Pilgrim's Progress
The beginning...
Forum Discussion
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Limbo for Argyle Loanees?
L-R Azaz, Kesler-Hayden, Cundle and Warrington are in limbo?
The transfer activity at Argyle since Manager Bobby Stones was appointed leaves the question of what is going to happen to the loanees?
Before he left for Hull City, Steve Schumacher had secured the season-long loans of four players. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (21) a left-back, and Finn Azaz (23) a right midfielder, both from Aston Villa, together with Luke Cundle (21) a midfielder from Wolves and Lewis Warrington (21) a CDM from Everton. With the incomings secured by Stones, there is a question mark as to how much playing time any of these players will get. So far, we have seen Kesler-Hayden start and complete most matches, and Azaz feature several times from the bench, but little has been seen of the other two. Left-back is seen as a problem area for the club and Stones has not brought in any new players at that position, which probably explains Kesler-Hayden’s often-used experience to date.
When asked about their circumstances, Stones said “our loanees will need to fight for their place, just as every other player does. This is a meritocracy, after all.”
When it was suggested to him that limited playing time might lead to recalls in January, Stones was not fazed. “If that happens, so be it. We are here to drive Plymouth forwards and we will do what’s best for the club, long-term.
“I am certain these players will get game time. The Championship is very resource-hungry and we will need everyone, but I pick the side that I think will win us the match, and keep everyone fresh and not over-worked.”
It remains to be seen what will happen, and how the big sides thse players are from will react.
Massive win at the Stadium of Light. Well done, especially after the defeat at Rotherham.
I'm curious though - you say the cup win vs Burnley is 'historic'. How?
- @JustinCase0110
Well, it's not every day that a club like Plymouth gets to beat a premier league side...that's why 'the Press' (in this story) called it 'historic'. It's been a very long time since they beat anyone from the top division, if ever, in fact.
The Sunderland game was weird in that Sunderland were rubbish, which was quite a contrast with the experience against Rotherham, who were infuriatingly brilliant. I was lucky that the Rotherham match was only 2-1.
I can't understand how the game fluctuates so much at times. Meanwhile, Plymouth have agreed to sell central midfielder Matt Butcher to Arouca. The 26-year-old will move in January for a reported fee of £800,000.
Surprise leaders to some perhaps. The amount of free agents you brought in, I must admit that your current position isn't surprising to me. Good job winning 10 from 12.
- @JustinCase0110
The squad at Plymouth was really poor for the Championship. Quite a few players were quite old in football terms and therefore not likely to improve. The squad therefore needed to change to get anywhere. There is not much money available, so inevitably the free transfer market was the only way to go.
In real life, following their promotion from League 1 at the end of last season, Plymouth brought in 10 players. 4 were the loanees I have already talked about, two were bought for £1 million each, one for £175,000 and the other three were free.
On top of that, they promoted 4 players from the academy into the first-team squad.
Shoestring squad management; it's what happens in those divisions. Leicester City’s Stephy Mavididi leads the Championship scoring chart at the end of October, with 12 goals. The ever-present striker, a summer signing following the club’s relegation, is proving a shrewd buy, as last season’s shock relegation sufferers attempt to get back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
The best goal-to-games ratio, however, belongs to Plymouth’s Ryan Hardie, with 9 goals in as many games. The hat-trick against Preston obviously helped and keeps him at the top of Plymouth’s Championship scoring chart. Hardie’s value to the club is further underlined by the fact that he shares first place in the Championship assists table with his team-mate, Luis Chavez and Stoke City’s summer signing Wesley Moraes. In total, Hardie has 14 goal involvements in the Championship, which is impressive from the 9 matches he has played.
Plymouth players dominate the assists table, with no less than 5 players in the top 15, indicating the expansive attacking football they play and underlining how dangerous the side has become going forwards, when so many players create chances.
