Transfer Balance

WHILE all the excitement at Home Park is naturally built around the full opening of the Mayflower Grandstand on New Year’s Day and a big game with Swindon Town, we are also entering the mid-season transfer window.

Argyle manager Ryan Lowe has already confirmed a new arrival is hopefully expected to sign in time for the weekend trip to Scunthorpe in Sky Bet League Two.

One possible department of the team looking for reinforcement is the strikers but, while always on the look-out for players to strengthen his team, the gaffer also believes those already at the club have the ability to go on a goal-scoring run.

“We’re hoping to have a new one for Scunthorpe,” he said. “We’re just waiting on the paperwork with the parent-club.

“I’ve got strikers already in the building and do I feel one of them could go and get me 10 goals between now and the end of the season? 100% yes.

“They back themselves to score and sometimes you go through a bad patch of scoring, all strikers have been there. I want competition and if we can get a player we feel could score 10-15 goals who suits us, then great, but they’re hard to find.”

As well as those coming into the club, there are discussions ongoing about some potential exits for players not currently in the first-team picture.

It is, however, a situation that has to be in the hands of the manager, as Ryan balances the needs of an individual with the priority of ensuring he has the necessary strength in depth.

“We’re in discussions with a couple of lads’ agents, those not playing at the moment, who potentially could move on,” he said. “That falls down to me saying yes or no, and it’s never personal.

“If I’ve got lads that want to play football and they’re not playing [here], I’ve said that they have to wait until the time is right because I’ve got to replace them .

“At the moment, we’ve got certain areas we want to improve but also players in areas we weren’t looking to improve. From a selfish point of view as manager, I could say no-one’s going anywhere.

“On the flip-side of that, I don’t want any unhappy players. There will probably be a couple of outs and a couple of ins.”