When I got the call-up to do this particular MFW preview, I knew that Ashley Barnes would feature prominently in the content, but had no idea that the context would change – and for all the wrong reasons.
Plymouth Argyle surely became the club every true citizen of East Anglia fell in some form of unknowing but blissful love with as the Pilgrims as they went toe-to-toe with both the Binmen and the Owls throughout the first five months of 2023 and produced, yes I’ll say it, a major shockwave by beating both to the EFL League One Trophy.
Wednesday fell away to let the Binners in but Plymouth had done their job by us – with apologies to some readers, who I know consider the Derby a necessity, more because of its recent history than anything else 
Interestingly the Pilgrims managed a points total of 101, which gallant little Ipswich matched in terms of goals scored.
Barnes unfortunately picked up what looked very much like a serious knee ligament injury against the Foxes of Leicester on Wednesday evening and certainly will not be fit enough for tomorrow [Saturday].
We’re left in serious hot water with a chronic lack of available strikers
This leaves Norwich in serious hot water with a chronic lack of available strikers for what might be loosely called the medium term.
Head coach David Wagner plays seriously hard to get over injury issues. Indeed we have yet to hear what I would call a definitive picture regarding the position of Marcelino Nunez and when he might return from an ankle ligament injury, and that happened while he was playing for Chile against Uruguay fully a fortnight ago now. Nunez is thought to be back after the next international break, btw.
Returning to Barnes and adding the ankle ligament injury Josh Sargent sustained against Huddersfield, there can be no denying our form is suffering a bit and will continue to do so until both are back in tandem on the grass.
And now what would have been nice had our Ashley been able to play tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll be at Home Park in one way or another as Plymouth was his very first Football League club where he scored his very first league goal and he recently notched his 100th against Millwall at Carrow Road in August.
All Wagner is prepared to say at the moment came in a brief chat with BBC Radio Norfolk after Wednesday’s defeat to Leicester:
“It looks like a ligament injury, He needs a scan. I can’t say much more until after that. I won’t worry about it until I know more details.”.
At this point I really ought to say a few words about Bali Mumba but now I have seen how Dimi Giannoulis and Jack Stacey are operating between Shane Duffy and Ben Gibson in what is adventurous for a flat back four I’ll freely admit that my MFW colleague Stewart Lewis is spot on after all – this is the way Wagner wants to do it and it seems to work really rather well.
The only issue for me is that we might have got a bit more for Mumba than we did but I’ve always found it tres difficile to estimate a transfer from the Championship or even the PL to League One. There are loads of them but they don’t grab the public eye enough by which to form a primitive personal database, I guess
In the Championship Plymouth have been like a very confusing Curate’s egg
So how have Plymouth fared on their return to the Championship?
Well, they’ve been like the proverbial Curate’s egg I suppose, as with some extra, incredibly bad things thrown in along the line for good measure if that offers any perspective at all.
The defeats so far have been quite predictable, including a defeat against Southampton back in August before Russell Martin had his side truly stuttering:
- Huddersfield Town [H], 3-0, Win.
- Watford [A], 0-0, Draw.
- Southampton [H], 1-2, Defeat.
- Birmingham City [A], 1-2, Defeat.
- Blackburn Rovers [H], 3-0, Win.
- Preston North End [A], 1-2, Defeat.
- Bristol City [A], 1-4, Defeat.
Mind you, that win over Blackburn makes me think Plymouth must have something about them at this level. I’m not sure exactly what that something is, but they are not an easy side to beat as we know all too well.
So that gives Plymouth Argyle a less-than-fabulous total of seven points from seven games and a not-so-lofty perch of 18th place at the end of September.
At Carrow Road, the ground was filled with various forms of expression of negative thought delivered by a choir of highly-charged larynxes last season. Not so far this season because the faith is being kept. As it flippin’ well should be the way we’ve been playing, what with one of our two most influential players on the missing list and the other one about to join him on it.
And even though we will be left down to the “bare bones” of Adam Idah and Hwang Jo-Ui on Saturday, our supporters were not despondent after Leicester and most far from it. Plymouth followers are anything than happy following their shellacking by Bristol City on Tuesday evening, as reported in PlymouthLive.
“Steven Schumacher’s 21-month tenure as Plymouth Argyle manager has been full of highs, most obviously the magnificent 2022/23 League One title triumph with 101 points. However, on the occasions when it has not gone according to plan for the Pilgrims, it has gone wrong quite badly at times.
“The latest example of that was the 4-1 Championship defeat by Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night when Argyle conceded two goals in the opening eight minutes.
Clearly there is never a good way to lose a game of football, but this is embarrassing
“Later in the first half, with the visitors trailing 3-1, there were cries of ‘this is embarrassing’ from sections of the 3,000-strong travelling Green Army, and Schumacher did not disagree when asked about those songs in his post-match Press conference.
“Clearly, there is never a good way to lose a game of football, and Argyle under Schumacher always look to play an attacking style, but more heavy defeats like the one against Bristol City will do their goal difference in the Championship no good at all.
“Schumacher has a superb 58.2 win percentage as Argyle manager in league games, with 46 victories out of 79, and there have also been 14 draws. There have been just 19 defeats, but in five of them the Pilgrims have conceded four goals or more.”
And do you know what? I reckon our travelling supporters might just give us the edge in this one!
Morale cannot be very good at all at Home Park and this will be the first meeting between their players and their fans since Tuesday in Bristol.
I hope the atmosphere gets openly frostier by the moment because we all know what that will mean.
I’m going to let myself off for this one because they did write some good pop songs until they completely sold out and this is what the travelling Y’Army simply have to do on behalf of the rest of us on Saturday:
Morning Martin this is tough one to call I’m goin for 1-1 . If you was watching on sky can you tell me why the 2nd Leicester goal wasn’t offside he looked miles off in the clips I saw . We’re are blunt up front with or without Barnes for me he has done little in past 3 games so afraid Martin can’t see us staying in top six without getting a regular goalscorer , which is a shame because been big improvements in many areas. The pressing is good the defending is better got experience in defence not up and coming superstars that we’ve had last 4 years plenty of promise with them but God weren’t some of them overhyped hardly hear anything of two of the 4 that went for good money perhaps that’s the reason for the overhyped keep well mate .
Hi Kev
Yes I would say Leicester were offside by a clear margin.
When it comes to some of our original valuations of our players they look to have been well over the top.
I suppose those hoping for north of m 40 for Max were never going to get it though!
Cheers
Hi Martin
So is no news good news on the injury front or just putting off the dreaded announcement.
A long lost neighbour from a couple of homes ago contacted me before the season started and moaned about them getting in an unknown keeper when a previous star was released by Nice now he thinks Mads is a world beater but did we really test him ??
Saturday away to the Pilgrim Fathers with Mumba and Early in their ranks so will either or both be playing as Mumba seems to be more forward as a winger at present.
Let’s hope that the god ship Mayflower hits troubled waters this weekend and then finds clear waters in the coming weeks to secure a stay in the Championship.
If Plymouth decide to recruit a new nanager the merry go round could see Warnock return to one if his old haunts and not to far from his home in Cornwall.
Hi Alex
Yeah we tested hin, but probably not really enough, although that on-paper figure of 15 shots doesnt look too unhealthy on the face of it.,
From what I can gather you’re right about Mumba, although I guess a lot will depend on how much respect Plymouth will show us by where they decide to hold the line themselves in the first place!
i’ve not heard anything about Warnock going *back,home to Cornwall* but I suppose he might as well make it all look tidy. SS is still pretty well thought of in the South West, as a gander at their local press will quickly show.
The Pilgrims are threatening to attack, but that isn’t the death-knell it might have been perceiveed as last season beause we now have Rowe and Placheta to potentialy join in the fun of the counters.
Cheers
This has just been confirmed at the presser: “Ashley Barnes ruled out until after the November international break. Medial knee ligament damage confirmed after scans on Thursday to assess the damage suffered in the second half of a 2-0 midweek home defeat to Leicester City. But no surgery required, confirms Wagner”
The key question now is who will replace him behind the striker as surely we can’t afford to start both Idah and Hwang. One solution would be Gibbs or Rowe could move over and Hernandez could come in. Another would be to move Fassnacht with Rowe playing WR. Big decision for Wagner.
Hi Rick
Yes it is a huge decision for Wagner and personally I’d like to see Jon Rowe staying where he is.
I don’t think we should start Hwang and Idah together either.
Like you say that’s what Wagner is paid the big bucks for and hopefully he will get this one right!
Cheers
Hi Martin
We have 2 x 20yr old Gibbs and Rowe both look good in their preferred positions.
Today I read two reviews on both players see below
Liam Gibbs cannot play constantly at just 20-years-old, so he may be replaced for Saturday’s bout.
One 20-year-old who simply must be handed consistent minutes is Jonathan Rowe. The Norwich academy graduate has exploded onto the scene this season, netting four and assisting once in just seven showings.
Seems one is unable to play constantly due to his age yet the other needs to have more playing time surely both need to be given time to prove themselves as first team players and rested as and when it’s needed
Gibbs last season got reviews similar to Rowe this season are we seeing a slight drop of in Gibbs as he’s not getting the game time, and Rowe could be the reverse in too much game time is taking its toll so both need to be nurtured careful.
Rowe will be targeted as he was against Leicester so maybe use him as a sub for a couple of games he might drop under the radar and Gibbs needs a settled position in midfield.
Hmm
I’m not sure there is any merit in flogging a player at 20, whoever he is, realy. As for dropping off the radar with Rowe it won’t happen like that as when he is on the teamsheet al eyes will be back on him faster than Josip Drmic chasing the ball back to his own corner flag on the 98th-inute mark
There looks to be really long travelling for Norwich fans who make that trip to Plymouth. Are you or Gary perhaps going there? When I think about Plymouth, Paul Mariner comes to my mind.
Tomorrows “quiniela” is tough and as difficult as possible. Plymouth-Norwch game player percents are now 22-24-54, so the public is on your side here but I can already guess that so called pros are recommending Plymouth win and/or draw. Basically the public players here are always favoring Norwich thanks to Pukki period. Rotherham-Preston is the one many becomes a public enemy 18-20-62 are percent now. This is a paradox where you should bang your head against Preston all the time and after the games say the famous words, the public knows. Its not that simple either, 13 games are a very large combination of possible outcomes. To put every 13 games 1×2 would cost about 400k and possibly max win this weekend about 150k, so not a billionaires game. This game has been in here since 1940, every Saturday at 5 pm finnish time. Its been a must tradition also to me for a long time. English league football at that time, holy tradition.
Hi 1X2
Paul Mariner at pPlymouth – that shows yur memory is working very well today!
Unfortunately I have had a combination of two very serious illnesse for one year now so missed the whoe of last season. I am hoping it wil get to Carrow Road next year as this condition is just about the most unforgiving ba$tard thing known to man so I’m in the terrible position that I might never be able to go again.
In any case only the toughest young lads with no commitments can easily make a trip such as Plymouth, pus a few old people also with no commitents and of course the time and money to go..
You explained your tradtion a whie ago now and I think it’s great – guaranteed entertainment.
Most of the time, anyhow 🙂
Cheers
Martin, very sad to hear about your health problems. I knew that you had some, but had no clue that its so bad. Its difficult to imagine when you keep on writing such good articles and use your time to answer comments which of course is great to us. Hopefully your health situation improves and you get back closer to the normal life you had.
Hi 1×2
My real aim with MFW is to keep doing it for as long as I possibly can, I love answering te comments, whether they are from total strangerss, people I have known for years or those I have met through the site and now would consider great friends.
So as for use of my personal way of spending my own time I can think of nothing I’d rather do with it tbh.
The MFW crowd is a good crowd and I am very proud to be a part of it!
Whether I shall ever be able to get to Carrow Road agan is unwrtten but both the Hepalology and Oncology Consultants I see regularly at the N&N stand a pretty decent chance with the help f that old devil called luck.
Thanks for that – your comment really cheered me up!
After the weeks’ events and today’s injury update, I’ll happily accept a draw of any kind….as long as Mumba and Earley don’t provide us with an ACN moment or three!!
O T B C
Hi John
I think we might do a little better that [dont ask who the scorer[s] will be so why not enjoy an Earley pint!
Cheers
And I was one millio miles from the mark. Sorry mate 🙁
Hi Martin,
I like Plymouth Argyle, saw some footie there during the Shilton years, and Plymouth was a great place to live.
Earley is not playing at the minute, three months with a ligament injury, but Bali Mumba should be in the game.
I’m curious, why shouldn’t we start Idah and Hwang together?
Two good football-playing clubs, 1-1 draw methinks!
Hi Kev
*If I could turn back time,,,, etc”
Can’t think of that many things I’d want to change to be honest Martin.
Maybe a few people I’d like to flush down the Loo of Life, beyond that not much at all!
COYYs !!