Perhaps it was my rant.... I know it was Grant and not Reeves

Perhaps it was my rant.... I know it was Grant and not Reeves

Went to bed straight after the game, despite concern about suffering nightmares.

So in the fresh light of day...

To be honest, I thought the defence was fair, with
Aimson again outstanding. The first goal was unlucky,
and the second a howler from midfield.
Watts instead of Lewis gave us more stability at the back, but
seriously depleted us going forward.
Edwards couldn't get forward, which made our right side
non-functioning again.
I felt sorry for the front men, who were forced to feed on scraps
for the entire game.
Once again, our passing in the final third was atrocious, and the only
decent ball into the box came from Moore in the last minute.
I thought Reeves offered a little more in the short time he was given, and
would still like to see him given 2 or 3 consecutive starts.
Lowe has laid the blame fair and square on the players, but needs to look
at himself too. Too many players were playing in positions that don't suit
them or help the team, and Shrewsbury did an absolute job on us. As
several others have pointed out, Lowe has been out thought by almost
every team we have played this year.
Bring on Hull.

To be fair I don’t think he meant Reeves gifted the goal just meant it made it harder for him to make a contribution.

On the subject of Reeves why on earth did Lowe sign him? He hasn’t had a run in the side at any stage, I have no idea how good Ben really is. At most he starts one game in about fifteen then he’s out, you can’t judge a player on that. If he had five or six games in a row I might be able to see what he’s like.It’s not like we’re awash with talented midfielders, it’s ridiculous.

I have to question the influence Lowe and the coaching staff are having on players as well. Jephcott? Gone backwards. Camara? Gone backwards. Hardie? Gone backwards. Grant? You can see where this is going.

Mayor? Stuck in 3rd hardly ever any end product. And I think he’s the best player on the books! Aimson is wildly inconsistent one game excellent the next shocking. I would venture the only players who have Improved a bit are Opoku and Fornah. Cooper is still learning and will improve I’m sure, he’s a really good shot stopper but has to get better at dealing with crosses to help the centre backs out.

Edwards is steady Eddie and consistent. Woods looks decent but a couple of games is difficult to judge I just hope he wouldn’t end up going backwards. I really like Ennis he works his socks off and has plenty of ability can Lowe and the coaching staff maintain and develop him? Big question mark for me.

Lot of work required if this isn’t going to end up going sour.

Reeves has started only 4 times in the League all season, and the only occasion he lasted the whole game was the 0-4 defeat to Rochdale, when perhaps he wasn't as bad as some of his colleagues. His 4 starts have yielded one point (at Wigan), and in those 4 games Argyle have scored 2 and conceded 10. That's not pretty reading.

Reeves was a good attacking midfield player at this level a few years ago at MK Dons. If you look at video footage from then, he was a very different player. Good engine, two-footed, work rate, even a bit of pace, contributing assists and regular goals (enhanced by some penalties). For whatever reason, at only 29, he's a shadow of that player today. He still turns nicely and gets his head up to spot a pass, but he hasn't the engine, pace or physicality to control a game.

There was a bit of a lobby from some fans earlier in the season for Reeves to start in place of Fornah, but he's not a defensive player - I think the campaign was more anti-Fornah than pro-Reeves. Reeves may get some game time before the end of the season, particularly if Grant is injured, but I can't see him being offered an extension.

I (thankfully) wasn't able to watch the game yesterday, so have only been able to see the 2 minute highlights on YouTube. So no overall synopsis, but to analyse the goals...

First goal, Watts turned inside so easily, no blame on Aimson or Cooper. Second goal, yes what is Grant doing, but I tell you what (think Lowe referred to this as well) Opoku is partly at fault too, why is he not pushing out, we're in possession and he's standing there just outside his own 6 yard box. Third goal is a decent strike but Watts outmuscled in the build up twice.

We have a real dilemma at left back now.

So the plus points l feel is the back four has a better shape to it than the back three. The back 3 distribution of the ball is not only slow but we end up getting ourselves in a mess eg their second goal yesterday.

The Blackpool first half was good. The Bristol Rovers first half was decent. So was Wimbledon. The Shrewsbury first half was the first time recently l’ve been disappointed in a display.

But this team just crumbles every time a team scores. Fortunately Rovers didn’t or Wimbledon. However, once Blackpool and Shrewsbury did the team fell apart. How many opportunities within the first five minutes do teams have at the start of the second half to score. Rovers and Wimbledon missed theirs. That’s the fine margins here.

It’s very concerning that after a couple of seasons we don’t have an identity. By way l mean a successful formation where we consistently play well.

Yesterday it was appalling. Lowe even said this. Yet instead of play a different system he reverted back to a system that’s even worse with these current group of players. He saw what we saw. Yet he basically made it worse with his tactical changes.

I can’t deny lm worried for next season. I look at the team and it needs a massive overhaul. There is no point having your most creative player without a consistent end product. Yes we would have been worse off without him this season but that says more about the squad options available. We have had an unfit Macleod, an unused Reeves, we play a slow CB as a left sided part of a back three (Watts). He then compounds this by playing him at left back.

I think everyone would maybe agree our best CM is Camara. Yet he now shoe horns him into a RM position where he looks lost while we sit and watch the non effective pair of Fornah and Grant lose control of the game. We know Lewis has a howler in him. Yet instead of playing C Grant, who best performances have been in that position he now reverts him back to a CM role in a two which doesn’t suit him.

I watch Argyle and they are disjointed. Sometimes they press. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they play through the pitch but most as the game wares on they lose their heads and bang it down the pitch. Where is the width in this team? The creativity on a consistent basis. Not just flashes of it.

We rely on teams missing great goal scoring opportunities. Not your half chances. I’m referring to the Bristol Rovers miss in the second half where he inexcusable kicked it against his own player and Cooper had to save. The Wimbledon free header with minutes to go. These aren’t just in the odd game. They are in most, if not every game.

Personally l look at the team to try and find a structure, a shape or even a pattern of play. At the moment l think there is only a handful ld keep but l do feel we have a decent spine.

Cooper (he gets totally unfair criticism). He will need to develop his commanding of his box but he is decent at this level.Great shot stopper.

Aimson. His distribution is bad at times. However, he is a defender who we seen can defend especially since we simplified things and changed to a back four.

Camara. He has been poor recently. However, Lowe has shifted him to RM/RAM and he has had to do most of the running in that team. lm not surprised he now looks knackered. Build a team around him because this guy has ability, energy and work rate.

Ennis. Decent goals. Great hold up play. Always trying to close down the opposition. Even when the team is playing poorly like against MK Dons he stands out above most. He is a step up in my opinion from Hardie and Jephcott.

We have 6 games to go. I would like to see some grass shoots of recovery for the start of next season. However, l do feel it’s time for many of the current squad to go.

I (thankfully) wasn't able to watch the game yesterday, so have only been able to see the 2 minute highlights on YouTube. So no overall synopsis, but to analyse the goals...

First goal, Watts turned inside so easily, no blame on Aimson or Cooper. Second goal, yes what is Grant doing, but I tell you what (think Lowe referred to this as well) Opoku is partly at fault too, why is he not pushing out, we're in possession and he's standing there just outside his own 6 yard box. Third goal is a decent strike but Watts outmuscled in the build up twice.

We have a real dilemma at left back now.

Can someone tell me why Opoku can’t play there? Didn’t he do that job for Accrington? You then have Watts / Woods partnering Aimson.

Sawyer to start at LB

Sawyer to start at LB

Please god no.

He is slower than Watts.

Sawyer to start at LB

Definitely! Anything to keep away from comms.

The coaching staff obviously see the players every day on the training ground but I'd have thought that Opoku would be better suited to LB than Watts.

The coaching staff obviously see the players every day on the training ground but I'd have thought that Opoku would be better suited to LB than Watts.

they obviously see the players every day and i cannot understand why they don't insist on playing passes just in front of colleagues,it is intensely frustrating.