John Sheridan taking positives from start as Plymouth Argyle boss
JOHN SHERIDAN has been satisfied with his start as Argyle manager, but admitted his team must play better to escape the threat of relegation from the Football League.
The visit of Dagenham and Redbridge to Home Park tomorrow will be Sheridan's third match in charge.
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IN CONTROL: New Plymouth Argyle boss John Sheridan directs operations from the Home Park touchline against Accrington
So far, Argyle have picked four points out of a possible six, leaving them in 22nd position, outside the drop zone on goal difference.
Sheridan's first game ended in a 2-1 win against Morecambe at Home Park on January 12, when the Pilgrims took a two-goal lead inside 11 minutes.
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Then, after the postponement of an away game at Southend United, Argyle were held to a 0-0 draw by visiting Accrington Stanley last Thursday.
The Pilgrims were particularly poor in that fixture, although Sheridan pointed out they did create some clearcut chances in the second half.
Sheridan said: "I would have liked to have won both games, but I'm new to the players and the players to me. Under the circumstances we are in, I think four points is not a bad outcome.
"Obviously, performance-wise I would like to play a lot better than we have. There are lots of things I would like to improve and we are trying to do that on the training ground.
"I think you can see the nervousness of the players.We got off to a good start in the first game and that gives you a chance of winning, which we went on to do.
"For us as the home team, we are conceding too many corners and people are creating too many chances, especially in the Morecambe game, but the plus side is we defended them very well.
"Performance-wise, I would like us to be more dominant when we are at home, and that's what we are going to try to do. Hopefully, we can start that against Dagenham.
"It's about getting points at this moment in time. I have said before, I like my teams to go attacking and be confident. That's something I have got to try to instil in the players.
"When you are losing a lot of games and not playing with confidence, it doesn't matter who you are, unfortunately you do put pressure on yourself.
"I'm hoping if we can get a good result on Saturday it might just give the boys a lift. Seven points from nine would be a really good outcome in my eyes, so that's what we will be looking at."
Sheridan has a reputation as a hard taskmaster from his stints as manager of Oldham Athletic and Chesterfield.
But the 48-year-old does not believe now is the time to be critical of his players.
He said: "I wasn't happy with the way we played against Accrington but I have got to try to take the positives.
"Listen, if it was 10 games into the season and we gave a performance like that, I would be straight on the players' case, but I don't think it's a time to give rollickings out.
"I have just got to try to give them a lift, so what I did is take the positives out of the game. Despite all the corners against us, we kept a clean sheet.
"We know to win games we have got to improve attacking-wise and just have more belief than anything else."
2 Comments
by Wiggys
Friday, February 01 2013, 8:52AM
“This chap Macca wasn't the new Messi was he?? Yeah he should commitment and enthusiasm but you need a bit more than that. Pace and a bit of height would have helped. He goal scoring record wasn't that good was it. Well he's gone to Burton so time to move on and get behind the players that JS has brought in”
by alabar1
Friday, February 01 2013, 8:12AM
“John please tell us what these positives are ? I shall then be in a better frame of mind tomorrow when the Daggers come to collect what they must feel after last weeks efforts AN EASY THREE POINTS.
Now if you had gone off and signed Macca who has now joined Burton on loan,perhaps the Green Army would be feeling a little more positive about the survival of our club.
Good luck to the young inexperienced players brought in to preserve our football league status although I feel we had plenty of our own youngsters who should have been given a chance to shine before giving first team opportunities to young untried players from other clubs to further thier education for other clubs get the long term benefits.”