I don't usually bother with post-match interviews as its all just spin and cliches. However, I was very curious to see how Ryan Lowe responded to this defeat.
He said he doesn't want to blame people and the team win, lose and draw together, but he was very clear that he felt the coaching staff had prepared and done everything they needed to do, and players let him down. So, he kind of plays it both ways but that sounds like blame to me, and it is clear he does not take any responsibility himself.
Maybe the players did let him down, but how does a team collectively go on the pitch and turn in a performance like that having been hit for 5 just the other day? That suggest a problem in the system, the training or the make-up of the team.
It is clear that we are shaky at the back. We felt this last season in L2 but went up thanks to a couple of strong results just before lockdown. Those issues were not resolved during the break and we are now trying to play football out from the back in L1 with L2 cloggers.
Lowe seems frustrated that the players don't do what he is asking of them. My feeling is that sometimes what he is asking of them is beyond them. It's fine wanting to play the game 'the right way', but one of the great skills of a lower league manager is getting a tune out of the mixed bag of players your team can afford/attract. That means horses for courses and adapting to what you have in front of you. Not necessarily all option A or all option B, but to have the variety in game and see which method is most effective. It's this playing through the thirds and patterns of play that becomes too predictable. Wanting to be the L1 Pep or Klopp is fine, but they have the greatest players in the world at their disposal; we don't.
Apart from getting taken apart by Exeter and the odd poor showing, this is the biggest challenge Lowe has had to face at Argyle. I am interested to see how his 'jolly scouser' persona is tested during this time. There are all the usual lines being offered, but the response seems confused, contradictory and emotional. I think if we continue to get poor results and the pressure builds we will really get to know what Ryan Lowe is all about in the weeks ahead.