Argyle vs Aldershot - Match Preview

Weeks and months have passed by since Argyles last competitive game against Cheltenham Town. Argyle now welcomes Aldershot Town to Home Park for the first game of the 2012-13 season.  A lot of changes have been made to Home Park including the season tickets, dugouts and goal-nets, the family area, The Argyle Arms, and of course a splash of paint around the changing rooms. Not forgetting the new additions to the squad made by gaffer Carl Fletcher.  With 10 spaces separating Argyle and Aldershot last season with the greens fighting for relegations in 21^st place and with the Shots playing for a promotion spot in 10^th place.

The start of last season the greens headed north to Shrewsbury still fighting off liquidation.  The Pilgrims travelled back south with a draw thanks to now manager Carl Fletcher scoring a stunner in added time of the 90.  From that day on the squad faced 10 consecutive defeats. The squad travelled up on Friday 16^th September for their league encounter against Southend at Roots Hall on Saturday 17^th 2011.  The pilgrims lost 2-0 on that day. The Sunday after that defeat former Director Peter Ridsdale acted quickly to sack Peter Reid.  He took no time to appoint current manager Carl Fletcher.  The first win of the season came at Home to Macclesfield which was also a fans reunited day.  I expect most Pilgrims would never look back at those days before that match.  We now look forward to what’s coming up in the next few hours, days and weeks.  

Durrell Berry and new signings Rhys Griffiths and Jamie Lowry will all have to sit out this match against the Shots due to knee, calf and ankle ligament damage. Paris Cowan Hall will be looking to break into the starting 11 after his goal against former club Portsmouth, who we beat 3-0 with Johnny Gorman and Nick Chadwick also scoring goals to help us reach the second round of the Capital One Cup.  New loan signing Johnny Gorman will be looking to keep his space in the squad after impressing on his debut against Portsmouth in which he scored a cracking goal.  New Captain Darren Purse will be looking to use all of his experience to help the greens be right up the league table pushing for promotion rather than relegation.  Also with experience players in Paul Wotton and Nick Chadwick, they are vastly experienced players who can help the young players progress, and fight for a place in the starting 11 come 3pm every Saturday and 7:45pm on Tuesday.   

We are Plymouth Argyle and in Carl Fletcher we trust.  Come along to Home Park and sing your hearts  out to cheer on the lads to 3 valuable points.  Let’s get off to a fantastic start. Green Army