The 2017-18 season proved to be a tale of two campaigns for Plymouth Argyle.
An immediate return to League Two seemed like a realistic possibility in the first half of the season - the Pilgrims were rooted to the bottom of the division in December - before they made a late charge for the play-offs that saw Derek Adams' team fall narrowly short with a seventh place finish.
Towards the end of the campaign Argyle found themselves down the bare bones of their squad with Adams only being able to choose from his matchday 16, but the Pilgrims' boss has looked to address this problem ahead of the new campaign.
In goal, Harry Burgoyne was drafted in on a season long loan deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers to challenge resident goalkeeper Kyle Letheren and rookie keeper Michael Cooper. However when Burgoyne's first team prospects were dealt a blow by a broken ankle in training, Adams acted quickly to bring Matt Macey on loan from Arsenal; Macey follows in the footsteps of Alan Miller and current Argyle goalkeeper coach Rhys Wilmot in making the journey from the Gunners to the Pilgrims on loan.
Argyle's defence had undergone a reconstruction over the summer following the departures of Oscar Threlkeld and Sonny Bradley. Joe Riley, who joins from Shrewsbury Town, looks set to fill the void left by Threlkeld at right-back whilst Yann Songo'o, Peter Grant, Scott Wootton and Niall Canavan will battle it out for the centre back positions with Ryan Edwards, who returns to the Pilgrims' fold after recovering from Testicular Cancer. At left-back, new club skipper Gary Sawyer will be competing with Ashley Smith-Brown, a summer recruit from Manchester City.
Of all the Pilgrim's playing departments, the midfielder is arguably the strongest with former Everton starlet Conor Grant will be competing with vice-captain David Fox and Jamie Ness.
Conor Grant with no doubt be looking the career trajectories of fellow Toffees' youth graduates John Lundstram and Ryan Ledson, who have both earned moves to the Championship after dropping down to League One after leaving Goodison Park. With a player with the experience of Fox, a player with the ability to find the right pass at the right time, to learn from, Conor Grant has an excellent role model to learn from both in training and on the pitch, as he looks to continue his footballing education.
And then there's Graham Carey, who is now embarking on his fourth season with the Pilgrims and he will also be looking to equal or better his goal scoring tally of 16 from the 2017-18 campaign. It looks set to be an important season for both the Irishman, who is currently 29, and Argyle.
After looking as though he could be on his way out of Home Park in the first half of the campaign, Ruben Lameiras proved to be a revelation for the Pilgrims in the second half of the season and offers Adams' side another creative option.
Up front, the return to fitness of Ryan Taylor looks set to be crucial and if he can stay fit, and new summer signings Callum Dyson and Freddie Ladapo can step up to the mark should he be absent, then a play-off spot will once again be within Argyle's grasp.
In: Scott Wootton (Manchester United), Joe Riley (Shrewsbury Town), Conor Grant & Calum Dyson (Everton), Freddie Ladapo (Southend United), Niall Canavan (Rochdale), Tafari Moore (FC Utrecht), Peter Grant (Falkirk), Ashley Smith-Brown (Manchester City), Harry Burgoyne (Wolves - loan)
Out: Nathan Blissett (Macclesfield Town), Sonny Bradley (Luton Town), Oscar Threlkeld (Waasland-Beveren), Gary Miller (Carlisle United), Aaron Taylor-Sinclair (Motherwell), Luke McCormick (Swindon Town), Robbert Te Loeke, Callum Rose, Simon Church (retired)
