Argyle’s Crown Jewels

With the re-opening of the transfer window just days away can Plymouth Argyle keep hold of their Crown Jewels?

Argyle have a number of excellent players but the performances of David Norris, Peter Halmosi, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Marcel Seip (pictured above) have propelled the Pilgrims towards promotion to the Premier League.

These four players represent the Crown Jewels in the Plymouth Argyle squad but can manager Paul Sturrock hold onto these key players? Will he have to sell the family silverware or can he keep these four vital players and steer Argyle to promotion?

The Pilgrims do have other great players in the shape of Krisztian Timar, Romain Larrieu, Dan Gosling and Paul Connolly but it’s the form of the Crown Jewels that has caught the eye.

Losing one of the fabled four would hinder Argyle’s progress but the team should still be able to maintain its run for promotion but to sell two or more of these players would be a disaster for the club.

Argyle would stand to make a handsome profit should any of the four players move on to another club but the long-term riches of the Premier League would far outweigh any short term financial profit should one of the gems be sold in January.

Of course replacements will be brought in but will they be of a similar standard? New players also take time to settle into a new club and a team aiming for promotion cannot afford to carry a player for two or three games. Any new player brought in as a replacement for Norris, Halmosi, Ebanks-Blake or Seip will need to hit the ground running, fast – a tall order.

Norris, a busy and industrious midfielder, has already been the subject of a verbal bid from former Argyle boss Ian Holloway at Leicester City; this was rebuffed by the Pilgrims, although Ipswich Town and Southampton are also monitoring the situation and could make a move in January.
Norris still has 18 months left on his current contract and has been a Pilgrim since 2002.

Halmosi has been the subject of increased transfer speculation in the last few weeks with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wigan supposedly interested but Sturrock has denied this and stated that no club has made an offer.
The 28-year old Hungarian international became Argyle’s record signing when £400,000 was paid to secure his services last May; Halmosi has a contract until 2010.

Striker Ebanks-Blake arrived from Manchester United in the summer of 2006 for an initial £250,000 transfer fee that will increase depending on appearances.
The 21-year old signed a 3-year contract and notched up 10 goals last season in what was his debut season in first team football.
The powerful frontman has already scored 12 goals this season to become one of the best strikers in the Championship with Derby County rumoured to have had him watched.

Dutch centre-back Marcel Seip was signed on a free transfer in August 2006 after being released by Heerenveen, agreeing a 3-year deal with the Pilgrims.
His solid and consistent displays has made him one of the best defenders in the league but surprisingly has not yet been linked with a move to another club.

Can Sturrock hold onto these four players or at least three of them? Do the players want to leave Argyle? Should the club re-negotiate new contracts for their best players to ward off advances from other clubs?

So many questions but as yet no answers. January will prove to be an important month for Argyle, can the team continue to push for promotion and can the club hold onto their Crown Jewels?