Phelan looks ahead to Sheffield United
Monday was Mike Phelan’s first day as Argyle assistant coach, and it has been a busy first week for him at Home Park.
On Tuesday, the Greens lost 2-1 to Swansea City, and since then have been preparing for a trip to league leaders Sheffield United.
It could well be seen as a daunting task indeed, for 23rd-placed Argyle, without a win on the road all season, to visit Bramall Lane, a place where the Blades have won eight and drawn one of their nine home games, conceding just twice.
Phelan feels that one of his duties at Argyle, backing up Wayne Rooney, who was a player at Manchester United while Phelan was assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, is to try to bolster the Pilgrims’ squad’s flagging confidence, and give them the belief to compete in the Sky Bet Championship.
Speaking to Argyle TV, Phelan said: “The league is a tough one, that's for sure, and Sheffield United are a strong team, let's be fair. They are a big club, a strong club. They’ve got plenty of players, so they can manoeuvre, which gives them a lot more strength.
“But life's a challenge, isn't it? And football is a challenge. I know [Argyle’s] away form is not the greatest. I'm sure it can be improved, but it's an attitude thing. You’ve got to go there with a belief, you've got to turn up, and you’ve got to perform.
“There's no easy way around it. You are the away team; you are the underdog. But there's been many occasions when underdogs can surprise clubs. We need to catch them on an off day maybe, but we need to have that mindset that it's doable.
“We’ll try to start on Saturday and then build from there. If it's not Saturday, it might be the next one and the next one. We just keep going.
“Any improvement on the last game is an improvement. Whether that's the result, or the performance, or whatever. I think you can build that confidence, not just in the competition, but also in and around the club and on the training ground and then give them the belief to get out there and do what they do best.
“There'll be traveling supporters; they want to see a performance. The players need to respond each time they take to that field and respond in a way that suggests they’re Plymouth Argyle players, and we'll be looking for that.
“We've had a couple of chats, we've had a couple of meetings, and the manager’s put his points across, of what he's seen over a period of time.
“I think part of my role will be to keep that confidence high and be a different voice, maybe a little bit more Intricate in some way. Hopefully the players are bright enough and accepting of that help and advice.
“It's good to give feedback, from my personal point of view, today was one of those where I've been an observer a little bit. Now I get the opportunity to just say, from my eyes, we can do a lot more. We can always do a lot more.
“You've got to find more with the help of a slightly different way of coaching, maybe a few of my methods that I will bring to the training ground, and then it's over to them.
“I'm sure every manager in any position will say: bring your best self to the game all the time, bring your best self to the training session all the time, because it's important.
“If you prepare well, that gives you the best chance to do your best. If you're selected to play the game, selected to play for Argyle, then bring it on. Bring it out there, take it out there, and don't fear that. You cannot fear that. You've got to react to it and build from that.”
