Plymouth Argyle conceded three to both Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough in their recent outings.
Although their lack of wealth in comparison to those around them has often been discussed, they don’t appear at all out of place.
Nevertheless, Steven Schumacher’s team is currently giving up a lot of goals, so they won’t always be able to outscore opponents.
Problems with defense at Home Park
After 15 games, everyone in the championship indicates that we are approximately one-third of the way through the season.
With nine goals allowed, league leaders Leicester City have given up the fewest goals in the division, which is not unexpected considering their caliber as Premier League players.
Conversely, Norwich City’s defense is the weakest in the division, having allowed a staggering thirty goals.
Meanwhile, three sides have conceded the second most goals (27). Huddersfield Town, Rotherham United, and Queens’ Park Rangers are the trio in question, and it’s no huge surprise they sit 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, respectively, on the table at the time of writing.
Argyle and Southampton come next with 25 goals conceded across 15 games, which is a record that may be worrying Schumacher and co. down in the South West.
Granted, only Leicester City and Ipswich Town, the top two, have scored more than the Pilgrims, but still, there are issues at the back.
Michael Cooper has recently returned to the starting XI in goal, and while he was shaky at times in the 3-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, he has hardly been at fault for the six goals that Argyle have shipped in the two subsequent outings.
Ipswich and Middlesbrough are two very impressive attacking units, but from a green and white perspective, it just isn’t good enough.
Dan Scarr and Lewis Gibson have been the most used center-back partnership, although Spaniard Julio Pleguezuelo has been knocking on the door and has made six starts of his own in the league.
Schumacher has deployed both a four-at-the-back system and a five-at-the-back system with varying success, and when it is the former, he goes for a mix of youth and experience with Aston Villa loanee Kaine Kesler-Hayden and club captain Joe Edwards.
Argyle have the fifth worst xGA, tied with Swansea City at 1.47, while they are currently conceding 1.67 goals per 90.
This could be one point of optimism, as the numbers tend to even out across a whole season, and at the moment, they are underperforming this metric.
On the flipside, Schumacher’s are massively overperforming their xG numbers, so a solid defense may become even more of a priority if they fall off in front of goal. Argyle have scored the third most goals in the division alongside Norwich City at 1.73 per 90, but their xG of 1.41 has them down in 11th.
Could Plymouth Argyle be busy in the January transfer window?
There are a number of factors that could raise an eyebrow or two when viewing those expected goal numbers.
It has to be said that there is no obvious weak link for the Greens in the defensive third, but Schumacher could delve into the market in January all the same.
Former Chelsea youngster Jordan Houghton has started 13 of the 15 Championship games to date, and whilst he isn’t an out-and-out defensive midfielder, he tends to operate as the deepest of the midfield three.
If Schumacher is to continue with a four-at-the-back system, then an out-and-out defensive midfielder could be what his team needs. Looking at the most recent outing, the 3-3 draw at home with ‘Boro, both Finn Azaz and Luke Cundle regularly pushed forward, which increased the strain on Houghton.
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