ARGYLE returned from their pre-season tour to the Netherlands yesterday.

Having seen them in training, and in three games, here is what I have learned from this trip:

ROMAIN LARRIEU, who will be aged 34 at the end of August, remains a fine goalkeeper.

In my opinion, there will not be many – if any – better shot-stoppers than him in League One this season.

He has looked very sharp, not only in training but in matches.

Larrieu played all of the games against NAC Breda and AZ Alkmaar and conceded only one goal – a controversial penalty.

He made a superb save in the closing stages of the 1-0 win against NAC.

But Larrieu produced an even better one when the Pilgrims lost 1-0 to AZ, pushing a header from a corner onto his left post in second half stoppage time.

With a new two-year contract in his pocket, Larrieu seems certain to be Argyle's regular 'keeper in 2009/10.

MANAGER Peter Reid is spoiled for choice when it comes to centre-backs.

Bondz N'Gala and Reda Johnson, who have had injuries this week, would appear to be the pairing for the future.

But Reid will only be concerned about the here and now, and Kari Arnason and Krisztian Timar cannot be discounted.

Arnason and Timar were excellent in the game against AZ, when both were strong in the air and in the tackle.

Those will be two important qualities in League One.

Then, of course, there is the question of whether centre-back Marcel Seip will feature in Reid's plans come the start of the season.

Seip has not been on the trip this week because his wife, Lucy, was expecting their first child. She gave birth at tea-time on Thursday to a boy, Walter Paul, who weighed 10lb 4oz.

REID will rely heavily on the central midfield pairing of Carl Fletcher and Damien Johnson this season. It is not only their experience he will be calling upon, but also their ability to break up opposition attacks and set up some of Argyle's own.

Reid and Fletcher, the Pilgrims' skipper, already seem to have struck up a good rapport.

NEW striker Rory Patterson is looking a good bet to begin the season in Argyle's starting line-up.

The Northern Ireland international has impressed with his workrate, not only when the Pilgrims are in possession but when the other team have the ball too.

Reid wants his strikers to close down opposing players as much as possible, which is an area Bradley Wright-Phillips will have to improve on.

FINANCE could be a problem, but trialists Tony Capaldi and Anton Peterlin would both be good additions to Argyle's squad.

Capaldi is a proven commodity, having spent four years with the Pilgrims earlier in his career.

He is still only 28, and considering he had not been training with a club before starting his trial with Argyle last Thursday, he has been very sprightly.

Capaldi would be more than good enough for League One, either at left-back or in midfield.

Peterlin has spent all of pre-season with Argyle and seems very comfortable in the set-up.

The busy American midfielder has shown the ability which persuaded Everton to offer him a one-year contract last summer.

Peterlin was released by the Premier League club at the end of last season, but has all the attributes to be a success for the Pilgrims.

He is very fit and has the versatility to play in more than one position.

Peter Reid already has a sizeable squad, so that could be an obstacle to Capaldi and Peterlin being offered contracts.

It only goes to highlight the importance of moving on players that are surplus to requirements.

I WOULD be surprised were striker Steve MacLean still to be with Argyle at the start of the season.

The club's record signing has spent most of this week playing for the 'second team' in training.

A parting of the ways would surely be best for all concerned.

JOE MASON has provided further evidence of his scoring capabilities and his promise for the future.

The talented 19-year-old scored three of the Pilgrims' four goals on the tour to the Netherlands.

Mason will probably start the season as an impact substitute coming off the bench.

But I do not believe it will be long before he forces his way into the first team.

He could be used as an out-and-out striker, but all of his goals this week came from the right-side of midfield.

That is where Peter Reid might play him first.

SO THAT is another pre-season tour in the book.

Hopefully, my diary this week has given you an insight into Argyle's preparations for the 2010/11 League One campaign, but also to life in the Netherlands. I can recommend a visit.