Ryan Ready for Rovers

ARGYLE manager Ryan Lowe cannot wait to sample the Home Park atmosphere for the first time as we host Pilgrim legend Graham Coughlan’s Bristol Rovers in our penultimate pre-season friendly on Saturday.

In our previous five warm-up games, the Greens have lost twice. Once to Truro in Ryan’s first game at Treyew Road, and then to National League side Torquay at Plainmoor seven days later. Since then, though, results and performances have improved. The manager and his staff feel they have implemented a style which fans can be proud of, and one we will get a first glimpse of on home turf this weekend.

“The Green Army will see how we are trying to play and what we are trying to do, which has already come to fruition in the games we’ve seen,” said Ryan. “Ultimately, I am looking forward to walking out at Home Park to see lots of fans there supporting me and my team.”

The manager’s attacking philosophy, alongside all-important Sky Bet League Two points, is what he is going to be judged on this season, and he is confident that his players are almost where he wants them to be.

“The lads I would say are probably 85% where we want them to be,” he said. “I’m happy with them because they have bought into what we’re about. We have brought in people who know how we play but they have been picking each other’s brains of how we do things and what we’re about to do. The lads are always asking about style of play that me and my coaching staff are going to play, and we’ll continue to produce that.”

It is surely helpful to the new Pilgrims manager that five members of his promoted Bury side have joined him in the South West for another tilt at Sky Bet League Two promotion.

Will Aimson, Danny Mayor, Byron Moore, Callum McFadzean and Dom Telford are all in contention to make their first home appearance in the Green of Argyle, as well as non-Bury arrivals Joe Edwards, Alex Palmer and Jose Baxter. The manager is pleased with his transfer dealings so far.

“You have senior players coming in with the lads we already have, we have a lot of quality, those boys know the system.

“Just because we are playing a different shape, it means nothing, it’s football. We want to excite the fans and potentially beat as many teams as we possibly can.”