PNE v Argyle – Preview

By: Jim | February 3rd, 2009

Assuming it goes ahead, of course. A number of hardy souls are braving the conditions and making the trip up from the South West to take in the delights of Deepdale: and while there is no indication yet that tonight’s fixture is in danger, the weather patterns are not encouraging. If they were being completely honest, Argyle would I am sure be less than disappointed with a postponement. North End are on a good run and we are not and this would be our third game in a week, with a crucial home game against Derby on Saturday. We could certainly do with a break.

Still, there’s also something to be said for momentum. By all accounts we were getting back to our fighting best on Saturday – not many people, me included, had us getting anything from Portman Road so a gritty 0-0 after four straight defeats is welcome. The problem remains scoring goals – four goals in ten games is not the sort of ratio that can continue much longer, and it is frustrating that we were unable or unwilling to address it during the transfer window. It’s one thing to say that players have to leave before others can arrive, but if there aren’t any takers for our surplus to requirements stock, then surely the financial hit has to be taken, at least temporarily. The arrival of Alan Judge on loan from Blackburn is cautiously welcomed, though not having seen him, or indeed heard of him before, it’s a bit hard to take a definitive view yet. And it’s noticeable that the other clubs around us – Norwich and Blackpool in particular – have taken steps to reinforce their squads. Not for the first time, Stapleton has put the balance sheet ahead of the team and from a fan’s perspective that’s hard to take.

We almost never win at Deepdale. Not since 1st November 1997, and only four times in our history. North End are a good side with a good manager: Alan Irvine has built a squad of genuine quality who will be in and around the fringes of the play-off challenge this year. Sean St Ledger is an objectionable player, but a darn fine centre back and in Chris Brown, Neil Mellor and Ross Wallace they have players of real quality capable of winning games single-handedly. As on Saturday, a point is a great result for us. We’ve done well in most of our away games at the stronger clubs and assuming Gally’s future is now more secure, at least till the end of the season, perhaps there will be less uncertainty around. So I envisage a line-up something of the order of:

Larrieu;

McNamee
Seip
Cathcart (if fit – otherwise Timar)
Barker

Clark
Walton
Duguid
Gallagher

Mackie
Fallon
—————————-
Judge
MacLean
Doumbe
Noone
Summerfield.

Although, having just read the official site, Luggy seems to be hinting that he might start with Judge tonight – we’ll see….

COYG!