Argyle v Cardiff (preview)

Our second live match of the season pits us against a Bluebirds side high on confidence and making a determined case to be taken seriously as play-off contenders. Dave Jones has welded a cohesive team to be reckoned with out of a collection of solid, but not outstanding players, picked up one or two gems along the way, and has used the loan market with nous and savvy. Last year’s expensive (and failed) gamble with the legends of yesteryear has not been repeated: instead Jones has gone for players with something to prove, whether that be those untried at this level, or those who have yet to reach their full potential. As far as Saturday’s match goes, though, the squad is paper-thin: Ledley, Whittingham, McCormack and Bothroyd are all injured, so the attack and creative impetus will be provided by three players who’ve never played together before: Chopra, Eddie Johnson and new loanee Wayne Routledge. The latter may prove either to be a masterstroke or a total flop: since leaving Palace Routledge has consistently underwhelmed, not helped by a troubled time with injuries. Cardiff may prove to be the perfect place to get his confidence and his form back: equally, the hurly-burly of the Championship may not be the place for his particular silky skills. Intriguing.

As for Argyle, Paul Gallagher returns from suspension, but I suspect the best he can hope for is a place on the right wing. Much as I would love to see us go for the footballing combination of MacLean and Mpenza up front, it will surely be Fallon plus one or other. If I had to make book now, I would probably plump for Mpenza, though that’s more of a hunch than anything else. No-one managed to impress during the reserves mauling at Ashton Gate on Tuesday, except perhaps Nicolas Marin, so much of the side will remain unchanged – something like:

Larrieu

Doumbe
Cathcart
Seip
Barker

Gallagher
Summerfield
Duguid
Clark

Fallon
Mpenza
—————–
MacLean
Marin
Mackie
Paterson
Noone

I hesitate to make a prediction, given how dreadful we were the last time we were on Sky, but I think I’d be disappointed to get nothing. The fixture has been an entertaining high-scoring draw over the last couple of years and I cant see any particular reason why that should change on Saturday. The Purse/Fallon battle will be key: but so too central midfield, where Summers needs to impose himself early on on Gavin Rae and McPhail. Clark and Barker will be hoping Routledge is still a bit ring-rusty, otherwise we could be in for a torrid afternoon down our left and the last time he was here Chopra scored two of the easiest goals imaginable: Craig Cathcart to the fore, please. Here’s hoping for an entertaining game and an Argyle victory. COYG!

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