Ben Waine (Plymouth Argyle | England)

Plymouth (2nd on GD) host Portsmouth (10th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/11/england/league-one/plymouth-argyle-fc/portsmouth-football-club/3810003/

Unused sub in a 3-1 win

Argyle in action away to Oxford tomorrow who are 16th. If Argyle decide to go with a front 2 again perhaps Cosgrove or Hardie could have a rest and start on the bench while Waine starts up top with either one of them.

Another possible chance for Waine to start in the EFL Trophy SF next week.

Yipe Plymouth (1st) travel Oxford (16th).

Ex Nixer J-Rod recovered from his bad knee injury to start this season with Oxford (8 starts from 20 games). But hasn't been in a match day squad since Dec last year, so presume injured again.

Re Waine, sounds like he was bossed by some large CBs against Sheffield Wednesday as a lone striker, and subbed at HT. Going forward it may well depend on the opposition which games Waine gets mins in, as he adjusts to the physicality in the UK. 

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/14/england/league-one/oxford-united-fc/plymouth-argyle-fc/3810014/

I wish there were streams for these games.

MetalLegNZ

I wish there were streams for these games.

There is a pay per view one for overseas fans I think, kind of pricey though. 

Plymouth up 2-1. Waine riding the pine.

Edit - Waine on at 76 mins (2-1), and Plymouth with a 3rd to lead 3-1 at 94 mins.

Plymouth (1st) host Fleetwood Town (17th)

https://au.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/18/england/league-one/plymouth-argyle-fc/fleetwood-town-fc/3810026/

Not in match day squad for a 0-0 draw

Woah, and they drew 0 all.

One game from Wembley. Two League One sides in an EFL Trophy semi final. Plymouth (2nd) host Cheltenham Town (19th/4 pts above the drop zone).
Other semi is Accrington Stanley verus Bolton Wanderers.

Remember Waine scored in Plymouth's win over Bristol Rovers in their QF.

Plymouth looking good for promotion, 8 points clear of Ipswich (3rd). Top 2 automatically promoted. But have a toughest game on the weekend away to
Peterborough (9th). Might be a chance for Waine to start this semi, as promotion is of course the bigger prize.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/21/england/football-league-trophy/plymouth-argyle-fc/cheltenham-town-fc/4021196/

Waine on the bench for the semi. 

Waine the only unused sub (other than the goalkeeper). 1-1 at 90 mins. Plymouth then win on pens and now off to Wembley for the English Football League Trophy final (or more absurdly sponsor named 'Papa Johns Trophy').

A bit of a concern he's gone from starting to not even getting minutes off the bench, especially when they had 2 games in 4 days.

Phew that was close, now the chance for some silverware for Waine.

Depending on when the final is, usually being around the end of March or beginning of April, it'll be interesting to see what decision Waine makes in regards to the China matches. First back-to-back home games for the AWs, one being a return to Wellington, or the chance to play at Wembley. 

The Papa John’s Trophy returns to Wembley stadium for its third year of sponsorship of the English Football League Trophy on April 2 2023 (TBC). This knockout-style tournament sees teams from leagues one and two competing to earn silverware under the arch.

Wusty Wab

Phew that was close, now the chance for some silverware for Waine.

Depending on when the final is, usually being around the end of March or beginning of April, it'll be interesting to see what decision Waine makes in regards to the China matches. First back-to-back home games for the AWs, one being a return to Wellington, or the chance to play at Wembley. 

AWs are playing 23rd & 26th March verus China.

At the moment Plymouth are playing 22nd Match (Accrington Stanley) and then the EFL Trophy final on 2nd April.

Potential tough decision for Waine. I'm guessing he'd definitely want to be at Wembley. Who wouldn't want to be. But if he's just going to be a bench player over the next month, he could probably be released early and miss the AS league game.

Guess it will depend how Plymouth go over the next few weeks, and any injuries. They are currently 8 points clear of Ipswich in 3rd.

They will play Bolton Wanderers in the final.

Gooner 4 Life

They will play Bolton Wanderers in the final.

Who will be favourite?

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Gooner 4 Life

They will play Bolton Wanderers in the final.

Who will be favourite?

Coin toss maybe. Plymouth 2nd in L1, Bolton (with Jack Iredale) are 4th

Plymouth (2nd) travel to Peterborough (9th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/02/25/england/league-one/peterborough-united-fc/plymouth-argyle-fc/3810039/

Plymouth get walloped 5-2. They still have a 5 pt buffer on Ipswich in 3rd, but not a good sign

Waine not in match day squad

From Flying Kiwis.

Ben Waine: “I think I've been lucky. I've been involved with some really big games. My first league game was Bolton, then I played in Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich. I've been chucked in at the deep end, but don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want it any other way. It really kind of opened my eyes to what football's like over here and the standard of the top [League One] teams and decent championship teams would be like.

I always knew it was going to be a challenge; don't get me wrong about that. Regardless of where you play, there's always going to be ups and downs. Up until about two weeks ago, I don't think I'd settled in completely, but now I’ve moved into my apartment, and I think it's now just getting into the normal rhythm of things.

He always seems to have a very level head about things.

Plymouth (2nd) host Charlton (13th)

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/04/england/league-one/plymouth-argyle-fc/charlton-athletic-football-club/3810050/

Misses another match day squad.
Plymouth win 2-0

Argyle play Derby tomorrow and Sky Sport 7 are broadcasting it! Comes on at 8:55am.

Whether Waine makes the matchday squad though remains to be seen.

Wusty Wab

Argyle play Derby tomorrow and Sky Sport 7 are broadcasting it! Comes on at 8:55am.

Whether Waine makes the matchday squad though remains to be seen.

It's also on BeIn Sports connect. I'll have it playing on one of my monitors at work just to keep an eye on him. Hope he gets a run

Yes Plymouth (2nd, 71 pts) host Derby County (5th, 61 pts). With 12 games left Plymouth will be keen to keep a gap on Ipswich (3rd, 66 pts), and get one of the two automatic promotion spots.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/03/07/england/league-one/plymouth-argyle-fc/derby-county-fc/3809979/

A tough game for Plymouth this weekend as well, away to Jamie Searle's Barnsley (6th.)

Waine on the bench

1-0 Derby after 25mins
remains 1-0 at the half 
Argyle not really testing the opposition keeper much/

1-1 at 62, still no Waine.
2-1 at 70 after a silly challenge from a Derby defender draws a pen.

finishes 2-1, no Waine.

He has gone from one bench to another.

Can't see him featuring much in the Championship If they get promoted.

It's interesting as I've heard several people over recent years say Melbourne City are as good as a Championship team, and that the rest of the A-League is about League One. If Waine - who often looked better than most in the A-League, can't even make the bench (let alone get minutes), it might indicate City is more like League One level and rest of A-League is more like League Two level.

Have always thought many oversell the A league. It’s however not rocket science, we have two imports from league one. Previously we gushed over Taylor and he also was from league one. A league is probably bottom half of league one 

siac

It's interesting as I've heard several people over recent years say Melbourne City are as good as a Championship team, and that the rest of the A-League is about League One. If Waine - who often looked better than most in the A-League, can't even make the bench (let alone get minutes), it might indicate City is more like League One level and rest of A-League is more like League Two level.

siac

It's interesting as I've heard several people over recent years say Melbourne City are as good as a Championship team, and that the rest of the A-League is about League One. If Waine - who often looked better than most in the A-League, can't even make the bench (let alone get minutes), it might indicate City is more like League One level and rest of A-League is more like League Two level.

Not at all. I think this is ignoring the fact that A), Plymouth are comfortably one of the top teams in League One and are currently top of the league, B), Plymouth have three established 10 goal-a-game strikers ahead of Waine right now, and C), Waine wasn't a worldbeater at A-League level as is assumed.

Also... do we know if he is/was carrying a little niggle?

It reminds me of Watson at Grimsby and Lewis at Scodhorpe.

Both hardly played and came back with their tails between their legs.

Hope this doesn't happen to Waine.

siac

It's interesting as I've heard several people over recent years say Melbourne City are as good as a Championship team, and that the rest of the A-League is about League One. If Waine - who often looked better than most in the A-League, can't even make the bench (let alone get minutes), it might indicate City is more like League One level and rest of A-League is more like League Two level.

I think Ifill said that the A-League was a hard one to compare, he said the top players are absolutely top of championship or premier league quality, but some of the squad members are league two level and he's never seen such a big variety in a squad.

Other players have made comparisons and it comes down to squad size, composition, season length, and playing style makes it hard to compare.

Ultimately we've seen players who excel overseas come here and struggle and players who have struggled overseas come here and excel. We've also seen it go the otherway, with top A-League players going overseas and struggling and others excelling.

Playing style, squad composition and fit, etc. are all worth so much. Waine wasn't a starter here, he's not a starter there. It could be he's still trying to find the team fit, it could be that with a settled starting lineup and a high flying team the coach doesn't want to change much, it could be he just doesn't fit with the playing style, and it could be he's not good enough.

There's a lot of factors and it's pretty hard to compare two leagues just based on player movement.

mrsmiis

siac

It's interesting as I've heard several people over recent years say Melbourne City are as good as a Championship team, and that the rest of the A-League is about League One. If Waine - who often looked better than most in the A-League, can't even make the bench (let alone get minutes), it might indicate City is more like League One level and rest of A-League is more like League Two level.

Not at all. I think this is ignoring the fact that A), Plymouth are comfortably one of the top teams in League One and are currently top of the league, B), Plymouth have three established 10 goal-a-game strikers ahead of Waine right now, and C), Waine wasn't a worldbeater at A-League level as is assumed.

He's also come in to an entirely foreign environment, literally and figuratively. Living away during Covid would've been some preparation, but he's a long way from familiarity and stuff like that can impact how you feel and flow on to how you perform. Once he gets more accustomed to life there it should improve, and having a proper pre-season will be very beneficial as well - especially if better teams pick off their performing forward players.

To also go into the nerdy stats, he's outperforming his xG - in the league - this season by 150%. That can go two ways: that he's doing very well and is a good finisher, or that he has got quite lucky and then eventually the luck runs out. His post-shot xG is much higher (151%) than his pre-shot xG, which does suggest his finishing is good and he places the ball better than expected. He in fact leads NZ professional strikers this season in non-penalty goals per 90, shots per 90, shots on target per 90, xG per 90 and post-shot xG per 90. There's certainly a finisher there if and when. 

He does get let down in other areas which could be a factor in his game-time, depending on how Plymouth play - I haven't seen any of it. His non-shooting play is his major weakness, and if they want their strikers to link up a lot there's a possible area of concern. He is bottom of that same group of eight NZ strikers across chances created per 90, touches per 90 and successful/attempted passes per 90. Even looking at all the NZ U23 strikers who played 300+ minutes of either National League, NPL or NCAA Div 1 (or Danish U19 league) last year only Kaelin Nguyen at the Phoenix Reserves averaged less touches and passes. He's very much a box striker/poacher at the moment, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but if he lacks the right support and service then it can end up badly.