Got bored last season and did away with my score prediction thread. I managed a full season the year before, because we were locked down for most of it, and it gave me something to do. I'm going to try and do a bit more of a preview this season, rather than just look at the form of our opposition. Don't expect the full history like (MK Dons for example won't take much explaining), but just a few things I've picked up on in terms of likely lineups or missing players etc. Plymouth Despite an impressive 80 points total last season, Argyle were 3 shy of the Play-Offs (mad when you consider we were promoted automatically to the Premier League with 80 points). I'd misremembered how much their season dropped off when Steven Schumacher took over in December. They were 4th at the time, and did go on an impressive run after the New Year. A tough run of fixtures at the end of the season, where they won one of their last 7, culminated in their 5-0 defeat at home to the aforementioned Dons. At home, only Sheffield Wednesday conceded fewer goals last season. Discounting the MK Dons game, they only conceded 14 goals in 22 home games. Coincidentally, they kept a clean sheet in their last 9 victories (8 of which were at home), and with our track record of folding when going a goal down, I feel that we may struggle if we go behind. Plymouth will be without Conor Grant, who is recovering from groin surgery. The Influential midfielder had 7 goals and 6 assists last season, so will be a big miss in the early part of the season. They will also be without Jordan Houghton who was dismissed on the final game of last season. Panutche Kamara is also expected to miss out as he comes back to fitness. The Plymouth Herald suggests Argyle have been lining up with a 3-4-2-1 formation in pre-season. They've not been overly active in the transfer market, but they've not lost anyone of any note either. Our recent history at Plymouth has been reasonably good. We've won 3 of our last 5 visits to Home Park (4 in 5 if you count the game that never was ). We're unbeaten in our last 3 visits to Plymouth, and have lost just 3 in 14 both home and away. I'm not convinced we're ready for the new season just yet. Jordan Williams is likely to play at right wing back, and probably isn't fully fit. It does appear that Helik and Styles will be available for selection, which is a positive, but we still appear a little light in attack. I'm going for 0-0, two sides who appear to be reasonably solid defensively, cancelling each other out. A good start to the season, but we really are a few players light.
1-1 I reckon, I think first game, all the way down south, new players involved, new management, I'll be very happy with that. Aitchinson with the goal
Got to be positive 1st game of the season i cant see us scoring many with the current lot of strikers but i think our defence will be solid 1 nil barnsley im going for.
I will take 0-0 hopefully we give nothing away at the back. Nice to nick a goal, but will be surprised, don't think we are ready yet.
2-0 loss followed by a 1-1 home draw and a flurry of negative posts on here. I’m sensing a slow start to the season, but I really do hope to be proven wrong.
Got 0-0 written all over it We never win our first game if it’s away so I’d be more than happy with a draw Narrow 1-0 defeat next most likely outcome