I don't disagree at all as there was enough time to recover, but the whole situation unfolded as a direct result of his naivety jumping in again. He does it every single game and I don't think it should be accommodated for. It wouldn't look out of place from an under 15's defender on Sunday morning.
I think the Plymouth game might have played out the way it did because Val was trying to rectify the major problem Watford had against Bristol in the previous game: In that match Bristol got right on top of Watford and pushed them right back towards their own goal. Anytime our backs tried to play as wing-backs they were severely exposed and City found acres of space behind. In some ways playing wing-backs is a kind of game of bluff - you want your wing-backs to dominate their's. Against Argyle Watford were more successful in that respect - up to a point: They did get up field and cause Plymouth problems (Andrews particularly) But Plymouth still got behind them as well: Hence a goal fest. Both our current backs are more or less starting their careers and it is a difficult position (and exhausting) to play.
Granted he wasn't the best but at the time and for the squad we had then, he was capable. Only real bad thing I remember him doing was the goal he conceded at home to Burnley, if memory serves that was also the goal the referee looked like he was celebrating. Very strange game.
£2.5m seems like a bargain (and yet that amount would bankrupt us...) We managed to pick the only Villa duds last season by the looks of it.
We enjoyed the (rather crazy) match - especially as we managed not to throw it away at the end - then had a very pleasant pub meal in the evening. The return journey on Tuesday wasn’t so pleasant. To cut a long story short; it involved 9 trains, floods, a tree on the line, bar stewards stealing signalling cables, a flying gazebo and an enforced overnight stop in Doncaster. It took us 27 hours and 11 minutes, door to door. As a Yorkshireman might say: “Five hours on ‘t coach? Eee, you were lucky!” Anyway, it was worth it.
I was going to say exactly the same thing. As a youngster I was taught that as a full back you never try to go inside or accross your opponent as he'll turn you and be gone. Likewise at CB your first thought is to stay on your feet and watch the ball / kick the guy in the air if you have to.... But never dive in front.
Presumably Richard Osman has bought the rights to your cross-England adventures and will be issuing his next Christmas novel under the title: 'The Argyle File - Murderous Journey for Plymouth Brethren'. I'll get me coat.
