Luggy: It's my way or the highway
MANAGER Paul Sturrock has warned his Plymouth Argyle players it's his way or the highway from now on.
There's only one commandment to follow, he said – and that's Luggy's Law.
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Sturrock (pictured right) insisted no-one should underestimate the seriousness of his threat ahead of his second full Championship season at Home Park.
The Pilgrims boss said, owing to a number of factors, he had been unable to run the club to his satisfaction since rejoining in November 2007, when he replaced then Leicester-bound Ian Holloway.
The Scot added he had been stung by last season's flirtation with relegation to League One.
Statistically, 2008/09, he said, marked an all-time low for him as a manager.
But now with the distraction of a long-running takeover saga behind him, and the backing of the new board of directors, Sturrock said the gloves are off.
The upcoming campaign, said Sturrock, gives him and everybody at the club a fresh start.
He said: "Last season really hurt me because it was the first year when I've lost more games than I've won. I don't like that.
"There were things I did last year that weren't me – things I had to do because of the situation we were in.
"A lot of things that I bit my lip on would have left blood running down the side of my mouth.
"I'm making sure that this year none of that will happen.
"We're going to have discipline and organisation at this football club, like when I was here before.
"At the end of the day, we're going to make sure we're an organised and very, very fit club.
"I've had a meeting with the players where the rules and regulations of this football club were handed to them.
"They'll be taking them home to read and then we'll have a discussion about it.
"We're doing a number of things different this year: we've brought in a psychologist, a fitness trainer and have changed a lot of the job spec of our coaching staff.
"We're going to be a much tighter ship and a more organised ship."
The Scot said, aside from one player who he preferred not to name, the entire squad had returned to Home Park.
"There's one player in negotiations with another football club, but other than that the whole squad's here.
"The other club involved wants it kept quiet and anyway if it doesn't happen, he'll be back very, very quickly."
Sturrock said he had been pleased, but not altogether surprised, by the good condition of his players on their return to pre-season training.
"In this day and age there's not many of them come back out of condition," said Sturrock.
"None of them are outrageous, although there's a couple who need a wee top up and they'll be slapped around in the next few days.
"I'm sure we'll be up to speed a lot quicker than expected."
Sturrock said there had been interest but no firm offers for any of his players.
"We've had several agents acting on behalf of clubs asking me about certain players," he said. "That's as far as it goes with regards to that.
"It's been very difficult to bring in players, because we didn't know what the story with the takeover was.
"But I'm going to have a right chinwag with the new chairman (Sir Roy Gardner) and see what the story is about new players coming in.
"The time frame is vitally important because it was something that hindered us last year.
"Late on we were bringing players in and their fitness levels weren't the best and we were affected by that.
"I would like the players to be here much earlier this year.
"But that's got to go hand in hand with people going out."
Sturrock added: "The transfer season has just started to warm up, but there are still a couple of clubs not back yet, but will be soon.
"I've been doing a lot of phoning to certain managers lately and the picture ought to get clearer soon."
Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee is hoping to step up his pursuit of Argyle defender Jim Paterson.
The Pilgrims signed Paterson from another SPL club, Motherwell – then managed by McGhee – for £250,000 in January 2008.
The 29-year-old made only seven starts in the Championship last season, plus another 10 appearances as a substitute.
McGhee, who admitted last month he would like to take Paterson on a season-long loan, now wants to hold talks with the full-back.
He said: "Jim Paterson is a player we are interested in, but we are waiting to speak to Plymouth again; I'm waiting to hear from Paul Sturrock.
"Stephen Hughes and Jim Paterson are the only two players we are actively trying to bring in at the moment."
Paterson has two years remaining on his Argyle contract.
43 Comments
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by DaveyBoy, At home hehe
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 10:23PM
“Hmmm; interesting;is Mr Sturrock referring to his tactics etc? ie Long ball up to lanky striker hoping for knock downs and frenetic physical midfield play obviating the need for incisive passing?; I'm not trying to be over critical but is the manager saying that the current squad of players is not technically good enough to play proper football on the deck etc?
Look at Burnley last season; played some excellent football and QED got promoted; as yet still no new signings for us?! hopefully develop skillful youngsters(such as Gosling) to complement profs such as Larrieu, Doumbe, Seip and Fletcher; why couldn't we sign Gallagher etc?
Anyhow hope we do ok for new season but ideally we need to be aiming for promotion to the Premier League(someday?! surely/!!) rather than just Championship consolidation/mid table mediocrity/flirting with relegation etc?!!”
by Bob, Christchurch
Monday, July 06 2009, 7:35PM
“I know what you mean Ian, Ivybridge, last season was a disaster. But how much of this was Sturrock's fault? He didn't have a lot of quality in his squad to start with, Hollow words saw to that. I think he deserves another season to see what he can achieve with the new board, and if he can conquer his illness and shine through, more power to his elbow! Can't wait for next season in the Mayflower. Semper fidelis!”
by ian, ivybridge
Monday, July 06 2009, 2:03PM
“The photo of Sturrock in this article depicts him in typical inspirational mode.
As to the "my way or the highway" bit we heard this several times last season. The man is like a broken record and it's really difficult to work up any optimism for the coming season.”
by Stevie, work
Monday, July 06 2009, 11:19AM
“Ship shape Ha.. Get Stewpot out before he sinks the ship. An developement well didnt he off load Last years youth capt Mc Cal,l what way is that to develop the team?
Talked to a player at the club an they couldnt understand why he done this surely he has lost the plot and dosnt know what is best for the club I think the writing is on the wall for him thank god or we will be on a slippery slope from dayone of next season and he will try and blame someone else.
Get him out NOW..”
by Super Mac, at sea
Monday, July 06 2009, 11:14AM
“I hope this new discipline the the Manager talks about will include instructing his players not to make inane comments (which they obviously think are funny)at people going about their every day businees in the parks around the club...”
by Chris, Ivybridge
Sunday, July 05 2009, 10:52PM
“If Luggy thinks he should be more forcefull and go around with a stick. Does he not know that this demotivates players. He should do everyone a favour and leave before it is to late.”
by Davey, Plymouth
Sunday, July 05 2009, 3:38PM
“Luggy says " My way ,or the Highway",does this mean that his way will be the same as last season,long balls up the middle,coming straight back to put the defence under constant pressure.Managing to play without a play maker in middle field.
May be ,just maybe,he will use the talents of his players ,and let them play football.
We have over the past few months been very vociferous in our complaints about certain players,but these complaints have emanated from their inabillity to to play hoofball as dictated by the coaching staff.
Let them play football and maybe we will get a pleasant surprise.A return to the totally negative tactics of last season will surely spell disaster.”
by Rob, Stoke
Sunday, July 05 2009, 3:08PM
“Mike PL2 - Good comment you make about giving PS a fresh staert, clean slate BUT surely he should do the same with the players, football and life in general has changed he needs to manage people differently as not everbody reponds to one management style. Look at Siep last season as an example, they made up and things worked well for Seip!
COYG”
by Steve (non of the w*****rs on here), Plymouth
Sunday, July 05 2009, 3:05PM
“This is the time that all of us should start renewing season tickets, which i have already. We have a promising season ahead, we just need to get more people attending games!”
by robert, The netherlands
Sunday, July 05 2009, 1:38PM
“Often in life I have seen that the way people present themselves reflects how they go about their business.
Luggy for me does not come over professionally enough. He is full of quips "slap around" , "my way or the highway" which I presume he does to come over as a modern , catchy person.
Its pathetic. Use just simple straightforward English.
His appearance is so untidy, not at all well presented.
Untidy hair , un shaven or an untidy beard and obviously eats or drinks too much. When he wears a suit it looks as if it hasn't seen a dry-cleaner or been pressed in years.
Its hardly an advertisement for a sporting club.
Look at the top clubs and their managers, Ferguson ( apart from his unsavoury chewing), Wenger, Benitez, etc and even O'Niell in his tracksuit look well presented and an advertisement of pride and professional organisation.
Sluggy looks like a tramp.
I know that it may have nothing to do with his organisational and coaching skills but let's present Argyle as a well groomed professional organisations.
The board should give Luggy and his staff a list of rules and regulations and not just the players.”