Plymouth Argyle mid-season REVIEW

Summer

So after finishing last season in a disappointing 10th place and just outside the playoffs like many others we were hoping for more this season.

When Sheridan came in we were a club in disarray and with an unbalanced squad of journey men just looking to gaining another year on their contract and another years wages.

In all honesty it took John Sheridan time, a year and a half to have any chance to really check the status of the squad and last summer completely get rid of all the dead wood and baggage at the club had been carrying for the past few seasons.

He managed to convince Reuben Reid to put pen to paper after his successful loan last season and Reid repaid the faith put on him from Sheridan and the green army this campaign scoring goals and chipping away at the 20 goal a year striker everybody needs.

Also the fact that in Luke McCormick probably the best keeper you can get at this level has helped.
I think had it not been for Luke's past he would have at a  minimum championship clubs after him.

We also seem to have got in the right balance of players bringing in Kelvin Mellor, Peter Hartley,
Oliver Norburn and Carl McHugh.

Loanees

Like many other clubs not in the top flight rely on loanees to get the by. In recent season the majority of these haven't really paid off for us for one reason or another. Of the four loans we have got in this season 3 of the 4 have played a major part in our good form this season. And the other Alex Bray from Swansea ruptured anterior ligament in the knee so returned to Swansea.

Bobby Reid from Bristol City has been in excellent form scoring two goals and creating a mountain of chances in the 12 games since he's been here.

Anthony O'Connor from Blackburn has played a part in every fixture since the opening day loss against Cambridge with 25 starts and 2 substitute appearances, The fact that since his first professional contract was signed with Blackburn in 2011 he's yet to make an appearance for his parent club instead spending the last 2 & 1/2 seasons out on loan, First to Burton 12/13 getting 46 appearances then last year at Torquay getting 31 appearances I think he'd be happy to leave Blackburn if we were to offer him a deal of maybe 2-3 years and can get Blackburn to let him go.
That's surely the whole point of the loan system. A try before you buy but nowadays seems to be used with the bigger clubs just using it to get they're younger players game time.

Andy Kellett is proving really popular with the fans and manager alike. In April Kellett was Bolton's first academy player to make an appearance for the first team in eight years and has shown a lot of promise since his arrival in October making 12 starts for the pilgrims since.

With a bit of luck I think we should try to sign O'Connor in a permanent deal in January and try to persuade Bristol and Bolton to extend the other two for the remainder of the season.

All 3 Loanees are due to expire in January:

Bobby Reid  = 03 January
Anthony O’Connor = 10 January
Andy Kellett = 17 January

Summary

Up until now we've had a solid defence. Unfortunately due to injuries to captain Curtis Nelson and Peter Hartley being out for the last two games with elbow and groin injuries respectively both are due to return against York on the weekend and hopefully we can shake of the last two results.

We currently sit in the final play off spot despite losing the last two games and we're on 37 points, that's an improvement of 7 points on last season at this stage so there is room to be optimistic.

84 points would of got you automatic promotion the last 5 seasons in League two so that surely has to be Sheridan's and the clubs aim.

The thought of ending in the lottery of the playoffs fills me with thoughts of Exeter v Plymouth Argyle final at Wembley which is a game you just cant afford to lose.

Lots of football to look forward to in the second half and if we can keep the loan players there is no reason we cant get one of the three automatic spots!

Semper Fidelis.

Plymouth Argyle 1 - 0 Exeter City , Sat 30 March 2013

Never has a Devon Derby been as important as this for Argyle. Flirting with relegation from the football league for most of the season whilst Exeter looking to establish a playoff spot there was plenty to play for.
So the scene was set for the 60th Football League meeting between the Devon clubs with the sun shining on Home Park and the highest league 2 attendance this season of 13'251 we were hopeful that we wouldn't choke.
The game like most home games started very scrappy as you could sense the nerves of the players in front of the leagues highest attendance was apparent.
Eventually after the opening 15 minutes we settled down and started passing the ball around nicely with Reid occupying the lone striker role which is a thankless task at the best of times. This did however give plenty of space to Banton and Gurrieri
and with Hourihane dominating the midfield against previous Argyle loanee Moseley it was only a matter of time before the breakthrough. A nothing ball in the 45th minute into Bantons feet and the Palace Loanee with his back to goal turned and nut megged Baldwin and then pulled his shot in off the keepers left post from 18 yards leaving Krysiac no chance in the City goal.
The rest of the game didn't have many chances albeit one for Cureton from 12 yards smashed high and wide and one from Reuben Reid right down Krysiac's throat.
Argyle closed city down all over the park and have put a dent in City's aspirations and hope in our survival fight.
We have now won 3 in a row for the first time in along time.Next up for us is York away on Easter Monday who are having problems of their own having not won in their last 16 games and sacking manager Gary Mills along the way.
On January 1st York were 12 point ahead of the relegation places but have since only picked up eight points from a possible 48 dropping them to 23 in the table.
The did manage a point against Bristol Rovers on Easter Saturday in a 0-0 draw but hopefully we can put a nail in the coffin today and pull ourselves clear.

Semper Fidelis