Already a big game this.

Reckon on a bigger pitch with more space we will carve these open with our new found pace.

 

3-1

So ACD was mom.

Can't beleive I haven't heard 'is this the way to Amario'  being brought out by the yoof.   

It's nice having wingers

10 hours ago, W.cramp said:

So ACD was mom.

Can't beleive I haven't heard 'is this the way to Amario'  being brought out by the yoof.   

"...he'll cross the ball, straight onto Burstow.."

11 minutes ago, deeane Koontz said:

It's nice having wingers

It's making me permanently erect Koontzy.

17 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

 

One of the many (but possibly the best) examples of how much we’ve changed over summer. Sat there absolutely buzzing that the robust and dynamic whites seem to be exactly that.

Random things that put a massive smile on my face, in no particular order:

- TSL falling to the ground when catching a ball / hanging on the cross bar when they put one miles over. He’s got massive confidence - yet to see him save a shot but it did just remind me of Trafford.

- TSL playing 3 of the best passes I’ve seen us play in years. 1st half, left foot (which I think is his wrong foot) out to ACD; 2nd half (best of them all), ball coming across his body and he zinged one again to ACD on the right touch line, right into his stride; 3rd to set up the 2nd goal.

- Simons smashing players, not wanting to show injury, and his shaved head. There was a moment in the first half where we got a free kick near the half way line, their player held the ball whilst he walked backwards, Sheehan stood with his arms out as if to plead for the naughty man to give it back to us, Simons just comes steaming in behind him to demand it and the lad threw it to him straight away.

- Burstow winning headers and us having lads around him. Also just general hold up play - 1st half he had one launched up to him near the West Stand defenders all over him, he took it down, held 2 off, waited for ACD to get round him and played it to him. Seems simple but we’ve not been able to do that for years.

- 2 fast wingers and our willingness to just play a high early ball over their full backs and watch them shit themselves. Pace in the team seems like such a luxury (Randall is also deceptively quick!)

- A few occasions where a big block, or a big tackle on their winger which resulted in a goal kick was celebrated by a few of them almost like a goal.

- Toal. Just looks confident, on the ball and defensively. Might be the captaincy, might be the new set up with an actual midfield in front of him (and it’s only 1 game) but he seemed like his old self.

- Corners - we actual look slightly imposing in the box finally.

- We don’t run off the pitch at half time to prove how fit we are, instead we’re still chasing down in the 90th minute.

Obviously always glass half full after a win, but there are just so many little signs that we’re a different beast this year and it’ll be exciting to watch!

Monday morning thoughts

There was some overreaction to the Stockport defeat when we played really well and, 9 times out of 10, would have won that gamer comfortably. I'd have been far more concerned as a Stockport fan after that game!

Equally, probably a bit of overreaction to Saturdays win. It was business like, professional and organised. The wingers clearly are our threat this season. Personally preferred the Stockport performance but the Plymouth result.

Probably seen enough from 2 games to say we will be top 6 or so. How much further we are will be clearer in a couple of months i think.

Biggest risks this season will be injuries to ACD or TSL, as neither easy to replace.

Burstow looks good, Gale looks raw but room to improve, Tutu 'can' do a job but needs a firework lighting up his arse about 10 mins before kick off each week, Conway lots of promise. 

Big fan of Sheehan but didn't quite see it myself on Saturday, and same with Randall. I want him to do well, but felt the game drifted around him a lot.

Had man flu all weekend so will add that disclaimer to my observations. Probably wasn't at my most tuned in.

 

3 minutes ago, Eddie said:

One of the many (but possibly the best) examples of how much we’ve changed over summer. Sat there absolutely buzzing that the robust and dynamic whites seem to be exactly that.

Random things that put a massive smile on my face, in no particular order:

- TSL falling to the ground when catching a ball / hanging on the cross bar when they put one miles over. He’s got massive confidence - yet to see him save a shot but it did just remind me of Trafford.

- TSL playing 3 of the best passes I’ve seen us play in years. 1st half, left foot (which I think is his wrong foot) out to ACD; 2nd half (best of them all), ball coming across his body and he zinged one again to ACD on the right touch line, right into his stride; 3rd to set up the 2nd goal.

- Simons smashing players, not wanting to show injury, and his shaved head. There was a moment in the first half where we got a free kick near the half way line, their player held the ball whilst he walked backwards, Sheehan stood with his arms out as if to plead for the naughty man to give it back to us, Simons just comes steaming in behind him to demand it and the lad threw it to him straight away.

- Burstow winning headers and us having lads around him. Also just general hold up play - 1st half he had one launched up to him near the West Stand defenders all over him, he took it down, held 2 off, waited for ACD to get round him and played it to him. Seems simple but we’ve not been able to do that for years.

- 2 fast wingers and our willingness to just play a high early ball over their full backs and watch them shit themselves. Pace in the team seems like such a luxury (Randall is also deceptively quick!)

- A few occasions where a big block, or a big tackle on their winger which resulted in a goal kick was celebrated by a few of them almost like a goal.

- Toal. Just looks confident, on the ball and defensively. Might be the captaincy, might be the new set up with an actual midfield in front of him (and it’s only 1 game) but he seemed like his old self.

- Corners - we actual look slightly imposing in the box finally.

- We don’t run off the pitch at half time to prove how fit we are, instead we’re still chasing down in the 90th minute.

Obviously always glass half full after a win, but there are just so many little signs that we’re a different beast this year and it’ll be exciting to watch!

Inject this in to my veins.

10 minutes ago, Eddie said:

One of the many (but possibly the best) examples of how much we’ve changed over summer. Sat there absolutely buzzing that the robust and dynamic whites seem to be exactly that.

Random things that put a massive smile on my face, in no particular order:

- TSL falling to the ground when catching a ball / hanging on the cross bar when they put one miles over. He’s got massive confidence - yet to see him save a shot but it did just remind me of Trafford.

- TSL playing 3 of the best passes I’ve seen us play in years. 1st half, left foot (which I think is his wrong foot) out to ACD; 2nd half (best of them all), ball coming across his body and he zinged one again to ACD on the right touch line, right into his stride; 3rd to set up the 2nd goal.

- Simons smashing players, not wanting to show injury, and his shaved head. There was a moment in the first half where we got a free kick near the half way line, their player held the ball whilst he walked backwards, Sheehan stood with his arms out as if to plead for the naughty man to give it back to us, Simons just comes steaming in behind him to demand it and the lad threw it to him straight away.

- Burstow winning headers and us having lads around him. Also just general hold up play - 1st half he had one launched up to him near the West Stand defenders all over him, he took it down, held 2 off, waited for ACD to get round him and played it to him. Seems simple but we’ve not been able to do that for years.

- 2 fast wingers and our willingness to just play a high early ball over their full backs and watch them shit themselves. Pace in the team seems like such a luxury (Randall is also deceptively quick!)

- A few occasions where a big block, or a big tackle on their winger which resulted in a goal kick was celebrated by a few of them almost like a goal.

- Toal. Just looks confident, on the ball and defensively. Might be the captaincy, might be the new set up with an actual midfield in front of him (and it’s only 1 game) but he seemed like his old self.

- Corners - we actual look slightly imposing in the box finally.

- We don’t run off the pitch at half time to prove how fit we are, instead we’re still chasing down in the 90th minute.

Obviously always glass half full after a win, but there are just so many little signs that we’re a different beast this year and it’ll be exciting to watch!

Great post, was a pleasure to watch on Saturday, long may it continue.

13 hours ago, Stig said:

Nonsense. It's not a cancel culture thing - if he put a proper tackle/challenge in at any point he'd stop the negative reviews. It's that simple 

Yeah not sure they know what cancel culture means, just repeating words they've heard other use.

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

One of the many (but possibly the best) examples of how much we’ve changed over summer. Sat there absolutely buzzing that the robust and dynamic whites seem to be exactly that.

Random things that put a massive smile on my face, in no particular order:

- TSL falling to the ground when catching a ball / hanging on the cross bar when they put one miles over. He’s got massive confidence - yet to see him save a shot but it did just remind me of Trafford.

- TSL playing 3 of the best passes I’ve seen us play in years. 1st half, left foot (which I think is his wrong foot) out to ACD; 2nd half (best of them all), ball coming across his body and he zinged one again to ACD on the right touch line, right into his stride; 3rd to set up the 2nd goal.

- Simons smashing players, not wanting to show injury, and his shaved head. There was a moment in the first half where we got a free kick near the half way line, their player held the ball whilst he walked backwards, Sheehan stood with his arms out as if to plead for the naughty man to give it back to us, Simons just comes steaming in behind him to demand it and the lad threw it to him straight away.

- Burstow winning headers and us having lads around him. Also just general hold up play - 1st half he had one launched up to him near the West Stand defenders all over him, he took it down, held 2 off, waited for ACD to get round him and played it to him. Seems simple but we’ve not been able to do that for years.

- 2 fast wingers and our willingness to just play a high early ball over their full backs and watch them shit themselves. Pace in the team seems like such a luxury (Randall is also deceptively quick!)

- A few occasions where a big block, or a big tackle on their winger which resulted in a goal kick was celebrated by a few of them almost like a goal.

- Toal. Just looks confident, on the ball and defensively. Might be the captaincy, might be the new set up with an actual midfield in front of him (and it’s only 1 game) but he seemed like his old self.

- Corners - we actual look slightly imposing in the box finally.

- We don’t run off the pitch at half time to prove how fit we are, instead we’re still chasing down in the 90th minute.

Obviously always glass half full after a win, but there are just so many little signs that we’re a different beast this year and it’ll be exciting to watch!

Yep. good post & agreed on all points, I also noticed & liked it when Simons got clattered & was clearly hurt, there was no crying or rolling about but he just got on with it.  I'd also add that we've still got Dalby, Erhahon & Taylor to come.

Against all that, i'm trying not to get carried away, Plymouth could have been hand picked , soft opposition on a nice day. Let's see how we go on when we're a goal down, the wingers have been kicked out of the game & our thickets are shouting abuse at that week's scapegoat.

Barnsley will be a bigger test.

 

3 minutes ago, bolton va va said:

Against all that, i'm trying not to get carried away, Plymouth could have been hand picked , soft opposition on a nice day. Let's see how we go on when we're a goal down, the wingers have been kicked out of the game & our thickets are shouting abuse at that week's scapegoat.

Barnsley will be a bigger test.

 

Yeah, this

Argyle look like they could be in danger of going down again to me

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

One of the many (but possibly the best) examples of how much we’ve changed over summer. Sat there absolutely buzzing that the robust and dynamic whites seem to be exactly that.

Random things that put a massive smile on my face, in no particular order:

- TSL falling to the ground when catching a ball / hanging on the cross bar when they put one miles over. He’s got massive confidence - yet to see him save a shot but it did just remind me of Trafford.

- TSL playing 3 of the best passes I’ve seen us play in years. 1st half, left foot (which I think is his wrong foot) out to ACD; 2nd half (best of them all), ball coming across his body and he zinged one again to ACD on the right touch line, right into his stride; 3rd to set up the 2nd goal.

- Simons smashing players, not wanting to show injury, and his shaved head. There was a moment in the first half where we got a free kick near the half way line, their player held the ball whilst he walked backwards, Sheehan stood with his arms out as if to plead for the naughty man to give it back to us, Simons just comes steaming in behind him to demand it and the lad threw it to him straight away.

- Burstow winning headers and us having lads around him. Also just general hold up play - 1st half he had one launched up to him near the West Stand defenders all over him, he took it down, held 2 off, waited for ACD to get round him and played it to him. Seems simple but we’ve not been able to do that for years.

- 2 fast wingers and our willingness to just play a high early ball over their full backs and watch them shit themselves. Pace in the team seems like such a luxury (Randall is also deceptively quick!)

- A few occasions where a big block, or a big tackle on their winger which resulted in a goal kick was celebrated by a few of them almost like a goal.

- Toal. Just looks confident, on the ball and defensively. Might be the captaincy, might be the new set up with an actual midfield in front of him (and it’s only 1 game) but he seemed like his old self.

- Corners - we actual look slightly imposing in the box finally.

- We don’t run off the pitch at half time to prove how fit we are, instead we’re still chasing down in the 90th minute.

Obviously always glass half full after a win, but there are just so many little signs that we’re a different beast this year and it’ll be exciting to watch!

Great Post @Eddie. spot on IMO

On 09/08/2025 at 23:15, matty2094 said:

Couple of our chances shown here. Should've/could've had a few more looking at this really - only negative if I'm clutching at straws. Good performance!

This vid gives a view of Burstow's movement for the goal. Looked as though he feigned to go back post and then cut across to the near and within about a second hand a clear 5 yards of space about 8 yards out. Great movement 

On 10/08/2025 at 17:05, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Yes, but he's not currently good enough

Based on?

1 minute ago, Ratwhite said:

Based on?

His performances in pre-season and the fact he's not been allocated a squad number

Does he need to be allocated one, given his age?

11 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Does he need to be allocated one, given his age?

He'd need to be allocated one before he could play

We could allocate him a squad number at any time but the point is if he was thought of as part of the first team squad, he'd have been allocated one

SSA has one, Inwood has one, Lawrence and Abimbola don't

Fair enough. 

Perhaps setting them up for a loan then.

7 hours ago, Eddie said:

One of the many (but possibly the best) examples of how much we’ve changed over summer. Sat there absolutely buzzing that the robust and dynamic whites seem to be exactly that.

Random things that put a massive smile on my face, in no particular order:

- TSL falling to the ground when catching a ball / hanging on the cross bar when they put one miles over. He’s got massive confidence - yet to see him save a shot but it did just remind me of Trafford.

- TSL playing 3 of the best passes I’ve seen us play in years. 1st half, left foot (which I think is his wrong foot) out to ACD; 2nd half (best of them all), ball coming across his body and he zinged one again to ACD on the right touch line, right into his stride; 3rd to set up the 2nd goal.

- Simons smashing players, not wanting to show injury, and his shaved head. There was a moment in the first half where we got a free kick near the half way line, their player held the ball whilst he walked backwards, Sheehan stood with his arms out as if to plead for the naughty man to give it back to us, Simons just comes steaming in behind him to demand it and the lad threw it to him straight away.

- Burstow winning headers and us having lads around him. Also just general hold up play - 1st half he had one launched up to him near the West Stand defenders all over him, he took it down, held 2 off, waited for ACD to get round him and played it to him. Seems simple but we’ve not been able to do that for years.

- 2 fast wingers and our willingness to just play a high early ball over their full backs and watch them shit themselves. Pace in the team seems like such a luxury (Randall is also deceptively quick!)

- A few occasions where a big block, or a big tackle on their winger which resulted in a goal kick was celebrated by a few of them almost like a goal.

- Toal. Just looks confident, on the ball and defensively. Might be the captaincy, might be the new set up with an actual midfield in front of him (and it’s only 1 game) but he seemed like his old self.

- Corners - we actual look slightly imposing in the box finally.

- We don’t run off the pitch at half time to prove how fit we are, instead we’re still chasing down in the 90th minute.

Obviously always glass half full after a win, but there are just so many little signs that we’re a different beast this year and it’ll be exciting to watch!

Agreed. Re Toal - it's what happens when defenders are told their priority is defending and things are simplified right down for them.

7 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

Yeah, this

Argyle look like they could be in danger of going down again to me

I think you're underestimating how poor some of the other teams are.  Think about how bad we were last season, and how many games we still managed to win.

If Argyle are in the bottom half beyond Christmas I'll......be very surprised.

2 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I think you're underestimating how poor some of the other teams are.  Think about how bad we were last season, and how many games we still managed to win.

If Argyle are in the bottom half beyond Christmas I'll......be very surprised.

I mean it in the sense that they seem to be in a bit of a freefall

There seems to be quite a bit of discontent towards the board, they've just been relegated and have lost their first two matches, they have a young manager with only one season's experience and he's already publicly asking for everyone to do an internal reflection of themselves

It's likely they won't get relegated but it's not inconceivable they continue to spiral

 

7 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I mean it in the sense that they seem to be in a bit of a freefall

There seems to be quite a bit of discontent towards the board, they've just been relegated and have lost their first two matches, they have a young manager with only one season's experience and he's already publicly asking for everyone to do an internal reflection of themselves

It's likely they won't get relegated but it's not inconceivable they continue to spiral

 

The chairman has come out and says we will be run sustainably, which shouldn’t be an issue given transfer income last season, but there is suspicion (I don’t see it) that funds are being diverted to new 20M academy project.

As I said before the game injuries have totally messed up our defence already. Palsson should be nowhere near a back 4 at CB , Suchz and Galloway are ok but out of position and god knows how we have got a keeper with an Alice band waiting on Hazard to get fit. Problem being the four defenders injured are not showing any signs of improvement 

we have made offers in excess of a million for new striker desperately needed to give threat to push teams back.

In short 15/2 for relegation is a good bet if we don’t succeed in transfer market in next three weeks or chairman drops his stance that loans offer no value as should be developing our own players. Did you notice first two subs were 18 and 17 ?

There has been a change towards the youth development here too. 

Obviously, they can't ignore the current first team, but I suspect we'll see more clubs looking at the sustainable model.

Yes, having a sugar daddy will provide a boon, but it can put a club on collision course with reality.

2 hours ago, green genie said:

The chairman has come out and says we will be run sustainably, which shouldn’t be an issue given transfer income last season, but there is suspicion (I don’t see it) that funds are being diverted to new 20M academy project.

As I said before the game injuries have totally messed up our defence already. Palsson should be nowhere near a back 4 at CB , Suchz and Galloway are ok but out of position and god knows how we have got a keeper with an Alice band waiting on Hazard to get fit. Problem being the four defenders injured are not showing any signs of improvement 

we have made offers in excess of a million for new striker desperately needed to give threat to push teams back.

In short 15/2 for relegation is a good bet if we don’t succeed in transfer market in next three weeks or chairman drops his stance that loans offer no value as should be developing our own players. Did you notice first two subs were 18 and 17 ?

You have played us and Barnsley who are regular top half teams in this league. Play offs 2 of last 3 seasons.

There will be plenty of teams worse than you this year. The concern would be the Evatt like playing around at the back, especiallly late on when you need a goal but it seems every defender has to have a touch too.

Pre season I was worried how we would progress up the pitch, but the quick wingers mean we can break as per 2nd goal Saturday. Ironically this means teams can not go full press so it is easier to play out from the back. 

7 minutes ago, Ani said:

The concern would be the Evatt like playing around at the back, especiallly late on when you need a goal but it seems every defender has to have a touch too.

I will remain scarred by that for years.

Losing a game, 10m, 5m, 1m to go or even in added time ... & we're strolling about passing it sideways & backward with no sense of urgency.