plymouthram

I think we need a good transfer window, meaning don't loose Bird or Cashin and bringing in a striker (or two) and a midfielder with a good engine (box to box). Then perhaps we can go on and win another 8 matches out of 9 to get in the top 2 (I don't want play-offs).

Passing out from the back. Slick one or two touch passing and quick movement up front. And playing 4 at the back Mr Warne, I'm slightly more impressed. I could be convinced to become "PRO WARNE". Keep it up and don't tinker with 3 at the back like last season when we fell away.

Just now, Dimmu said:

I'm looking forward to this window. My guesses are:

OUT:
Embleton
TJJ

IN:
Striker, midfielder, and winger. All loanees.

 

I think we will sign someone and maybe there will be money involved (i.e. not a freebee).

7 minutes ago, Elwood P Dowd said:

This should cover the 3 promotion places 

final league table 
1. Derby County

2. Derby

3 The Rams 

🐏

And Derby County U21s to win the EFL Trophy

What about getting John-Jules until the end of the season, currently due to go back to Arsenal in a few days time. Seems strange that if he is going back, why have him on the subs bench today at Wigan.

3 minutes ago, sage said:

Strangely, I thought NML was our weakest link today. He has earned an off day though.  

Might be worth resting him against Oxford and start with Wilson on the right with Barks on the left and give John Jules a start. If it's not working out, then bring him on in the 2nd half.

3 minutes ago, David said:

32 minutes ago, MackworthRamIsGod said:

And we are still only 2 points above 7th..whose fault is that?

Curly Watts 

But look at the top 7 teams, there's a gap opening up, 8th and 9th placed teams have played 2 more games than Barnsley. It's currently looking like a 7 horse race for 3 teams to grab promotion.

Would have been terrible today if Wigan got a draw, they never had a shot on target. Their keeper (Mr Tickle) kept them in the match with 2 good saves, no wonder Everton want him in the January transfer window.

1 minute ago, oodledoodle said:

Didn't we have a similarly brilliant patch last season and fail to finish top 6?

That being said, recent results have been brilliant. More of the same please.

We've got more points at this stage of the season than last season. If we stick to 4 at the back and Warne does'nt switch back to 3 like last season then I would predict, we will concede the least goals in League One at the end of the season (that's providing we hang on to Cashin, even if it's a loan until the end of the season). MR WARNE PLEASE READ, LEAVE THE DEFENCE ALONE, DO NOT TINKER WITH A BACK THREE.

On 24/12/2023 at 11:32, ap04 said:

On 23/12/2023 at 21:10, plymouthram said:

My conculsion is: luck plays a bigger part of a League one team more so than a Championship or Premiership team and thats down to the standard of referee's at this level.

Luck = whether the better team wins, refereeing doesn't come into it.

If the ref does'nt give you stonewall penalty decisions and gives the opponents dodgy penalties etc, that's down to luck. BAD LUCK for having a crap referee that's cost you the game.

15 minutes ago, G STAR RAM said:

You said Portsmouth have had bags of luck, can you give some examples?

As I said, getting a penalty is not luck if you are fouled, so I'm assuming they'e had penalties that shouldn't have been given that you can point to?

Scoring a late goal may be lucky if its deflected or goes in off someone's backside for example, just scoring a late goal is not luck, its what you are trying to do.

Your conclusion appears to be that Portsmouth have had more decisions go there way than us. Ive only seen one Portsmouth game that was against us where we were given a very dodgy penalty.

Dodgy penalty!! he clearly put his hand up when the ball came over. Also in the same match when they equalised, Marlon pack handled the ball in the build up to their 95th minute equaliser.

42 minutes ago, G STAR RAM said:

Surely you'd need more information to decide if the 2 things you've picked up are down to look?

For instance if opposition are having less touches in your area, you're less likely to be giving away penalties.

If you're fitness levels are higher you are probably more likely to be benefitting at the end of games.

Think its dangerous to just assume both are down to luck.

Stats will state that most goals are scored between the 1st minute and the 90th minute. Some stone wall penalties that certain teams have not received and others have is also down to luck (the refs view does make a difference). Fitness levels do not determine a team losing or winning a game in the dying minutes of a match, it's down to game managerment and seeing out the game. It could also be down to luck (not Look?) that a decision goes against you. The Wycombe penalty was given and more stonewall incidents have gone against Derby in other matches. 

I am hoping that luck levels out for all teams and the eventual 2 teams clinching automatic promotion have deserved it over the 46 matches. As for the play-off winners, that could be determined on luck, based on several elements. take last season, just look at the highlights of Derby's match against Sheff Weds. The penalty given, not a lot of contact but given. The red card for Curtis Davies given, when he was'nt even the last man (cover by Cashin). If this game had finished a draw would the outcome of the play-off winners have changed?.

My conculsion is: luck plays a bigger part of a League one team more so than a Championship or Premiership team and thats down to the standard of referee's at this level. If it all levels out for the 2nd half of the season, I believe Portsmouth's lead will be reduced. Another factor would also boil down to the January window, using Ipswich as an example who pushed on to gain promotion and are now benefiting from that.

On 22/12/2023 at 01:04, Carl Sagan said:

21 games in, and we're effectively 4th behind Portsmouth, Peterborough and Bolton. Ahead of Oxford on goal difference. That's decent but at the very low end of expectations of about where we should be. But because only Portsmouth have got away (probably uncatchable) we're definitely in the mix for second place. The points per game are :

Portsmouth 2.29

P'boro 1.95

Bolton 1.95

RAMS 1.90

At this point I'd be surprised if just under 2.1 points per game doesn't prove enough for 2nd place and autos, which would be 96 points, so 56 points from our last 25 games (2.24 ppg for the remainder). That's maybe

17 wins, 5 draws, 3 defeats.

I think that's the marker from now on. Are we capable? I think we're not up to the demands the pressure puts on us, and we'll more likely finish 3rd or 4th.

 

These stats are only good guidance if the relavant teams keep up that performance for the rest of the season. At some stage some, if not all will drop off their PPG's. Just look at Portsmouth's March & April's fixtures to consider if they could continue at 2.29 PPG.

On 21/12/2023 at 17:15, RodleyRam said:

3 keys to the autos

1. Grind out results when the nights are dark and the going is tough. This is an area we typically struggle with and it's about bouncing back from a bad result as much as anything else. I think we have a solid base, so I don't expect us to lose many but we need to find a way to get 3 points rather than 1 when teams make it really difficult and don't find ourselves 3 or 4 games without a win.

2. Keep our players as fresh as possible. We need to rotate key players where the opportunity arises and limit injuries as much as we possibly can.

3. Add quality in January. There is a balance to be struck between injecting some impetus and destabilising. Last year's window was hugely undercooked, I hope we learn that we simply have to add some depth and quality in January. I would like to think we can keep hold of Bird and Cashin but if that's not possible I do think we need to replace them AND add one or two.

Although no-one really wants to accept it the 4th point is that we need a massive slice of luck...

Every team needs a slice of luck, so far this season, Portsmouth have had bags of it. They are bottom of the list for conceding pens, top of the list for scoring late goals that alter the result. Lets hope their luck dries up and ours gets better. If Cashin goes in January, lets hope it's a loan back until the end of the season. Bird will be very hard to replace, so lets hope the powers to be at Derby ask for big money for him. Grinding out results seems to be happening in recent games, barring the Wycombe match, lets keep it up, getting results when not playing at your best is a good sign. And lastly Mr Warne, please bin the 3 at the back, we've looked vulnerable in defence and against the better sides we will get punished.

On 21/12/2023 at 14:53, JuanFloEvraTheCocu'sNesta said:

The January window makes or breaks our season I think. Get it right and we are in a great position. Get it wrong and were going to be trying to cling on to a playoff spot like last season.

Got to agree with this, last season's January window was awful. Lets hope Warne and the recruitment get it right.

11 hours ago, Dean (hick) Saunders said:

Last season I was expecting Plymouth to fall back for the same reasons. Lots of late comebacks to win by one it seemed at the time. But fair play to them they never did and actually improved post January 

Talking of late comebacks, Portsmouth have done it this season a few times. In their 1st match back in August they drew 1-1 at home to Bristol Rovers with Yengi scoring in the 93rd minute. Bishop scored a 95th minute equaliser at Pride Park. Against Wycombe at home they won 2-1 with Shaughnessy scoring in the 98th minute. Then another home against Carlisle winning 1-0 Shaughnessy scores in the 93rd.

Half of their 14 wins have been by the odd goal, lady luck seems to have been on their side so far this season. I don't want forum members reminding me that they were the better team at Pride Park that day, yes they was but Derby were poor back in September. Lets hope their luck and odd goal win dry up and (Derby) "We are coming for you Pompey" does happen.

3 hours ago, RodleyRam said:

I'd be both surprised and delighted with 8 points from these three games

Bloody Hell !!! Leave the Christmas Sherry alone

I know we are still 8 points behind Pompey, but i was looking at the remaining fixtures tonight. Pompey still have to play Stevenage (H), Oxford (H & A),Blackpool (A), Peterboro (A), Barnsley (H), Derby (H), Shrewsbury (H) Bolton (A) and Lincoln (A). And most of these games are in the last 2 months of the season.

Even though, currently they have only lost one game, 4-0 at home to Blackpool, they have won a big amount of their games by the odd goal and maybe are due a bad run of form. Perhaps B4 was right and we will be coming for you Pompey.  COYR

2 hours ago, Eoghan1884 said:

If we were to lose Bird, I wonder how cheap we could get Charlie Savage. It looks like Reading are going to need to sell in January and I think long term Savage is going to be a great player.

I would also sign a midfielder in the age bracket of 25-28 aswell to bolster our options with the bird money. As I said before my pick would be Crowley from notts county.

another few steals from reading would be one of or both of Harvey Knibbs and Sam Smith. Both which would improve our front 3 options. 

Charlie Savage is in his 1st year of a 4 year contract. If Reading are in financial poo they could let him go for peanuts.

2 hours ago, TomTom92 said:

Wonder if we'll go back in for Bobby Clark at Liverpool. Was supposed to sign on loan on deadline day but Klopp blocked it to have him around the first team. Don't think he's played for them though so not sure of that logic.

Yes, worth another cheeky bid to get on loan

3 hours ago, Anag Ram said:

Get an offer in for Michael Mellon from Morecambe (on loan from Burnley)

Right age, right attitude.

 

And scores goals, 15 goals out of 23 appearances this season.

20 hours ago, sage said:

Amazing player when fit. More of a 10 than an 8.

Ovie Ejaria just been released by Reading due to injury and fitness levels, so I can't see Warne signing him.

4 hours ago, Comrade 86 said:

I think 'pro-Warne' is a misnomer. I think most who have remained supportive, did so because they felt another change in manager was setting the club up for another yet more time wasted on the merry-go-round and also that the team's form was not so awful that he warranted sacking anyway. I think very few have blindly followed Warne, but rather have simply stuck with him and it's nice to see some return for their patience, with the lads performing better and the forum less fighty. Steady improvement and some consistency obviously makes it a deal easier to retain faith than it has been for much of the first half of the season, but I'm not sure I've seen anyone doing victory laps, to be fair, which is to their credit after some of the nonsense we've seen levelled at them. 

I hope Warne sticks with the 4 at the back because we look defensively sound. This is backed up with our current Goal difference being joint best in League one. He still tinkers in matches though, even against Orient in 72 minute bringing on Sonny Bradley and switching to a back 3. For a short period straight after the subs being on Orient had chances then against them pushing for a goal we breakaway and seal the game. Why not just bring Bradley on and rest Cashin and stick with a back 4 ? I wish Warne would bin the 3 at the back, stick with what the team are managing better defensively. Just adapt Mr Warne and don't tinker like you did last season when we fell away after having a long unbeaten run.

Then I might become a Pro-Warne fan, but for now I still have my doubts whether we have a manager that can push us onwards and upwards. COYR

On 06/12/2023 at 16:23, Jimbo Ram said:

On 06/12/2023 at 14:20, plymouthram said:

I like the look of Joe Taylor at Colchester (on loan from Luton). Only 21yrs old (had his birthday last month), scored 8 goals in 19 app so far this season with 2 assists. Very quick, not good in the air (only 5ft 7in). Out of contract with Luton in the summer, even though he was born in England has played 3 times for Wales U21s.

Seen much of him 😊

Only Highlight footage, very fast and hits the ball very hard and fast when shooting. Scored again for Colchester yesterday in their struggling side, think he would have better stats surrounded by better players.

I like the look of Joe Taylor at Colchester (on loan from Luton). Only 21yrs old (had his birthday last month), scored 8 goals in 19 app so far this season with 2 assists. Very quick, not good in the air (only 5ft 7in). Out of contract with Luton in the summer, even though he was born in England has played 3 times for Wales U21s.