Five wins needed for a possible Play-Off spot ?.

I hope we make the play offs and win them. Why wouldn't we start League 1 with half the current players?

AstiSpumante wrote:

Sir Francis Drake wrote:

Just like we were in '94.

Were you even born then?

Don't ever for minute assume anything about the play-offs.

Exactly, 'tis a lottery.

...as is which Argyle is going to turn up each game.

Combine the two and we haven't got a snowball's chance in hell in the play-offs.

Best we can hope for is some decent money gets made in the process towards the debt repayment. At very best, should we make Wembley, a rich investor sees our inevitable huge turnout and thinks we're worth backing.

Other than that I can't see us having any bigger pot to piss in next season whichever league we're in. Frankly even if we were to fluke it, 'austerity Argyle' in league 1 scares the pants off me

Les Miserable wrote:

I hope we make the play offs and win them. Why wouldn't we start League 1 with half the current players?

Because there aren't ours. I would rather strengthen then piss it next year, (yeh funny that is) the top three will do alright in league 1 as maybe Bury would, we aren't strong enough for consistency in this league, only 5 wins by the end of the season would persuade me otherwise.

SwimWithTheTide wrote:

Unfortunately it does seem that way, Bury are an incredible force in the division at the minute however and should breeze the play offs.

Completely different ball game the play offs with all the pressure involved, sudden death, a packed ground etc. Burnley the perfect example for us. Blackpool and Palace in recent times have sneaked the last play off spot on the last day of the season yet triumphed in the play offs. Just a couple of seasons ago Brentford were clearly superior to Yeovil over the course of the season being in the top 2 all season until the last kick of the last game and finishing well clear of them. They then dominated the play off final at Wembley only to lose the game. It's never done and dusted Sam.

Iggy wrote:

Les Miserable wrote:

I hope we make the play offs and win them. Why wouldn't we start League 1 with half the current players?

Because there aren't ours. I would rather strengthen then piss it next year, (yeh funny that is) the top three will do alright in league 1 as maybe Bury would, we aren't strong enough for consistency in this league, only 5 wins by the end of the season would persuade me otherwise.

Personally I find it hard to consciously wish us to stay down over promotion, after all it's what fans have accused Argyle of doing since the 'golden era' of the 1920's. However I agree entirely with the consistency point, we're just not strong enough to survive, let alone thrive in league 1. Given we won't have the financial clout to overcome that and Sheridan (who'd inevitably stay) doesn't have the tactical nous to overcome that, we'd be the of league 1.

Iggy wrote:

Les Miserable wrote:

I hope we make the play offs and win them. Why wouldn't we start League 1 with half the current players?

Because there aren't ours. I would rather strengthen then piss it next year, (yeh funny that is) the top three will do alright in league 1 as maybe Bury would, we aren't strong enough for consistency in this league, only 5 wins by the end of the season would persuade me otherwise.

I get what you're saying with the loan players but IF we were to get promoted maybe one or two would be permanently signed or persuaded to return on loan for next season. Whether we will be good enough to survive in League 1 is doubtful but we'll never know unless we get there. I'm all for promotion regardless of the potential outcome, life's too fcuking short to turn it down.

Only Argyle fans would not want promotion because they fear failure at a later date.

Pathetic.

Up until the mid-90's we'd never ever even been in this Godforsaken 4th division excuse of a League.

It's a measure of how far we've fallen when there is a mentality floating around that we wouldn't be able to sustain 3rd division football if we were to get back there.

Well if there's no additions then of course they'll struggle. But that's the thing. There will be new players coming. It's become clear that lower league teams don't offer long contracts. They can't afford to get it wrong and be lumbered. There will be lots of players available.

Because of this managers have an opportunity to build again. They will have lost players eager to move on, cashing in on their successful season.

The same would apply to Sheridan. If we get promoted then surely his stature would be, rightly or wrongly, elevated. With a promotion under his belt I'm sure he would 'make hay' so to speak.

Argyle, in league one, would be an attractive proposition. The biggest stumbling block could be the chairman's reluctance to dig deep. At least if past form is anything to go by.

Lets get up there as soon as possible. Argyle have always managed to sustain at least third division football until the recent debacle.

pepsipete wrote:

Lets get up there as soon as possible.  Argyle have always managed to sustain at least third division football until the recent debacle.

Precisely.

Rickler wrote:

Only Argyle fans would not want promotion because they fear failure at a later date.

Pathetic.

I do get where you're coming from but try to see where I am on this, would you rather be the whipping boys of league 1 and go straight back down or go up as champs or auto with a stronger team that would manage? I genuinely don't think we would cope. Mind you I think if we don't go up then this team will lose what little quality it has damn quick in the summer so maybe shit or bust league 1 is best? Try as I might I can't get very optimistic at the moment.

X Isle wrote:

Iggy wrote:

Les Miserable wrote:

I hope we make the play offs and win them. Why wouldn't we start League 1 with half the current players?

Because there aren't ours. I would rather strengthen then piss it next year, (yeh funny that is) the top three will do alright in league 1 as maybe Bury would, we aren't strong enough for consistency in this league, only 5 wins by the end of the season would persuade me otherwise.

Personally I find it hard to consciously wish us to stay down over promotion, after all it's what fans have accused Argyle of doing since the 'golden era' of the 1920's. However I agree entirely with the consistency point, we're just not strong enough to survive, let alone thrive in league 1. Given we won't have the financial clout to overcome that and Sheridan (who'd inevitably stay) doesn't have the tactical nous to overcome that, we'd be the of league 1.    

Sheridan certainly seemed to be able to overcome his alleged lack of tactical nous when he guided Oldham [not really the mega rich hub of the North West] to 6th and 8th positions in the division above. Why don't you suggest that, given the acknowledgement that the club won't have the financial clout, Mr Brent should actually look for a bit of help on that front? Can't be a matter of principle, seeing as Wrathall was invited back on the board. What's stopping him?

Fair point. All I can think is he must've had one helluva team for sticking to his one dimensional, unadventurous gameplan. I'd happily be proved wrong but being too easily negated in league 2 doesn't bode well for league 1.  

Iggy wrote:

Rickler wrote:

Only Argyle fans would not want promotion because they fear failure at a later date.

Pathetic.

I do get where you're coming from but try to see where I am on this, would you rather be the whipping boys of league 1 and go straight back down or go up as champs or auto with a stronger team that would manage? I genuinely don't think we would cope. Mind you I think if we don't go up then this team will lose what little quality it has damn quick in the summer so maybe shit or bust league 1 is best? Try as I might I can't get very optimistic at the moment.

It'd certainly be the flattest promotion feeling we've ever had.

As much as I'd fear the consequences though, I couldn't see myself ever wishing Argyle not to be promoted.

Les Miserable wrote:

I hope we make the play offs and win them. Why wouldn't we start League 1 with half the current players?

Current players in the squad that are capable of playing League One would probably be:

Luke - obviously.
Mellor - played their previously and has shown that when he's fit he's a very good attacking fullback, but is having fitness issues and his form is questionable. He would be a valuable League One squad member for definite though.
Nelson - the guy is undoubtedly brilliant and still at a young age. He's ready for the step up, which I've no doubt he'll make with or without us.
McHugh - Likewise to Nelse, he's still and has bags of potential. Unlike Nelson, he's already featured in that division before and coped well enough.
Hartley - Isn't this his first season outside of League One? He'd definitely be alright next season in L1.
Lee Cox - Although we've not seen the best of him this season, his ability is definitely good enough for the 3rd tier.
O'Connor - Including him on the list as he's no longer a loanee - he'll be playing League One next season.
Reuben - is obviously ready for the step up.
Lewi - A cracking player who is improving year on year, but I'm not sure he'd be a regular starter in League One. He's proven himself enough this season to deserve a chance at it, but he'd be a squad player next season in my opinion.

They're the only players of ours that I'd be confident starting in League One. Banton is starting to perform well again, but its hard to forget his poor showing over the last year or so and he also failed to impress at McFranchise last season. Blizzard is capable in quality, but lacking in fitness - it just wouldn't be worth it in my opinion. The youngsters like Ben P, River Allen and Tyler haven't been given the opportunity this season to prove their worth so its difficult to judge if they could make the step up. It'd be a shame to lose our home grown players however.

Extra investment would definitely be required. Its noticeable how inferior our midfield is to the rest of the team. We'd need to find a true quality goalscoring midfielder to finally replace Conor as well as bringing some depth into the squad, especially in terms of strikers and wingers. It would be interesting to find out from what forecast average attendance the club is basing their budget on for next season - whether we go up or not.

X Isle wrote:

Fair point. All I can think is he must've had one helluva team for sticking to his one dimensional, unadventurous gameplan. I'd happily be proved wrong but being too easily negated in league 2 doesn't bode well for league 1.  

Iggy wrote:

Rickler wrote:

Only Argyle fans would not want promotion because they fear failure at a later date.

Pathetic.

I do get where you're coming from but try to see where I am on this, would you rather be the whipping boys of league 1 and go straight back down or go up as champs or auto with a stronger team that would manage? I genuinely don't think we would cope. Mind you I think if we don't go up then this team will lose what little quality it has damn quick in the summer so maybe shit or bust league 1 is best? Try as I might I can't get very optimistic at the moment.

It'd certainly be the flattest promotion feeling we've ever had.

As much as I'd fear the consequences though, I couldn't see myself ever wishing Argyle not to be promoted.

So why has he employed a one dimensional, unadventurous gameplan [which is actually a rather harsh judgement anyway] this season? Even leaving aside his very reasonable league positions at Oldham [where they were in fact a reasonably free scoring team], when Chesterfield won this league under his management, they scored 85 goals. Why the change from free scoring to counter attack? Interesting-could it be that the bloke has been far more resourceful than many give him credit for in cutting his cloth accordingly?

Greenskin wrote:

X Isle wrote:

Fair point. All I can think is he must've had one helluva team for sticking to his one dimensional, unadventurous gameplan. I'd happily be proved wrong but being too easily negated in league 2 doesn't bode well for league 1.  

Iggy wrote:

Rickler wrote:

Only Argyle fans would not want promotion because they fear failure at a later date.

Pathetic.

I do get where you're coming from but try to see where I am on this, would you rather be the whipping boys of league 1 and go straight back down or go up as champs or auto with a stronger team that would manage? I genuinely don't think we would cope. Mind you I think if we don't go up then this team will lose what little quality it has damn quick in the summer so maybe shit or bust league 1 is best? Try as I might I can't get very optimistic at the moment.

It'd certainly be the flattest promotion feeling we've ever had.

As much as I'd fear the consequences though, I couldn't see myself ever wishing Argyle not to be promoted.

So why has he employed a one dimensional, unadventurous gameplan [which is actually a rather harsh judgement anyway] this season? Even leaving aside his very reasonable league positions at Oldham [where they were in fact a reasonably free scoring team], when Chesterfield won this league under his management, they scored 85 goals. Why the change from free scoring to counter attack? Interesting-could it be that the bloke has been far more resourceful than many give him credit for in cutting his cloth accordingly?

All the Dimwitted Brenties, think shez should have transformed Argyle, into a goalscoring mean machine on the ninth best budget in the basement FFS!! He's done as well as anyone could possibly do working for Mr Short Term loan.

Stevenage 1 up

England's largest remaining city club never to have played top flight football and having developed a solid 15/20k fanbase even when back in the lower leagues , will always rise from time to time when the ownership and management get it right.
The current support base is however ageing with each passing decade.
The Brent/Sheridan ticket isn't a winner imo. If we were to get into the play offs and win at Wembley, the 2015/16 season would likely be a grim battle to try to avoid relegation , with attendance figures no better than they are now.
We older chaps, who have seen it all before, know when there is al roll beginning. I'm so divorced and distant these days, so does anyone think we're on the verge of something ?
I upset the bears on the farm ten years ago with my refusal to simply 'shut up and enjoy the ride', like a 'proper' fan. The reality of life in the 2nd tier for a club with no top flight grown fanbase, or money in the boardroom, is harsh. Staff and players move on for more money/ opportunity. Sturrock, Pulis and Holloway all recognised the boards' limitations and unwillingness to let go, as did Holloway's players when they were attracting the interest of other clubs in the same division.
Bournemouth,heading the Championship, with no history and a 10k stadium capacity, do have a  bright, young manager who started the recovery from 91st in the league just 5 or 6 years ago but you can bet your bottom dollar that the Russian owner's money and ambition, is what is really keeping him and his players together at this vital stage.

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1 - 1

Tgwu wrote:

Stevenage 1 up

1-1 HT. Pissing down with rain, pitch getting very watery.

Rickler wrote:

Only Argyle fans would not want promotion because they fear failure at a later date.

Pathetic.

Its come to this now Bheys, we are all getting very excited about a game between Burton and Stevanage ? ten years ago i hadn't heard of either of these two giants!

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

Its come to this now Bheys, we are all getting very excited about a game between Burton and Stevanage ? ten years ago i hadn't heard of either of these two giants!

Amazing innit. Shows how quickly things can change. Remember watching Argyle at Sheffield Wednesday [when Argyle won 3-1,one of the best away performances in my memory] and reading the programme before the game. It detailed their previous match-against Rushden and Diamonds! I thought to myself about how big a club Wednesday always were when I was growing up and wondering what their supporters thought about playing against a club which I don't think existed during those years. Probably bad enough for them getting panned by Argyle. Fleetwood, Crawley-unthinkable a few years ago that they would ever be above us in status.

sufferedsince 68 wrote:

Its come to this now Bheys, we are all getting very excited about a game between Burton and Stevanage ? ten years ago i hadn't heard of either of these two giants!

Tbf, considering the conditions are atrocious, it's a pretty decent game. Both sides look very useful - for this dogshit league.

Could really do with a Burton winner now.