efforts of the ref to spoil our day , the sending off was a joke and the booking of Mgoldrick who clearly played the ball just showed his incompetence , but they all played their part with a special mention for Connel, if ever there was a case for hanging on to our captain it was showcased today , he was superb from the 1st minute to the last and supported by those around him who all worked hard for the team , its a long journey home but for the team and the magnificent support it should at least be a pleasant one , well done !!!!

[animallittle3]

Hourihane doesn't have to be a tactical genius at this level to at least give us a better season than probably many of us envisaged .

Hecky wasn't and neither was Stendel , what they did have was an ability to create an environment that the players could flourish in , a culture of hard work and to beat us you bloody well had to earn it .

We've been too easy to play against for the last two seasons and a culture where the opposition hasn't had to bust a gut to turn us over .

I saw some pleasing things out there this afternoon , things I haven't seen for quite a while .

There was no pyssing about at the back , we weren't afraid to put ourselves about , there was some bite and positive aggression about us , I could clearly lip read young Shepherd in the first half telling Amachei to bring it if he wanted it and I thought Connell had his mojo back in abundance.

I've said for more years than I've contributed to this board , league one isn't complicated to be successful , it's about doing the basics well .

Plymouth were trying to be way too clever than they needed to be , false 9's , zonal marking , there wasn't one of their back three who looked comfortable and that's despite DKD having a quiet game .

It was never more emphasised than young Vickers simply keeping out wide and gave us an extremely simple option , wing backs are alright if you've got a Nicky Eaden or Nicky Cadden in the team so when you haven't it's probably best to stick to more conventional ways like hmm wide midfield players .

Maybe the fact this is Hourihane's first rodeo he sees the game in more simpler terms and doesn't overthink things , that's why Hecky was so successful when he took over from Johnson who was his worst enemy with his complicated lineups and tactics .

He might even get De Gevigney to simply defend and not try to be Marcel Desailly which he obviously isn't.

Don't get me wrong there are limitations in the squad but the clever coach knows how to not expose those limitations too much and the players eventually get the message .

Darren Moore has to be the slowest central defender I've ever seen at Oakwell , he never got beat for pace though , not once in two years .

There's a very good reason for that and kind of emphasises my point , if you get players to do the things they can do and do them well you've half a chance of having a decent season .

[perkytyke]

Connell had his best game for a long time and I think it was a great idea to have McGoldrick, Roberts and Earl to support him!
Roberts injury and the absolute absurdity of losing Shepherd for a game when in my “opinion” neither were yellow cards causes issues at the back for the Burton game, we do have Ogbeta eligible though so clearly Earl and Mael will move to the centre.
It highlights after just one game though how light we are at the back, especially right back.
I’m hoping we get one in and a striker before the window shuts, then we should be good to go in case we get more refs like that idiot on Saturday!
I thought we were excellent against a poor Plymouth side and the grit and determination to dig in when we went a man down was great to see, there seems to be a feel good factor returning to the club after a couple of seasons of doom and gloom, I firmly put this down to Connor and his man management and the staff he now has around him, long may it continue.

[pass_and_move]

Connell had his best game for a long time and I think it was a great idea to have McGoldrick, Roberts and Earl to support him!
Roberts injury and the absolute absurdity of losing Shepherd for a game when in my “opinion” neither were yellow cards causes issues at the back for the Burton game, we do have Ogbeta eligible though so clearly Earl and Mael will move to the centre.
It highlights after just one game though how light we are at the back, especially right back.
I’m hoping we get one in and a striker before the window shuts, then we should be good to go in case we get more refs like that idiot on Saturday!
I thought we were excellent against a poor Plymouth side and the grit and determination to dig in when we went a man down was great to see, there seems to be a feel good factor returning to the club after a couple of seasons of doom and gloom, I firmly put this down to Connor and his man management and the staff he now has around him, long may it continue.

You could see that the work in pre season has payed dividends. The formation, the different attitude and commitment, the players understanding of their roles and what's expected of them, the togetherness, the fitness levels, the physical presence and no nonsense approach to defensive duties.

As you say mate, and without getting carried away after one game against a very disjointed Plymouth outfit. There's a better air running through the camp. Our first XI is good enough to compete in the top 6 but as we know, the season is a marathon and not a sprint. The lack of depth in the squad is a major concern and its been already brought to light after the first fixture thanks to an unfortunate injury and a shocker of a decision by a poor Referee.

As we know, it's not about just the first XI but more the entire squad in order to maintain a level that CH expects. We need to add quality and back up. It's up to the board now and as we already know, our board have been the downfall of our club by not backing their head coaches in the last 2 years.

I hope they don't do the same to CH. There's still a month till the transfer window shuts. It's about time they backed their head coach as they did Duff.

[Olias1]

Taking off the rose tinted glasses for a minute, yes, any away win is good but let’s be sensible.
The sending off was laughable.
Barnsley took their chances well.
That’s the good stuff out of the way.
Again the defence was shocking at times.
Not winning Ariel duels, half hearted tackling.
We were lucky not to concede 4/5.
But for some bad finishing and good goalkeeping we would have.

Lots of work still to be done and now 2 CBs down gor the next match possibly. Shepherd def Robert’s possibly.
Again on the bright side we have the full back that was ineligible to come in, so Marl and Josh in the centre on Sat if Robby doesn’t make it. Thoughts?

[Olias1]

Even Josh and forgotten man Casper in middle with Mael staying at RB.

[BusanRed]

Great to see us play with proper wingers again, this will help with the atmosphere at Oakwell I'm sure rather than the constant passes across the back 3 of the last two seasons. Plenty of strong central midfield options until we presumably sell a couple.

I reckon my Dad (SBRed) would have been pleased with the performance at Plymouth and with Hourihane in charge. Having said that he'd probably go for something like a 1-1 draw prediction for the Burton game. Incidentally it was his birthday today. It's been hard not talking through goings on at Oakwell with him this summer. Sure he would have had plenty to say on events at Hillsborough too! haha.

[pass_and_move]

Great to see us play with proper wingers again, this will help with the atmosphere at Oakwell I'm sure rather than the constant passes across the back 3 of the last two seasons. Plenty of strong central midfield options until we presumably sell a couple.

I reckon my Dad (SBRed) would have been pleased with the performance at Plymouth and with Hourihane in charge. Having said that he'd probably go for something like a 1-1 draw prediction for the Burton game. Incidentally it was his birthday today. It's been hard not talking through goings on at Oakwell with him this summer. Sure he would have had plenty to say on events at Hillsborough too! haha.

Lovely to hear from you Busan. Hope you're ok and enjoyed Saturdays performance. It'd have been a love6 birthday present for SB. Speaking for everyone, we miss very much his thoughts on the goings on at Oakwell.

Your Dad woulda bin chuffed with Saturday and as you say, he'd be happy with Hourihane in the hot seat. No doubt about that.

Take care mate.