Earlier this evening I watched MotD2 and one of the featured matches was the 0-0 between Chelsea and Arsenal. Wenger mentioned in his post match that they had worked an awful lot on their defensive line the past week after their capitulation last weekend and it certainly paid off. It got me thinking about Argyle's training atm moment or indeed since they reported back for Pre-season.
In hindsight we all know that goal scoring has been an issue and this is not something that should surprise anybody as during the PSFs it became apparent that we needed goals from somewhere. Then added to that, someone (sorry but I can't remember who) remarked how pre game practise there was something like 25-30 shots and only 3-4 hit the target, this being whilst there should not be any nerves or pressure. Now take away players that never take a shot (Fox for one) it should still leave 4-5-6 in the starting line up that have experience in scoring goals, whether it be a Carey screamer or a Bradley header from a corner (I can't say how Nadir scores a goal yet as nobody has seen it happen) but none of these things has occurred yet this season. This really begs the question, what do the players do during training? If the training isn't producing results, has DA changed the format in any way? Or, are the players just not good enough?
Without calling any of the players journeymen or hopeless or any other insult to their chosen profession, these are men thwart have made a living playing football in a not too shabby standard so why are they having such a hard time producing anything of note? 9 shots on Saturday is a pretty crappy figure and only 2 on target suggests they are not practising in match conditions.
There is one other possibility. Do the players brought in this season and come to that retained from last season want to play for DA and PAFC? It wouldn't be the first time that players have come to us and practically refused to play even before the signatures dried. Emile Mpenza, Jason Puncheon and the notorious Peter Swann are three names that spring to mind and I'm sure everyone has more they can add. Players that were willing to pocket their wage whilst doing nothing of note (Mpenza might be forgiven but 3 goals in one game at £10000 a week we should have expected more).
So which is it? Ability or Character because I've seen little evidence of either up till now.
In hindsight we all know that goal scoring has been an issue and this is not something that should surprise anybody as during the PSFs it became apparent that we needed goals from somewhere. Then added to that, someone (sorry but I can't remember who) remarked how pre game practise there was something like 25-30 shots and only 3-4 hit the target, this being whilst there should not be any nerves or pressure. Now take away players that never take a shot (Fox for one) it should still leave 4-5-6 in the starting line up that have experience in scoring goals, whether it be a Carey screamer or a Bradley header from a corner (I can't say how Nadir scores a goal yet as nobody has seen it happen) but none of these things has occurred yet this season. This really begs the question, what do the players do during training? If the training isn't producing results, has DA changed the format in any way? Or, are the players just not good enough?
Without calling any of the players journeymen or hopeless or any other insult to their chosen profession, these are men thwart have made a living playing football in a not too shabby standard so why are they having such a hard time producing anything of note? 9 shots on Saturday is a pretty crappy figure and only 2 on target suggests they are not practising in match conditions.
There is one other possibility. Do the players brought in this season and come to that retained from last season want to play for DA and PAFC? It wouldn't be the first time that players have come to us and practically refused to play even before the signatures dried. Emile Mpenza, Jason Puncheon and the notorious Peter Swann are three names that spring to mind and I'm sure everyone has more they can add. Players that were willing to pocket their wage whilst doing nothing of note (Mpenza might be forgiven but 3 goals in one game at £10000 a week we should have expected more).
So which is it? Ability or Character because I've seen little evidence of either up till now.