‘Need to address that quickly’ – Tom Cleverley makes ‘mentality’ admission after Plymouth Argyle’s defeat to Bolton

Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley has said he needs to address his side’s mentality after their 2-0 loss to Bolton Wanderers.

Plymouth Argyle had a difficult start to the summer following their relegation from the Championship. Miron Muslic was anticipated to lead PAFC to the League One title, but he left for German club FC Schalke.

Tom Cleverley took over at Home Park after Muslic, but despite playing in a higher tier than both clubs last season, he has yet to win in two League One games. Their most recent setback was at the hands of Bolton Wanderers, who triumphed 2-0 at home after losing their opening day match against Stockport County.

PAFC is known for not giving managers much time before they are judged, thus Cleverley must provide positive results if he is to complete his three-year deal.

Following their loss to Bolton Wanderers, the Plymouth Argyle manager said:

“I need to address the mentality. There looked a little bit of an acceptance of defeat today. That comes from two years of treading water, and defeat being the most common result that this group suffered. Maybe [it was] the first signs of the hangover of relegation, and the mentality.

“We need to address that quickly, and that’ll start with all of us going through an internal reflection of the last two results, and work hard. Work harder.”

The latest regarding new Plymouth Argyle signings

Cleverley has stated that he wants further additions before the transfer window closes; there was a “strong chance” that a central defender would arrive before Plymouth Argyle’s visit to the Toughsheet Community Stadium, but that deal did not materialize.

Stephen Welsh, who is heavily associated, is still a name in the gossip mill, although he was not named to Celtic’s squad for their 2-0 win over Aberdeen on Sunday, so a move might be in the works.

Elsewhere, Cleverley did confirm a significant striker bid had been made in advance of the Bolton Wanderers trip, but there has been no update since. PAFC have been going through a summer of change with Tom Randle replacing Jimmy Dickinson as head of recruitment. A whole host of new players have come through the doors since, but they seem to be coming unstuck in the latter stages of the window.

Poor form can’t continue for long

QPR go to Home Park on Tuesday night to face Plymouth Argyle, after drawing their debut Championship game against Preston North End. The Carabao Cup Cup could be another issue for PAFC, as their team is low in certain important places, making substitutions difficult if they wish to play competitively.

They will, however, return to League One action against Lincoln City this weekend, followed by a match against Leyton Orient three days later. Both sides have one win and one loss in their first two games, but the Pilgrims will need six points to compete for promotion.

The final game before the transfer window closes is an away trip to Cardiff City, the season’s first meeting against another Championship demoted side. Cleverley’s bad start could result in him entering borrowed time just weeks into his second full-time position in management.