All I heard from my 30 years of being an Argyle fan is the geographical location is an issue.
Doesn't matter who the manager is they all come out with it.
Well its no wonder, for example, with the current manager that it would be an issue.... you can imagine the type of conversation..
Potential New Player: Sure I would love to play for your club but its such a long way to travel.
John Sheridan: Yeah, but its great club, with a great fanbase. I am sure you would love the area
Potential New Player: Oh so your based down in Plymouth...
John Sheridan: No, I still commute from Leeds where my family is based. I will be there a number of days during the week though for training.
Potential New Player: Oh so if its a great club and the area is lovely why don't you commit to living down there when
you expect me to do the same
What is it about the Plymouth or the south-west in particular that somehow put the fear of god in that they are a million miles from civilisation. Bristol is 2 hours away, London is 4 you can travel in something I believe called a car, train or even go to Exeter and get a flight if flying north.
People talk about Plymouth like its some kind of hideous place to live and that somehow its the end of the earth. Its just an easy cop out. We need someone in charge who promotes the area, and can actually commit to living down here.
I can understand "us" working class people moving away from Plymouth because its not a well paid area so to progress we have to go where the jobs are but as a footballer if your being offered the same amount of money to live in Luton area or in Plymouth area I know where I rather be.
Having a manager in charge who doesn't even commit himself to living in the area is not a good way to promote the club or the area. This team's location between Devon & Cornwall makes our club unique. The reason people don't take to him, is because we have this vision of a man who for him, home will be forever 'up north. He doesn't show the same level or passion or pride for this city that the fans seem to. He doesn't grasp when wearing that shirt you representing all the proud Plymouth people in this city and the local people who had to move away and settled elsewhere. That's why we have such a great away following because even those people who moved away still love to be associated with Plymouth. Its just a shame at most opportunities he appears not to want to fall in love with this club and the city like most have. He just doesn't talk about "us" with any real passion and there is no really belief coming through that this is nothing more than just a stop-gap.
If we cant afford a player that's fine. Yet if players wont come because "its Plymouth and its too far away" then I'm not buying it. Your not selling the club or the city well enough and until someone gets it into their head about being positive about our location I fear the worse.
Plymouth is probably looked from the outside as a 3rd rate city. That's because the attitude of people who live in this city and those who just view it from afar, is just plain defeatist. The ready made excuse people have been using has been there for the past 30 years so its easy to roll it out again when the CLUB fail to bring decent players down this way.
Speaking as a Plymouthian I have been to places up north and they are no way better than Plymouth. I had the joys of going to places like Coventry, Luton & Burnley, just to name a few. I am sure the locals would say they have "character" but in my opinion those areas were just a complete dump.
I just don't get it. Why wouldn't you want to come south? Its warmer for a start. We have wonderful countryside and beaches. Its a great place to relax. Yet I am sure the normal excuses will be churned out come the summer and I will just sit here wondering when will people who run the club ever realise you have to sell Plymouth in the manner it deserves because once people move down here the majority tend to fall in love with the area and the people.
Doesn't matter who the manager is they all come out with it.
Well its no wonder, for example, with the current manager that it would be an issue.... you can imagine the type of conversation..
Potential New Player: Sure I would love to play for your club but its such a long way to travel.
John Sheridan: Yeah, but its great club, with a great fanbase. I am sure you would love the area
Potential New Player: Oh so your based down in Plymouth...
John Sheridan: No, I still commute from Leeds where my family is based. I will be there a number of days during the week though for training.
Potential New Player: Oh so if its a great club and the area is lovely why don't you commit to living down there when
you expect me to do the same
What is it about the Plymouth or the south-west in particular that somehow put the fear of god in that they are a million miles from civilisation. Bristol is 2 hours away, London is 4 you can travel in something I believe called a car, train or even go to Exeter and get a flight if flying north.
People talk about Plymouth like its some kind of hideous place to live and that somehow its the end of the earth. Its just an easy cop out. We need someone in charge who promotes the area, and can actually commit to living down here.
I can understand "us" working class people moving away from Plymouth because its not a well paid area so to progress we have to go where the jobs are but as a footballer if your being offered the same amount of money to live in Luton area or in Plymouth area I know where I rather be.
Having a manager in charge who doesn't even commit himself to living in the area is not a good way to promote the club or the area. This team's location between Devon & Cornwall makes our club unique. The reason people don't take to him, is because we have this vision of a man who for him, home will be forever 'up north. He doesn't show the same level or passion or pride for this city that the fans seem to. He doesn't grasp when wearing that shirt you representing all the proud Plymouth people in this city and the local people who had to move away and settled elsewhere. That's why we have such a great away following because even those people who moved away still love to be associated with Plymouth. Its just a shame at most opportunities he appears not to want to fall in love with this club and the city like most have. He just doesn't talk about "us" with any real passion and there is no really belief coming through that this is nothing more than just a stop-gap.
If we cant afford a player that's fine. Yet if players wont come because "its Plymouth and its too far away" then I'm not buying it. Your not selling the club or the city well enough and until someone gets it into their head about being positive about our location I fear the worse.
Plymouth is probably looked from the outside as a 3rd rate city. That's because the attitude of people who live in this city and those who just view it from afar, is just plain defeatist. The ready made excuse people have been using has been there for the past 30 years so its easy to roll it out again when the CLUB fail to bring decent players down this way.
Speaking as a Plymouthian I have been to places up north and they are no way better than Plymouth. I had the joys of going to places like Coventry, Luton & Burnley, just to name a few. I am sure the locals would say they have "character" but in my opinion those areas were just a complete dump.
I just don't get it. Why wouldn't you want to come south? Its warmer for a start. We have wonderful countryside and beaches. Its a great place to relax. Yet I am sure the normal excuses will be churned out come the summer and I will just sit here wondering when will people who run the club ever realise you have to sell Plymouth in the manner it deserves because once people move down here the majority tend to fall in love with the area and the people.