This Friday gone Derek Adams spent time with PASALB members at the Dr Inks (see what they did there) Pub near Waterloo, there usual watering hole The Hoop & Grapes not being available. Derek who is just 40 spoke very well, answering many questions from the membership....accept any comments requested regarding the previous manager John Sheridan.....he wouldn't be drawn on Sheridan's reign in charge and preferred to talk about the future. One interesting querk is that he is the only manager to manage the furthest north club Ross County from the Scottish Highlands.....and also the furthest south club PAFC. Some can see Argyle as the last stop before America....Derek sees Ross County (playing at Dingwall north of Inverness) as the last stop before Iceland. He did comment about the budget when asked.....He had enough money allotted to bring in five permanent players and three more on loan.....so he is still in the loan market....but wouldn't be drawn on what type of player he was looking for....he did suggest that it could be a mid-fielder....or a defender....or even a Striker....which brought smiles all round....he has an easy relaxed way of talking and it is obvious that he knows his subject. Derek was asked if he had found difficulty in bring players to the extreme south west.....it was suggested to him that other managers had complained about that when trying to bring in new players. Derek's answer was he had had no problems such as that....all the players that he wanted....perminent or on loan came, he had no refusals and always got the man he wanted......that was interesting seeing that we had heard in the past of players or their girl friends not wanting to be too far from the bright lights of London or Manchester. Another question reminded him that in the last couple of seasons Argyle had never won a game after going behind.....he got quite technical then on team formations and suggested that he will depend normally on a back four.....which would release a player more into a mid-field area and give more opportunities for mid-fielders to break foreward.....(this was obvious in the Wimbledon game both goals coming from those areas). he said that the defence had been having to adapt to this during pre-season and as we know had been leaking goals against lesser teams......but as we saw Saturday they seemed to have overcome that problem. He was asked if he was going to live in Plymouth.....and the answer was yes he was......was he bringing any family down.....the only answer he gave was that he would be by himself....he didn't elaborate on that answer and no one delved further....so I don't know what that suggests (does anyone know his position family wise) . Asked if he had a chance yet to explore south Devon the answer was no....he had as yet no spare time to do anything but football matters.....he said that he will one day when having the time.....he said that he knew Devon from his young days with his parents when coming down here on holiday......he also said that he had not been back to Scotland since taking the job....just no spare time. He answered many more question openly and didn't seemed rushed for time......he and the team had coached up to Richmond arriving roughly 6pm....they had eaten and the team where going for a walk whilst he was with us. Asked about the new away strip of Lilac....he smiled and said neither yes or no......he said we would have a chance to make up a our own minds tomorrow against Wimbledon.....I for one didn't think it a good choice.....but I must admit it didn't look too bad yesterday.....especially seeing we won 2-0 wearing it.....we've never lost in lilac yet. If you get a moment look up Ross County's history.....his father George who was Director of Football when Derek was manager made history in a short time there together....must be seen as legends in the Highlands, Dingwall is only a small town and they went well beyond the status quo for such a back water.....with wins over Celtic and Rangers climbing through the leagues to the Premier Scottish League.....but all good things come to an end and they where both sacked last year when they started the season badly......they were both recognized as the reason for Ross County reaching such high status in Scotland. Much more was discussed but I cannot remember accurately what was said....a mic was used but we were in the corner of a large pub area and there where lots of background noise from other drinkers.....remember it was a Friday evening and the whole area was teeming with people out for a meal or drink. When we finished he was thanked for finding the time to coming to talk to us having only arrived in london at 6pm with the team.....we gave him a appreciating clap to end the evenings talk......he did spend more time talking to individuals and some of Argyles background shenanigans were talked about that's for sure. CEO Martyn Starnes arrived later and he was asked various things such as the Grandstand development and the Far Post Club.....he said nothing really new.....that both subjects where on going and quite complicated situations. I would say at least 50/60 members turned up which wasn't bad for the middle of an holiday period.
