Hello friends and welcome back to another chapter in my Plymouth story which in this update will see us begin the season in League One. Before I begin here’s a look at Plymouth’s basic 22 players for this campaign with the back up players on the second line of each position.
August 2012
We started the season off as strong underdogs away to Stevenage though were playing like favorites for the first thirty minutes which saw Lecointe grab the opening goal off a breakaway run and square ball by Eccleston. In similar fashion the Liverpool loanee ran through the heart of the Stevenage defence to create an easy tap in for skipper Carl Fletcher. The home side pulled one back after the restart but Eccleston’s pace again was telling as he produced goal number three for right winger Luke Daley in the same way as the previous two for an opening day victory.
The following Tuesday saw us take on Colchester at Home Park in the first round of the League Cup. We were totally outplayed but somehow won on the night thanks to two powerful headers by Jamie Richards and playing the last 18 minutes with just 10 men. As an aside I managed to “anger” Eccleston in my half time talk so I’m wondering where that will lead?
Richards turned from hero to villain heading into his own net to give Carlisle the lead in our first home league game of the season. Carlisle added a second, catching us the break as we searched for the equalizer before half time. American Mike Pelosi neatly placed the ball past the Carlisle keeper in the 55th minute to stage the fight-back but we seemed to have little or no desire to win the game and so we tasted defeat in a game we should have easily won.
Kudus Oyenuga missed twice in the opening five minutes before we fell behind to Wycombe who took the lead through a spectacular 30 yard strike by Dean Bodwitch. He would go on to complete his hat-trick as we were soundly beaten and looked totally out of our depth as we continued toward to wrong end of the table.
It was a complete reversal as we took on Colchester for the second time this month and again at Home Park. Nathan Eccleston acquired his first goal of the season after 16 minutes with a low drive into the left corner of the net finishing off a through ball by Walton. This activated a 14 minute spell off dominance which saw Matt Lecointe score twice in the space of five minutes leaving the game effectively over after half an hour.
The final game of the month was again at home and I sent out all my youngsters to face Portsmouth in the second round of the League Cup. The first forty-five they played magnificently with 16 year old Booby Ponton opening the scoring after just 11 minutes with a cracking shot into the top corner of the net. Even after the interval we continued to dominate until Portsmouth equalized from a free kick in which two players looked very much offside but the goal stood. As the pendulum swung in their favor we held on until extra time but eventually capitulated due to fatigue and Jordan Pearce’s sending off though it was a brilliant effort all around.
So after the first month we had been eliminated from the League Cup and mid table in the League.
The Ricoh Arena provided the venue for our first game of the month in which neither ourselves or Coventry demonstrated a will to win the game and predictably it ended in a uninspiring 1-1 draw.
The next game was at home to Oxford in the 1st round of the JPT which saw us cruise to a comfortable 2-0 win thanks to a brace by Soukouna off two Booby Ponton corner kicks.
The speed of Brentford’s Fabian Brandy almost ruined our Saturday afternoon which saw Eccleston give us the lead on the half hour with a delicate side footed goal that Brandy cancelled out in the 57th minute. Eccleston, not to be upstaged lobbed the Brentford keeper right from the kick off which turned out to be the winning goal.
Next up was away to Rochdale and we got off to a terrific start with Lacointe netting the ball after just three minutes from a Bhasera cross. The home side were back on level terms almost immediately as Soukouna got caught flat footed and it was 1-1 just like that. In what was to be an exhilarating opening twenty minutes Soukouna headed us back in front from a Walton corner after which Bhasera supplied another cross for defender Colin Watson to score his first ever goal for Plymouth. Bhasera completed his hat-trick of assists just before half time to set up Luke Daley for goal number four. The second period was far less entertaining with no further goals to speak but we had satisfaction from a good victory on the road
Following that very nice away win we had two important games against early promotion candidates in Orient and Tranmere both of which turned into disastrous outings for us. We lost away to Orient by a single goal, creating hardly anything in the final third and then produced a mirror like performance at home to Tranmere but in that game managed to concede two goals. As we played with full strength teams in both games we just may not be competitive enough to push for a play off spot.
I felt we needed to finish the month off strongly and we did just that with a tidy 3-1 win at home to Gillingham. Two goals in two minutes by Eccelston got us off to a delightful start and a powerful effort by Bhasera created and own goal just after the hour mark for a valuable three points.
Full Results:
Not too bad to begin with and hopefully over the next couple of months will produce less of those red cirlcles.
League Table:
There’s a bit of a gap between us and the leaders Exeter but we find ourselves just a point out of the play-offs though there’s a long way to go yet.
Fixtures:
We start next month away to second place Millwall which I feel we need to come away from with at least a point to show some competitiveness. There’s also a chance to get revenge over Wycombe in the JPT.
Super Seven’s:
It’s the defenders for the most part who are featured here thouhg Eccleston has gotten off to a decent start. I was expecting to see 16 year old Billy Ponton in this group but so far the kid from Hearts has failed to live up to his attributes.
That’s it for this post, so thanks for reading and see you next time!
Stromson
23 ноября, 2011 at 00:46
Hey Kevin!
1) This is totally going to be our thing now.
2) That’s a pretty awesome little tactical graphic you whipped up there, +1. ;-)
3) I’d consider a 5-1-4 start and a 7th place position a pretty awesome start for a newly promoted side! Hopefully some of the League One jitters will pass, and I see you settling in quite nicely.
4) I must have missed this somewhere along the line, but what happened to Ansah?
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:14
Hey Stromson
1. Right on — lets keep it going until we run out of ideas and are done to one bullet point
2. Thanks, just did it in Excel which I seem to use ALL day long :(
3. I would be happy to sit around there for the season. I don’t think we are good enough for anything better.
4. Asante? He wouldn’t come back. Such a knuckle head
Darren Smith
23 ноября, 2011 at 07:49
Well considering you just got promotion I think that is a good start, some inconsistent form but you are winning matches amidst those loses and can hopefully pick up speed from here, well done.
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:15
Hi Darren
It is quite a pleasing start though I do need a bit more effort from some of my loan signings I feel.
Laxeyman
23 ноября, 2011 at 08:56
Pretty good start Kevin, a few losses but some excellent wins and you’re in a promising position already :) If you can turn a few of those losses into draws then you’ll be right up there soon I’m sure. Good luck!
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:18
Hi Laxeyman
Some of those losses were a bit tough to take but on reflection not a bad start for a promoted team. I feel this version of FM is in fact a little tougher?
CsAtlantis
23 ноября, 2011 at 09:30
A fine start to the season Kevin, you are performing above expectations, keep this up and a playoff spot should be easy to get, just need to reduce those red cards, good luck for the rest of the season
Eccleston is dominating the league……..amazing at this level of competition
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:20
Hi CsAtlantis
Very pleased with Eccleston so far and I feel his performance will be key to any promtion hopes.
Lye
23 ноября, 2011 at 09:35
Hi Kevin,
I guess that’s not too bad sitting on 8th position. Improvement will be needed if you are to challenge for a promotion spot. So far the results are pretty inconsistent but i believe you will settle down with some good wins. Good luck.
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:21
Hello Lye
Some of the results have been disappointing and a godd solid run is defimitely needed to be competitive. Some of my loan players have been under-performing I feel
Johnny Karp
23 ноября, 2011 at 09:47
That’s a good start in my view, playing in a new league is always difficult at the start of the season and I think you passed that test with flying colors. The team should play better and better at this point so a play-off spot is definitely on the cards, if not even more ;) Good luck!
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:24
Thanks Johnny
I thought it was a pretty decent start myself but if I can get my loan strikers to be more involved a good solid run could definitely happen
Luke Robinson
23 ноября, 2011 at 10:17
Good to see my home town climbing the leagues unlike real life where we are just plummitting! Typical our biggest rivals Exeter are top though! :(
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:35
|Hi Luke
Greetings from Canada and thanks for leaving a comment. I wasn’t too pleased to see Exeter on top either but I’m happy I’m able to bring you some pleasing news for your favorite team. I hope they avoid going into the BSP in real life.
ravenie
23 ноября, 2011 at 10:39
After seeing this story I decided to try with Argyle and with Darrens tactic got promoted very easily. I found that in the 2nd season players were less willing to come join so the squad is very much depleted and Curtis Nelson has also left. I had to switch to Darren’s Stoke tactic after 7 consecutive losses although we were playing very well the match engine was predictable and every 1st shot on target the opposition had was a goal. Emile Sinclair and Aiden O’Brien the only 2 strikers who would come to me after Asante had a stellar season in League 2, just outside relegation after the poor spell with things looking up. Good luck to you Kevin your stories always fascinate me.
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:27
Hey ravenie!!!
Thanks for leaving a comment and I»m delighted you are doing an Argyle story too. I was very tempted to use Darren’s tactic but decided to try my old Wrexham one again :)
I had a very hard time with strikers too and was gutted when Asante wouldn’t come back. I hope things pick up for you as Plymouth is a very difficult team to manage. Glad you like my stories and keep following along.
vaibhavc
23 ноября, 2011 at 12:28
Not bad at all Kevin, everything is good except for a few losses but that is expected. Too bad that Ponton isn’t doing great though. And nice up-coming fixtures, it sure does help to see the table again lol.
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 00:36
Hi vaibhavc
Ponton has been a disappointment to say the least. Hopefully he and a few others will improve.
TheZiggy
24 ноября, 2011 at 14:13
To be sitting in 8th position is a good start to the season. Hopefully those players that are not doing too well, are just struggling to settle in, and will begin to play better very soon. It should just be a matter of time, and some encouragement.
As for Ponton, who you refer to as Booby Ponton at one point, which made me laugh, it might be that he’s struggling to cope with the expectations at such a young age. He might be a player who sometimes, you need to tell after a match where he’s not played well, that’s he just been unlucky.
Kevin
24 ноября, 2011 at 21:29
LOL
I didn’t catch that name error..whoops :)
I’m quite happy with where we are at especially as the team is still very young. Thanks for the tip on Ponton — I’ll give that a try.
TheZiggy
25 ноября, 2011 at 00:57
I eventually finished my first season Torquay, and after throwing away a whole bunch of points in the last two months, I ended up with exactly 105 points, as you did. :D
Complacency took over, and just into injury time in the very last match, we conceded a goal which meant we got a draw. Almost like it was destiny.
Ana Garcia
26 ноября, 2011 at 11:16
Very good start considering you were just promoted.
Tough to say where you might finish but at the moment you are looking up rather than down which is a good thing so maybe you could finish in the playoff’s.
Of course it could all go wrong!
But am sure that wont happen so the best of luck!! :)