The Competitiveness of League One | PASOTI
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The Competitiveness of League One

Mar 14, 2009
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I was thinking for many weeks we had a good chance of being able to achieve a top 10 position.

Yet as the weeks unfolded I've seen clubs on smaller gates than Argyle in Bury and Northampton really bring in what seems like top quality signings. Bury have brought in people like Ajose, Macquire and Beckford. That's some very good forward options. Northampton meanwhile have brought in Pierre and Ash Taylor. They have also landed former Accrington player Crooks who we have seen at HP with Windass make them a formidable footballing team.

The level of player now in this league hasn't surprised me. However, its where these players are heading. Clubs who you would think we should have a bigger budget than this season made you think now they have similar or even larger than us.

Suddenly 15th-18th finish seems a reasonable statement to make for the season because of what you will see us up against. Argyle seem to have make themselves stronger too but where as I thought we could out perform a few clubs just based on having better finances, I am not so sure this will be true.

This league could be extremely tight from top to bottom. Anything above 12th for Argyle this season would be a wonderful achievement given the quality we are going to face.
 
Aug 7, 2011
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Cornwall/Exeter
I think DA has done very good business.

He has an outstanding record of bringing in relatively unknown players who are perceived as being average and getting the best out of them (Fox, Sonny, Jake etc.).

We will only know how good this squad really is when the season starts and even then it may take a few games - just look at the start of last season compared to the last few months.
 
It's alright looking at certain players other clubs have signed but that doesn't make them a good team. Do Bury and Northampton have solid defences, for example? Personally I think we'll be decent this year.
 
Aug 5, 2016
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I defy any fan to know the ins and outs of every signing every club has made in this division.

Bristol Rovers had a very good season using the like of Peter Hartley and Hiram Boateng on top of their promotion squad.

Anything above avoiding relegation is good enough for me, but I'm secretly hoping for top half. I think Derek Adams and his team are capable of it. That is different from expecting it though.

Mickey has done well to remind everyone that other teams in this league are signing proven quality players, and it's not gonna be an easy ride.
 
Mar 23, 2008
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I think it will be a competitive league, most teams look to have something about them. Think it will be tight margins and hope our momentum from promotion, battling qualities and team spirit, larger squad, good manager and Carey are the ingredients that get us in the top of the table - wherever that may take us.
 
Mar 21, 2008
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I agree with the OP for the most part, I've been surprised by the quality some of the 'lesser' teams have got let alone the teams towards the top end (Blackburn have some ridiculous players for this level). I would go so far as to say that actually our squads is one of the weakest I've seen so far and is pretty much still just a good league 2 squad, but luckily we've got Derek Adams who will no doubt get the most out of them.
 
Jul 30, 2015
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Plymouth
For what it's worth, I think if we consolidate this season (like Rovers, Northampton etc. did last year, and like I think we're very capable of doing) we should be in a better position to attract these kinds of players (Cook, Pierre, Maguire etc.) the following season. This year you could forgive players for wanting a more settled place to play and Argyle represent a slightly (SLIGHTLY) more risky option. If we do well this year with the squad Derek's putting together, next summer will be an opportunity for further progression. For now, let's work within our means and give a few people a surprise or two.
 

Brussels Bureaucrat

Cream First
✅ Evergreen
Jun 16, 2017
2,783
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Ixelles/The City of Plymouth
We're 16th alphabetically - realistically I'd take that. Having said that, with promotion specialist Adams in charge, who knows what could happen?

We cannot afford to wazz away quite as many home points again this season, though.
 
Jul 10, 2013
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Brussels Bureaucrat":2c8ar73b said:
We're 16th alphabetically - realistically I'd take that. Having said that, with promotion specialist Adams in charge, who knows what could happen?

We cannot afford to wazz away quite as many home points again this season, though.

Not gonna lie I'd take joint top again :cool:
 
Mar 7, 2006
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On secondment in Kent
Its a tough league, we have moved up so had to build as strong a squad as possible - our ££ has been spread across an number of signings. Other have been able to build on an existing L1 squad with 1/2 new signings so we are playing catch up. Now we need to see what Adams can do with the squad at his disposal. Hopefully he works the same magic as last year and gets more as a collective than the individuals on paper.

Plus we also don't know how the relegated teams will operate in L1, will they continue to slide or stabilise?
Will any of these high profile signings get injured and be out for a long period of time (not wishing this on anyone but is a risk)?

Going to be a very competitive league but at this stage i think its tough to assess where we will fit in, too many variables! Hopefully we continue to play good football (the signings would suggest so) and don't resort to hoofball when times get tough.
 
Sep 6, 2006
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Adam_R":3s18u0oi said:
Its a tough league, we have moved up so had to build as strong a squad as possible - our ££ has been spread across an number of signings. Other have been able to build on an existing L1 squad with 1/2 new signings so we are playing catch up. Now we need to see what Adams can do with the squad at his disposal. Hopefully he works the same magic as last year and gets more as a collective than the individuals on paper.

Plus we also don't know how the relegated teams will operate in L1, will they continue to slide or stabilise?
Will any of these high profile signings get injured and be out for a long period of time (not wishing this on anyone but is a risk)?

Going to be a very competitive league but at this stage i think its tough to assess where we will fit in, too many variables! Hopefully we continue to play good football (the signings would suggest so) and don't resort to hoofball when times get tough.


'Play good football'? :crazy: I must have missed that for significant parts of last season! However it was effective and will continue to be. Load of nonsense on here about avoiding relegation, finishing 18th etc. We are Argyle not Wimbledon. Will be top half and if we can get a decent striker play offs(big if). There is a hell of a lot more to it than signing a couple of half decent players though.
 
Sep 6, 2006
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Rob_GT4":3b45typx said:
I agree with the OP for the most part, I've been surprised by the quality some of the 'lesser' teams have got let alone the teams towards the top end (Blackburn have some ridiculous players for this level). I would go so far as to say that actually our squads is one of the weakest I've seen so far and is pretty much still just a good league 2 squad, but luckily we've got Derek Adams who will no doubt get the most out of them.


So you have assessed all the squads have you? You have an in depth knowledge of all lower league players? I dont think you know what you are talking about.
 
May 4, 2012
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Sunderland
Balham_Green":iys4ixct said:
Rob_GT4":iys4ixct said:
I agree with the OP for the most part, I've been surprised by the quality some of the 'lesser' teams have got let alone the teams towards the top end (Blackburn have some ridiculous players for this level). I would go so far as to say that actually our squads is one of the weakest I've seen so far and is pretty much still just a good league 2 squad, but luckily we've got Derek Adams who will no doubt get the most out of them.


So you have assessed all the squads have you? You have an in depth knowledge of all lower league players? I dont think you know what you are talking about.
Just because you don't, doesn't mean other people don't. I know plenty of people who do.
 
Mar 21, 2008
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Balham_Green":ebnmdn04 said:
Rob_GT4":ebnmdn04 said:
I agree with the OP for the most part, I've been surprised by the quality some of the 'lesser' teams have got let alone the teams towards the top end (Blackburn have some ridiculous players for this level). I would go so far as to say that actually our squads is one of the weakest I've seen so far and is pretty much still just a good league 2 squad, but luckily we've got Derek Adams who will no doubt get the most out of them.


So you have assessed all the squads have you? You have an in depth knowledge of all lower league players? I dont think you know what you are talking about.

Excuse me?

I may not be an expert but I'd say I have a pretty good grasp yes, it's you that doesn't know what you're talking about.

Anybody reasonably savvy that also goes on general league 1 forums with numerous fans from all clubs commenting would know and have a much better idea of the bigger picture than the insular view you get from a forum focussed on one club like this.

None of us know for sure how we well we'll make the step up, but I stand by everything that I've said and I absolutely believe Derek Adams will need to overachieve with this squad.