Assistant head coach Pete Shuttleworth admitted there had been ‘an extra buzz’ around the Pilgrims’ squad this week after their thrilling 3-2 victory over Sunderland at Home Park last Saturday
Assistant head coach Pete Shuttleworth has claimed that Plymouth Argyle will ’embrace and look forward to’ the challenge of facing Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion this Saturday.
On the surface, it appears that the Pilgrims will face a difficult assignment at The Hawthorns, given that Carlos Corberan’s West Brom have 13 points from a possible 15 at the start of the season and have yet to concede a goal in their two home games. However, Argyle are coming off a thrilling 3-2 victory against former league leaders Sunderland at Home Park last Saturday, and Shuttleworth claimed there was ‘that extra spark’ among the group in training this week.
Shuttleworth, who replaced head coach Wayne Rooney at the pre-match press conference this morning, said: “Any win at this level is celebrated. On Monday, we reviewed their performance and highlighted their strengths before moving on to the next game due to the demanding nature of the Championship schedule.You can’t keep celebrating that success for too long, but you also have to embrace it because any win, especially one like that, is something you should relish. If you can’t enjoy these times, you’re in the wrong profession. So there has been an increased buzz, but we are now focused on Saturday.”
After defeating Sunderland, West Brom surpassed them by winning 3-0 away to Portsmouth on Sunday, Argyle will face top-of-the-table opponents for the second consecutive weekend.
Shuttleworth stated, “That’s the league; it throws those kinds of things up, doesn’t it?” Regardless of whether we play the leaders this weekend or the team on the 24th, there are no easy games at this level, and each game presents a unique challenge. We will embrace it, look forward to it, and strive to duplicate our performance from Saturday.”
Shuttleworth said of West Brom: “They’ve had an excellent start.” They are a team with extensive experience in the league. They have some nice solid professionals, and they have skill throughout the team, including some pace, with (Josh) Maja scoring goals at the top end.
“They’re a good team, and I don’t think it’s surprising they’ve begun the season this way. We must go there prepared, while simultaneously maintaining high standards. We’re striving to build a good squad that people fear. So it will be on our agenda; they are concerned about us as well.”
He continued, “We have our own ideas that we attempt to promote. They sometimes change things up depending on whether we’re at home or away, or who we’re playing, but we have a style of play that has worked since preseason began.
“I believe that if you reinforce that and then change a few things around the margins, you will have a successful side. It is critical that we do not abandon what we have done in favor of West Brom, who are doing well. We must improve our performance while remaining on our current course.
Argyle have all of their players available for the trip to The Hawthorns, where they have not won since 1993, with the exception of goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who had ankle surgery early last week. Freddie Issaka, the dynamic 18-year-old forward, has served a three-game suspension after being sent off toward the end of the 1-1 draw against Queens Park Rangers on August 24.
Julio Pleguezuelo, Matty Sorinola, and Muhamed Tijani did not even make the matchday squad against Sunderland, such were Rooney’s choices. Shuttleworth stated: “We have a good squad here. There were players who did not even make the bench over the weekend. We believe we have a lot of quality and depth throughout the squad, so what is currently the strongest 11 might change depending on form.
“That’s what we have to keep preaching to the guys: ‘You might not be on the team right now, but you’ve got to do everything you can to get into that starting 11 and keep that shirt when you are,’ and I believe that’s healthy.
“So, have we decided on a starting eleven? Absolutely not. There are at least 18-19 players who can play in our 11 without significantly weakening it. That’s what we’re aiming for here: to maintain that mindset.”
He said further: “The numbers (in training) this week have been huge and apart from Conor who had his unfortunate injury the other week I think we are clear and ready to go.”
One Argyle player has moved on, with 19-year-old midfielder Will Jenkins returning to Torquay United for a third loan term. Shuttleworth stated, “I think the lad needs football. I know he was there last year and did quite well. We tried to get him out on loan, but Torquay came and took him.
“He was excellent in pre-season, has got a great attitude and has got a chance of having a really good career in the league but I think right now, because the squad is quite big, playing games is the best thing for his pathway, and that’s what we have enabled him to do by going there.”
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