I've always been a fan of playing the football in the opposition half. Get the ball out to the fullbacks and play a long diagonal pass to the target man on the opposite corner of the opposition box. Get the midfield around the target man for the knock down and then play the football.

When Lowe arrived at Plymouth I was a little sceptical on how his previous club got promoted and at the same time went to the wall although it had nothing to do with him, the first sign of failing to take responsibility. I see the same things happening with us with the signing of Hardie and Cooper on long contracts, Hardie as hardly set the League on fire and Cooper was not very impressive before his injury. I really do not see where he fits into our team apart from taking free kicks and corners, his tackling is terrible, his reading of the game is equally as bad and his tracking back is non existant. Jephcott as done well but as not progressed in a way which his early form suggested he would. We do have players who could compete at our level and some who cannot. Mike Cooper, Amerson Edwards,Woods, Camara, Fornah,Mayor, Grant , Ennis and possibly Jephcott, the rest are not up to it. For some reason Lowe as perseveered with his formation with wing backs although when we were recently forced into changing it seemed to be working, the defenders seemed to be playing better although the mid-fielders of Camara and Mayor seemed a little lost. without a shadow of a doubt Grant would make a fantastic holding mid-field player, he as not got the energy to play at LWB. Here we are with only a few games to play and Lowe does not know what attackers he prefers, how does he expect his strikers to form partnerships when they are continually changing. Lowe is obviously very ambitious however when you look at the manner in which we have given goals away it is embarassing. I seem to remember recently he admitted the players were still practising defending corners at 5 o'clock before an evening game only to conceed at a corner at the beginning of the second half. I firmly believe that when the players cross the white line it is down to them to deliver the so called plan although it as become quite apparent it is one thing giving the plan and another understanding it and even more so when he religously changes the players in the 60th minute of each game. We have played brilliantly in some games but have failed to maintain it throughout which is a real problem going forward. Lowe is a very good PR man with his pundit duties, talking with Southgate and Kopp and banging on about his new brand of football, I firmly believe he is not good enough in many areas. I would LIST him because we are not going anywhere with him at the helm. Substituting Camara at Fleetwood so early in the game, when in a winning position against Portsmouth only to throw the game away because of his inability to manage from the dug out, these are just a couple of the examples where in my opinion he as to go.

Sometimes a little perspective is required after a deflating (to put it mildly) defeat. For all the understandable criticism and angst Ryan Lowe remains Argyle's second most successful manager (in terms of games won) for the last seventy years. His record is only bettered by Paul Sturrock (Mark 1) and just surpasses Derek Adams. With all the constraints of COVID that has shackled him for over 12 months of his tenure that achievement perhaps deserves more respect than he is perhaps given.

Furthermore, any planned recruitment for this season was scuppered by the club's understandable adherence the the imposed £2.5m salary cap (now reversed) which meant the imposition of a lower wage budget than the season before and below Adams' budget during the previous tenure in League 1. That meant a reliance, over reliance perhaps, on Premiership u-23's or gambles on injury prone players such as Reeves and Macleod. The winter transfer window meant the departure of some (albeit experienced) off the wages bill and many reflected that Lowe had achieved a 'good window' as the business secured the permanent deals of Hardie and Ennis and the recruitment of Woods who some believe may be a good acquisition for next season.

The aim for this season was survival. Many predicted a mid to lower table finish. The other promoted teams have struggled too and two of them may go straight back down. There ae a number of long established and resourced League 1 teams and the overall impression is that it is a tough division where anyone can beat anyone on any given day. It may be no coincidence that the likes of Sunderland and Portsmouth have struggled to get out of it.

The real test of Ryan Lowe and his management team with all their data analytics will be this close season. The salary cap shackles are lifted and more aligned to turnover and the recruitment can be properly based on players seen in League 1 match conditions. A number will be out of contract this summer and with our relatively stable financial position we should be best placed to make the sort of experienced tried and tested recruits that many are clamouring for. We can then make a proper and informed judgement on Ryan Lowe and his backroom team. Then there will be no excuses.

When Lowe arrived at Plymouth I was a little sceptical on how his previous club got promoted and at the same time went to the wall although it had nothing to do with him, the first sign of failing to take responsibility. I see the same things happening with us with the signing of Hardie and Cooper on long contracts, Hardie as hardly set the League on fire and Cooper was not very impressive before his injury. I really do not see where he fits into our team apart from taking free kicks and corners, his tackling is terrible, his reading of the game is equally as bad and his tracking back is non existant. Jephcott as done well but as not progressed in a way which his early form suggested he would. We do have players who could compete at our level and some who cannot. Mike Cooper, Amerson Edwards,Woods, Camara, Fornah,Mayor, Grant , Ennis and possibly Jephcott, the rest are not up to it. For some reason Lowe as perseveered with his formation with wing backs although when we were recently forced into changing it seemed to be working, the defenders seemed to be playing better although the mid-fielders of Camara and Mayor seemed a little lost. without a shadow of a doubt Grant would make a fantastic holding mid-field player, he as not got the energy to play at LWB. Here we are with only a few games to play and Lowe does not know what attackers he prefers, how does he expect his strikers to form partnerships when they are continually changing. Lowe is obviously very ambitious however when you look at the manner in which we have given goals away it is embarassing. I seem to remember recently he admitted the players were still practising defending corners at 5 o'clock before an evening game only to conceed at a corner at the beginning of the second half. I firmly believe that when the players cross the white line it is down to them to deliver the so called plan although it as become quite apparent it is one thing giving the plan and another understanding it and even more so when he religously changes the players in the 60th minute of each game. We have played brilliantly in some games but have failed to maintain it throughout which is a real problem going forward. Lowe is a very good PR man with his pundit duties, talking with Southgate and Kopp and banging on about his new brand of football, I firmly believe he is not good enough in many areas. I would LIST him because we are not going anywhere with him at the helm. Substituting Camara at Fleetwood so early in the game, when in a winning position against Portsmouth only to throw the game away because of his inability to manage from the dug out, these are just a couple of the examples where in my opinion he as to go.

Thank goodness all the above, is just your opinion.

Sometimes a little perspective is required after a deflating (to put it mildly) defeat. For all the understandable criticism and angst Ryan Lowe remains Argyle's second most successful manager (in terms of games won) for the last seventy years. His record is only bettered by Paul Sturrock (Mark 1) and just surpasses Derek Adams. With all the constraints of COVID that has shackled him for over 12 months of his tenure that achievement perhaps deserves more respect than he is perhaps given.

Furthermore, any planned recruitment for this season was scuppered by the club's understandable adherence the the imposed £2.5m salary cap (now reversed) which meant the imposition of a lower wage budget than the season before and below Adams' budget during the previous tenure in League 1. That meant a reliance, over reliance perhaps, on Premiership u-23's or gambles on injury prone players such as Reeves and Macleod. The winter transfer window meant the departure of some (albeit experienced) off the wages bill and many reflected that Lowe had achieved a 'good window' as the business secured the permanent deals of Hardie and Ennis and the recruitment of Woods who some believe may be a good acquisition for next season.

The aim for this season was survival. Many predicted a mid to lower table finish. The other promoted teams have struggled too and two of them may go straight back down. There ae a number of long established and resourced League 1 teams and the overall impression is that it is a tough division where anyone can beat anyone on any given day. It may be no coincidence that the likes of Sunderland and Portsmouth have struggled to get out of it.

The real test of Ryan Lowe and his management team with all their data analytics will be this close season. The salary cap shackles are lifted and more aligned to turnover and the recruitment can be properly based on players seen in League 1 match conditions. A number will be out of contract this summer and with our relatively stable financial position we should be best placed to make the sort of experienced tried and tested recruits that many are clamouring for. We can then make a proper and informed judgement on Ryan Lowe and his backroom team. Then there will be no excuses.

Really well written piece.

I agree with the argument about survival and staying up. However, l thought instead of watching the team crumble as they get towards the finish line that instead we would have more of an identity about us. Are we a 3 ATB or 4ATB team. Which players are suited best to which positions. Instead l’m watching one of our best players this season shifted from the centre to out wide in Camara. Im seeing C Grant who played well on the left shifted back into the centre for people who aren’t anyone near as good at LB. What compounds this is C Grant isn’t very good as a central midfield.

We have to remember Lowe pulled off Camara after 15 mins even when we have seen stinking performances from other players and nothing done. Danny Mayor disappears in second half of games. Virtually non existent. He stays on. This is why l question what we are seeing.

My huge question mark is his tactical decisions before and during games.

Yesterday was prime example. Watts at left back when he struggles for pace on the left hand side of a defensive three.

You can have all the data you like at your disposal. When it’s 11 players on the pitch it’s one mans tactical nous against another. This season he has come up short unfortunately.

Sometimes a little perspective is required after a deflating (to put it mildly) defeat. For all the understandable criticism and angst Ryan Lowe remains Argyle's second most successful manager (in terms of games won) for the last seventy years. His record is only bettered by Paul Sturrock (Mark 1) and just surpasses Derek Adams. With all the constraints of COVID that has shackled him for over 12 months of his tenure that achievement perhaps deserves more respect than he is perhaps given.

Furthermore, any planned recruitment for this season was scuppered by the club's understandable adherence the the imposed £2.5m salary cap (now reversed) which meant the imposition of a lower wage budget than the season before and below Adams' budget during the previous tenure in League 1. That meant a reliance, over reliance perhaps, on Premiership u-23's or gambles on injury prone players such as Reeves and Macleod. The winter transfer window meant the departure of some (albeit experienced) off the wages bill and many reflected that Lowe had achieved a 'good window' as the business secured the permanent deals of Hardie and Ennis and the recruitment of Woods who some believe may be a good acquisition for next season.

The aim for this season was survival. Many predicted a mid to lower table finish. The other promoted teams have struggled too and two of them may go straight back down. There ae a number of long established and resourced League 1 teams and the overall impression is that it is a tough division where anyone can beat anyone on any given day. It may be no coincidence that the likes of Sunderland and Portsmouth have struggled to get out of it.

The real test of Ryan Lowe and his management team with all their data analytics will be this close season. The salary cap shackles are lifted and more aligned to turnover and the recruitment can be properly based on players seen in League 1 match conditions. A number will be out of contract this summer and with our relatively stable financial position we should be best placed to make the sort of experienced tried and tested recruits that many are clamouring for. We can then make a proper and informed judgement on Ryan Lowe and his backroom team. Then there will be no excuses.

Really well written piece.

I agree with the argument about survival and staying up. However, l thought instead of watching the team crumble as they get towards the finish line that instead we would have more of an identity about us. Are we a 3 ATB or 4ATB team. Which players are suited best to which positions. Instead l’m watching one of our best players this season shifted from the centre to out wide in Camara. Im seeing C Grant who played well on the left shifted back into the centre for people who aren’t anyone near as good at LB. What compounds this is C Grant isn’t very good as a central midfield.

We have to remember Lowe pulled off Camara after 15 mins even when we have seen stinking performances from other players and nothing done. Danny Mayor disappears in second half of games. Virtually non existent. He stays on. This is why l question what we are seeing.

My huge question mark is his tactical decisions before and during games.

Yesterday was prime example. Watts at left back when he struggles for pace on the left hand side of a defensive three.

You can have all the data you like at your disposal. When it’s 11 players on the pitch it’s one mans tactical nous against another. This season he has come up short unfortunately.

I am of the same opinion. Lowe is allegedly meticulous in his planning before he signs a player and analyses data to ensure the right fit yet he often plays them out of position!

Sometimes a little perspective is required after a deflating (to put it mildly) defeat. For all the understandable criticism and angst Ryan Lowe remains Argyle's second most successful manager (in terms of games won) for the last seventy years. His record is only bettered by Paul Sturrock (Mark 1) and just surpasses Derek Adams. With all the constraints of COVID that has shackled him for over 12 months of his tenure that achievement perhaps deserves more respect than he is perhaps given.

Furthermore, any planned recruitment for this season was scuppered by the club's understandable adherence the the imposed £2.5m salary cap (now reversed) which meant the imposition of a lower wage budget than the season before and below Adams' budget during the previous tenure in League 1. That meant a reliance, over reliance perhaps, on Premiership u-23's or gambles on injury prone players such as Reeves and Macleod. The winter transfer window meant the departure of some (albeit experienced) off the wages bill and many reflected that Lowe had achieved a 'good window' as the business secured the permanent deals of Hardie and Ennis and the recruitment of Woods who some believe may be a good acquisition for next season.

The aim for this season was survival. Many predicted a mid to lower table finish. The other promoted teams have struggled too and two of them may go straight back down. There ae a number of long established and resourced League 1 teams and the overall impression is that it is a tough division where anyone can beat anyone on any given day. It may be no coincidence that the likes of Sunderland and Portsmouth have struggled to get out of it.

The real test of Ryan Lowe and his management team with all their data analytics will be this close season. The salary cap shackles are lifted and more aligned to turnover and the recruitment can be properly based on players seen in League 1 match conditions. A number will be out of contract this summer and with our relatively stable financial position we should be best placed to make the sort of experienced tried and tested recruits that many are clamouring for. We can then make a proper and informed judgement on Ryan Lowe and his backroom team. Then there will be no excuses.

With regards to the salary cap, it didn’t come into force until August 2020, any player signed before that date full salary didn’t count towards the cap if it was over the assumed average of £1,700 per week. The figure of £1,700 would have been used.
So are you suggesting Argyle mis read the rules on calculating the cap.
Also transfer fees don’t count towards the Cap, substantial sums have been paid this season for the first time in years.
Neither does the cost of the enlarged back room staff count towards the salary cap.
Surely your alleged impact of the salary cap on Argyle’s recruitment would have the same impact on all clubs if your reasoning was correct and for the first time in years a Club’s league position would be based on the skill and expertise of the manager and not skewed by a Club’s finances, perhaps that is the reason Morecambe are doing quite well this season.
How do you know what the salary budget for players was under Adams as it isn’t publicly available, would you like me to ask him what it was.

The salary cap proposal was made by the EFL in May 2020 although it was formally enforced a few months later. Several clubs in League 1 did their recruitment before it formally came into effect. Argyle didn’t because at the time finances were so uncertain.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52738597

The club have publicly reported on the wages and salary costs for each of the last few seasons (including as a proportion of turnover) - look it up.

Sometimes a little perspective is required after a deflating (to put it mildly) defeat. For all the understandable criticism and angst Ryan Lowe remains Argyle's second most successful manager (in terms of games won) for the last seventy years. His record is only bettered by Paul Sturrock (Mark 1) and just surpasses Derek Adams. With all the constraints of COVID that has shackled him for over 12 months of his tenure that achievement perhaps deserves more respect than he is perhaps given.

Furthermore, any planned recruitment for this season was scuppered by the club's understandable adherence the the imposed £2.5m salary cap (now reversed) which meant the imposition of a lower wage budget than the season before and below Adams' budget during the previous tenure in League 1. That meant a reliance, over reliance perhaps, on Premiership u-23's or gambles on injury prone players such as Reeves and Macleod. The winter transfer window meant the departure of some (albeit experienced) off the wages bill and many reflected that Lowe had achieved a 'good window' as the business secured the permanent deals of Hardie and Ennis and the recruitment of Woods who some believe may be a good acquisition for next season.

The aim for this season was survival. Many predicted a mid to lower table finish. The other promoted teams have struggled too and two of them may go straight back down. There ae a number of long established and resourced League 1 teams and the overall impression is that it is a tough division where anyone can beat anyone on any given day. It may be no coincidence that the likes of Sunderland and Portsmouth have struggled to get out of it.

The real test of Ryan Lowe and his management team with all their data analytics will be this close season. The salary cap shackles are lifted and more aligned to turnover and the recruitment can be properly based on players seen in League 1 match conditions. A number will be out of contract this summer and with our relatively stable financial position we should be best placed to make the sort of experienced tried and tested recruits that many are clamouring for. We can then make a proper and informed judgement on Ryan Lowe and his backroom team. Then there will be no excuses.

Beautifully put, a very good overview and thanks for this excellent contribution.

Sometimes a little perspective is required after a deflating (to put it mildly) defeat. For all the understandable criticism and angst Ryan Lowe remains Argyle's second most successful manager (in terms of games won) for the last seventy years. His record is only bettered by Paul Sturrock (Mark 1) and just surpasses Derek Adams. With all the constraints of COVID that has shackled him for over 12 months of his tenure that achievement perhaps deserves more respect than he is perhaps given.

Furthermore, any planned recruitment for this season was scuppered by the club's understandable adherence the the imposed £2.5m salary cap (now reversed) which meant the imposition of a lower wage budget than the season before and below Adams' budget during the previous tenure in League 1. That meant a reliance, over reliance perhaps, on Premiership u-23's or gambles on injury prone players such as Reeves and Macleod. The winter transfer window meant the departure of some (albeit experienced) off the wages bill and many reflected that Lowe had achieved a 'good window' as the business secured the permanent deals of Hardie and Ennis and the recruitment of Woods who some believe may be a good acquisition for next season.

The aim for this season was survival. Many predicted a mid to lower table finish. The other promoted teams have struggled too and two of them may go straight back down. There ae a number of long established and resourced League 1 teams and the overall impression is that it is a tough division where anyone can beat anyone on any given day. It may be no coincidence that the likes of Sunderland and Portsmouth have struggled to get out of it.

The real test of Ryan Lowe and his management team with all their data analytics will be this close season. The salary cap shackles are lifted and more aligned to turnover and the recruitment can be properly based on players seen in League 1 match conditions. A number will be out of contract this summer and with our relatively stable financial position we should be best placed to make the sort of experienced tried and tested recruits that many are clamouring for. We can then make a proper and informed judgement on Ryan Lowe and his backroom team. Then there will be no excuses.

With regards to the salary cap, it didn’t come into force until August 2020, any player signed before that date full salary didn’t count towards the cap if it was over the assumed average of £1,700 per week. The figure of £1,700 would have been used.
So are you suggesting Argyle mis read the rules on calculating the cap.
Also transfer fees don’t count towards the Cap, substantial sums have been paid this season for the first time in years.
Neither does the cost of the enlarged back room staff count towards the salary cap.
Surely your alleged impact of the salary cap on Argyle’s recruitment would have the same impact on all clubs if your reasoning was correct and for the first time in years a Club’s league position would be based on the skill and expertise of the manager and not skewed by a Club’s finances, perhaps that is the reason Morecambe are doing quite well this season.
How do you know what the salary budget for players was under Adams as it isn’t publicly available, would you like me to ask him what it was.

Yes please, it would be very interesting to know that.

For HC Green

From the Report on Argyle's finances in February 2020

Costs
Wages and salaries remain the major cost for Argyle, in particular those of the first-team management and playing squad, as is the case for all elite-level football clubs. These costs decreased from £3.3m in the 2018/19 season to £2.9m in the 2019/20 season. (Note that this understates the costs involved for the first team squad, as it does not include unavoidable travel, accommodation and medical costs).

https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2021/februa ... al-report/

Given that it is alleged that the first team management costs are now larger than the equivalent cost of team management employed under Derek Adams (in 2018-2019) then the difference in playing budget may be even greater than the 12% difference between 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Given that we have apparently adhered to the constraints of the originally imposed salary cap this season the actual difference between the two comparative seasons between Adams and Lowe in League 1 may be even greater.

As for paying for Hardie and Ennis both fees would have come from the fortune income of the sale of Canavan and the sell on clause of Sam Gallagher. Good business reinvesting in young players for the future.

For HC Green

From the Report on Argyle's finances in February 2020

Costs
Wages and salaries remain the major cost for Argyle, in particular those of the first-team management and playing squad, as is the case for all elite-level football clubs. These costs decreased from £3.3m in the 2018/19 season to £2.9m in the 2019/20 season. (Note that this understates the costs involved for the first team squad, as it does not include unavoidable travel, accommodation and medical costs).

https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2021/februa ... al-report/

Given that it is alleged that the first team management costs are now larger than the equivalent cost of team management employed under Derek Adams (in 2018-2019) then the difference in playing budget may be even greater than the 12% difference between 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Given that we have apparently adhered to the constraints of the originally imposed salary cap this season the actual difference between the two comparative seasons between Adams and Lowe in League 1 may be even greater.

As for paying for Hardie and Ennis both fees would have come from the fortune income of the sale of Canavan and the sell on clause of Sam Gallagher. Good business reinvesting in young players for the future.

Graham your posts are always a pleasure, please keep them coming.

Got to love when well completed research proves a point, but HC won't see it, he's had his little dig and run away looking for another chance to mope about Adams being sacked.

For HC Green

From the Report on Argyle's finances in February 2020

Costs
Wages and salaries remain the major cost for Argyle, in particular those of the first-team management and playing squad, as is the case for all elite-level football clubs. These costs decreased from £3.3m in the 2018/19 season to £2.9m in the 2019/20 season. (Note that this understates the costs involved for the first team squad, as it does not include unavoidable travel, accommodation and medical costs).

https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2021/februa ... al-report/

Given that it is alleged that the first team management costs are now larger than the equivalent cost of team management employed under Derek Adams (in 2018-2019) then the difference in playing budget may be even greater than the 12% difference between 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. Given that we have apparently adhered to the constraints of the originally imposed salary cap this season the actual difference between the two comparative seasons between Adams and Lowe in League 1 may be even greater.

As for paying for Hardie and Ennis both fees would have come from the fortune income of the sale of Canavan and the sell on clause of Sam Gallagher. Good business reinvesting in young players for the future.

Graham your posts are always a pleasure, please keep them coming.

Got to love when well completed research proves a point, but HC won't see it, he's had his little dig and run away looking for another chance to mope about Adams being sacked.

Awww, I'm hoping he comes back with his so cool inside information and tells us who V Neck, Algae, Armchair Managers, Yobs was spending all the money on?!
Was it Tafari Moore, Calum Dyson, Lionel Ainsworth?!