Plymouth Argyle

Argyle offer Capaldi new contract
Plymouth boss Ian Holloway has revealed the club have made a second and final contract offer to Tony Capaldi. The Northern Ireland midfielder will be a free agent next summer and has already rejected Argyle's first offer. But Holloway, who is prepared to sell the 25-year-old in January if he does not agree a new deal, said: \"We have put in our final offer to him. \"We can't offer the terms he and his agent want but we've gone as far as we can and hope to convince him to stay.\" It has been reported that Capaldi is a winter target for Championship rivals Wolves and, while Holloway denied receiving an official approach, he added: \"I imagine someone would show an interest. \"I have inherited a situation where it has been let go. If I had have been here last year I would have tried to sort it out a lot earlier. \"We're trying to offer him a good deal but if we can't match what he wants he will have to go in the window. \"We might not be able to afford what other clubs can, but I would rather have what we have. Agents sit there promising players better deals but it's about you, your life and what suits your family.\"

Preston v Plymouth
Preston striker Patrick Agyemang is out for up to six weeks with a groin injury, joining fellow striker Neil Mellor (knee) on the sidelines. Defender Callum Davidson (groin and knee) returned to training but is unlikely to be ready. Plymouth add Paul Connolly (hamstring), Lee Hodges (knee) and Nick Chadwick to a lengthy injury list. Boss Ian Holloway will welcome back defender Hasney Aljofree and midfielder David Norris after one-match bans.

Plymouth 2-2 West Brom
A stunning double in first-half injury time from Kevin Phillips gave 10-man West Brom an unlikely point. The Pilgrims went ahead when Barry Hayles slotted home from an acute angle after 23 minutes and Lilian Nalis made it 2-0 with a towering header. But that 40th-minute goal seemed to wake up Phillips and his team-mates. The former Aston Villa striker pulled one back from John Hartson's cut-back to bury before equalising seconds later with an unstoppable 30-yard drive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: Larrieu, Seip, Doumbe, Aljofree, Capaldi, Norris, Buzsaky, Nalis, Djordjic (Samba 22), Ebanks-Blake, Hayles. Subs Not Used: McCormick, Sawyer, Summerfield, Gosling. Booked: Ebanks-Blake, Samba. Goals: Hayles 23, Nalis 40. West Brom: Hoult, Albrechtsen (Clement 46), Davies, McShane, Robinson, Kamara, Carter, Greening, Koumas (Gera 74), Phillips, Hartson (Ellington 74). Subs Not Used: Zuberbuhler, Chaplow. Sent Off: Clement (90). Booked: Robinson, Carter, Clement, Davies. Goals: Phillips 45, 45. Att: 15,172 Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).

Cardiff 2-2 Plymouth
A brace for David Norris sandwiched between two Steve Thompson strikes saw honours shared at Ninian Park. Norris ended three goal-less months in the 34th minute with a low shot after Barry Hayles slid the ball to him. After the break Thompson seized on Ricky Scimeca's pass to drive in a low shot, then got a second on 52 minutes. Kevin McNaughton crossed from the right after a superb run and Thompson powered in a header, but Hayles and Norris again combined to force the equaliser. Hayles and then Cardiff centre-back Roger Johnson both missed excellent late chances to claim all three points for their respective teams, leaving the Bluebirds without a Championship win in eight games. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cardiff manager Dave Jones: \"The first half was a non-event and we were never going to create anything. \"I gave them a rocket at the interval and in the second half we picked up and played the game more at our tempo. \"The players are low on confidence at the moment and the side needs help so hopefully we can bring in some fresh faces to liven up the squad.\" Plymouth manager Ian Holloway: \"I don't think a draw was a fair result. \"We would have taken two draws from the games against Cardiff at the start of the season but they have been on a poor run of form and it showed in their edgy first half performance - I'm disappointed we have not won the game. \"Credit to them for coming out after the break and scoring two quick goals and it must have been because of what the manager said to them in the dressing room. \"I still believe that football should close down over the Christmas period as everyone out there looked as though they wanted to be at home with their families.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cardiff: Alexander, McNaughton, Purse, Johnson, Wright (Flood 64), Parry (Blake 80), McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley, Chopra, Thompson. Subs Not Used: Howard, Campbell, Gunter. Booked: Purse, Flood. Goals: Thompson 47, 52. Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly (Samba 63), Aljofree, Doumbe, Seip, Capaldi, Norris, Nalis, Buzsaky, Ebanks-Blake, Hayles. Subs Not Used: McCormick, Sawyer, Dickson, Summerfield. Booked: Hayles, Ebanks-Blake, Doumbe, Aljofree. Goals: Norris 34, 59. Att: 17,299 Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

Plymouth hit by Djordjic injury
Plymouth winger Bojan Djordjic will be out of action for a few games with a broken nose and cracked cheekbone. The former Manchester United player was taken off against Cardiff on Boxing Day after suffering the facial injuries. Boss Ian Holloway told SSB: \"When I first came here I'm not sure he would have gone in for a challenge like that and I'm delighted that he did. \"He will have a good future with me because he's responded fantastically to the way I want my players to perform.\" Holloway added: \"All the team must give me everything and he is living proof of that.\"

Plymouth v Southampton
Plymouth could be without striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake after he hobbled out of Saturday's defeat at Derby. Fellow attacker Nick Chadwick (groin) is out but Paul Connolly is set to continue his comeback from injury. Southampton are light in midfield with Nathan Dyer, Inigo Idiakez and Andrew Surman all sidelined. Winger Dyer faces a scan on a suspected fractured ankle, Idiakez has a thigh problem and Surman is out with a knee ligament injury.

Peterborough v Plymouth
Peterborough winger Josh Low could make his debut but Mark Tyler is struggling with an ankle injury so Paul Rachubka's loan spell may be extended. Peter Gain and Jamie Day are fit again, but left-back Adam Smith is cup-tied. Plymouth skipper Paul Wotton is out for the rest of the season and Barry Hayles is suspended. Reuben Reid is likely to start and Paul Connolly could come back into contention after being rested following his return from a hamstring injury.

FA contacts Holloway over Blatter
Plymouth manager Ian Holloway could be disciplined for comments he reportedly made about Fifa president Sepp Blatter. Holloway allegedly blamed Blatter for the changes to the offside law and labelled him "an idiot and a lunatic" after the 1-1 draw with Southampton. Argyle had a late goal ruled out for offside in the New Year's Day game at Home Park. A Football Association spokesman said: "We have written to Ian Holloway for his explanation as to these comments." Holloway reportedly said: "Sepp Blatter: you are an idiot. Put the rules back to what they should be. He is a complete lunatic." Blatter is not personally responsible for the changes to the offside rules - they are determined by the International FA Board, which is made up of representatives from Fifa and the four home nations.

Holloway plays down Blatter row
Plymouth boss Ian Holloway says he does not expect to be disciplined by the Football Association after his comments about Fifa president Sepp Blatter. The FA asked Holloway to explain his comments after he had labelled Blatter "an idiot and a lunatic." But Holloway said: "If you look at the context of my interview somebody has made a mountain out of a molehill. "The interview itself will be sent off to the FA and I'm sure I will not hear anything more about it."

Holloway dismay at Argyle apathy
Plymouth manager Ian Holloway is unhappy about the attitude of his players in recent matches. Argyle were thumped 4-0 at Burnley on Tuesday and Holloway said: "They think they are on holiday already. "There's no point in ranting at them - they know how I feel. There's an apathy about the place that I can't stand. "Everyone is saying nice things about Plymouth and the FA Cup run and how we didn't deserve to lose to Watford, but we've been rubbish ever since."

Larrieu in line for quick recall
Romain Larrieu is in line for an instant return to the Plymouth first-team following his recall from a loan spell at Gillingham. Larrieu, 30, has been at Priestfield since January but the Pilgrims recalled him when Gillingham were safe. Asssitant manager Tim Breacker told the Plymouth Herald: "We we wanted him to be part of the hte last three games. "We want to have a good look at him, although that is no reflection on Luke McCormick who has been excellent."

Nalis agrees Plymouth extension
Plymouth midfielder Lilian Nalis has agreed a new contract extension with the club. Nalis, who joined the club after he was released by Sheffield United in January, has made 39 appearances and scored four times this season. Manager Ian Holloway said of the 35-year-old: "Lilian has been outstanding this year. "I always want to keep our better players. He's good enough to have had other choices and he's chosen us."

Penrice to help Argyle's strikers
Plymouth chief scout Gary Penrice has taken time out from searching for potential transfer targets to work with Argyle's strikers. Pilgrims boss Ian Holloway told his club's website: "Gary had an hour's talk with Sylvain Ebanks-Blake last week and went through a video with him. "They talked about movement in the box and there was definite improvement from Sylvain against Southend on Saturday. "Next season I do see Gary having an active role with our young strikers."

Plymouth keen to snap up Halmosi
Plymouth manager Ian Holloway says he hopes to sign winger Peter Halmosi after his loan deal from Hungarian side Debreceni VSC has expired. A fee of around £400,000 would be needed to secure the services of the 27-year-old Hungary international. "I like to keep good players at my football club. Hopefully I can do that," said Holloway. "I'm sure if the lad wants to stay we can go through with it. Quality always comes through and he's quality."

Capaldi leaves Argyle for Cardiff
Cardiff have signed out-of-contract Plymouth midfielder Tony Capaldi. The Northern Ireland international, who has won 20 caps, can also play at left-back and will leave Home Park when his contract expires on 30 June. The 25-year-old joined Argyle on a free transfer from Birmingham in 2003 and has played 132 games for the club. The Blues and Midlands rivals Wolves were also thought to be interested in Capaldi, but Cardiff have persuaded the player to move to south Wales. Sunderland, Norwich City and Crystal Palace have also previously expressed an interest for a player who was born in Porsgrunn, Norway, but qualified for Northern Ireland through his Belfast-born mother. The Bluebirds have not yet released details of the contract with Capaldi, but he is believed to have signed a three-year deal. Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale hailed his capture: "The signing of Tony is an important one for the club. "We had to be clever and move fast to secure his services and fought off some serious competition. "We are very pleased that we have managed to make the first signing of our new summer programme." Cardiff are also thought to be interested in signing Chris Killen who is out of contract at Hibernian, although they may face stiff competition from Hearts for the New Zealand striker.

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