After missing out on what would have been a second trip to Wembley, Plymouth Argyle have started looking towards the 2015-16 season after releasing their retained list.
The Pilgrims failed to overturn their 3-2 first leg deficit, eventually losing 5-3 on aggregate to Wycombe Wanderers with former Argyle loanee Paul Hayes once again opening the scoring for the Chairboys.
Seven out of contract players have been informed by manager John Sheridan that their services are no longer rerquired at Home Park - just like last season - including Jason Banton, Dominic Blizzard, Marvin Morgan, Ollie Norburn and the homegrown trio of Jamie Richards, Matt Lecointe and River Allen.
Banton - scorer of the Pilgrims' second goal against Wycombe in their first leg at Home Park- is arguably the most notably of the departees, whilst Morgan, who has spent much of the second half of the season on loan at Hartlepool United, is probably the least surprising.
Perhaps even less surprisingly, player-coach Paul Wotton has officially announced his retirement from playing, after not featuring this season.
New deals have been offered to Lewis Alessandra, Tyler Harvey, Anthony O'Connor and James Bittner, whilst the club are also taking up the option of extending the contracts of Aaron Bentley and Peter Hartley.
Loan signings Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Bobby Reid, Gethin Jones and Zak Ansah have returned to their parent clubs.
Saturday, 16 May 2015
Wednesday, 13 May 2015
SHERIDAN HOPING EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT ON THE NIGHT FOR ARGYLE
Following their late comeback against Wycombe last Saturday night, Plymouth Argyle have given themselves a fighting chance of reaching the League Two Play-off final at Wembley.
After trailing the Chairboys by three goals going into the final five minutes of their semi-final first leg, substitutes Zak Ansah and Jason Banton as Argyle reduced their deficit to a single goal in the most dramatic of fashions.
One dilemma likely to be facing manager John Sheridan is whether to possibly include Ansah or fellow substitute Ryan Brunt, who replaced leading scorer Reuben Reid on 65 minutes, at the expense of his first choice strike partnership of Reid and Lewis Alessandra.
Over the course of the campaign, Reid and Alessandra have found the back of the net 33 times in all competitions and Reid has been playing with a foot injury of late.
Ansah and Brunt also started together at Shrewsbury Town in Argyle's final league fixture, which they won 2-0.
There is another the question of whether to include Banton in their starting eleven as well.
Scoring goals is likely to be crucial to any success for the Pilgrims at Adams Park, as Argyle's defensive unit of goalkeeper Luke McCormick and their central defensive trio of Curtis Nelson, Peter Hartley and Carl McHugh have proved to be very difficult to break down this season.
A repeat of the result they were able to pull off at Adams Park earlier in the season, when they won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Alessandra and Hartley would be the perfect outcome for Argyle.
It is also worth mentioning that when they last reached Wembley in 1996, they made it there after losing their first leg and winning their second against Colchester United.
After trailing the Chairboys by three goals going into the final five minutes of their semi-final first leg, substitutes Zak Ansah and Jason Banton as Argyle reduced their deficit to a single goal in the most dramatic of fashions.
One dilemma likely to be facing manager John Sheridan is whether to possibly include Ansah or fellow substitute Ryan Brunt, who replaced leading scorer Reuben Reid on 65 minutes, at the expense of his first choice strike partnership of Reid and Lewis Alessandra.
Over the course of the campaign, Reid and Alessandra have found the back of the net 33 times in all competitions and Reid has been playing with a foot injury of late.
Ansah and Brunt also started together at Shrewsbury Town in Argyle's final league fixture, which they won 2-0.
There is another the question of whether to include Banton in their starting eleven as well.
Scoring goals is likely to be crucial to any success for the Pilgrims at Adams Park, as Argyle's defensive unit of goalkeeper Luke McCormick and their central defensive trio of Curtis Nelson, Peter Hartley and Carl McHugh have proved to be very difficult to break down this season.
A repeat of the result they were able to pull off at Adams Park earlier in the season, when they won 2-0 courtesy of goals from Alessandra and Hartley would be the perfect outcome for Argyle.
It is also worth mentioning that when they last reached Wembley in 1996, they made it there after losing their first leg and winning their second against Colchester United.
Sunday, 10 May 2015
KEEP CALM AND PASS IT TO BANTON - WITH ONE MINUTE LEFT
Plymouth Argyle winger Jason Banton believes his second goal for the Pilgrims against Wycombe Wanderers is more important than the goal he scored against Exeter City in March 2013.
Banton's strike against the Grecians, which proved to be crucial in the 60th league meeting between Argyle and City, helped to ease Argyle's relegation worries in the 2012-13 season.
Against the Chairboys, Banton - who came off the bench on 53 minutes - struck in the 89th minute to reduce the Pilgrims' arrears to a single goal after fellow substitute Zak Ansah had scored three minutes earlier.
But he thinks his most recent effort against the Chairboys can give the Pilgrims the belief that they can go to Adams Park and compete with Wycombe.
"I was coming on, I could literally see the third goal going in, " said Banton.
"But the gaffer’s (John Sheridan) message was to get a goal back and put them under pressure.
Banton's strike against the Grecians, which proved to be crucial in the 60th league meeting between Argyle and City, helped to ease Argyle's relegation worries in the 2012-13 season.
Against the Chairboys, Banton - who came off the bench on 53 minutes - struck in the 89th minute to reduce the Pilgrims' arrears to a single goal after fellow substitute Zak Ansah had scored three minutes earlier.
But he thinks his most recent effort against the Chairboys can give the Pilgrims the belief that they can go to Adams Park and compete with Wycombe.
"I was coming on, I could literally see the third goal going in, " said Banton.
"But the gaffer’s (John Sheridan) message was to get a goal back and put them under pressure.
"That’s what we did with Zak’s (Ansah) goal and with a goal in the
last minute of normal time, and I was happy to get that one.
"You could see at the final whistle that they (Wycombe) didn’t
look too happy.
"The goal I scored against Exeter (in 2013) was a good goal
and a very clean goal, but I think this could be a bigger goal, as it gives us
the belief that we can go to Wycombe and compete."
The former Crystal Palace starlet also paid tribute to the club's Australian Performance Manager John Harbin, who has helped to instil that level of belief in the Pilgrims.
He said: "John Harbin has taught us throughout the season - and since
he has been here at the club- to never give up regardless and show good
character, and the fans had a big part to play in that. "
LATE SHOW FROM ZAK AND JASON EASE PILGRIMS WORRIES
Just when Plymouth Argyle's Play-offs hopes looked to have taken a major blow against Wycombe Wanderers, two late goals from substitutes Zak Ansah and Jason Banton provided the Pilgrims with fresh momentum going into Thursday's second leg.
The Chairboys led 3-0 thanks to goals from former Argyle loanee Paul Hayes, Aaron Holloway and Steven Craig, but the introduction of Ansah and Banton sparked a revival for the Pilgrims, which resulted in the duo scoring in the 86th and 89th minutes respectively.
Banton's second goal could prove to be every bit as important, if not more, than the goal he scored against Exeter City in March 2013.
At 3-1 down going into their return at Adams Park, Argyle would still have had a mountain to climb, but now - at half-time in the tie - they can go there believing that an early goal can put the pressure right back on to Wycombe.
Earlier in the season, the Pilgrims beat the Chairboys 2-0 thanks to goals from Lewis Alessandra and Peter Hartley.
An identical score line on Thursday, in a match that will once again be televised on Sky TV, would be enough to see Argyle reach Wembley.
The Chairboys led 3-0 thanks to goals from former Argyle loanee Paul Hayes, Aaron Holloway and Steven Craig, but the introduction of Ansah and Banton sparked a revival for the Pilgrims, which resulted in the duo scoring in the 86th and 89th minutes respectively.
Banton's second goal could prove to be every bit as important, if not more, than the goal he scored against Exeter City in March 2013.
At 3-1 down going into their return at Adams Park, Argyle would still have had a mountain to climb, but now - at half-time in the tie - they can go there believing that an early goal can put the pressure right back on to Wycombe.
Earlier in the season, the Pilgrims beat the Chairboys 2-0 thanks to goals from Lewis Alessandra and Peter Hartley.
An identical score line on Thursday, in a match that will once again be televised on Sky TV, would be enough to see Argyle reach Wembley.
Saturday, 9 May 2015
PILGRIM'S PLAY-OFF FACTFILE
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE:
League position: 7th
Previous Play-off appearances: 1993-94 Division Two, 1995-96
Division Three (winners)
Top scorer: Reuben Reid 20
Last season’s league finish: 10th
Last promotion success: 2003-04 Division Two Champions
WYCOMBE WANDERERS:
League position: 4th
Previous Play-off appearances: 1993-94 Division Three
(winners), 2005-06 League Two, 2007-08 League Two
Top scorer: Paul Hayes 13
Last season’s league finish: 22nd
Last promotion success: 2010-11 League Two Runners-up
ARGYLE REACH ANOTHER LANDMARK
For the first time since they exited Administration in
October 2011, Plymouth Argyle now have a genuine opportunity to win promotion
from League Two after reaching this season’s Play-offs.
Two legs with Wycombe Wanderers, who finished 13 points
clear of the Pilgrims in 4th place in the league table, is all that
stands between Argyle and a first Wembley appearance since the 1996 Division
Play-off final with Darlington.
Over the past couple of years, a number of milestones have
been achieved by the club. Top scorer Reuben Reid became the first Pilgrims
striker since Tommy Tynan to score 20 goals or more in a season.
In this current campaign, he became the first Argyle forward
since Tynan to manage the feat twice.
Also this season, goalkeeper Luke McCormick kept 21 clean
sheets, which is a higher number than any keeper in Europe this season.
And manager John Sheridan now has the opportunity to join a
list of Pilgrims managers that includes Tony Waiters, Dave Smith, Neil Warnock
and Paul Sturrock who have led Argyle to promotion in living memory.
In a career that has seen him appear in two World Cups and
score a winning goal in a League Cup final as a player, and win a League Two
title and Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as a manager, further success with Argyle would
sit very comfortably alongside them.
Sunday, 3 May 2015
PILGRIMS SECURE PLAY-OFF SPOT
Plymouth Argyle can now look forward to a two-legged League Two Play-off semi-final with Wycombe Wanderers, after securing their fourth and final spot with a win away at Shrewsbury Town.
Whilst the Pilgrims needed a point to wrap up 7th place in the table, the Shrews - who included former Torquay United defender and childhood Argyle fan Mark Ellis in their side - needed to win to be with a chance of clinching the League Two title at the expense of Burton Albion.
First half goals from Bobby Reid and Kelvin Mellor proved to be enough to see the Pilgrims tame the Shrews and seal the fourth and final Play-off place.
It is the only the third time in Argyle's history that they have been involved in the end of season showdown. The other two occasions were in the 1993-94 season when they lost in the semi-final to Burnley in the 'old Division Two', and two years later when they defeated Darlington under Neil Warnock at Wembley after beating Colchester United in the semis.
Whilst the Pilgrims needed a point to wrap up 7th place in the table, the Shrews - who included former Torquay United defender and childhood Argyle fan Mark Ellis in their side - needed to win to be with a chance of clinching the League Two title at the expense of Burton Albion.
First half goals from Bobby Reid and Kelvin Mellor proved to be enough to see the Pilgrims tame the Shrews and seal the fourth and final Play-off place.
It is the only the third time in Argyle's history that they have been involved in the end of season showdown. The other two occasions were in the 1993-94 season when they lost in the semi-final to Burnley in the 'old Division Two', and two years later when they defeated Darlington under Neil Warnock at Wembley after beating Colchester United in the semis.
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