Plymouth Argyle Transfer Rumour Round-up

[JannerinCardiff]

One thing that always bothered me about MacFadzean was how poorly he crossed with his left foot. To me being a LWB this is probably the most vital of skills in a LWB’s arsenal.

For me he burnt his bridges with us when he decided to go back up North, so it’s a no thanks from me now.

 

[oldage]

We got an obscure obsession with ex Argyle players.

I didn’t think MacFadzean was bad. I didn’t think he was great either. Certainly if we are looking to eventually get in the top half of league one, he isn’t good enough.

Umm Didn’t he just finish in the top half of League One - and play in a playoff semi final?

There’s nothing out of the ordinary in following the careers of players that have played for Argyle and impressed. Fans of all clubs must do this.

Go on a Manchester United forum and I am sure you will find references to how Romelu Lukaku has just won a title with Inter and finished the division’s second top scorer. It isn’t an ‘obsession with the past’ but just an interest in a much liked former player. And in McFadzean’s case one who is out of contract no less.

It's the obsession with SIGNING ex players.

 

[Ave IT]

I see that Joey Barton has just announced four new signings for Gas - all experienced pros who were captains at their previous clubs. His interview says little about their actual football ability but he bangs on about their leadership & attitude. Must say that is exactly what we seemed to lack last year and is the only plausible explanation I can see for our hot & cold streaks. We could be decent, play nice stuff one minute then collapse in a heap the next. There was nobody with a 'presence' to fire up our own and scare the opposition when things were going badly. Tony Adams once muttered darkly every squad needs "at least five for the tunnel". Name one in our current squad.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/foo ... rs-5460893

 

[JannerinCardiff]

I see that Joey Barton has just announced four new signings for Gas - all experienced pros who were captains at their previous clubs. His interview says little about their actual football ability but he bangs on about their leadership & attitude. Must say that is exactly what we seemed to lack last year and is the only plausible explanation I can see for our hot & cold streaks. We could be decent, play nice stuff one minute then collapse in a heap the next. There was nobody with a 'presence' to fire up our own and scare the opposition when things were going badly. Tony Adams once muttered darkly every squad needs "at least five for the tunnel". Name one in our current squad.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/foo ... rs-5460893

Not convinced that having half a team of ex-captains is the way to go myself. If we signed 4 Paul Wottons who would actually be the true leader in the group (forgetting someone will actually be named as captain). It’s more about a good blend of leadership and also skill for me. Leadership can only take you so far imo.

Jury is out on whether Barton is doing the right things for me.

 

[Ave IT]

I see that Joey Barton has just announced four new signings for Gas - all experienced pros who were captains at their previous clubs. His interview says little about their actual football ability but he bangs on about their leadership & attitude. Must say that is exactly what we seemed to lack last year and is the only plausible explanation I can see for our hot & cold streaks. We could be decent, play nice stuff one minute then collapse in a heap the next. There was nobody with a 'presence' to fire up our own and scare the opposition when things were going badly. Tony Adams once muttered darkly every squad needs "at least five for the tunnel". Name one in our current squad.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/foo ... rs-5460893

Not convinced that having half a team of ex-captains is the way to go myself. If we signed 4 Paul Wottons who would actually be the true leader in the group (forgetting someone will actually be named as captain). It’s more about a good blend of leadership and also skill for me. Leadership can only take you so far imo.

Jury is out on whether Barton is doing the right things for me.

Agreed about Barton but the point is we need a few 'poo-houses' - virtually every successful team in history has had them. I think we did have a basically decent team last year that could and should have done much better and would have done if we'd had a few of those around. We just seemed so fragile mentally and physically.

 

[Adam]

I see that Joey Barton has just announced four new signings for Gas - all experienced pros who were captains at their previous clubs. His interview says little about their actual football ability but he bangs on about their leadership & attitude. Must say that is exactly what we seemed to lack last year and is the only plausible explanation I can see for our hot & cold streaks. We could be decent, play nice stuff one minute then collapse in a heap the next. There was nobody with a 'presence' to fire up our own and scare the opposition when things were going badly. Tony Adams once muttered darkly every squad needs "at least five for the tunnel". Name one in our current squad.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/foo ... rs-5460893

Not convinced that having half a team of ex-captains is the way to go myself. If we signed 4 Paul Wottons who would actually be the true leader in the group (forgetting someone will actually be named as captain). It’s more about a good blend of leadership and also skill for me. Leadership can only take you so far imo.

Jury is out on whether Barton is doing the right things for me.

Agreed about Barton but the point is we need a few 'poo-houses' - virtually every successful team in history has had them. I think we did have a basically decent team last year that could and should have done much better and would have done if we'd had a few of those around. We just seemed so fragile mentally and physically.

Particularly if we're planning to start bleeding some youngsters in the squad regularly now.

Law, Randell and even Jephcott and Cooper will need some protection from the bruisers on the opposite team. We need some bruisers of our own.

I think I recall seeing somewhere about how Gary Pallister did this for Gary Neville in his early days. Apparently Neville was being 'bullied' on the pitch by some experienced pros, so at one point Pallister went over and clattered the player doing it (clattered as in a tackle, not assault).

 

[JannerinCardiff]

Interesting that Ryan Lowe has specifically mentioned when talking about player recruitment that he intends to start with defence as a priority but he'll be looking for a new number 4. This tells me that he sees Joe Edwards as a RWB/RB in the coming season.

I wait with interest whether the new number 4 will be the enforcer type or more of a playmaker. I'm greedy and am hoping for a bit of both.

 

[Andy B.]

Agree about needing some players who will gee up the team. We were too nicely nicely.
We need the guys prepared to give the welcome to home park tackles a la Hodges on Bircham...Bircham disappeared from that match after that tackle.

 

[PL2 3DQ]

Well, Graham Carey is surprisingly staying in Bulgaria and signed a new contract with CSKA Sofia.

 

[xmastree]

Well, Graham Carey is surprisingly staying in Bulgaria and signed a new contract with CSKA Sofia.

Excellent. Perhaps we can now forget about any suggestions that he might come back.

 

[Metal Green Mickey]

Interesting that Ryan Lowe has specifically mentioned when talking about player recruitment that he intends to start with defence as a priority but he'll be looking for a new number 4. This tells me that he sees Joe Edwards as a RWB/RB in the coming season.

I wait with interest whether the new number 4 will be the enforcer type or more of a playmaker. I'm greedy and am hoping for a bit of both.

In last weeks article in the Herald, Lowe gave an interesting interview.

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-working-bring-more-5442728

From the article this was an interesting quote.

“Will we look to add to that as well? Yeah. Will we look to add in the midfield area? Yeah, 100 per cent we will.

“Will we look to add in the flanks and the wing-back areas? Definitely, and in the number four position as well.

Now if we are playing 3 ATB and the same 3-1-4-2 formation why would you look at the flanks as well as the wing back areas? The wing back quote is hopefully a sign that we will stop playing square pegs in round holes and get a proper RWB and LWB. Edwards can go back in midfield and be cover at RWB for any injuries. Law can perhaps provide back up at LWB.

However, lm still puzzled by players for the “flanks”. That surely means wide men? Wingers? Now unless we play with only one forward next season and have two forward players playing out wide, which you could do with G Cooper and Mayor, then l finding the thinking a bit muddled.

 

[Darren Stoneman]

Carey was good when playing at home , but playing away from home was a real concern when he was here, obviously must be enjoying playing at home in Bulgaria, the away trips are obviously less attractive

 

[Emu]

Dan Crawley, 23, midfield playmaker just been released by Birmingham City.

"Crowley is a creative midfielder with quick feet, strong dribbling skills and a speciality for set pieces"

Ex Arsenal apprentice.

https://birmingham.vitalfootball.co.uk/ ... after-all/

If you take a look at his statistics from last year, you can see that he can offer us that ‘dictating play’ option in central midfield; averaging an 82.5% pass completion rate, 1.5 key passes per game and 1.2 long balls per game.

Plus, having had 1.8 dribbles per game out wide, the most of any Blues player last campaign, he’s clearly not scared to take a man on, so if he can just transfer that from a winger to driving through the heart of the midfield, then I think we really could be onto something here.

You might be tempted to say that Crowley is a jack of all trades, but a master of none, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.

Any use to us?

 

[JannerinCardiff]

Dan Crawley, 23, midfield playmaker just been released by Birmingham City.

"Crowley is a creative midfielder with quick feet, strong dribbling skills and a speciality for set pieces"

Ex Arsenal apprentice.

https://birmingham.vitalfootball.co.uk/ ... after-all/

If you take a look at his statistics from last year, you can see that he can offer us that ‘dictating play’ option in central midfield; averaging an 82.5% pass completion rate, 1.5 key passes per game and 1.2 long balls per game.

Plus, having had 1.8 dribbles per game out wide, the most of any Blues player last campaign, he’s clearly not scared to take a man on, so if he can just transfer that from a winger to driving through the heart of the midfield, then I think we really could be onto something here.

You might be tempted to say that Crowley is a jack of all trades, but a master of none, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.

Any use to us?

Good bit of analysis Emu.. he certainly looks a decent player.

 

[Biggs]

Carey was good when playing at home , but playing away from home was a real concern when he was here, obviously must be enjoying playing at home in Bulgaria, the away trips are obviously less attractive

Careful :lol: