Manager John Sheridan calls for 'courageous' Plymouth Argyle performance
MANAGER John Sheridan has called on his Argyle players to produce a 'courageous' performance in the crucial clash against Barnet at Home Park tomorrow.
The Pilgrims are propping up the rest of League Two, and are three points adrift of a position of safety with 12 games to go.
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POSITIVE THINKING: Argyle boss John Sheridan
Barnet are in 21st position, four points above Argyle and with an identical goals scored and conceded record.
So there is a lot at stake in only the fourth ever Football League meeting at Home Park between the two clubs.
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Barnet are unbeaten in their last four games in League Two, picking up eight points out of a possible 12 and moving out of the relegation zone.
Sheridan has been frustrated by Argyle's 'lethargic' displays at Home Park since he was appointed as manager at the start of January.
The Pilgrims beat Morecambe 2-1 on January 12, after netting twice in the first 11 minutes, but have not won or scored in any of the last three games in front of their own fans.
Sheridan told Herald Sport: "We need to be courageous. We need to take chances, be positive, get on the ball and pass it around.
"We have been very lethargic at home. Other than my first game, when we got ourselves into a winning position early on, I can't really pinpoint where we have played well.
"We need more drive and endeavour, and the tempo of the game has got to be higher for us."
Argyle have dubbed tomorrow 'Big For Barnet' as they have pushed for a 10,000-plus attendance with a series of special ticket offers.
Sheridan said: "The more the better for us. If you are a footballer, you want to be going out and playing in front of big crowds. That's what they should be looking at.
"We are all here for the same thing at Plymouth. We want to stay in this division."
Sheridan has been hugely impressed with the support Argyle have received in recent matches, both home and away, despite their struggles on the pitch.
For example, there were 829 members of the Green Army in attendance for the 1-1 draw away to AFC Wimbledon, another of the relegation-threatened League Two sides, on Tuesday.
Sheridan said: "The fans have got right behind the team from day one, since I have been here. I honestly can't believe the support they give the team.
"It's easy me saying this, but for a team who are bottom of the League and getting the support they are getting is frightening.
"The fans have been different class and we need to give them a little bit of hope. Results do that and they give them a bit of belief.
"We need to do it, and we need to do it quickly."
Sheridan knows Argyle require wins, not draws, from their remaining six games at Home Park this season, starting against Barnet, to stand any chance of escaping relegation.
Barnet's head coach is 39-year-old former Netherlands international Edgar Davids, who has also been playing to a high standard in midfield for the north London club.
Their squad includes former Argyle players Graham Stack and Bondz N'Gala, while another past Pilgrim – Kenny Brown – is part of the coaching staff.
Sheridan said: "Barnet are a team who are in and around us so it's a good opportunity to get a little bit closer to them."
"They are a good footballing side. They are unbeaten in four. I think Davids is an excellent player.
"I played against him a few times and he has got that drive. He's still playing, so full credit to him.
"He has got them playing with a bit of confidence and they have had some good results.
"They will come here and look at us – we are bottom of the League – and see it as a good chance of getting three points.
"We have got to make sure it doesn't work out that way."
Argyle right-back Durrell Berry is still sidelined by tendonitis in a knee so Maxime Blanchard will continue to deputise for him.
FOLLOW live updates from Argyle's game against Barnet at Home Park tomorrow on The Herald website, www.thisisplymouth.co.uk.
There will also be a report on the website shortly after the final whistle.
8 Comments
by queenie1923
Friday, March 01 2013, 7:48PM
“hopefully a good crowd tomorrow , and lets get behind the team , good loud vocal atmosphere , which we all know our beloved home park is , lets get home park the fortress it once was , unbeatable at home and teams frightened to play us, as it was in the promotion years . 3 points tomozz and lets deal with davids, wottsie shut him out of the game , and re-istate him as captain , at least he knew the job and did it well..... green army........................”
by Wiggys
Friday, March 01 2013, 7:32PM
“Green manure, get your facts right you half wit,
3rd March 2012 the bottom three were
Dag and Redbridge
Plymouth
Northampton
I'm sure there still in Div 2
How embarrassing for you eh, how can we take your posts serious when clearly you have no idea what your talking about”
by PlimuffLad
Friday, March 01 2013, 12:11PM
“@greenmanure
3 sided ground, huh? Well, that's 3 sides more than your dump has got”
by greenmanure
Friday, March 01 2013, 11:52AM
“Eddie_Taylor Quote "Keep upthe good work"
You had a look at the bottom of league 2 recently. Blinkered or deluded, please take your pick!!
No team at the bottom of league 2 In March as ever stayed up. Happy Days to the stats ....bring it on came the far cry.
And take that silly little 3 sided ground with you.”
by plymgeorge1
Friday, March 01 2013, 10:27AM
“What a load of rubbish from Eddie,JS is no further forward from when he arrived at the club,his recruits are in the main sub standard and no better than was already here and frankly the performances have been abysmal to say the least.
Having said that I will be at HP tomorrow as usual hoping and praying for the right result to give us a fighting chance of staying up,a lot will depend on the team that JS selects and if its not working he will have to show he has the tactical ability to change things around,something he has not been capable of up to now.
Good luck Argyle our season has to start now.Suggest when the team runs out they should play Elvis singing ITS NOW OR NEVER !!”
by eddie_taylor
Friday, March 01 2013, 10:01AM
“We have shown great fighting spirit in our last two away games, now we have to bring it home and show the others we will battle all the way to the wire.
JS is beginning to get things happening, all he has to do now is get Reid to shoot on sight; the striker has had his chances and not taken them, the rest of his game is not that bad. He does chase and win more than his fair share of balls, it is just his finishing and he must get into the habit of at least shooting, even if it is only a half chance. In his early days he was selfish and wanted too score every goal, now that as gone in reverse; come on Ruebin lets strike (sorry about the pun) a happy medium.
As for Blanchard deputising for Berry, he has had two great games both last Saturday and Tuesday night, showing some bravery against Wimbledon to finish the game; especially after clashing heads with Pickles - not recommended.
Argyle, keep up the good work at home on Saturday and send us all home very happy.”
by alabar1
Friday, March 01 2013, 8:03AM
“Well said Queenie,tomorrow is D Day for our team,whether its pretty or ugly football it doesn't matter,just get the three points.
And JS please come to your senses play Paul Wotton from the start and give him the captains armband,we need his strong vocal presence in midfield to stifle Davids input,and remember goals win matches,so come on play Luke and Andras to create something instead of hopefully punting the ball up to the three ineffective young strikers you brought in.
Wonder why Yeovil brought in a striker on loan yesterday? dont say much for Reids future at that club does it.
Anyway I am sure the Green Army will be out in force and will do our part,just send us home with a smile and hope for the future,then the ones who have stayed away will return for every game to ensure our survival.”
by queenie1923
Friday, March 01 2013, 6:09AM
“its now or never, we lose this , then god knows what were going to do , may be a good clear out , thats the only way forward, out with the old in with the new so they say,,,,, 3 points tomozz , its gonna be a hard game for the players, so therer gonna have to start digging very deep for there 3 points and for the other 11 games to go with it , i have faith in my team when its needed , they can do it , so come on argyle show uis the fans and the other teams around you that were no push overs , weve done this before we can do it again coyg.................”