A38 Derby - again - Mansfield vs Plymouth

[AdamStag]

Soooo, the boys from Devon are up to Mansfield for the 2nd time this season after their successful progression in the 1st round of the FA cup in Adam Murray's last days.

So, in short if Plymouth were looking for a "pick me up" after a poor run of form, Derek Adams and the Plymouth fans will be delighted to be facing Mansfield - a side that always seemingly struggles against them - from last minute goals to toilet-gate - we've a poor recent record.

The game is equally important for both sides - Plymouth out of the top 3 for the first time in some while, and Mansfield should be slightly disappointed with successive 0-0's away to Yeovil and Cheltenham.

Hoping for a crowd pushing 4,500 - 5,000 for this and think it will be a close game - i'm plumping for 1-1

 

[RampantRover]

Mansfield 3-0

 

[Boletus Edulis]

When I was a kid I remember watching Dr Who from behind the sofa, that is what I shall be doing this Saturday though replacing the radiogram for black and white televisual pictures.

I went and bought some nail clippers today to stop myself from biting them.

 

[Trapdoor]

argyle should pick up the 3 points here. anything less than a 2 goal margin will be surprising.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Probably at least 4-0 Stags, with the last twenty minutes involving several tedious rounds of Olé, Olé, Olé, whilst we all chuckle and dream about having a pint of brown ale with our chippy tea.

 

[Rob_of_the_green]

The game is equally important for both sides - Plymouth out of the top 3 for the first time in some while, and Mansfield should be slightly disappointed with successive 0-0's away to Yeovil and Cheltenham.

Sorry I'm really confused and I'm trying to work out if I've just completely misunderstood your post. In what way are we 'out of the top 3 for the first time in a while'?

Think this one at least needs a good performance from us for our confidence... have we got any other kits we can wear?

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Sorry I'm really confused and I'm trying to work out if I've just completely misunderstood your post. In what way are we 'out of the top 3 for the first time in a while'?

Think this one at least needs a good performance from us for our confidence... have we got any other kits we can wear?

We've struggled for years because our shirts clash with pulled down buildings, several decimated industries, unemployment, slate grey skies and now a ridiculously loud and oversized old unwanted scoreboard!

When will we ever catch a break? Bah!

 

[AdamStag]

Sorry I'm really confused and I'm trying to work out if I've just completely misunderstood your post. In what way are we 'out of the top 3 for the first time in a while'?

Think this one at least needs a good performance from us for our confidence... have we got any other kits we can wear?

Sorry, I meant on form.... Not clear

 

[AdamStag]

Standard performance against Plymouth.

Can you just go up?

If we play you next season lets just not bother and give you the win

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

We played very well today. Streets ahead in the first half and should have been out of sight. However, we have the cutting edge of a foam mallet and blew our chances (which are also blowing our weak play off aspirations too).

Plymouth did what the better sides do, year on year, when they play poorly, they take their opportunities.

 

[Rob_of_the_green]

Got to love Steve Evans!...

https://twitter.com/BBCRNS/status/840615323191648256

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Got to love Steve Evans!...

https://twitter.com/BBCRNS/status/840615323191648256

Adams clearly is a massive whelmper though. Quite frankly we smashed the living bejesus out of you in that first half, creating numerous chances where the Janners looked a sorry lot. The only reason that it wasn't an embarrassment is because we couldn't hit the walls of Jericho with a double bass.

I get that opposition fans dislike Evans; it's glaringly obvious why he divides opinions, but for Adams to comment like a helmet says everything about the guy. Made himself look a penis in the last few weeks frankly.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Adams clearly is a massive whelmper though. Quite frankly we smashed the living bejesus out of you in that first half, creating numerous chances where the Janners looked a sorry lot. The only reason that it wasn't an embarrassment is because we couldn't hit the walls of Jericho with a double bass.

I get that opposition fans dislike Evans; it's glaringly obvious why he divides opinions, but for Adams to comment like a helmet says everything about the guy. Made himself look a penis in the last few weeks frankly.

Not neccesarily an attractive trait but I suspect Adams is a WUM, at points, because he believes it helps the team. Certainly he got under the skin here. Indeed, it is interesting that two of the managers who have been most outspoken about him (Ainsworth and Evans) are not shrinking violets, and this makes me think it is deliberate.

 

[Super_horns]

Taking lessons from his fellow Scot then (Sir Alex..)

Mind games and all that.

 

[AdamStag]

It's becoming a problem for Mansfield, the level of performances have been a sharp decline in what we experienced under the first games under evans.

Realistically game away to Yeovil and Cheltenham and a home game against Plymouth should be Yielding a 6 point minimum - to only achieve 2 without scoring isn't ideal.

Colchester got battered today, anything other than a win would be questionable

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Taking lessons from his fellow Scot then (Sir Alex..)

Mind games and all that.

Telling your opponent on the way out that you are the best manager outside of the premier league is either egotism of Donald Trump levels, or more likely a calculated attempt to get Evans to be thinking about him and not the game.

And someone who has ticked off Curle, Ainsworth and now Evans can't be doing it all wrong, can he?

 

[StagsForLife]

Why does Graham Carey always turn into Messi against us?

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Why does Graham Carey always turn into Messi against us?

He needs to against someone! Been missing for the last 3 months yet somehow has something like 24 goals and assists this season.

RE Adams I'm not a fan of his stubborn tactics with one up top constantly isolated but his wind up merchantry on certain managers is brilliant. He clearly knows how to grind their gears which inevitably distracts them from the game.

10 points clear somehow. We are an odd team. Take 10 points from Exeter, Carlisle, Luton and Mansfield, and none from Yeovil, Orient, Notts County and Blackpool.

For what it's worth I think Blackpool will get the last playoff spot.

 

[Stringy]

We were on top in the first half, creating a number of chances and stopping Plymouth from playing. However, we didn't take our chances.

In the second half, Plymouth scored from two set pieces as we ran out of ideas.

To say Evans is supposed to be such a great manager, he was very slow to make changes when the tide was turning.

I haven't been to many games this season so I don't have many teams to compare them to, but I thought Plymouth were pretty average (yeah, average when I have only Barnet to compare them to). No sour grapes because in spite of the match stats, in the end you deserved the win.

 

[Flaxman's Alibi]

Plymouth deserved the win because they weathered the storm out until we simply ran out of ideas. Our powder puff forward play has ensured that we'll probably end the season as mid-table rather than as a play off hopeful.

Argyle will go up and I'm glad of it, because not only are we regularly canon fodder for them, I've gone off them considerably since their shenanigans over pissgate last season. Now I know Adams more, I'm not surprised that they didn't support another club over such a trivial thing.

The difference between teams like Plymouth and us is that they squeeze out a win when it's most needed, whereas we invariably fail to deliver. That's partially mental and particularly down to lack of ability. Evans hasn't got wholesale changes to make next season to turn it around but 2-3 key signings are required.

Generally, our team isn't any better than Adam Murray's. It blows hot and it blows cold. Byrom, White, Whiteman and possibly McDonald have been good additions. The rest are no better than what we already had. The management hasn't been a massive improvement yet either, despite what you might read from time to time on Stagsnet. The difference, hopefully, is that this time the naysayers will give a proven manager, like Evans, time and the benefit of doubt, whereas that is usually in short supply down NG18 way.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

Why does Graham Carey always turn into Messi against us?

You probably don't want to hear this but he has had very few decent games this season at last season's levels, despite as PG says, being involved in so many goals. His free kicks have pretty much flattered to decieve all year, so you were a bit unlucky yesterday. By all accounts you should have won. Happy with the three points, but I do think we have a problem.

 

[Boletus Edulis]

The comment Stringy makes about us as average is about right at the moment (I'd have us at above average and no more). To address Flaxman's reasonable points, I would say our best eleven is not better than last year's best eleven, but our squad is. Our subs can make a difference, and have several times this year. It sounds like Jervis coming on was the key factor.