Western Morning News (Saturday)
‘Up and down’ campaign is a learning curve for Argyle boss
PLYMOUTH Argyle manager Ryan Lowe has admitted this season has been ‘a massive learning curve’.
The 42-year-old, who is set to complete his UEFA Pro Licence coaching course next month, believes he has a better idea of what is needed to be successful in League One.
The Pilgrims have secured their status in the third tier of English football after promotion from League Two last term.
But after appearing ready to make a push for the play-offs at the end of February they have since lost 10 of their last 14 games.
Depending on results for the final round of fixtures on tomorrow, Argyle will finish in either 17th, 18th or 19th position. The Pilgrims end their campaign with an away game against Steve Evans’s Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium.
Lowe said: “It (the season) has shot past. With the games Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday for a lot of the campaign it has been tough.
“Just my thoughts now is we know what we can do better really.
“We know what we need to recruit to achieve something that other clubs are going to achieve in the play-off and promotion positions.
“We have had some good wins, we have had some good performances.
“I was thinking of this the other day, if we had staved off a relegation fight in the last game of the season everybody would be going ‘brilliant, well done’.
“It’s just because we have gone up and down all the way. We have never really been in trouble, I don’t think anyway, in terms of being in that relegation zone.
“We never dropped into it once at all. The points tally was always great for us and we always felt we were quite comfortable. But this season has been a massive learning curve and it’s one we will take note of, and we want to be better next season.
“Hopefully, we can take it forward in terms of what is needed to be successful in the league.”
One surprise for Lowe in League One this season has been the tactics of some sides.
Lowe said: “A lot of long balls, I thought we had come away from that.
“League Two was a scrap most weeks but we still got the ball down and played.
“This season has been no different. I thought it would have been a lot more football based, it hasn’t.
“I think that comes with managers and clubs changing personnel, changing players, changing staff, and playing a different brand of football to potentially stay in the division.
“We have stayed in the division by doing everything right, and that’s playing our way, and our philosophy and sticking to our principles.
“Some clubs haven’t. Some clubs have come away from it and played different styles of football and have gone from being mid-table to the top half.
“Teams have also gone from kicking it long to playing football, like AFC Wimbledon.
“They were route one all the time early on and then when (Mark) Robinson came in he got them playing some good football.
“I think the challenge this season has been a lot of games have been against long ball teams.
“Listen, that’s fine, people have their own ways of playing, but it did surprise me, I will be honest with you.”
Lowe is about to wrap up his second season as Argyle manager and he will use the short summer break for some reflection.
His three-year managerial career has seen promotions with Bury and Argyle, and then the ‘massive learning curve’ in League One this term.
Lowe said: “I can’t wait to get home and spend some time with the family.
“I have been back and forth, and there for a day or two, and then I’m back here.
“I’m looking forward to spending some time with my kids and my missus. They work ever so hard to make sure it’s easy for me.
“So that’s what I will be doing, but the phone will still be going like the clappers.
“But it’s time to reflect as well. I probably haven’t reflected since I started as a manager.
“I have told myself, and I have been told by certain people, that I need to reflect this time around because I’m a million miles an hour and I just keep going and going and going.
“I have got to spend some time with the family and then I will reflect on the rights and the wrongs, and how we get better.
“We graduate from the coaching course on June 21, so that will all be done.
“I will take my eye off the ball a little bit for a week or so and just reflect and spend some time with the family, and then it’s back to business.”
Lowe concluded: “Six weeks isn’t long so it will soon come right around again.”