World News – UK – Alarm bells are ringing over Argyle’s defensive game

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Thank goodness the Green Army’s impending partial return to Home Park did not coincide with Plymouth Argyle’s 4-0 loss to Rochdale.

Instead, the fans watched the live streaming service I-Follow as the pilgrims were beaten loudly.

There is no escape, there must be some concern after the recent heavy losses at Fleetwood Town (5-1) and now against Rochdale.

The focus is on the team’s defensive record – 25 goals conceded in 14 League One games – and whether this can be improved.

Fleetwood and Rochdale were able to repeatedly stand behind the pilgrims’ defense and take advantage of the space behind the full-backs.

Ipswich Town will do the same when they visit Home Park on Saturday for the first game of the season that is not behind closed doors.

A temporary capacity of 1. 808 people will be allowed to take part in the game and there will understandably be a lot of excitement about it.

But Argyle have to come up with a better defensive performance and if they face Ipswich in fifth place the occasion will go flat in time.

Both were replaced by Ryan Lowe at halftime, with Will Aimson and Jerome Opoku replacing them.

That was a significant move by Lowe, but while Wootton and Canavan weren’t exactly covered in fame, they weren’t meant to be scapegoats for the heavy defeat.

Front to back, Argyle wasn’t good enough. Her whole approach to the game didn’t seem right.

Where was the conviction to play from defense and through the thirds with a purpose and a pace?

It was nowhere to be seen at the start of the game, and thanks to some gifts, the 20th took advantage of it. Rochdale took full advantage.

While it is easy to blame the defense and they were heavily to blame, it was not that easy to just be their responsibility.

The full-backs have a tough job because so much is expected of them from an offensive perspective.

That is, communication between them and the defense must be better to prevent the opposition from freely attacking the channels.

Midfielder Danny Mayor was absent from Rochdale, as he did in Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup second round win over Lincoln City at Home Park.

Argyle certainly missed his creativity and his ability to take the opponent into the background.

There weren’t enough penetrating passes without him and in the second half, despite Argyle trailing 3-0, they went straight too often.

Rochdale was able to sit down, keep himself in good shape defensively, and fend off whatever the Pilgrims threw at them.

Lowe will point out that Argyle kept clean sheets against Lincoln with exactly the same starting line-up as they did when they visited Rochdale, to prove they are capable of doing what he wants them to.

But even 10 goals conceded in the last three league games must be worrying.

With club captain Gary Sawyer a victim of a long-term injury, Lowe will still have to choose between Aimson, Canavan, Opoku, Watts and Wootton to line up on the defense.

Everyone has shown in spells that they can do a job for Argyle, but consistency was an issue.

It should be added that a sense of perspective is required. Argyle had four straight wins in all competitions before a creditable 2-2 draw with Portsmouth on TV.

The season up to this point was considered a success. Three straight defeats later in the league and everything has changed.

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To be fair, most newcomers have ups and downs, and Argyle is certainly down right now.

That doesn’t mean that with better defensive organization and resilience, you can’t turn your form and earn good points again.

But the players will know that more defensive performances like the one against Rochdale that are so close to that at Fleetwood cannot be tolerated.

Plymouth Argyle F. . C.. . , Rochdale A. . F.. . C.. . , EFL League One, Ryan Lowe, Jake Beesley