Promotion The Aim for Argyle eSports
ARGYLE’S new eSports team may only be a couple of weeks old, but the Greens’ new manager is targeting promotion from Virtual Pro Gaming’s League One South at the first time of asking.
It’s been a baptism of fire for Ben Taylor, who was offered the managerial position just three days before the Pilgrims’ first-ever competitive season kicked-off, and has had to work hard at compiling a squad through trials in parallel to the league’s first two fixtures.
“Last week, I got the call [from Virtual Pro Gaming CEO Arron Dellosa] and was asked if I wanted to step away from the team I was in to manage Argyle. Since then, we’ve had to continuously trial players to get ready for the new season.
“When I was asked to take on Argyle, I jumped at the opportunity. Now, we want to get as many people involved as we can and take it as high as we can go.”
The Pilgrims participate in the popular FIFA 20 Pro Clubs mode, with each competitor controlling a specific player on the team. Early signs are that the scratch team is competitive at this level, enduring narrow defeats in their two opening matches against Anonymous EU [0-1] and Three Lions [1-2].
“It was tough. I don’t like losing, and neither do my team,” said Ben. “We have got to just regroup and push on. The first game, we lost in the last-minute to a lapse of concentration, which I blame myself for. Our second game, we lost 2-1 - we didn’t take our chances. We missed a few good opportunities to equalise in the second-half and it cost us.”
Despite the losing start from the team’s opening two matches, Taylor believes there are plenty of positives for the group moving forward – with the squad still getting to know each other as the games continue thick and fast.
“With this team, I am hoping that we can get promoted this season. It’s only early in the season, and even though we’ve lost our opening two games, it’s a 30-game season and there are still 28 to play for. I’m hoping we can push for the promotion spots.”
“We are still trialling new players now, even though the season has started. We have to keep trying to build a core squad. We have no idea what our best team is. On Monday, we played with a starting eleven which I felt was comfortable to win the game, but, with availability, we have had to change it up.”
“Once I find out our best team, and the best way to play, we can push to win the league.”
Like the Pilgrims’ first-team staff Steven Schumacher and Neil Dewsnip, Ben is an Evertonian at heart. However, he has done his best to recruit Argyle supporters wherever possible, and has succeeded in bringing a member of the Green Army into the eSports team already.
“Recently, we signed a player who is a massive Argyle fan, so she’s been playing and telling us a lot more about the club. We are getting there.”
Recruitment to the team continues, and Ben is bullish that he would like to sign as many players associated with Argyle as possible.
“We play Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – so on the other days we are running trials. On the roster you can have 25 players, and I have 20 now – so there’s five more spots up for grabs.”
“Just come along and give us a message if you want to come and play for us – we will try our best to get you in. If we can’t get you in, just watch us and have your say on how we’re getting on. We are aiming to go as high as possible and represent the club in the best way.”
The Greens participate in a double-header on Thursday evening against Lisburn Town (8.45pm kick-off) and Bestou WS (9.15pm kick-off). Both games will be streamed across our social channels and via Twitch.tv.
For more information on joining Argyle eSports, contact the team on Twitter.