TT PREVIEW

Chris Wade

@tufcchris

WHERE TO START!

When I left Plainmoor on Saturday 20 April, I could never have dreamt of the club that I would walk back into just over three months later when Championship Plymouth Argyle come to town this weekend. After that mauling of Havant, there was hope of a brighter future as takeover talks progressed. But hope is all there was. Who knew what would happen over the summer months. What has followed has been nothing short of extraordinary, with the club that we all love transformed. The stadium has been jazzed up, the playing staff has been rebuilt, and arguably the most important part, the old ownership have been wiped out and replaced. The people that have come in could not have made a better impression.

NEW FACES

One of the many exciting things for me about the weekend and SOLD OUT (yes, SOLD OUT) Plainmoor is the first glimpse at the new look playing squad. It looks solid. New manager Paul Wotton has built the squad up with a nucleus of players that have been at this level before and have been successful in a lot of cases. James Hamon is a solid keeper at National League South level. The defenders look big and strong, and capable of mixing it with anybody that fancies it. The midfield has a nice blend of solidity, flair and style, and the frontline look full of goals. Optimism is high ahead of the arrival of the Green Army.

GOALS GOAL GOALS

One of the predominate features of last season was that we didn’t score enough and conceded too many. Not a good combination. Any successful team has to have the ability to keep the back door shut and the front door always dangerous. The four forwards that Wotton has brought in look full of goals and menace. Brad Ash hit 13 NLS goals last season, and was a regular thorn in opposition sides. He will only be better playing around better players. Jaydn Crosbie knows where the back of the net is, and although at a lower level, 37 goals shows he knows how to finish. Ben Seymour was a stand out performer for Hampton & Richmond last season, and his arrival is another canny addition and a player that knows the level. And there is the new man…

CODY’S THREAT

The arrival of Cody Cooke from Bath City (via an ice cream van) this week is another sign of intent from the new Torquay United. 20 goals in 50 appearances last season in all competitions shows the importance of Cody to a Bath City team that made the play offs. For him to make the move to Torquay is a potentially significant addition. A regular penalty taker for them too, his ability to score all types of goals shows how he can fit into the new look squad. There also looks to be the ability to play in several ways with the attackers that we have. If he can hit the ground running, a positive start could follow. An exciting incoming for sure.

PACKED PLAINMOOR

The news earlier in the week of the game on Saturday being a sell out really was fantastic. There are naturally a number of factors at play this weekend on the English Riviera. Paul Wotton’s first game in charge, a brand new look and feel to our club, a new squad and large excitement for all in yellow. Add to it the visit of a local neighbour with one of England’s best strikers of all time at the helm in Wayne Rooney, and people really have caught the football fever again. Plymouth are looking very positive and strong under new leadership so far this summer, and a 5-1 win at Cheltenham last weekend saw some of their new faces deliver straight away. Saturday promises to be quite a day.