Disappointing to lose our first game of the season in only our second match but it looked a struggle from the off given we were forced to play Josh Magennis who was either still carrying a knock or, at best, just over one.
We seemed to start brightly in front of 990 travelling Addicts but after failing to take any early chances, Argyle came more strongly into the match and didn't look back after taking an early second-half lead. Their late second on the break finished us off.
Karl Robinson has been very upbeat of late and has said how pleased he is with our squad. This is a team who will fight to the death and run through brick walls etc. We continue to be linked with any available lower league strikers and it's pretty obvious we are in desperate need. The embarrassing Tony Watt situation finally played out earlier today with him moving to Belgian club Leuven. Final proof, if anyone was left in any doubt, that he hasn't been wanted at this club for a very long time. Robinson wasn't overly keen when he came back from his latst underwhelming loan at Blackburn and promised to make him cry or some other nonsense by working him so hard. The fact that he featured last week, albeit as a second-half sub, and once again angered the Valley faithful with another lazy, couldn't-care-less showing, showed just how thin we are upfront. The fact Robinson had to call on him showed we were scraping the barrel again. We have to hope Watt will stay at Leuven until his contract at the Valley is finished and we are spared anymore of his 'I am ready this time' nonsense.
Lee Novak isn't the answer and I haven't seen Billy Clarke but he's hardly prolific and at the other end of his career from Karlan Ahearne-Grant. KAG is apparently looking more like the hungry youngster who broke onto the scene with pace and confidence. However, it's asking too much to expect him to contribute the sort if number of goals you need from a second striker to sustain a promotion challenge. If Robinson is serious about this season he needs one but probably two strikers to provide the support and cover we need upfront. He has been linked this week with Matt Godden but Stevenage are obviously leveraging their position asking for £1.5m which looks way beyond what Duchatelet will support. We probably need to find someone who will play for all or at least part of Watt's wages.
Northampton come to the Valley next week where we need a Josh Magennis firing on all cylinders. Better still, Robinson needs some support in the market. Otherwise we risk doing what we have done in each of the last three years under Duchatelet and calling out glaring squad weaknesses until it's too late and another season is squandered.
We seemed to start brightly in front of 990 travelling Addicts but after failing to take any early chances, Argyle came more strongly into the match and didn't look back after taking an early second-half lead. Their late second on the break finished us off.
Karl Robinson has been very upbeat of late and has said how pleased he is with our squad. This is a team who will fight to the death and run through brick walls etc. We continue to be linked with any available lower league strikers and it's pretty obvious we are in desperate need. The embarrassing Tony Watt situation finally played out earlier today with him moving to Belgian club Leuven. Final proof, if anyone was left in any doubt, that he hasn't been wanted at this club for a very long time. Robinson wasn't overly keen when he came back from his latst underwhelming loan at Blackburn and promised to make him cry or some other nonsense by working him so hard. The fact that he featured last week, albeit as a second-half sub, and once again angered the Valley faithful with another lazy, couldn't-care-less showing, showed just how thin we are upfront. The fact Robinson had to call on him showed we were scraping the barrel again. We have to hope Watt will stay at Leuven until his contract at the Valley is finished and we are spared anymore of his 'I am ready this time' nonsense.
Lee Novak isn't the answer and I haven't seen Billy Clarke but he's hardly prolific and at the other end of his career from Karlan Ahearne-Grant. KAG is apparently looking more like the hungry youngster who broke onto the scene with pace and confidence. However, it's asking too much to expect him to contribute the sort if number of goals you need from a second striker to sustain a promotion challenge. If Robinson is serious about this season he needs one but probably two strikers to provide the support and cover we need upfront. He has been linked this week with Matt Godden but Stevenage are obviously leveraging their position asking for £1.5m which looks way beyond what Duchatelet will support. We probably need to find someone who will play for all or at least part of Watt's wages.
Northampton come to the Valley next week where we need a Josh Magennis firing on all cylinders. Better still, Robinson needs some support in the market. Otherwise we risk doing what we have done in each of the last three years under Duchatelet and calling out glaring squad weaknesses until it's too late and another season is squandered.
Let's hope that the will to keep Holmes and sign Reeves and Marshall brings us a proper forward,I won't hold my breath though.
ReplyDeleteIts been obvious since Karl arrived that we need another striker capable of playing lone striker as that is his preferred option. And here we are 9 months later....
ReplyDeletePembury Addick