Cardiff City (H) Mumba's Preview

Bali Mumba has taken us inside the dressing when it comes to January acquisitions of players.

Bali and his Argyle team-mates have two players among their number this week, following the arrival of Alfie Devine on loan from Tottenham Hotspur and Matty Sorinola on a free transfer.

Those two incomings come in addition to the loan signings of Ashley Phillips and Darko Gyabi the previous week. Bali says that is incumbent on the squad to integrate new players and get them up to speed.

“Firstly, it's about making them feel welcome and comfortable in a new environment,” Bali said. “That's the first thing we try to do: make them feel comfortable as much as we can.

“The second part of that is trying to get to know them on the pitch, what they like; them getting to know us, what we like, how we, how we play and stuff like that. From then on, that's when we can look to build that connection together as a team, and move on.

“January is a weird sort of time, because new faces are coming in, some faces are leaving. It's important we get through this month and get to know each other as much as possible before we can move on.”

The four new players are the first quartet of signings for Argyle Head Coach Ian Foster, just a fortnight into his role at Home Park.

Not only do Bali and his team-mates have to integrate new members of their ranks, but they are learning the methods Foster has brought with him.

For Mumba, the process has been a positive one. He said: “The Gaffer's come in now and he's bringing his own style of play. It's important as players that we adapt to that, adapt to the tactics that he wants and how he wants us to play.

“He's been good. From what we've seen, he's very intelligent. The quicker we, as players, understand the playing style that he wants us to play, the better for us.

“There's still a period where we're still learning. We're trying to understand it, get a good feel of how he does want us to play, and from there on, I think things will go well.”

Foster’s third game in charge will be his second in the Sky Bet Championship, and his first league game at Home Park. It will be against Cardiff City, and it comes just over three weeks after Argyle met the Bluebirds in South Wales, in a to-and-fro 2-2 draw.

Argyle have had plenty of draws of late; four of their last five have finished level, including the last two at home, which have each ended 3-3.

Mumba feels like a few of those draws could have been converted into victories, and hopes that three points can be obtained against Cardiff this Saturday, though expects it to be tight.  

“I still see it as a similar game to last time we played them,” said Bali. “In that game, we were probably very unlucky in the end, I would say. Hopefully this time we can try to fight for all three points.

“Not many things have changed, especially the way we play. I think it will be very close.

“Some of the draws at home, you leave the pitch disappointed that you didn't get all three just because of what we're used to, playing at Home Park. They are games where teams will find it very hard to leave with anything, so it's been disappointing not to get three points at home, but Saturday is a great opportunity for us to go on to do that.”