Play-off Potential

GIVEN the troubles that have beset Argyle in the past five years, and after successive fights to stay in the Football League...

...most Pilgrims would settle for the new Sky Bet League 2 season compromising nothing more than some cosy mid-table rebuilding.

Not John Sheridan.

The Argyle manager has targeted a top-seven finish, and wholeheartedly believes that is an achievable aim.

“I really think we can be pushing in and around the play-offs,” said John, on the eve of the Pilgrims’ trip to Essex for Saturday’s season-opener at Southend. “Even automatic [promotion].

“I like putting pressure on myself and I’m probably saying it too much. But, if I keep saying it, hopefully people – more than anyone, the players – will know where I want to go and what I want.

“I’m not hoping we finish tenth as an improvement on last season – tenth doesn’t get us anything.

“I want to be play-offs and in and around the promotion area.

“The first aim is to stay up, to get the points to stay up. Any manager will tell you that they are looking at 50 points then you look above that.”