Plymouth v Cambridge match day thread

Plymouth Argyle v Cambridge United    

Man in the middle LEE PROBERT   Games 5 YELLOWS 14 REDS 0

Assisted by Simon Knapp and Christopher Wade

Fourth Official Mark Derrien

Cambridge News

Sitting at the foot of league two, Gaining only three draws in the league so far this season.
(two good cup wins) Last game a good 0-0 draw away to Mansfield

It been a hard start to  the season

Shaun Derry: Midweek break will benefit Cambridge United he is pleased to have a full week on the training ground.  

Shaun Derry believes Cambridge United's first free week of the season will serve them well going into their long haul to Plymouth on Saturday.

Having had a run of four successive midweek matches throughout August, Derry felt United would benefit from a breather as they bid to pick up their first Sky Bet League Two victory at Home Park.

Argyle News

Argyle will record their best sequence of wins for 13 years if they beat Cambridge United at Home Park on Saturday.

After losing the first three games of this season the Greens have now won five games in succession and a sixth win against Cambridge will see Argyle set their best run of wins in a single season since the Division Two promotion campaign of 2003-2004 when seven games were won on the bounce

Team

I would like DA to start with the team with the inclusion of Fox and Paul-Arnold Garita.

Cambridge News (Local Rag) with in put from that well know Plymouth sport writer Ben Cross

Reunion in Plymouth: Cambridge United to meet Ryan Donaldson, Jordan Slew and Jimmy Spencer

One of the favourite pre-match pastimes in press boxes up and down the country is casting an eye over the opposition squad list and discussing any familiar names.

"Didn't he used to play for so and so", "I remember seeing him score for whatsit" and "blimey, he must be getting on a bit", or similar phrases, can often be heard when the team sheets get passed around.

And there are set to be three familiar names under the heading of Plymouth Argyle when Cambridge United make the long trip to Home Park on Saturday.

Ryan Donaldson, Jordan Slew and Jimmy Spencer all now call the south west home following their moves to Devon during the summer.

It would be fair to say none of them have made an instant impact at their new club, but they have all played some part in helping the Pilgrims climb to third in the fledgling Sky Bet League Two table after a slow start.

Ryan Donaldson

Donaldson signed for United in the summer of 2013 from Gateshead and featured in the first team for three seasons.

Injuries were never too far away, but he racked up 115 appearances during his time at the Abbey and netted 16 goals.

The former Newcastle youngster will always be remembered for his three Wembley goals in 2014 which helped the U's beat Gosport in the FA Trophy final and Gateshead in the Skrill Premier play-off final.

So far he has made eight appearances for Plymouth and is yet to find the back of the net, with Plymouth Herald sports writer Beren Cross feeling there is more to come from the midfielder.

"There was a big number of new signings in the summer and some have stood out, some haven't done much and some are somewhere in the middle, and Donaldson seems to fit into that last category," he said.

"He doesn't seem to have pulled up any trees yet. He hasn't created much, doesn't tackle much, passes it here and there and has a good work ethic."

Jordan Slew

While Donaldson scored some memorable goals during his time in amber and black, Slew was unable to make much of an impression.

The striker, who was once sold to Blackburn by Sheffield United for £1million, arrived at United in February 2015 and only found the back of the net once in 25 appearances.

That effort came in a 2-0 success at Morecambe, and he will probably be mainly remembered for being caught speeding at 156mph in his BMW on the A1 near Sawtry – the fastest speed clocked on UK roads that year.

Slew, who was released by the U's in February and spent the end of last term at Chesterfield, has scored once for the Pilgrims, helping them beat Newport in the EFL Trophy.

But he could already find his game time limited after new loan signing Paul-Arnold Garita impressed on his debut as a second-half substitute in last weekend's win over Cheltenham.

"For whatever reason, he hasn't quite been fancied in the starting line-up," said Cross.

"Quite a few strikers came in over the summer and they all got game time in pre-season, and Slew looked quite lively in the EFL Trophy apparently.

"But the arrival of Garita seems to have knocked him down the pecking order a bit."

Jimmy Spencer

Slew did not make his mark at the Abbey, but Spencer certainly did as he netted six times in 18 appearances after signing from Notts County for the second half of last season.

He came off the bench to score on his debut in a 3-1 success at Leyton Orient, and he always provided a good presence up front.

Spencer is yet to open his account for the Pilgrims and Cross said some supporters still needed convincing.

"He had a lot of rave reviews in pre-season for being the hold-up man in attack," said Cross. "They did play all non-League sides in pre-season though, apart from West Brom, but he looked the part in that company.

"He hasn't scored yet during the season and I think a few of the fans have been getting a bit restless with how he's doing in that hold-up role."

The U's will get off the bus in Plymouth seeking their first league win of the campaign, so the thought of three of their former players ganging up to get the better of them does not really bear thinking about.

United manager Shaun Derry will be hoping the players he does have at his disposal can make it an unhappy reunion for the former Abbey trio.

im going, last time i saw us win at home was October 2007 !

Cambridge view of the game.

From Cambridge media


MATCH PREVIEW: PLYMOUTH ARGYLE – AWAY

Cambridge United make the longest away trip of the season on Saturday as Shaun Derry’s men go face-to-face with Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.

The U’s travel to Devon on the back of positive displays against Shrewsbury Town and Mansfield Town, and will be hopeful of picking up their first League win which would propel them up League Two.

Midfielder James Dunne picked up an ankle injury in last weekend’s clash in Nottinghamshire which rules the 26-year old for this weekend’s encounter, joining Barry Corr, Harrison Dunk and George Maris on the U’s injury list. However, the likes of Max Clark and Conor Newton will be eagerly awaiting their opportunity.

Those making the long journey from the Amber Army, will be familiar with a number of names on the Pilgrim’s team sheet, with Jordan Slew, Ryan Donaldson and Jimmy Spencer all on the books of Derek Adam’s side this season.

Plymouth have enjoyed a strong opening month to the new season and currently sit in third position in Sky Bet League Two, following a five game winning streak.

However, United fans will remember that the U’s travelled to an in-form Plymouth outfit last season which saw Shaun Derry’s side produce one of the best performances of the campaign to claim a 2-1 win.

That win extended the U’s overall head-to-head advantage to ten wins over the Pilgrim’s seven, but Shaun Derry is fully aware of task his side face this weekend.

“Points wise, Plymouth have clearly had a positive return but we know that following a positive spell of our own we are more than capable of heading over to Plymouth to compete for a win.

“We’re six games into the season and they certainly don’t get easier, but we feel that we are now starting to see the positivity in our play that will allow us to take the game to the opposition.

“Let’s continue to build on the performance levels which have been increasing in the previous two fixtures. We’re looking forward now at the aspects that we can affect rather than what the League table suggests or what form our opposition are in.”

Unfortunately i shall be attending this feast of football, Im starting to get all giddy with excitement.

Going for another 1-0 victory in front of 8,250

alannotivvy wrote:

Unfortunately i shall be attending this feast of football, Im starting to get all giddy with excitement.

same here al our little posse off to this football extravaganza as well shame about the meeting we were looking forward to a good fashion punchup........BRENT OUT!!!

Are you all in the Devonport end or the Directors box?

I hope for a good result to send me away on hols happy

Tgwu wrote:

Are you all in the Devonport end or the Directors box?

I hope for a good result to send me away on hols happy

PMd you.

Match day, rain going away, looking foreward to seeing a big crowd. 3 - nil to us

Wearing a cardie to the match today

Another terrible performance by a team of players that just aren't good enough. Maybe Argo will luck out again against the run of play leaving Cambridge feeling mugged.

Scrape a draw...8k ish.

Leaving paddington now.

Brent out

At ivor dewneys in stoke village getting a pasty
Then walking down to the ground think there mite be goals in this one..yes even for our strikers 3-1

1 up. Good move

The omnipotent and wonderful Graham Carey - according to Soccer Saturday

Geddon.

See it out at 1-0 good enough boys....

2 nil Slew.

Geddon

Need a third to finish it.......

2 - 1. Squeaky bums?

Clinging on. Two handballs in our area