PSF: Torquay United v Plymouth Argyle 17 July 2018, 7.30pm

I think we’re a bit light on numbers for a PSF unless I heard wrong - 16 and no trialists??

link - match report

I'm sure someone will post a report later.

My only observation was that we need that big hold up striker sooner rather than later (I'm sure that particular type of player has been spoken of since last season). At time we had one striker up front and then a huge track of land between him and the 7th.

Not everybody completely nuts on here but in the present climate probably helps🤣

I was very interested to see how Ryan Dickson and Asa Hall would both fit in to centre midfield, but Hall was missing from the teamsheet as were Sokolik and Bawling.

I mentioned in the FGR match thread that I was surprised that Hall played 90 minutes - as did Sokolik.

I am not sure how long both played at Poole on Saturday - some players must have put in 90 minutes.

I hope that their absence was a scheduled rest rather than injuries picked up through overuse.

Bawling has now missed half the pre-season schedule on top of most of last season.

We attempted to set up in a 3-4-1-2. In the opening minutes, it was clear that Essuman spread right and Cameron left of Niate with Wynter and Davis pushed up and Banton in the hole.

1. Bass

4. Essuman
15.Niate
17.Cameron

2. Wynter
14.Nabi
16.Dickson
3. Davis

10.Banton

19.Reid
9. Williams

After a short while, Argyle started to dominate possession so Essuman and Cameron tucked in, Wynter and Davis dropped back and Reid and Banton pulled wide right and left respectively - so we were to all intents and purposes a 5-4-1 with Williams (again wearing the captain's armband) ploughing a lonely furrow up front.

Two subs just before the hour, saw Keating replace Williams up front - the armband passing to Dickson - and Gowling replacing Banton. Gowling went to right-centre-back with Essuman pushing up to a holding midfield role behind Nabi and Dickson and Reid joining Keating up front - so now a 5-3-2.

Next two subs saw Pittman replace Reid in a straight swap and James Roberts replace Essuman. Roberts played in the hole ahead of Nabi and Dickson. Finally young Olaf Koszela had a brief runout replacing Dickson in midfield - not in his usual position up front.

End lineup:

1. Bass

6. Gowling
15.Niate
17.Cameron

2. Wynter
14.Nabi
11.Koszela
3. Davis

20.Roberts (12 on team sheet but wore 20)

18.Pittman
7. Keating

Shaun MacDonald (no. 13) was named as a sub but not used.

I was very impressed with Bass in goal. He made some good saves, but is more than just a shot-stopper. He twice cleared danger from outside the box with quick and decisive decision making - the kind of performance that inspires confidence.

Dickson was impressive - more noticeable in the opening stages before we were pressed back into hanging on mode. He has real quality.

I thought Essuman and Niate looked wobbly at the start but grew into the game and put in steady performances. Cameron was the pick of the centre backs though - and it is good to have a real left-footer in there.

The trialist James Roberts looked keen and showed some neat touches but I can't see he is the kind of forward we need, given those we already have. At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, we could do with someone who can hold the ball up front.

Argyle are obviously leagues ahead of us in quality. You won't see many Graham Careys in National League South. They could have been out of sight by half-time, but for a mix of good goalkeeping and poor finishing. You felt they could have moved up another gear or two if they had needed to.

We did stick doggedly to the task though, kept our shape and just about everyone put in a decent shift. Far more plusses than minuses.

It was a good exercise in how to get players behind the ball and deny space to superior players.

Funnily enough, Owers has gone on record as saying he expects the boot to be on the other foot for most of this season - that it will be the little part-time outfits getting bodies behind the ball and frustrating the efforts of our "promotion team" to break them down.

Much as this was a good workout - and the full away end will be a welcome boost to the coffers - you wonder if we have the balance of our pre-season friendly list too stacked up with teams from leagues above us.

Maybe we will learn more from trying to break down Dorchester than from trying to contain Argyle or Cardiff.