Why canāt it be a half way house? Why do we have to always be in one camp or another.
Iām not overly down about this season. Iām not exactly impressed either.
The chairman has been brilliant. Along with the board. This season has been one of the toughest going for everyone concerned. Yet every other club has been in the same boat and ld say thanks to the generosity of our chairman and fans ld say we have been in a better position than a number of clubs this season.
However, everyone talks about pushing on next season. Maybe pushing towards the top end of this league. Yet to do that you have to place building blocks in place for the start of next season. You need a manager with a playing style and a system. I canāt say Argyle are currently even a good attacking team. Defensively for two years we have looked a shambles. The 3-5-2 is lop sided where the right hand side doesnāt function, yet here we are possibly saying Joe Edwards is our player of the year and Camara is up in that debate. Yet both play on that side of the pitch in a 3-5-2.
Edwards deserves the accolades this season. Yet doesnāt this say a lot about us when individually he is our best player but as a team unit we say that right side of the pitch, like yesterday, doesnāt function like the left did. The fact he and Camara though individually have performed without that right hand side functioning together consistently surely questions the tactics and the system we play.
Basically next season we need to work out the best system to play. However, we need to fit the players into a system. Yet most of the loanees canāt surely stay. From Fornahās lack of midfield presence, to Opoku / Watts constantly making mistakes these players canāt be re-signed. So that means a new defence. Maybe even new full backs if we are to play a back four. A new CDM will be required because Macleod canāt make it through a season.
Then comes the midfield. Camara and Mayor. Camara is one of my favourite players this season. However, last month or so he hasnāt performed as well. Yet his ability to get up and down the pitch, coupled with some ability on the ball makes me think there is a player there. However, heās been asked to do way to much of the work-rate for that midfield. So he needs help next season. If we donāt shift Edwards across in midfield then we need new players there.
Then we have up front. Ennis looks quality. Hardie and Jephcott l would have question marks over about their consistency at this level. The thing that Argyle lack is a physical presence up front. So they need to add here.
Yet the biggest issue in our side is creativity. Or lack of it. An End product. Do we keep Mayor? Where can we get the best out of him in our team? Yet even if he stays we need better players on the ball. Better players who can pass and better players who can deliver good crosses.
People just assume we will add a few players and rock up next season and can challenge for the playoffs. Maybe everything will go our way next season. Yet from my point of view there is so much work that needs to be done on the team that you canāt expect a number of these issues to be fixed by next season. Yet the biggest issue currently is our manager. One that tells the players the game plan, and then washes his hands at the end of a defeat and says what more can l do?
1. Well you could find a system more suitable for these players
2. Stop the same repetitive defensive mistakes by the same players via coaching
3. Give other players an opportunity
People say itās emotionally reaction after defeats. Yet l feel lāve been asking the same questions most of the season and watching us slip to the same type of results and performances. At what point are we allowed to ask the question why does this continually keep happening?
We talk about building something for next season. You need solid foundations first and currently that team and our manager just look clueless about how to fix the current situation.
I honestly canāt say hand on heart we have progressed as a team unit thus season. Sure we have stayed up but when you think of the clubs at the bottom and the 0-4 hammering against Rochdale at HP, the 0-3 defeat against Rovers at their place, the crazy 4-4 at AFC Wimbledon (against a team that struggled to score goals at home all season) and the diabolical defeat at Northampton when they were on a run which couldnāt buy them a win. Yet fans expect to take these level of performances this season and suddenly turn them around and jump into a play off race for next season.
Itās just totally unrealistic. Especially when you look at the teams in this league, the fact they have more financial muscle than us and how much better constructed their teams are.
Iām sure our chairman has his finger in the pulse. Iām afraid though itās the fans expectations he will have to deal with. I talk about Argyle in as honest way possible. Frustrated at times yes, but when lāve criticised Argyle itās from the point of view of being honest about what we are witnessing. Yes, itās job done this season. However, itās worrying how we have obtained it and worrying we continue to see the same issues over and over again.
Roll on next season.
