Argyle v Wolves - preview

The sense of excitement is palpable. Euro 08 is long past: even the doom and gloom of a less than ideal preseason pales on the doorstep of a new season and a new challenge. A new team, too: our starting line-up tomorrow will resemble the one of 12 months ago very little; and, of course, a new (old) manager. Few people would have predicted the course of events over last season: and there has been, perhaps understandably, rather more collective wound-licking on the part of the Green Army than one wold ordinarily like.

Now, though, we need to put all that behind us. Two signings this week, Simon Walton on Wednesday and today, Craig Cathcart on a six-month loan from Man Utd, have given a previously threadbare-looking squad some steel. Both will be in the squad for tomorrow: Walton, one presumes, will start; Cathcart probably on the bench. It’s still not clear whether Sturrock will play 4-4-2 or his 4-3-3/4-5-1 formation worked on in pre-season. The latter, of course, was an especial favourite of his for away fixtures last time. My hunch is that he will go 4-4-2 tomorrow, with Maclean partnering Jermaine Easter up front; a midfield of (left to right) Puncheon, Walton, Summerfield, Duguid; a back four of Paterson, Seip, Doumbe, McNamee and Romain Larrieu in goal. Whether that will be enough to see off a Wolves side including Ebanks-Blake (for whom an especially warm Green Army welcome is planned); Kightly; Keogh; and David Jones is open to question. Wolves are, quite rightly, expected to challenge this year and while their squad has yet to gel, their pre-season has been strong, including a particularly stylish 4-2 defeat of Blackburn Rovers. A point would probably be regarded as a result for the Greens: anything more would be a splendid start. Let battle commence!

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News

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