One Game at a Time:
Cheltenham Town (H) January 21st
George Bernard Shaw summed up a much-used military maxim in his play, St Joan, when he said, “God is on the side of the big battalions.”
With the build-up to the top of the table clash between the sides in first and third taking place in the frenzy of an already hectic transfer window, there was no doubting which sides supporters consider themselves to be that big battalion.
As it transpired only one of their million pound plus purchases graced the Ipswich starting XI, with the return of the excellent Leif Davies to left wing back. Kayden Jackson was on the bench, and perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the complete absence of new signing Nathan Broadhead. Missing through muscle tightness, the striker had not so much got out of the wrong side of the bed, as apparently got into the wrong type of bed altogether. One can only hope they have done a proper comfort test on the Portman Road benches, or Town could potentially have spaffed close to two million pounds on two players, including Panutche, who are going to have a patchy contribution to their promotion push.
No such problems for Schumacher. His problem was more about making sure he selected the right balance from his newly acquired abundance. In came Matete to bolster the midfield, with Mumba switching to RWB in the absence of Joe 90, and the reliable Gillesphey slotting in at LWB. The front three was made up of Hardie Ennis and Mayor, with a much-changed bench including new signing Tyriek Wright over namesake Callum. And if a certain Morgan Whittaker was an absentee from both benches, in one case reluctantly, Argyle hearts were gladdened by the re-emergence of Finn Azaz on the Argyle one.
The first rumblings of discontent from the capacity Portman crowd were that lucky charm Bianca Westwood had been despatched to Ashton Gate, leaving Jaydee Dyer handling the reporting via Jeff Stelling. Still, it could have been worse, as the days of Tony Cottee presiding over nil-nil draws have long been consigned to history.
Tactically the arrival of Matete also lead to Argyle adopting a high press, which disrupted the Town preferred playing style, and in a game played at a good tempo both sides had chances before heading for the half time break still goalless.
The second half saw a finger brushed tip onto the bar from Harness by Cooper, followed by a miss that leading scorer Hardie will occasionally produce, after a splendid surge down the right and cross by Ennis. In classic only the goal line to beat territory, Hardies effort clipped the bar.
If the Argyle fans thought that was a hammer blow, worse was to follow. And that was also a hammer blow, struck with ferocity by Wes Burns at such velocity that two Coopers and a Walton probably wouldn’t have stopped it.
With still around a half hour to play Argyle continued their press and Ipswich flexed their in-depth addition by bringing on Hirst for the, for once, goalless Ladapo. Wright, Cosgrove and Waine were summoned, and finally Azaz, when Argyle, with nothing to lose, sacrificed a defender in search of an equaliser.
A lengthy stoppage for the injured but determined Scarr led to the addition of nine minutes. Town dropped deeper to protect the lead, and Waine forced a panicked clearance from Agent Walton who sadly got his angles all wrong and the ball dribbled several feet wide. Nice try Christian.
Cometh the hour (and a half) cometh the man. The ball was cleared from a packed box and fell to the feet of Azaz. Cosgrove and Waine peeled to the back post in anticipation of what the whole ground assumed would be a cross into the mixer.
Finn slid a precise and perfect pass into the feet of Mumba, and the Norwich loanee danced inside and for the fifth time in Argyle Green let fly. The merest of deflections made little difference to the flight of the ball and Mumba Number 5 was nestling in the Ipswich net. Cue bedlam amongst the 2000+ Argyle travelling fans.
Voltaire was proved correct. God is not on the side of the big battalions but on that of those who shoot the best.
The game was seen out and with honours even Argyle remain unbeaten away in the league since that August debacle at the Valley and Town continue to drop late points from winning positions. Argyle however continue to gain them from losing ones.
Post-match both managers seemed to accept the result was fair. Ipswich will be disappointed, if not surprised at their failure to hold out. If there was any salt to rub into the wound that the equaliser came (for the second time this season) from Mumba’s boots, it may have been compounded by Schuey revealing that his parent club had also aided our pre match preparation after the team had flown into Norwich the day previously.
Short of arranging a Friday night Bernard Mathews turkey supper the Budgies could not have been more helpful. All in all, a good weekend for them as they started the David Wagner era with an emphatic four nil drubbing of Preston at Deepdale.
The result which leaves Argyle seven clear of Town means that Ipswich, admittedly with games in hand, are now trailing the Wendies who won with another spectacular strike from Vaulks at Why Come to maintain their impressive form. In doing so they had two players carried off on stretchers, and whilst we hope that neither is seriously injured, no partisan fan would be blamed for thinking it might be handy if they didn’t recover until the 5th of February. Just in time for their trip to Ipswich.
In fact, so far Wednesday have two current injuries in Bannan and Gregory, two recalled loans in McGuinness and Mighten and now two more casualties in James and Byers. And two consecutive Saturday appointments with Fleetwood in League and then Cup.
Argyle next face their recent Boxing Day opponents Cheltenham Town, who just before kick-off on Saturday were also drawn to be their semi-final opponents in the Johnson Pizza Paint Pot Cup Van thingy. This semi-final will be live on Sky and will force an interesting conundrum for those fans like myself who have boycotted the contest as a protest against the inclusion of Premier U21 teams should we win. Whilst accepting that the additional matches are useful for the bedding in of players and rehabilitating those returning from injury, and the money for a decent run is handy too, not even a trip to Wembley will, for me, justify the steamrollering in of these reserve teams into the competition.
Since we last met the Cheltenham side there have clearly been changes. The match winner on that day is (at time of writing) still being touted around the, somewhat limited, market for his services by the Swansea management who, having declared he was being brought back as a player, have now declared that the one thing they can’t do is play him for fear of ruining his sale potential. The latest hares set running are West Bromwich Albion and Glasgow Rangers, although there are still those on the Ipswich forums convinced, he was hovering around the back of the Portman stand waiting for all the Argyle fans to clear the area so he could sign.
Despite having played each other within the last month it should be expected that both squads for the game will be very different. In Argyles case due to the expansive transfer window recruitment and the return of injured players. In the case of Cheltenham quite the opposite.
Since the Boxing Day meeting, Cheltenham have had two players recalled, in Nlundulu, now at Bolton and Jackson who has returned to Bristol City. In addition, they have lost Freestone and Sercombe to significant injuries. To contribute further to their selection woes, Raglan may be suspended for the match at Home Park as well. In exchange they have signed Goodwin from Stoke via Torquay, a striker who scored on his Papa John’s debut for the club and are chasing a young Fulham defender, allegedly in competition with Charlton, Ibane Bowat.
Wade Elliott could do without such squad deficiencies at a critical time, with Morecambe starting to pick up points and MK having a Leeds United coach in place. One could be forgiven for thinking he might well channel Cheltenham born Mark Lester, the actor most famous for uttering those Dickensian Words, “Please sir, may I have some more…. central midfielders?”
The irony for Elliott is that potentially Argyle could line up with two of his more successful recent candidates for that position, as both Azaz and Callum Wright have spent recent loan periods with the Robins. Still reliant on the goals of Alfie May, now the Town record league goal scorer, Elliott has so far resisted the calling up of a local resident and gaol scorer. That said, if Charlie Austin is an option for Swindon Town, then what odds on Sir Geoff Hurst pulling on the red and white for an unexpected comeback.
Failing that then the healing Spas that brough Cheltenham its fame and status under the patronage of George the Third might be the only hope he has a full-strength bench.
So, Argyle have a couple of games where they will be firm favourites before a weekend of recuperation whilst the FA Cup resumes.
With any luck Cheltenham will not be at the races and the home fans can get to know their new acquisitions close up.
Two weeks of the window left. Ipswich rumoured to be buying a new centre half from Arsenal. Wednesday desperately hoping Warnock the Blade doesn’t land at Cardiff again and stymie their hopes of a centre half return for Mark McGuiness.
The run-in is starting to gather pace, as are we with Tyriek Wright.
All together now
A little bit of Bali from the right
A very slight deflection in the flight
An equaliser nestling in the net
And David Wagner met us from our jet...
Mumba Number 5 ...ah!
COYG!
Cheltenham Town (H) January 21st
George Bernard Shaw summed up a much-used military maxim in his play, St Joan, when he said, “God is on the side of the big battalions.”
With the build-up to the top of the table clash between the sides in first and third taking place in the frenzy of an already hectic transfer window, there was no doubting which sides supporters consider themselves to be that big battalion.
As it transpired only one of their million pound plus purchases graced the Ipswich starting XI, with the return of the excellent Leif Davies to left wing back. Kayden Jackson was on the bench, and perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the complete absence of new signing Nathan Broadhead. Missing through muscle tightness, the striker had not so much got out of the wrong side of the bed, as apparently got into the wrong type of bed altogether. One can only hope they have done a proper comfort test on the Portman Road benches, or Town could potentially have spaffed close to two million pounds on two players, including Panutche, who are going to have a patchy contribution to their promotion push.
No such problems for Schumacher. His problem was more about making sure he selected the right balance from his newly acquired abundance. In came Matete to bolster the midfield, with Mumba switching to RWB in the absence of Joe 90, and the reliable Gillesphey slotting in at LWB. The front three was made up of Hardie Ennis and Mayor, with a much-changed bench including new signing Tyriek Wright over namesake Callum. And if a certain Morgan Whittaker was an absentee from both benches, in one case reluctantly, Argyle hearts were gladdened by the re-emergence of Finn Azaz on the Argyle one.
The first rumblings of discontent from the capacity Portman crowd were that lucky charm Bianca Westwood had been despatched to Ashton Gate, leaving Jaydee Dyer handling the reporting via Jeff Stelling. Still, it could have been worse, as the days of Tony Cottee presiding over nil-nil draws have long been consigned to history.
Tactically the arrival of Matete also lead to Argyle adopting a high press, which disrupted the Town preferred playing style, and in a game played at a good tempo both sides had chances before heading for the half time break still goalless.
The second half saw a finger brushed tip onto the bar from Harness by Cooper, followed by a miss that leading scorer Hardie will occasionally produce, after a splendid surge down the right and cross by Ennis. In classic only the goal line to beat territory, Hardies effort clipped the bar.
If the Argyle fans thought that was a hammer blow, worse was to follow. And that was also a hammer blow, struck with ferocity by Wes Burns at such velocity that two Coopers and a Walton probably wouldn’t have stopped it.
With still around a half hour to play Argyle continued their press and Ipswich flexed their in-depth addition by bringing on Hirst for the, for once, goalless Ladapo. Wright, Cosgrove and Waine were summoned, and finally Azaz, when Argyle, with nothing to lose, sacrificed a defender in search of an equaliser.
A lengthy stoppage for the injured but determined Scarr led to the addition of nine minutes. Town dropped deeper to protect the lead, and Waine forced a panicked clearance from Agent Walton who sadly got his angles all wrong and the ball dribbled several feet wide. Nice try Christian.
Cometh the hour (and a half) cometh the man. The ball was cleared from a packed box and fell to the feet of Azaz. Cosgrove and Waine peeled to the back post in anticipation of what the whole ground assumed would be a cross into the mixer.
Finn slid a precise and perfect pass into the feet of Mumba, and the Norwich loanee danced inside and for the fifth time in Argyle Green let fly. The merest of deflections made little difference to the flight of the ball and Mumba Number 5 was nestling in the Ipswich net. Cue bedlam amongst the 2000+ Argyle travelling fans.
Voltaire was proved correct. God is not on the side of the big battalions but on that of those who shoot the best.
The game was seen out and with honours even Argyle remain unbeaten away in the league since that August debacle at the Valley and Town continue to drop late points from winning positions. Argyle however continue to gain them from losing ones.
Post-match both managers seemed to accept the result was fair. Ipswich will be disappointed, if not surprised at their failure to hold out. If there was any salt to rub into the wound that the equaliser came (for the second time this season) from Mumba’s boots, it may have been compounded by Schuey revealing that his parent club had also aided our pre match preparation after the team had flown into Norwich the day previously.
Short of arranging a Friday night Bernard Mathews turkey supper the Budgies could not have been more helpful. All in all, a good weekend for them as they started the David Wagner era with an emphatic four nil drubbing of Preston at Deepdale.
The result which leaves Argyle seven clear of Town means that Ipswich, admittedly with games in hand, are now trailing the Wendies who won with another spectacular strike from Vaulks at Why Come to maintain their impressive form. In doing so they had two players carried off on stretchers, and whilst we hope that neither is seriously injured, no partisan fan would be blamed for thinking it might be handy if they didn’t recover until the 5th of February. Just in time for their trip to Ipswich.
In fact, so far Wednesday have two current injuries in Bannan and Gregory, two recalled loans in McGuinness and Mighten and now two more casualties in James and Byers. And two consecutive Saturday appointments with Fleetwood in League and then Cup.
Argyle next face their recent Boxing Day opponents Cheltenham Town, who just before kick-off on Saturday were also drawn to be their semi-final opponents in the Johnson Pizza Paint Pot Cup Van thingy. This semi-final will be live on Sky and will force an interesting conundrum for those fans like myself who have boycotted the contest as a protest against the inclusion of Premier U21 teams should we win. Whilst accepting that the additional matches are useful for the bedding in of players and rehabilitating those returning from injury, and the money for a decent run is handy too, not even a trip to Wembley will, for me, justify the steamrollering in of these reserve teams into the competition.
Since we last met the Cheltenham side there have clearly been changes. The match winner on that day is (at time of writing) still being touted around the, somewhat limited, market for his services by the Swansea management who, having declared he was being brought back as a player, have now declared that the one thing they can’t do is play him for fear of ruining his sale potential. The latest hares set running are West Bromwich Albion and Glasgow Rangers, although there are still those on the Ipswich forums convinced, he was hovering around the back of the Portman stand waiting for all the Argyle fans to clear the area so he could sign.
Despite having played each other within the last month it should be expected that both squads for the game will be very different. In Argyles case due to the expansive transfer window recruitment and the return of injured players. In the case of Cheltenham quite the opposite.
Since the Boxing Day meeting, Cheltenham have had two players recalled, in Nlundulu, now at Bolton and Jackson who has returned to Bristol City. In addition, they have lost Freestone and Sercombe to significant injuries. To contribute further to their selection woes, Raglan may be suspended for the match at Home Park as well. In exchange they have signed Goodwin from Stoke via Torquay, a striker who scored on his Papa John’s debut for the club and are chasing a young Fulham defender, allegedly in competition with Charlton, Ibane Bowat.
Wade Elliott could do without such squad deficiencies at a critical time, with Morecambe starting to pick up points and MK having a Leeds United coach in place. One could be forgiven for thinking he might well channel Cheltenham born Mark Lester, the actor most famous for uttering those Dickensian Words, “Please sir, may I have some more…. central midfielders?”
The irony for Elliott is that potentially Argyle could line up with two of his more successful recent candidates for that position, as both Azaz and Callum Wright have spent recent loan periods with the Robins. Still reliant on the goals of Alfie May, now the Town record league goal scorer, Elliott has so far resisted the calling up of a local resident and gaol scorer. That said, if Charlie Austin is an option for Swindon Town, then what odds on Sir Geoff Hurst pulling on the red and white for an unexpected comeback.
Failing that then the healing Spas that brough Cheltenham its fame and status under the patronage of George the Third might be the only hope he has a full-strength bench.
So, Argyle have a couple of games where they will be firm favourites before a weekend of recuperation whilst the FA Cup resumes.
With any luck Cheltenham will not be at the races and the home fans can get to know their new acquisitions close up.
Two weeks of the window left. Ipswich rumoured to be buying a new centre half from Arsenal. Wednesday desperately hoping Warnock the Blade doesn’t land at Cardiff again and stymie their hopes of a centre half return for Mark McGuiness.
The run-in is starting to gather pace, as are we with Tyriek Wright.
All together now
A little bit of Bali from the right
A very slight deflection in the flight
An equaliser nestling in the net
And David Wagner met us from our jet...
Mumba Number 5 ...ah!
COYG!
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