One Game at a Time: You’re Only Here for the Welsh Cakes
The Taffs (H) January 20th
Is it really less than a month since we dragged ourselves from under the groaning Christmas table, packed a Tupperware box of cold turkey sandwiches and headed up the road to the Cardiff City Stadium for the revival of the Boxing Day treat that is an away day in Wales?
For sure much has changed within that time span, not the least of which could well be the arrival of the aptly named Forshaw.
Obviously the biggest change and perhaps now the least remarkable is the installation of Ian Foster as Head Coach, two games in and still unbeaten for the green tints and yet to win a League Match for the doom sayers. Of course, both are correct. Last season I likened the online community of football fans across the UK spectrum to the cast of Dad Army. In recent days the Frasers and Jones’s have been out in force. The Pikes tend to restrict themselves to TikTok, X, Instagram and Photoshop. Stupid Boys.
The Wilsons continue to stroke their chins at each new departure and arrival with a knowing “Do you think that’s wise, sir?” The Walkers, “I know where I can get my hands on a cracking Armenian defensive midfielder. Cost a bob or two mind” continue their scouring of the minor (and some not so minor leagues) in their Championship Manager like quest to refresh the squad.
Meanwhile, in the real world, the Argyle recruitment team have hardly been Godfrey like, asking if they may be “excused Window duties” which meant that we lined up at Huddersfield with two new loan signings in Ash Phillips from Spurs and Darko Gyabi from Leeds United, and a back to three at the back for the trip to Huddersfield.
It has to be said the start of the Championship era under our new boss started well. A good build up down the left, Wright slipped in Mumba, and his cross was met by Whittaker to add goal fifteen, seven in seven, and another couple on mill to his speculative value, to give the Greens the lead.
Phillips caught the eye with his aggressive and committed defending, to the extent that Sky commentator Alan McInally managed to get his name right, when telling Paul Merson that “this guy is going to be a superstar,” and "the best young player he had seen since watching Kieran Trippier make his debut". High praise indeed. Now just try and remember it is Morgan not Cameron, big man.
As the half wore on, the Terriers dominated possession without too much threat, their new goal machine signing having broken down in training to miss the match. Then a pass inside from Mumba to Gyabi, who as he took possession was wiped out by the loan signing for Town from Chelsea, Alex Matos, who managed to get subbed without receiving a card, despite at least three noteworthy deserving attempts. The ball reached Josh Koroma to equalise, and once again Argyle were left wondering what they have to do to get a break on game changing decisions.
The net outcome was the second worst away team in the league won a point at the second worst home side, maintaining the eight point plus goal difference cushion and marginally extending the gap over the bottom three who all contrived to lose (although most Greens would not have minded Rotherham sneaking a point, or even three, given their opponents). Every point’s a prisoner, to quote a famed grizzled old Scot.
Indeed, the most interesting activity for the game was probably off field, when the Huddersfield owner, over for the game declared on Twitter/X in block capitals, which I believe means less than happy, NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Certainly, Darren Moore seems a less than popular choice amongst the fans, and still has the delight of facing his boss who intended to meet the squad and give him his soccer wisdom about not playing backwards, honed no doubt on the basketball courts of the Sacramento Kings, where he is an investor. He also owns the Sacramento Republic, a second tier US franchise seeking to gain MSL acceptance. If his tactical nous may be suspect, rumours abound that he is willing to invest to save the side from further struggles with rumours over a £2 million bid for Watfords close season free transfer Rhys Healey. Darren will just be hoping that no-one texts Kev with the news of the unexpected availability of Troy Deeney, after FGR continued their bid to hire and fire the most managers in a season.
If Argyle were hoping that the most active transfer team in the Championship (three out and two in) would have a few days off, those hopes were dashed when Lewis Warrington, to no great surprise was recalled by Everton, and KKH was also pulled back to Villa Park, apparently to join up with the first team squad, but this is January, so who knows. KKH certainly gave the impression that if it were up to him he would have seen out the full loan. We wish him well.
If the board game of choice on the team coach is the Championship edition of “Guess Who”, the turbulent waters of Pasoti swirled with rumour, claim and counter claim of the next arrival and possible departure. First was the perhaps not unexpected departure of Tyreik Wright who returned to Bradford City on loan to help rediscover the form that tempted Argyle into bringing him South. A fringe player so far this season the move seems a sensible route forward for all parties.
A new goalkeeping coach, in the experienced Daryl Flahavan was a welcome sign that Ian was not going to have to multitask his way through January, and then came the surge. Not Loizou from Cyprus or Ejaria from whichever suburb of Reading he has been waiting in after the termination of his deal.
I don’t know what research Ian Foster did when he researched the Pilgrims he now leads , but if he started on the interweb, there is no avoiding references to John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, a staple of the lazy journalist seeking a bye line to cover the occasional sally out from the South West of our beloved team.
The 1906 hymnal, which has lyrics that were substantially modified by Percy Dearmer, before the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams adapted the melody of a traditional song, appropriately called “ Our Captain Cried All Hands”, begins ” He, who would Valiant be, ‘gainst all disaster”.
And so it was perhaps no surprise that when Alfie Devine, the youngest ever player and scorer for Tottenham Hotspur was recalled from his spell at the Valiants of Port Vale, that his next destination would be with the Pilgrims. His departing tribute from the club and fans who treated us so well on our Championship sealing visit indicates we may have found a gem to help assuage the loss of Finn Azaz and the other onedle.
Next through the door was another Foster old boy, albeit none of his old boys are really that old, in Matty Sorinola. The full back /wing back hybrid terminated his time in Belgium to rekindle his career in the Championship, and on a permanent contract rather than a loan. A protégé at MK Dons under Russell Martin, who also took him on loan last season at Swansea, Sorinola was apparently sought by Martin again for Saints and perpetual nemesis Michael Carrick at Boro, but elected to re-join former teammate Morgs, as a very much like for like replacement for the recently departed KKH.
And then in the midst of creating this piece the announcement that Adam Forshaw, a second half Norwich sub in the 6-2 drubbing they took at Home Park, and another with links back to the Dewsnip Everton days had terminated his deal in Norfolk to head west and join a substantially reinforced midfield, adding Premier League experience and nous to the young guns being assembled.
All three signings are in contention for the visit of Cardiff City, themselves seeking to add players in time for the game, as their manager has something of an injury crisis leaving him with only fifteen fit first team players. Although no-one would be surprised that Ramsey is struggling (fractured zimmer frame according to one Pasoti poster) there is undoubtedly a frustration for the manager Bulut, although City have been linked with a Serbian striker at Valarenga and Keiffer Moore, apparently also on Ipswich’s radar as Kieran McKenna adopts an “anyone but Freddy” striker strategy for the Champions-elect. At time of writing there were seemingly no additions to the travelling sides squad, but one never knows in the modern-day game with busy fingers creating reveals to tease the fans.
With the teams having met so recently, it will be a bit of a surprise to City how few wof their opposition they recognise, as four of the then Argyle squad have now departed, Gibson may or may not be fit and we obviously have five new faces as well as a coach who may tinker with formation and personnel.
What should be taken as read is that from past experience no-one will be leaving early from the game should one side or the other start to seemingly run away with it.
The worst example from a Green perspective was actually a League Cup tie, in 1985/6 where, with Argyle having run up a four one half time lead in the first leg, City staged a comeback, inspired in part by later Argyle hitman Robbie Turner, to win the leg five four. They then completed the job by winning the second leg at Home Park by a single goal. Turner, who covered most of the Southwest (barring Torquay, although he had a near miss with Newton Abbott) in his twelve-league club career was most prolific at Argyle.
One player who evokes fond memories of playing the Bluebirds is the sadly recently departed Mike Bickle, who is a throwback to the days when non-league was a route into rather than a route out of the professional game, played in the Southwestern League for St Austell and then for the Co-op in the Devon Wednesday league.
Prolific at this level (he once scored all nine goals in a nine two victory over Nanpean) “The Milkman” as he inevitably became known was signed by Derek Ufton and made his debut in the 65/6 season.
The following season Bickle was lining up alongside Richard Reynolds, and ahead of a midfield boasting the youth of Norman Piper and the newly acquired experience of Jimmy Bloomfield.
Against a City side, whose Keeper Lyn Davies (not that one) was fresh from conceding 8 for the Welsh U23’s against England in midweek, Bickle was to have a dream day.
Davies conceded his first goal against England after 85 seconds, and lightening was to strike twice as he was picking Pipers penalty out of the net at the exact same time, following his clumsy trip on Bickle moments before. Argyle were rampant, racing into a four nil lead in just over half an hour, but there was to be no Cardiff comeback on this occasion. They managed a solitary reply from Williams after Reynolds and Jennings added to Piper and Bickle’s opening salvos. In the second half Bickle netted three more to record a four-goal haul, two of the goals coming in the 90th and 91st minutes against the demoralised Welsh defence.
Mike naturally always delivered for Argyle, eventually moving on to Gillingham where sadly a freak spine injury ended his professional career. He remains our twelfth highest scorer (thanks, as ever to Greens on Screen) and his untimely death late last year robbed us of a player who showed that if you are good enough someone will take the gamble. As he would know, the cream, always rises.
Probably the best comeback ever in Argyles recent past at least was the Championship game in 2006 when a Michael Chopra inspired City raced into a three nil deserved lead under the floodlights at Home Park. Anchored by later Argyle defensive lynchpin Darren Purse and accompanied by Ken McNaughton, ex of Everton and Villa, Argyle had a second half mountain to climb. McNaughton slid in an own goal to give the Greens hope, and then a goalmouth scramble saw Barry Hayles reduce the deficit to a single goal.
In a chaotic finale McNaughton headed a ridiculously comical own goal over his stranded keeper to give Argyle a point with three minutes on the clock. The game, which in all the excitement many overlooked was the final act of the short career in Green for Anthony Barness, showed the importance of never giving up and reflected the attitude personified by the likes of Hayles and co.
We have already seen those characteristics in this squad on a number of occasions and the change in the constituent parts will undoubtedly maintain that hunger and desire.
Another full house, a new group of heroes to join the existing band and hopefully a first victory of many for our new coach.
Bunyan’s original version of Pilgrim’s Progress references Hobgoblins and Foul Fiends (insert your own comedy Cundle reference here), but the hymn became the battle hymn of the Special Air Service, and with three points on Saturday we can hope for the SAS.
Soon Above Stoke.
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Taffs (H) January 20th
Is it really less than a month since we dragged ourselves from under the groaning Christmas table, packed a Tupperware box of cold turkey sandwiches and headed up the road to the Cardiff City Stadium for the revival of the Boxing Day treat that is an away day in Wales?
For sure much has changed within that time span, not the least of which could well be the arrival of the aptly named Forshaw.
Obviously the biggest change and perhaps now the least remarkable is the installation of Ian Foster as Head Coach, two games in and still unbeaten for the green tints and yet to win a League Match for the doom sayers. Of course, both are correct. Last season I likened the online community of football fans across the UK spectrum to the cast of Dad Army. In recent days the Frasers and Jones’s have been out in force. The Pikes tend to restrict themselves to TikTok, X, Instagram and Photoshop. Stupid Boys.
The Wilsons continue to stroke their chins at each new departure and arrival with a knowing “Do you think that’s wise, sir?” The Walkers, “I know where I can get my hands on a cracking Armenian defensive midfielder. Cost a bob or two mind” continue their scouring of the minor (and some not so minor leagues) in their Championship Manager like quest to refresh the squad.
Meanwhile, in the real world, the Argyle recruitment team have hardly been Godfrey like, asking if they may be “excused Window duties” which meant that we lined up at Huddersfield with two new loan signings in Ash Phillips from Spurs and Darko Gyabi from Leeds United, and a back to three at the back for the trip to Huddersfield.
It has to be said the start of the Championship era under our new boss started well. A good build up down the left, Wright slipped in Mumba, and his cross was met by Whittaker to add goal fifteen, seven in seven, and another couple on mill to his speculative value, to give the Greens the lead.
Phillips caught the eye with his aggressive and committed defending, to the extent that Sky commentator Alan McInally managed to get his name right, when telling Paul Merson that “this guy is going to be a superstar,” and "the best young player he had seen since watching Kieran Trippier make his debut". High praise indeed. Now just try and remember it is Morgan not Cameron, big man.
As the half wore on, the Terriers dominated possession without too much threat, their new goal machine signing having broken down in training to miss the match. Then a pass inside from Mumba to Gyabi, who as he took possession was wiped out by the loan signing for Town from Chelsea, Alex Matos, who managed to get subbed without receiving a card, despite at least three noteworthy deserving attempts. The ball reached Josh Koroma to equalise, and once again Argyle were left wondering what they have to do to get a break on game changing decisions.
The net outcome was the second worst away team in the league won a point at the second worst home side, maintaining the eight point plus goal difference cushion and marginally extending the gap over the bottom three who all contrived to lose (although most Greens would not have minded Rotherham sneaking a point, or even three, given their opponents). Every point’s a prisoner, to quote a famed grizzled old Scot.
Indeed, the most interesting activity for the game was probably off field, when the Huddersfield owner, over for the game declared on Twitter/X in block capitals, which I believe means less than happy, NOT GOOD ENOUGH. Certainly, Darren Moore seems a less than popular choice amongst the fans, and still has the delight of facing his boss who intended to meet the squad and give him his soccer wisdom about not playing backwards, honed no doubt on the basketball courts of the Sacramento Kings, where he is an investor. He also owns the Sacramento Republic, a second tier US franchise seeking to gain MSL acceptance. If his tactical nous may be suspect, rumours abound that he is willing to invest to save the side from further struggles with rumours over a £2 million bid for Watfords close season free transfer Rhys Healey. Darren will just be hoping that no-one texts Kev with the news of the unexpected availability of Troy Deeney, after FGR continued their bid to hire and fire the most managers in a season.
If Argyle were hoping that the most active transfer team in the Championship (three out and two in) would have a few days off, those hopes were dashed when Lewis Warrington, to no great surprise was recalled by Everton, and KKH was also pulled back to Villa Park, apparently to join up with the first team squad, but this is January, so who knows. KKH certainly gave the impression that if it were up to him he would have seen out the full loan. We wish him well.
If the board game of choice on the team coach is the Championship edition of “Guess Who”, the turbulent waters of Pasoti swirled with rumour, claim and counter claim of the next arrival and possible departure. First was the perhaps not unexpected departure of Tyreik Wright who returned to Bradford City on loan to help rediscover the form that tempted Argyle into bringing him South. A fringe player so far this season the move seems a sensible route forward for all parties.
A new goalkeeping coach, in the experienced Daryl Flahavan was a welcome sign that Ian was not going to have to multitask his way through January, and then came the surge. Not Loizou from Cyprus or Ejaria from whichever suburb of Reading he has been waiting in after the termination of his deal.
I don’t know what research Ian Foster did when he researched the Pilgrims he now leads , but if he started on the interweb, there is no avoiding references to John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, a staple of the lazy journalist seeking a bye line to cover the occasional sally out from the South West of our beloved team.
The 1906 hymnal, which has lyrics that were substantially modified by Percy Dearmer, before the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams adapted the melody of a traditional song, appropriately called “ Our Captain Cried All Hands”, begins ” He, who would Valiant be, ‘gainst all disaster”.
And so it was perhaps no surprise that when Alfie Devine, the youngest ever player and scorer for Tottenham Hotspur was recalled from his spell at the Valiants of Port Vale, that his next destination would be with the Pilgrims. His departing tribute from the club and fans who treated us so well on our Championship sealing visit indicates we may have found a gem to help assuage the loss of Finn Azaz and the other onedle.
Next through the door was another Foster old boy, albeit none of his old boys are really that old, in Matty Sorinola. The full back /wing back hybrid terminated his time in Belgium to rekindle his career in the Championship, and on a permanent contract rather than a loan. A protégé at MK Dons under Russell Martin, who also took him on loan last season at Swansea, Sorinola was apparently sought by Martin again for Saints and perpetual nemesis Michael Carrick at Boro, but elected to re-join former teammate Morgs, as a very much like for like replacement for the recently departed KKH.
And then in the midst of creating this piece the announcement that Adam Forshaw, a second half Norwich sub in the 6-2 drubbing they took at Home Park, and another with links back to the Dewsnip Everton days had terminated his deal in Norfolk to head west and join a substantially reinforced midfield, adding Premier League experience and nous to the young guns being assembled.
All three signings are in contention for the visit of Cardiff City, themselves seeking to add players in time for the game, as their manager has something of an injury crisis leaving him with only fifteen fit first team players. Although no-one would be surprised that Ramsey is struggling (fractured zimmer frame according to one Pasoti poster) there is undoubtedly a frustration for the manager Bulut, although City have been linked with a Serbian striker at Valarenga and Keiffer Moore, apparently also on Ipswich’s radar as Kieran McKenna adopts an “anyone but Freddy” striker strategy for the Champions-elect. At time of writing there were seemingly no additions to the travelling sides squad, but one never knows in the modern-day game with busy fingers creating reveals to tease the fans.
With the teams having met so recently, it will be a bit of a surprise to City how few wof their opposition they recognise, as four of the then Argyle squad have now departed, Gibson may or may not be fit and we obviously have five new faces as well as a coach who may tinker with formation and personnel.
What should be taken as read is that from past experience no-one will be leaving early from the game should one side or the other start to seemingly run away with it.
The worst example from a Green perspective was actually a League Cup tie, in 1985/6 where, with Argyle having run up a four one half time lead in the first leg, City staged a comeback, inspired in part by later Argyle hitman Robbie Turner, to win the leg five four. They then completed the job by winning the second leg at Home Park by a single goal. Turner, who covered most of the Southwest (barring Torquay, although he had a near miss with Newton Abbott) in his twelve-league club career was most prolific at Argyle.
One player who evokes fond memories of playing the Bluebirds is the sadly recently departed Mike Bickle, who is a throwback to the days when non-league was a route into rather than a route out of the professional game, played in the Southwestern League for St Austell and then for the Co-op in the Devon Wednesday league.
Prolific at this level (he once scored all nine goals in a nine two victory over Nanpean) “The Milkman” as he inevitably became known was signed by Derek Ufton and made his debut in the 65/6 season.
The following season Bickle was lining up alongside Richard Reynolds, and ahead of a midfield boasting the youth of Norman Piper and the newly acquired experience of Jimmy Bloomfield.
Against a City side, whose Keeper Lyn Davies (not that one) was fresh from conceding 8 for the Welsh U23’s against England in midweek, Bickle was to have a dream day.
Davies conceded his first goal against England after 85 seconds, and lightening was to strike twice as he was picking Pipers penalty out of the net at the exact same time, following his clumsy trip on Bickle moments before. Argyle were rampant, racing into a four nil lead in just over half an hour, but there was to be no Cardiff comeback on this occasion. They managed a solitary reply from Williams after Reynolds and Jennings added to Piper and Bickle’s opening salvos. In the second half Bickle netted three more to record a four-goal haul, two of the goals coming in the 90th and 91st minutes against the demoralised Welsh defence.
Mike naturally always delivered for Argyle, eventually moving on to Gillingham where sadly a freak spine injury ended his professional career. He remains our twelfth highest scorer (thanks, as ever to Greens on Screen) and his untimely death late last year robbed us of a player who showed that if you are good enough someone will take the gamble. As he would know, the cream, always rises.
Probably the best comeback ever in Argyles recent past at least was the Championship game in 2006 when a Michael Chopra inspired City raced into a three nil deserved lead under the floodlights at Home Park. Anchored by later Argyle defensive lynchpin Darren Purse and accompanied by Ken McNaughton, ex of Everton and Villa, Argyle had a second half mountain to climb. McNaughton slid in an own goal to give the Greens hope, and then a goalmouth scramble saw Barry Hayles reduce the deficit to a single goal.
In a chaotic finale McNaughton headed a ridiculously comical own goal over his stranded keeper to give Argyle a point with three minutes on the clock. The game, which in all the excitement many overlooked was the final act of the short career in Green for Anthony Barness, showed the importance of never giving up and reflected the attitude personified by the likes of Hayles and co.
We have already seen those characteristics in this squad on a number of occasions and the change in the constituent parts will undoubtedly maintain that hunger and desire.
Another full house, a new group of heroes to join the existing band and hopefully a first victory of many for our new coach.
Bunyan’s original version of Pilgrim’s Progress references Hobgoblins and Foul Fiends (insert your own comedy Cundle reference here), but the hymn became the battle hymn of the Special Air Service, and with three points on Saturday we can hope for the SAS.
Soon Above Stoke.
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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