Schumacher rewarded for Argyle’s super March
Argyle boss lands Sky Bet managerial award, but Mayor misses out on player gong
JUST 17 weeks into his managerial career, 37-year-old Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher has picked up his first award.
Schumacher has been named as the Sky Bet League One Manager-ofthe-Month for March after leading the Pilgrims to a haul of 18 points.
Promotion-chasing Argyle began March in seventh position but finished it in fourth after winning six of their seven games.
They scored 12 goals during the month and conceded only one, which came when they lost 1-0 away to Ipswich Town on March 26.
It has been a hugely impressive start to his managerial career for Schumacher, who took charge at Home Park after Ryan Lowe departed for Preston North End in December.
Schumacher was chosen for the manager-of-the-month award ahead of Shrewsbury Town’s Steve Cotterill, Kieran McKenna of Ipswich and Wigan Athletic’s Leam Richardson.
He said: “It was a great month with some good results and some good performances. To get six wins and six clean sheets out of seven games was a pretty good achievement, so really pleased and glad to pick up the award.
“It wasn’t always easy. We had tough games - Bolton, Portsmouth all of them. Accy (Accrington Stanley, who lost 4-0 to Argyle) even had chances against us but we stood firm.
“We didn’t buckle when we came under pressure and we showed some bits of quality as well to go on and win the games.
“We spoke to the players at the start of the month saying how important it was that we got some points on the board and put ourselves in a good position going into a tough April, and we did exactly that.”
Overall, Schumacher has led
Argyle to a league record of 13 wins, two draws and six defeat from 21 games for 41 points.
The Pilgrims have scored 34 goals in that time and conceded 18, with seven clean sheets coming in their last eight fixtures.
Not surprisingly, Schumacher has enjoyed stepping up to the role of manager after being the assistant to Lowe.
“There are some different things to take on board and some things are the same, such as the way we work and the way we plan,” he said.
“The differences are talking to you guys (the media), dealing with the board a bit closer and a few more decisions to make.
“I have felt calm in it. The lads seem to have enjoyed it, the new staff that we have brought in have settled in well, so all good so far.”
When asked what he had learned most about being a manager, Schumacher paused before replying: “Good question. I have got to try and stay calm, just look at each game and not look too far ahead.
“A couple of games I have overthought it a little bit possibly, one or two mistakes in there where I think in hindsight ‘I maybe should have done that’.
“But the way I am as a character I’m quite relaxed, quite calm and I don’t like to read too much into things when we are playing really well and don’t get carried away, and if we have a bad result don’t feel too negative.
“I just try and be myself. It’s not easy, sometimes pressure does come onto you from fans and media, but if you just carry on with your work the way you always do then I think that will be alright.”
Argyle midfielder Danny Mayor was nominated for the Sky Bet League One Player-of-the-Month award for March.
However, the prize went to Sheffield Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan instead.