Mumba 2.0 and Argyle's record-breaking week
Why Mumba could be Danny Mayor's replacement
To say that this week was momentous in the history of our football club might sound like hyperbole – but it will be pivotal beyond this season.
After a decade of footballing austerity, the club has made significant investments, in the form of two of the brightest young players at this level.
In a single week Argyle broke – and then equaled – the club record transfer fee by dropping £2m (+ add ons) on two of last season’s loan stars.
Not only are Whittaker and Mumba two talents that bolster the team ahead of the Championship season, but their addition also provides continuity, keeping a bigger nucleus of players from the promotion team, which can only be beneficial for spirit and cohesion.
But it also speaks volumes about Simon Hallett’s view of running the football club as a business. Whittaker and Mumba are investments – but because we know so much about them – relatively safe ones at that.
Spending £1m on a Championship player these days is commonplace. If these two establish themselves at this level, which they were not given the chance to do at their former clubs, they could net 5x that value in return and help secure our Championship status for years to come.
So this is not the spendthrift approach of New World Argyle. This is a sensible investment that the club would be mad to pass up.
MW10: Round peg, round hole
Whittaker’s return, while a dream come true in many respects, makes so much sense.
Schumacher and Dewsnip have changed the system this season, and it appears we’ll line up with a back four, rather than a back 3 (with wingbacks), for the first time since Adams.
We’ve used a 4-3-3, as seen in the Forest Green and Blackpool games, which fluidly moves into a 4-2-3-1, and sees full backs drop in centrally during attacks, rather than hugging the wings.
Whittaker is a round peg in a round hole in terms of our attacking requirements in this system. He will be cutting in from the right of a front three, onto his preferred left foot.
As we all know, Morgs carries an abundance of threat. The stats from his 25 games in League 1 speak for themselves:
9 goals
7 assists
xG/90: 0.4 (95th percentile)
Goal involvement/90: 0.83 - (98th percentile)
Shots/90: 2.85 (97th percentile)
It’s often overlooked that he did play 15 Championship games for Swansea after recall, although these were generally short cameos, and only two starts. The stats are clearly nowhere near his time at Argyle, and nor would we expect them to be, when grabbing minutes as a bit-part player, in a team he didn’t want to return to.
But his xG was still 0.22, which puts him in the 89th percentile league-wide – and demonstrates how dangerous he was even with limited minutes.
Watch Whittaker’s stunner
And Whittaker scored a beauty within hours of re-signing – and you can watch his sumptuous volley against Torquay below.
Bali Mumba 2.0 – the new Danny Mayor?
The more interesting, and even more surprising addition, was Bali Mumba. On leaving Argyle he seemed to be in Norwich’s plans, but David Wagner appears to have changed his mind.
But things have changed at Argyle too.
It feels unlikely that Schumacher will revert to a back three simply because Mumba is available, even if he has been given the #2 shirt. And for our money nor should he. Our aggressive wingbacks in the former 3-4-3 would become a liability in the Championship, and we were targeted in behind by the stronger League One teams (and Bolton) last time out.
A back four enables us to add a man in the middle of the park, offer greater control through opposition pressing, and prevent us from becoming overwhelmed in the middle. (Watch this prediction age like milk.)
Mumba about to receive the ball in the forward left role
But what about Mumba? Well, it seems to me as if Mumba has been signed to replace Danny Mayor, and not to (primarily) reprise his role at LWB.
Indeed, that’s exactly where Mumba lined up in the Forest Green game hours after signing his four-year deal. This position enables Argyle to extract all of Mumba’s best qualities, without carrying his weaknesses in defence.
The clear front line with Callum Wright playing behind. Mumba (out of shot) scores moments later from the left.
Adam Price at Argyle Life highlighted Mumba’s stats for dribbles completed (61 vs 25 with Mayor), shots (39 vs not a lot), and fouls drawn. In most departments, Mumba compares more favourably with the shot-shy Danny Mayor.
We will likely have egg on our faces when Mumba lines up at LB on 5 August. Or ends up there when Miller is inevitably injured. But if we were excited about Bali Mumba’s return, we’re buzzing about the prospect of him and Whittaker tearing up full backs in the Championship next season.
The season starts in 12 days
So where the hell are we with transfers and the squad? By watching the pre-season highlights on Argyle TV it looks like the above.
I didn’t put Issaka on because there was no room to write his name. But it shows we are light up top, and *really* light playing a three-man midfield.
It looks as if we’ll need at least four signings, in central and right forward positions, as well as the middle of the park. Expect us to fully use the four available loan slots this week.
A serious ball-winner is also a must. Someone with the attributes of Matete (even with the yellow cards) must be top of the shopping list. Not just to break up play, but also to beat the press.
Oh, and the season starts in 12 days. And if you’re reading this on Tuesday, that’s 11.
Good luck Jimmy D.