Plymouth Argyle v Luton Town 6/8

[Kenneth E End]

Well, the season is (almost) upon us. Both teams have seen a significant amount of upheaval since the last time the sides met, with the home side certainly having major surgery with 12 new signings and 10 departures since May.

This is one of the biggest match ups in League 2, so its somewhat disappointing that it falls on the first day of the season. I've already spent £91 on trains and tickets and going to spend over 9 hours travelling, so I'm certainly hoping we put in a good performance!

 

[daviejones]

One of the biggest match ups in League 2?

 

[mowgli]

I put a 2-1 Luton win in the prediction league as i think Plymouth will struggle this season unless they have won the league by Christmas like last season.

 

[Kenneth E End]

One of the biggest match ups in League 2?

Yes it is.

 

[daviejones]

Yes it is.

Hard to argue with that logic, my mistake.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Hard to argue with that logic, my mistake.

Without wishing to rush to Kenneths defence here (and I know people dont like hearing this sort of thing) but its 2 of the better supported teams in the league plus we had a bit of needle with Argyle way back in the Joe Kinnear days, so there is some semblance of a rivalry, albeit quite some time ago. So that is perhaps why Kenny has described it as a "big match up", and it is sort of.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Possible Luton team to face Plymouth on Saturday:

Subs: Gooch, Cuthbert, Cook, Banton, Lee, McQuoid, Bakinson

 

[Judge Dredd]

Reckon it might be too soon for Gray to start, he's not been training with us and can't imagine he's had too much pre-season game time. Also would be surprised to see Smith not in the 18 - I don't think he'll start, but he's a useful sub away from home (bring him on if we are defending a lead etc).

I suspect it will be Cook in for Gray in that XI with McGeehan possibly dropping back a spot, but who knows... might even use Rea and Lee in there to try and get a bit more control in the middle away from home against a good team. Most of the XI picks itself but there's a spot up for grabs in that midfield for sure.

 

[Hatter86]

Im probably in the minority here, but I'd prefer to see Mullins and Cutbert at center half and Sheehan left back. Mullins and Sheehan would be too small as a pairing and I think you lose the benefit of Sheehans left boot by sticking him center half. I'm also not the biggest Dan Potts fan. I too reckon Cook will come in for Gray with Cam dropping back.

 

[Judge Dredd]

I'm not hugely convinced by Potts either, especially in a system that demands the full backs get forward often and cross well. But then I'm no fan of Cuthbert either. Hopefully he improves this season if/when he gets his chance, last season he was largely terrible (apart from two games in which I gather he was outstanding, neither of which I attended). Agreed that the Sheehan/Mullins pairing lacks height, especially seeing as we are likely to be attacked down the flanks often due to the narrow midfield. I guess we'll be asking the keeper to come and claim crosses often and early.

Honestly not sure what to expect at the moment in terms of performance, hopeful it all clicks in to place nice and early but there are plenty of potential question marks.

I fucking love this time of the year though. Cannot wait for Saturday. Even the train journey sounds oddly appealing for some reason.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

The reverse train journey last year was absolutely fantastic after Brunty's 95th minute winner at KR. Fortunately for you lot he's still injured (has been since February, will be until next year).

It's a really tough game to call this. My natural pessimism mixed with the apparent good signings Luton have made, and the fact that we rarely win the opening game of a season points to a 1-0 Luton win. But after a good pre season for us and still a bit of an unknown quantity how virtually all of our starting XI will perform in a competitive match, who knows?

Think Luton will be up there this year but a lot will depend how their young squad handle a lot of games and the physicality of the league.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Even the train journey sounds oddly appealing for some reason.

This train journey is never appealing! 9 hour round trip - I must be mad.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

This train journey is never appealing! 9 hour round trip - I must be mad.

Not that bad, we have to do that and more almost every other week!

 

[Hatter86]

Think Luton will be up there this year but a lot will depend how their young squad handle a lot of games and the physicality of the league.

I think this will be key for us. Worked out the average age of the squad that will be available to us for the first few months of the season (No CMS, Green, Doyle through injury or O'Brien and Magnus who are transfer listed) and it came out as 22.5 years old. I didn't take into account how many days they are toward their next birthday so on average you can probably add another half a year on to that. But still, an average age of 23 is extremely young.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

I think this will be key for us. Worked out the average age of the squad that will be available to us for the first few months of the season (No CMS, Green, Doyle through injury or O'Brien and Magnus who are transfer listed) and it came out as 22.5 years old. I didn't take into account how many days they are toward their next birthday so on average you can probably add another half a year on to that. But still, an average age of 23 is extremely young.

Yep that's very young, though if I were to pick a manager in the league to manage the situation correctly it'd be Nathan Jones, I liked the sound of him and his style when he was on the final 2 man shortlist for our manager vacancy.

It seems Derek Adams this year has taken a leaf from Northampton and Oxford books of last year, signing physical direct players in another attempt to get out of this turdpile, possibly sacrificing a bit of technical ability whilst at it. So it could be a good test of your young technical players vs our League 2 'bruisers'. We may not be as good to watch this year as we were last year but if it means we are more successful I'm not complaining.

Interesting to note that we have had our pitch narrowed, and have no wingers in the squad. I'm sure Jones will know this, do Luton play with wingers or no?

 

[Hatter86]

We have precisely zero wingers in the squad. We'll almost certainly play a narrow diamond with the width coming from our full backs. Gray, McQuoid, Green (when fit) and Pelly Ruddock can play there, but they are all better through the middle.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I guess all fans are excited by this time of year but I really like how we are shaping up and how young we are. Both on and off the field. Could be an interesting season as they all grow together and bond. Thinking next season more likely to be a force but you never know. Tough but great first game.

 

[Judge Dredd]

This train journey is never appealing! 9 hour round trip - I must be mad.

I dunno, the prospect of getting absolutely twatted for a few hours on a train isn't so bad, especially when you are full of pre-season optimism. Few beers and a good catch-up with people I haven't seen since the last game of last season, the journey will fly by!

The way back obviously depends on how the game goes...

 

[Trapdoor]

Not even far.... West country to Hartlepool is some proper drinking time.

 

[Kenneth E End]

It seems Derek Adams this year has taken a leaf from Northampton and Oxford books of last year, signing physical direct players in another attempt to get out of this turdpile, possibly sacrificing a bit of technical ability whilst at it. So it could be a good test of your young technical players vs our League 2 'bruisers'/QUOTE]

And this is where I think we'll struggle at times this season.

 

[LeonTheGreen]

Really looking forward to tomorrow. More than usual. I think we'll go:

McCormick GK
Miller RB
Songo'o CB
Bradley CB
Sawyer LB
Fox CM
Threlkeld CM
Jervis RW
Carey CAM
Goodwillie LW
Spencer ST.
Subs: Dorel, Bulvitis, Slew, Rooney, Ijaha, Purrington, Donaldson
Karleigh Osborne and Connor Smith both missing through injury.

Really looking forward to Carey and Goodwillie's linking up, think they could very dangerous this season. Not many names from last season there at all.

 

[Trapdoor]

actually i hate to say it but that argyle line up looks pretty good on paper.

 

[Judge Dredd]

We've sold over 1,000 tickets in advance and it's pay on the day so should be a reasonable following. Looking forward to what should hopefully be a decent atmosphere, new ground for me too.

I think 9 out of our 11 are nailed on to start, with two places up for grabs:

4-4-2 narrow diamond:

GK - Christian Walton

RWB - Stephen O'Donnell
CB - Johnny Mullins
CB - Alan Sheehan
LWB - Dan Potts

DM - ???
CM - Pelly Ruddock
CM - ???
AM - Cameron McGeehan

ST - Danny Hylton
ST - Jack Marriott

DM position is a straight shoot-out between Glenn Rea and Olly Lee - Rea more of a ball-winner/anchor man type who can also play CB, whereas Lee more of a possession retainer type, bit soft in a tackle but better on the ball. I'd go for Rea.

Left-sided CM is a tough call. In pre-season we've dropped McGeehan in there with Jordan Cook as the #10 (and vice-versa) a fair bit (I think Cook will likely start tomorrow too). We also played Jonathan Smith there against Brighton as a more defensive option. Theoretically could do something similar there by playing Rea holding and Lee in the CM spot (that's probably what I'd do). Then there is new signing Jake Gray, who is probably earmarked for that spot but may be a touch behind on fitness/understanding as he only signed this week.

Plenty of goals in the forward line, questions in midfield and full back though and whilst the two central defenders are good players, both lack a bit of height which is a possible vulnerability.

I'd take a point right now if offered probably but I am optimistic we can pick up all three. Can't wait to get going again whatever happens!

 

[LeonTheGreen]

We've looked solid defensively, and I couldn't pick between Bulvitis and Songo'o but I think Adams will go with Songo'o. I think Luton will finish in the play offs, not sure about us. The squad is bigger and we still haven't got any loan signings, and Adams wants at least one, most likely a winger. Pre season was good, beating Dutch second division side Maastricht 2-1 after going 1-0 down on a 4G pitch. Also, a very respectable 0-0 draw with West Brom who had their full strength side is decent aswell. We look a threat from corners this season, and I think nearly all of our signings this season are over 6ft. Im expecting a tight game tomorrow, 1-1, or with a bit of luck, a 2-1 to us if Carey can produce a bit of magic. 10k, maybe even 12k in attendance if we're lucky.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

We've sold over 1,000 tickets in advance and it's pay on the day so should be a reasonable following. Looking forward to what should hopefully be a decent atmosphere, new ground for me too.

Good effort that seeing as you normally bring f all down here!

 

[Judge Dredd]

Good effort that seeing as you normally bring f all down here!

Yeah our followings down at yours are often a touch disappointing. Although that's worked both ways since we've been back in the league; 2014/15 we had 802 at yours, you had 527 at ours - admittedly a televised game so not a fair comparison. Last season you took 745 to ours compared to 554 Luton at yours (although this was in March when our season had long since hit the shitter whereas you were top of the league in the reverse fixture, so again not an apples to apples comparison).

 

[Kenneth E End]

actually i hate to say it but that argyle line up looks pretty good on paper.

I absolutely agree - I'd almost say more so than last season.

 

[oakroader]

yahoooooo.....up the hatters

 

[Judge Dredd]

Fuck me we were good today. Hylton an absolute pest. Marriott so good. Pelly in full beast mode. Both centre backs excellent, best I've seen Cuthbert play. Keeper great. 3-0 didn't flatter us one bit.

Don't want to get too carried away, but we are going to piss this tin pot league with a record point total :-D

 

[Kenneth E End]

UNBELIEVABLE result. Don't underestimate the value of that result (am I allowed to say massive 3 points yet?!), because Plymouth looked a dangerous side that will cause a lot of problems this season.