John Under Pressure

...even before a ball has been kicked in the new Sky Bet League 2 season.

That is a good thing, according the man himself. After taking Argyle to a much improved but ultimately disappointing tenth place was achieved in the 20131-4, John targeted this season’s play-offs as a minimum aim long before the summer break. The refrain and the mood has been seized upon by the Green Army.

“I want people to talk like that,” said John, as the build-up to Saturday’s curtain-raiser at Cambridge United began. “I want people to think that we’re going to have a really good, successful, season. 

“I like putting a bit of pressure on myself; I don’t mind people saying that we’re going to try to push for promotion. I’ve done well in this league with my previous clubs, and last season was a step up from the season before, so, from tenth, you are going to be in and around the play-offs – hopefully – if it’s a step up again.

“I won’t take anything less. I like to think that we’re going to be up there this season.”

John reckons that everyone and no-one in particular will offer his heavily revamped Pilgrims a run for their money, with the Pilgrims’ rivals having similarly strengthened during the close-season.

“I think it’s a very evenly matched league, and I can see everyone beating each other, taking points off each other,” he said. “I can’t see big gaps everywhere, and I think it’s going to be a really tight division.

“The thing that I’ve noticed is that the quality of player coming down into this league. I look at teams and what they have on paper, and a lot of teams look stronger of what they bought in. I won’t pick a favourite and I won’t pick an inferior team, as I feel any team can beat any team in this division.”