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Plymouth
Report Card: In previous seasons, a position in 21st place after four games would be classed as success but in an era when Plymouth have established themselves as a decent side in the Championship, this classes as a slow start. Paul Sturrock will be pleased with the capture of Emile Mpenza before Monday's transfer deadline to perk up his side's attacking options. Much needed after not registering a goal since an opening day draw with Wolves. Since that date they have been dumped out of the Carling Cup by a struggling Luton side and been convincingly beaten by Swansea and Reading before registering a point against a 10-men Burnley side. Hopefully the added influence of foreign style will help Argyle to register a few more points as side's around them get going.
Plus Points?
The draw with Wolves can be reflected on a decent point, if you take into account the Wanderers current position and picking up an away draw with Burnley may be valuable come the end of the season. Much of the optimism surrounding the club is related to the confidence in their manager who has been there and done it and also the signing of former City and Belgium striker Mpenza which should lead to some more goals.
Where they need to improve?
Since being beaten by Luton, the fact that Argyle have failed to register a goal since the opening weekend of the campaign demonstrates their problems. They toiled for 90 minutes against Swansea at home without creating many oppertunities and were outplayed by Reading at the Madeski. Unfortunately for Plymouth, they are in danger of being left behind by the teams they should be competing against and if their target it a top ten finish they will have to go a long way to improve on their current showing.
Targets for the next term...
- Score more goals
- Push on for home victories
- Capitalise on the limited number of chances they create, it's what the best teams do.
Southampton
Report Card: The Saint's current predicament lies as much with off-field problems as it does with performances on a Saturday. The nature of the club's position is slightly improved on last year when they faced a real struggle for survival, but surely the South Coast's side's long suffering fans will be hoping their team will not provide them with any final day nail-bitting moments this time around. Only in two of the season's since their relegation have Southampton shown any of the battling qualities of their late 90's side and although their performance against Birmingham and the win away Derby produced much optimism, having just three points will be of little comfort to their fans.
Plus Points?
If the results have not been a lot to be greatful for, then their performances have. They can take pride from their defeat to Birmingham and paticularily reversing the result a week later when they booked their place in the Carling Cup 3rd round. The win away against Derby proved that they have the potential to claim victory against the odds and when they are least fancied, who knows how valuable those three points at Pride Park might just be. With a young side, Southampton are doing the right thing, the right way for the club but if this plan A of sustaining themselves in the division does not work then it is inconcievable what might happen.
Where they need to improve?
Southampton's young side are showing all the hallmarks of youthfulness in their attacking performances but also in defensive areas where they have leaked goals late on. Having got themselves back in the game against Cardiff they lost it in the last minute and were almost caught by the same trap against Exter in the League Cup. Taking the lead against Birmingham in their St Mary's encounter was a bonus but only holding onto it for three minutes after half time was not the best way to go about getting anything out of the game against one of the strongest side's in the division.
Targets for the next term...
- Trying to avoid home defeats.
- Concentrating for 90 mins and preventing late goals.
- Creating more oppertunities away from home.
Norwich
Report Card: Norwich's current total of points, probably isn't that bad considering they have made a trip to Cardiff and also ended Birmingham's winning record. However the charge up the table at the start of Roeder's tenure of management seems long forgotten as City came into this season off the back of a heavy defeat in their final game of the previous season and picked up where they left off against Coventry. Although they eased their relegation worries before being pounded by Sheffield Wednesday, as Derby have discovered, losing is a habit. After a dispointing result in their opening game, the Canaries will have suffered that sinking feeling away to MK Dons when they were beaten but the East-Anglian side have improved to earn three draws in their last three games, coming from two goals down against Cardiff, sandwiched in between overturning two seperate one goal defecits against Blackpool and Birmingham.
Plus Points?
Their recent run of results suggest that they are finding light at the end of the tunnel, or at least that is what they hope. Their resilliance in an anway draw with Cardiff demonstrated that they are not a beaten side until the final whistle blows and ending Birmingham's 100% record is something they should be given great credit for. The fact they they continue to come up with late-ish goals in tight games will give them confidence and will certainly be of use later in the season if the playoffs are their target. The problem is they must build on three games unbeaten and turn it into four, not suffer a fourth game without a win.
Where they need to improve?
Converting draws into wins could be the key to Norwich having a good season. Even after an early defeat however Glen Roeder became a man under pressure and that will not be what he needs after all the speculation and struggles of 2007/08. Although they earned a creditable draw with Birmingham, they also suffered an equally unspectacular draw with Blackpool who will probably be the kind of team Norwich need to beat if they are to avoid another season perilously close to the drop zone.
Targets for the next term...
- Don't rely on late goals to earn or save them points
- Create more chances for their strikers.
- Take the initiative at home rather than having come come from behind.
Ipswich
Report Card: Perched nicely above their closest rivals, Ipswich will probably take a position above Norwich as a success come the end of the season, but sitting in 17th is probably not that a team in the playoff hunt on the final day of last season were looking for to begin their new campaign. Town's start to the season was poor and pretty much set the tone for a minor improvement which was then derailed by a loss to Watford in the last game before the two-week break. The Tractor Boy's got their season off to a great start with a goal after three minutes but their fortress home ground was stormed by Preston who came back to win 2-1. From there Ipswich batter Leyton Orient and beat a helpless Burnley side 3-0 away from home as things started to look like the reverse of last season where home form-good, away form-bad seemed to be the theme. A 2-0 beating my Wolves ensued in their next game before a narrow defeat to Watford rounded off their first four games of this new Championship season.
Plus Points?
Bouncing back from a surprising defeat on the opening day of the season with comprehensive beating of Leyton Orient and Burnley showed that this side does know the way to goal. The honesty of their manager Jim Magilton has also been refreshing, admitting that his side have not been good enough. The way they held on for so long against Watford was also admirable but performances like that soon get forgotten unless they are finished off with a victory or a draw.
Where they need to improve?
So far this season Town's form has range from devestatingly good to limply and embarassingly bad. They will need to decide what exactly they want to be in the next few weeks if they are to save their supporters from a season of rollercoaster performances. The fact that their home form was so good last season in contrast with their Portman road performances this year causes concern as it is well known that sides who are battling at the top of the league usually have impecable home records. Being that that is probably their ambitious managers aim, they will need to make sure those are the only two home defeats they suffer this term.
Targets for the next term...
- Find some consistency.
- Improve their home form.
- Demonstrate their ability to kill off teams with the likes of the attacking performance they put in against Burnley.