Azaz's Cheltenham Reaction
According to Finn Azaz, we might be a little while away from seeing the best of the returning midfielder.
If that is true, we are in for a bit of a treat, because after returning from a three-month absence because of an ankle injury, he is already making telling contributions in a green shirt.
In his return game last week, he came on as a second-half substitute and laid on Bali Mumba’s dramatic equaliser at Ipswich Town.
Fast forward a week, and Azaz was in the starting line-up against a former loan side of his, Cheltenham Town, and claim two assists in Argyle 4-2 victory.
Azaz played the final pass for Ryan Hardie, who scored to make it 2-0 following Dan Scarr’s opener, and in the second half, after Cheltenham had halved the gap, Azaz sent through a defence-splitter to put Callum Wright in to score his first Argyle goal.
After Azaz had gone off, and Cheltenham had narrowed the deficit again, Sam Cosgrove’s goal put the game beyond the battling Robins.
A fit Finn is a good thing for Argyle, and the man himself says he expects to become stronger and sharper as he plays more football.
He told Argyle TV, after the game: “I’ve worked really, really hard, and it felt great, especially being at home. It felt amazing.
“It was a special moment. It’s the longest I’ve been out, so to come back and to feel that atmosphere again, not sitting in the stand, felt great.
“It takes about five games. After pre-season, it probably takes first five games to get fully into your flow. I felt strong today. I know it takes five games to be at your sharpest point.”
It was not all plain sailing, for Argyle or for Finn personally. His linkage with Callum Wright in particular caught the eye, in a partnership first forged when the pair were both together, coincidentally at Cheltenham, two seasons ago.
Azaz tried a series of killer passes that did not find their mark, but persistence paid off, as in the end the duo linked to provide Wright’s important goal.
“I tried to execute the game plan that the gaffer set out for me, and the team,” said Azaz. “There was a lot of space for me at times. Sometimes you get [the ball], sometimes you don’t. I just tried to make an impact when I did get it, and with my movement as well.
“There were two or three before that that got intercepted, and you hear the crowd go ‘urrgh’, but it’s my third year in the league now, and I don’t let that affect me. I try to do the same things.
“Some coaches might tell you ‘stop doing it, keep the ball, keep it simple’ but if the chance is there to go and score, and you give it away, that’s just part of the game. In the end, we got in.
“Because we get the ball into that area so many times, you shouldn’t be disappointed when it doesn’t come off because you know you are going to get another chance.
“I got the ball in that area maybe five, six times, and made it count twice. I’m happy with that contribution. Even if it happened six times and it didn’t work, you still have to keep doing it, because in the next game you might get three assists. That’s just how it goes.”
