Countdown to Ecstasy

Sorry its been a while. Hope you missed me.

I’ve done a club-by-club Championship Preview for those good people over at Greens On Screen: you can find it here. But for you folks at theoffside, well, you deserve something a little more measured, something a little more detailed, damn it, just something more. So here are some extended thoughts on how I see season 2008-09 for Paul Sturrock’s Green And White Army.

Cast around the various fansites, cast indeed around the plethora of pre-season previews and virtually all of them have us down among the dead men. Moderate pre-season form and a frustrating time in the transfer market have left the Home Park faithful fretful, jittery and ill at ease. Interviews for the club’s official website where wage demands, location, pregnant girlfriends, leylines, bad karma and slow progress on the new Ikea store in Hayle have all been blamed for Luggy’s inability to persuade sufficently high-calibre players to join us (ok, I made some of those up) don’t help. But, having just come back from camping, where scouring the skies for the slightest hint of blue was a major part of the holiday, I see plenty of reasons to be positive.

Firstly, the squad. Yes, there are some holes. We are missing a striker and two central midfield players (more on possible additions in a moment). But we have added: a replacement for Luke in Graham Stack who i recall being either brilliant or woeful; David McNamee at right back; Karl Duguid as utility midfield/defender; Jason Puncheon who has the ability to set the League alight; and development player Yala Bolaisie, who may or may ot be the new Cherno Samba. Also, a lot of the players signed in January have yet to show their true ability to the GA and one assumes PS has pointed this out to them. Yes, Messrs MacLean, Clark, Paterson and Folly - I’m talking about you. The defence looks like a strong point - unusually - and a strong defence will keep you up. And we have some players. Jamie Mackie looks ready to run riot; Rory Fallon was a different beast towards the back end of the season; and Jermaine Easter will score twenty goals this season. Yes he will. You read it here first.

Secondly, the manager. Sturrock’s candid - and well-timed - admission of his Parkinson’s was typical of the man: unfussy, honest and low-key. He is adept at making silk purses out of sows’ ears, at getting players to perform regularly at the top of their envelope, and now that he has *his team, rather than the rag-tag left-overs of Holloway’s, we can expect the legendary Argyle team spirit to return.

Thirdly, there are some irons in the fire. Simon Walton is apparently set sign early next week from QPR. Yes, he’s done the rounds somewhat since bursting on to the scene as a 16 year old with Leeds; yes he’s only just recovered from a bad injury. But he is a quality player and as a combative central midfielder who can also play centre back, the ideal replacement for Wotton. Only better. Much, *much better. And he’s only 21. There are also rumours circulating about us splashing £750K on another midfielder, with some saying it is Glen(n?) Whelan from Stoke. If this is true, this is *very good news: Whelan is a cultured ball player with vision and a pass to match the best in the League. He was with Luggy at Sheffield Wednesday and was close to signing for us in January, before we learnt of his wage demands. This time, it seems we are ready to be a deal more flexible.

No-ones denying that it’s going to be a tough season. But those writing us off already need to take a breath. It will be a bit bumpy, but we’re going to be fine. Honest. Trust me.

Category: Team News

Tags: Championship, Plymouth A, Plymouth Argyle, preview, Team News

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