I didn't watch a second of the game or listen to commentary but I can say with confidence, that we'd have lost that last season, though we were denied a stonewall penalty for a stranglehold on Healey. We go again.
I agree with you about Chakvetadze's strengths, but for me he is nowhere near Kayembe's quality, even if Kayembe is very one footed.
VI's subs today were mind-boggingly stupid. Kayembe was the stand-out performer first half and Kone (after a slow start when his passing was erratic) came into the game strongly, similarly Chak looked good as he and Kone combined early second half and then Andrews got to grips with the game in an attacking sense and VI just needed to provide some defensive support on our right as he attacked. I just wonder if VI was under pressure from Kayembe himself or DR Congo to only play him for a half. Probably won't be told if that was so. Kone had to stay on as his shooting in conditions like today would be lethal. Can understand Chak running out of steam but perhaps subbed a bit too early. As others have said withdrawing Andrews for Louza killed any building momentum. Asprilla was a positive too. We could have attacked that Plymouth defence with a fluid, passing overloaded midfield and no out and out strikers. Sounds odd but perhaps that might have given us more. Raj should have been withdrawn at HT. His involvement was actually counter productive as his control of a pass was non-existent even when set up a few metres from goal. Martins had a lazy involvement throughout, peripheral and not playing for the team. We have finally found a potent midfield that can shoot accurately from distance but forwards that can't from any distance. In my view VI failed to assess the conditions to maximise our chances. Most of the top 5 in the Championship would have had a field day against that Plymouth defence and would have put them to the sword. The centre of our defence was a car crash. Hoedt generally did well although 3rd goal wasn't his best effort but Porteous was all over the shop, poor decision-making (second goal?) when leaping in to intercept rather than jockey a player on the touchline to give the defence time to re-group. He plays every tackle like a brainless Braveheart. I cannot fathom why his brain regularly switches off. Is this a new Scottish AI variation, the AD model = Artificial Daftness. By the way cracking match but ultimately frustrating for us Orns and why we'll fall probably short this year. I think VI has done some great work to construct our likeable and functioning team but I think some tricks missed today.
Even viewing it for the first time, from the ref's angle more or less, it looked a pen. Replays showed he clearly held him off with an arm across the throat and even pushed him backwards.
Yes, indeed. But, if I recollect properly, It was he who over-elaborated in midfield so that he could be robbed - and Argyle scored their first and second goals as a result. He is an extremely promising player but he has a fair bit to learn.
We could make the playoffs, and strange things can happen, but I do not think we have the capacity to be the best of the four playoff teams, in the unlikely event that we pinched 6th place. We replace Rajovic with a better player in January and maybe I’ll change my view.
It was sublime. Frustrating that he attempted to pass to Rajovic when he was through on goal with a clear attempt for himself.
I should have added to my post above that Livermore was absolutely immense today, given he was playing on a soft booking and running on empty from around 65 mins and bossing the defensive midfield regardless. A captain's performance from a non-captain and one of the very best to keep us in the game. Utterly brilliant.
The shots one is incredible but I have to say the offside one isn't so much. Just after we scored our first, a Plymouth forward was allowed to continue into our penalty area from a position miles offside which fortunately came to nothing. I mentioned on Shoutbox that the first throw-in decision of the match by the linesman/asst ref which should have gone to us was given to Plymouth. We were just complaining to him when Plymouth took the throw. As the ball was already back in play the lino then flagged for a Watford throw which the ref chose to ignore he probably had to by then! I imagine Bobby Madley then chose to make all the decisions from then onwards including the non-award of the penalty on Healey in the second half as consulting colleagues has never been his thing given his supreme arrogance which of course cost him a few years back!!
Just got home to my warm Somerset abode. I have not been colder and wetter than that for a while. We seemed determined to continually shoot ourself in the foot, Hamer, Porteous and Hoedt giving the ball back to Plymouth in the first half was so frustrating. Neither Hoedt or Porteous decided to do any marking whatsoever in the first 45. Their striker was in acres of space sprinting away from a leggy Livermore. Going forward we were dynamic and entertaining, defensively we were shocking and still somehow entertaining. Andrew’s standout today for me, Kone also excellent in the second half and a great goal. Chalvetadze in the second half was excellent. We lost our impetus when those three went off. Hamer some great saves at the end to get us a point, but his distribution was diabolical.
Agreed. One moment I recall is I think he got a bit of a hospital pass (from Potrteous?), with 2 players on him. At which point he calmly brought the ball under control and distributed out wide to start an attack.
Neither side's defending was any good, to be fair. And I suppose you could say there was some good finishing, too.
Agreed and whilst he's capable of making the odd mistale, he's 10x the player we saw at the start of the season.
The club needs to sign a centre forward, then again most clubs will be looking for a goalscorer in the January transfer window. As for Rajovic, you can't say that he doesn't try, but he is just not at the races. Not sure he ever will be. He doesn't dominate in the air He cannot shield the ball very well. He is very slow. Doesn't react quick enough or see the play . Worst of all, he doesn't want to get hurt. For a big guy, he doesn't like the contact. This criticism was levelled at him in Sweden. Today at Plymouth, he bottled two challenges with the keeper. It looked like Plymouth would score every time they attacked. Entertaining game, odd substitutions , great support in horrendous conditions to travel in. Oh, a possible speeding fine for moi. A dual licence comes in handy for these moments. Safe journey home for everyone.
Some of Hoedt's defending towards the end was heroic by the way, literally threw himself at 2 or 3 shots and made some outstanding blocks which helped us secure a point.
This is the thing with Kone, always dangerous but not always for us. When he's good he is excellent but he can also be guilty of some incredibly stupid moments. Not through being crap, but through being seemingly a bit thick.
He was injured. He looked very uncomfortable as he hobbled down the tunnel at half time in conversation with a physio.
Cracking game and a decent away following in soggy conditions. Rajovic was poor. Martins was a waste of time. Livermore was immense. Kone was Kone, excellent or catastrophic all game. Andrews and Morris should be first choice full backs by default. Hamer was excellent yet again. Great away day and another game where entertainment levels were high. Our squad of fannies last season would have wilted at the sort of challenge they faced today. The Championship this season is a much higher level than last season.
Well, more through inexperience, I like to think. His rate of improving indicates he may well improve in that respect, too. Mostly, though, I do think there are plenty of Championship players, including at Watford, who do not display the 'game intelligence'* of Premiership players, which is why they are where they are. *Sometimes known as 'intelligence'.
