rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 5, 2012 7:53:05 GMT
One of the consolations in not going up last season was that most of the west-country teams are in league 2 this year creating both a financial boost for these clubs but also lots of games with some real needle for the fans to enjoy with the very first one of the campaign at Plainmoor this Saturday.  With their difficulties, we were able to complete a historical double over Plymouth last year but these games are not easy, needing the genius of Eunan to seal all three points at Plainmoor and although we were comfortable at Home Park initially, courtesy of goals from Manse and Bodin, it all ended up very tense as they came back at us. Plymouth are a bit more stable and last time out fielded seven players that were in that Derby at the very beginning of this year. Plymouth ended up with the form of a mid table side last year and I suspect that they won't be far off that this time out as they continue to build from their time in administration. They started the season poorly, losing 0-2 at home to Aldershot and grinding out a scoreless draw at Dagenham before narrowly losing 2-1 away to a good Oxford side. They have just won their first match, 3-2 at home to Northampton, a team showing signs of a resurgence in their form but maybe a Thursday night league cup game prior to a long away day contributed to this result?  A combination of injuries and a suspension last Saturday meant that we fielded 4 players 20 and under and only 2 players over 25! For the pressure of a local Derby, we have got Downes, fresh from being voted PotM, back from suspension bringing our defence up to strength. Nathan Craig was reported as doing well on Saturday but in the continued absence of Lathrope, hopefully the more experienced Easton will be back for this one. His injury didn't sound too serious as he was included in the squad on Saturday but failed a late fitness test. Finally, this is the game that Danny is hoping to return to but his non appearance at the friendly yesterday suggests that it is still touch and go and maybe the best that can be hoped for is to get on the bench which to be fair, has looked very lightweight recently. Hopefully, we can continue our form from the Rochdale match where our front three tore the opposition apart at times. Howe was suspended from the Home Park game and should give Argyle something else to think about. Quite excited about this one as it shouldn't be far short of a full house, the first since Bristow's Bench was opened and should make for a great atmosphere. I see from dot com that as of yesterday, there were only 250 seats left in BB and these will probably be sold prior to Saturday. It should mean that the family stand should fill up and look out for the new yellow seats there, over half of which were fitted for the Nike game! |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 7, 2012 10:34:37 GMT
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 7, 2012 17:44:12 GMT
I see that the bench is now sold out! Any prediction on the crowd tomorrow - 5231? |
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cowboy
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Post by cowboy on Sept 7, 2012 19:29:58 GMT
manchester gulls will be present tomorrow
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jj
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Post by jj on Sept 7, 2012 21:19:24 GMT
Crowd 5682 (give or take) a hot day on the Riviera a great atmosphere inside Plainmoor with The Pilgrims in Town and the Gulls Fans go home happy after the final whistle with a Devon Derby win. The Green Army Janners return to Torquay Station (taking in the sights of our prom, the beach big wheel) oh and hopefully spending a shed full of beer tokens in one of our many Ale Houses and scoffing some of the best Fish & Chips in The West Country and bid a fond farewell.  |
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 7, 2012 21:39:17 GMT
manchester gulls will be present tomorrow Fantastic - I'm sure a lot of exiles will make an effort to get to this one and swell the home support - going to need to, been a long time since 1500 away fans got in Plainmoor. |
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Post by gullone on Sept 8, 2012 9:28:15 GMT
The suns out in the bay now and really looking forward to this one. Sure to be a long queue to get in on the pop side and hopefully a crowd of over 5000 finally for a home game. Got a feeling this aint gonna be easy and may have to settle for another 1 1.
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petef
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Post by petef on Sept 8, 2012 10:24:36 GMT
Odd one to predict as its so early in the season and we don't really know the long term consistency of us or them other than we are at least unbeaten in the league at this moment in time. Argyle should be stronger than they were in this fixture last time out and we have lost our match winner of that day last November. We still have key injuries in the defensive midfield area which is a worry but hopefully Nathan can reproduce his debut form of last week. Once again I see the form of Rene and Billy as key to any success today.
Be good to see a full stadium and the Bench roaring from both ends. Should be an interesting and enlightening day.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Sept 8, 2012 10:44:26 GMT
Some football games are won simply because one team is by far the better team. Other games are won because one team gets a huge slice of luck and may well have been until they got lucky, being played off the park.
Some fans wear lucky things to the match believing it will somehow help the team onto victory. It might be a lucky pair of pants (just hoped they have been washed recently) or a pair of socks.
Well folks if we do need any luck to win today’s game, I can think of no more of a lucky person to grace Plainmoor today. Yes our very own Lewis is home for the weekend from Bristol hospital and will be at today’s game.
I Hope you really enjoy the match Lewis and if we do win, I’m sure it will because you are there cheering on the lads.
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Post by frankfurt gull on Sept 8, 2012 15:15:27 GMT
Under 5000 gate, disappointing!
Shame Tom Cruise didn´t play against Robbie Williams!
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Sept 8, 2012 16:29:27 GMT
Can't understand how Plymouth can attract players like Roger East to Homepark.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Sept 8, 2012 17:05:06 GMT
Can't understand how Plymouth can attract players like Roger East to Homepark. Two back passes handled by the keeper, the first was off the knee but the second very clearly below the knee, sort of shin / upper foot area and very lucky not to be picked up by trhe ref who was booed off the pitch. The disallowed goal when Rene, the keeper and defender who went for the ball is more often than not blown up for a foul but we didn't get much off Mr East this afternoon. |
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Post by Swanny on Sept 8, 2012 17:11:20 GMT
I think you have to concede 0-0 was a fair score-line in the end. I thought Torquay played some delightful football in the first half and should have been leading in the first half. I thought Plymouth looked very workmanlike in the first half and only seemed a threat from set-pieces. All the flair football and immagination came from Torquay. There were some lovely sweeping moves using our wings. Stevens, making his return from injury, was involved in Torquay's best moments. Our best chances were a Bodin shot that was deflected wide and a Morris shot that was well saved.
I hoped Torquay would continue to impress in the second half but it did not turn out like that. You have to give Plymouth credit for that. They created the clearest chances in the second half. One dangerous moment was when they were clean through on their right and the ball whizzed across our goal. Poke made a couple of decent saves as well and Argyle did not make the best of some dangerous free-kick positions. It is fair to say that Argyle edged the second half as they seem to win the midfield battle. Torquay had their share of attacks and corners and a Morris header was glanced wide in front of goal from a corner. Both defences came on top at the end of the day. There was plenty of endeavor but no vital breakthrough. Torquay did get the ball into the net from Howe but Argyle's keeper was adjudged to have been fouled as he spilled the ball.
Crowd a disappointing 4.932 when you consider Argyle sold their allocation of 1,500 tickets. As for the Bristow Bench being sold out? How ludicrous putting a huge flag across one block of seats to segregate home and away fans. There must have been 300 or so seats not used due to this. There were stewards in the walkway anyway between the sets of fans so I this is a ridiculous decision as well as looking rather amateurish. A good atmosphere nonetheless.
Sponsors MOTM Craig who did a very good job in midfield protecting the back. His range of passing was very good. Our defence especially Oastler were very good and Poke continues his solid start to the season. After seeing Olejnik's recent mistakes for Peterborough, I don't think we have been particularly weakened afterall in goal. His shot stopping is excellent although you don't see him coming off his line much for crosses. Elsewhere Stevens was lively and Morris is doing well in central midfield. Bodin had an off-day I'm afraid and Thompson again posed a threat when he came on.
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Post by bristolgull on Sept 8, 2012 18:03:16 GMT
Can't understand how Plymouth can attract players like Roger East to Homepark. ;D I thought the ref was awful today. Ling described him as 'whistle happy'. That's putting it politely. We needed to score whilst we were on top in the first half. A draw probably the fair result on balance. |
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petef
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Post by petef on Sept 8, 2012 18:16:07 GMT
The right result in all honesty.
Argyle looking a much stronger unit than last season and us missing that spark of creativity it ended up being a bit of a bore draw for me.
Both defences dominated play and the game just never opened up like it did against Rochdale. If there had been a n early goal the game would have been different and more entertaining but as it was it was a typical "give nothing away" derby stalemate where we found it hard to get any sort of rhythm going.
A few plus points and one or two minor minuses. Great to see Downes back and commanding alongside Brian Saah - no worries in that dept.
Pokey has his confidence back from what was a bit of shaky return to the club.
Midfield was another new formation with Morris looking so much more comfortable there than he does out wide , Mans doing what he does best and Nathan Craig producing an excellent display with that lovely left peg of his, mind you his right foot not so bad either.
Danny looked sharp after injury and was our biggest threat out wide while hugely talented Billy Bodin sometimes overcomplicated what he was trying to do and drifted in and out of the game. Thompson worked hard and looked lively enough and threatened. Rene couldn't quite get going , the Argyle defenders had done their homework on our front men.
Finally the Referee I thought was poor made some very odd decisions and I thought both of our bookings were extremely harsh.
On to a wounded Rotherham and Steve "we all love you really" Evans and another very tough away contest that will test our small squad.
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