Just back home from the game, my first Argyle game of the season. There's not so much to say in that in a game like this it's difficult to make judgements. The one thing that stood out for me though were the full backs and their offensive inability. That was the reason why we didn't muller them 6 or 7-0. Played well first half but it fizzled out towards half-time. Second half was quite poor to be honest.
Bulvitis looks a player ... a good footballer for a defender. Caresses and passes the ball excellently. Bradley looks dominant. Smith looks useful if a bit one dimensional. Spencer and Goodwillie look clever and capable. Spencer reminds me of Bergkamp and he has something. Goodwillie is obviously talented and on another day they would have two goals a piece. Fox reminds me of Paul Scholes in his final years ... clearly a composed and tidy footballer.
All in all, too slow and little creativity but we were never really in any danger (albeit one or two scares). But we should have stepped it up and the full backs left me very disappointed. In a game like this both of the full backs saw so much of the ball and did so little with it. Gary Miller could not possibly do any less going forward if asked - he is exceptionally basic offensively. Purrington meanwhile really needs to step it up if he wants to nail that position. A game like today he should have been charging up the wing but he just stuck to his comfort zone .. worrying. He lacks personality somehow and doesn't offer much more than Miller. Unfortunately their lack of influence given the space they had and the possession they had largely contributed to an ineffective attacking game. Very disappointed in those two.
Otherwise the centrebacks look excellent (if somewhat untested today). Fox and Smith look tidy and the forwards look clever.
On we go.
Bulvitis looks a player ... a good footballer for a defender. Caresses and passes the ball excellently. Bradley looks dominant. Smith looks useful if a bit one dimensional. Spencer and Goodwillie look clever and capable. Spencer reminds me of Bergkamp and he has something. Goodwillie is obviously talented and on another day they would have two goals a piece. Fox reminds me of Paul Scholes in his final years ... clearly a composed and tidy footballer.
All in all, too slow and little creativity but we were never really in any danger (albeit one or two scares). But we should have stepped it up and the full backs left me very disappointed. In a game like this both of the full backs saw so much of the ball and did so little with it. Gary Miller could not possibly do any less going forward if asked - he is exceptionally basic offensively. Purrington meanwhile really needs to step it up if he wants to nail that position. A game like today he should have been charging up the wing but he just stuck to his comfort zone .. worrying. He lacks personality somehow and doesn't offer much more than Miller. Unfortunately their lack of influence given the space they had and the possession they had largely contributed to an ineffective attacking game. Very disappointed in those two.
Otherwise the centrebacks look excellent (if somewhat untested today). Fox and Smith look tidy and the forwards look clever.
On we go.
.
