SCHUEY'S AT THE POTTERS' WHEEL - BUT WHAT DIRECTION WILL ARGYLE TAKE NEXT?

 'Can he do it on a cold Tuesday night in Stoke?' has become a well worn footballing cliche since Stoke City won promotion to the Premier League under Tony Pulis in the 2007-08 season and laid the foundations for a decade long stay in the division. 

Now, after making the same journey from Home Park to the Bet365 Stadium that Pulis made in the summer of 2006, Steven Schumacher has becomes the latest manager to accept the challenge of leading the Potters back into the top flight following their relegation at the end of the 2017-18 campaign. 

With a win ratio of 52.78% and after winning the League One title with a record 101 points in the 2022-23 season, it was perhaps only a matter of time before Schumacher was head hunted in the same manner that other Argyle managers such as Paul Sturrock, Tony Pulis, Ian Holloway and his predecessor and good friend Ryan Lowe were in the last two decades. 

Since the summer of 2018, several managers have tried to revive the Potters' fortunes, including Gary Rowett, Nathan Jones, former Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill and Alex Neil, but failed to. However, if Schumacher can implement the formula that served him so well with the Pilgrims. 

Where does this leave the Pilgrims? One man who will have a say in choosing Schumacher's successor will be Director of Football Neil Dewsnip, who was also responsible for selecting Schumacher as Ryan Lowe's replacement when he left to take charge of Preston North End. 

It is unlikely that new boss will be appointed until the New Year, so Dewsnip and first team coach Kevin Nancekivell will be overseeing the first team in the meantime. 

Names already mentioned include John Eustace, who was sacked by Birmingham City to make way for Wayne Rooney, Notts County manager Luke Williams and former Pilgrims boss Neil Warnock, who managed the club between 1995-1997, have already been linked with the post.  

Whoever the Pilgrims choose to appoint will be inheriting a core of talented young players that include summer signings Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker, goalkeeper Michael Cooper once he returns from injury and young central midfielder Adam Randell. 

 

 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS HEMEL HEMPSTEAD

1. Dean Moxey scores winner in 'Gary time'

When it needed someone to step up when it mattered most, United skipper Dean Moxey duly delivered as he arrived to turn home Brett McGavin's cross in the 89th minute to seal a 3-2 for Torquay United against Hemel Hempstead Town. 

Moxey arrived at the back post, just when it was looking as though the Gulls might have to settle for a post, and found the back of the net for the first time this season to secure a fifth straight win for United. 

If ever you needed your captain to step up to the plate, then that was it.

2. The resurgence of Ryan Hanson.

After experiencing a challenging 2022-23 campaign, central midfielder Ryan Hanson is now beginning to put a consistent run of form together. 

The former Hull City youngster scored United's first goal as he slotted home after Theo Williams had seen his shot blocked. 

He also had a hand in the Gulls' second goal, as it was his through ball found Theo Williams, who saw his effort parried away by Hemel keeper Craig King before Ethon Archer bundled home United's equaliser. 

3. Ethon Archer is turning out to be a real find. 

A few eyebrows were raised by the Plainmoor faithful when United manager Gary Johnson signed Ethon Archer from Isthmian League side Three Bridges. However, Archer is now showing why Johnson was prepared to take a punt on him.

As well as scoring his first goal for the club when he bundled home the rebound from Theo Williams' saved effort, Archer proved to be a thorn in the side of Hemel Hempstead and was a constant threat for the Gulls. 

Expect him to make many more appearances between now and the end of the campaign. 

4. Theo Williams was a focal point up front.

With Aaron Jarvis and Brad Ash both absent through injury, it was left to Theo Williams to lead United's forward line against Hemel Hempstead. 

The Fleetwood Town loanee, who flanked by EthonArcher and Lewis Collins, proved to be an effective focal point for the Gulls' attack, and played a key role in United's first two goals. 

It was from his blocked shot that Ryan Hanson netted United's first goal and it was he who forced the save from which Archer bundled home United's leveller. 

It will be a role that he will be set to continue in in the coming weeks and months. 

5. United now up to second. 

As results elsewhere went in their favour, the Gulls have now moved up to second in the National League South table. 

United started the day in fourth place, but Maidstone United's 5-1 defeat to Worthing and Hampton and Richmond's goalless draw with league leaders Yeovil Town sees United sitting in second place, which will give them a big advantage in the play-offs should they find themselves occupying it at the end of the season.

Second spot will guarantee the Gulls home advantage in the play-off semi-finals and then in the final itself should they progress. 

TON UP FOR RANDELL

Plymouth Argyle midfielder Adam Randell picked the perfect way to mark his 100th appearance for the Pilgrims, as he struck with a 90th minute winner against Stoke City. 

For a boyhood Argyle fan Randell, who progressed through the club's youth ranks, the script could not have been written any better as he secured a 2-1 win over his hometown club. 

Randell joins a long line of Plymouth-born players who have endeared themselves to the 'Green Army' over the years and established themselves as first team regulars. The list includes the likes of Steve Davey, John Uzzell, Mickey Evans, Paul Wotton, Steve Adams, Joe Mason, not to mention Randell's teammate Michael Cooper. 

After signing his first professional contract in 2018, Randell made a smattering of appearances for the Pilgrims before joining Torquay United on a season-long loan deal in the 2020-21 campaign. He finished the season as the Gulls' young player of the year and also featured in their National League Play-off final defeat to Hartlepool United. 

On his return to Home Park, he soon became a regular in the Argyle line-up as he helped the Pilgrims to win promotion from League One with a record points haul of 101 and the final of the EFL Trophy in the 2022-23 campaign. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS TONBRIDGE ANGELS

1. Dean Moxey's excellent display in the heart of United's defence. 

United defender Dean Moxey was like a Rolls Royce in the centre of the Gulls' defence. Not only did the Gulls' skipper make a number of crucial blocks, tackles and interceptions, his distribution was also outstanding as he seldom wasted a pass. 

He also played an important role in keeping Tonbridge Angels' leading scorer Jordan Greenidge quiet. 

2. Brad Ash makes it eight for the campaign. 

By scoring the winning goal for the Gulls, Brad Ash took his tally for the season to eight goals, which puts him one behind United's leading scorer Aaron Jarvis, who currently has nine to his name. 

Jack Stobbs teed up sub Dylan Crowe for a cross which found Ash, who struck to restore the Gulls' lead in the 61st minute - Francis Mampolo had cancelled out Dillon De Silva's tenth minute opener two minutes earlier. 

Ash is now almost half way to equalling his tally of 18 goals from last season with Weymouth, who United face on Tuesday night. 

3. Lewis Collins' cross for Dillon De Silva's opener. 

After making his move from Newport County permanent, following an impressive loan spell in the 2022-23 season, Lewis Collins' form for the Gulls had been indifferent, but he produced arguably his best display for United in 2023-24. 

On ten minutes, he latched onto a ball down the left wing from Jack Stobbs before producing a cross which found Dillon De Silva who scored the Gulls' opening goal.

4. McGavin's industriousness in midfield.

Since Brett McGavin's move to playing as a deep lying playmaker in front of the Gulls' back four, the former Ipswich Town starlet has been given more licence to express his ability. 

However, against Tonbridge Angels, he displayed a different side to his game, producing arguably his best display in terms of work rate. 

In addition to looking get on the ball and find a pass, he also made a number of important tackles and won numerous headers. 

5. The sit-in protest. 

Once the 90 minutes were up, around 150 United fans stayed behind as part of a sit in protest against the lack of communication from the club's board of directors.

In response to the threat of the protest, the club have announced an online fan's forum, whereby supporters can email questions to the club. There is also plans for an Independent Supporters Steering Group. Also, CEO George Edwards has met with Torquay United Supporter's Trust chairman Nick Broderick in the past week. 

In addition to this, United chairman Clarke Osborne also gave an interview to the Torbay Weekly editor Jim Parker. The interview itself was ground breaking, as Osborne rarely gives interviews. He is also rarely seen at United matches, which he indicates is down to his various business and family commitments. Nevertheless, if Osborne was to make an appearance on Boxing Day, when the Gulls' face Truro City, it would be seen as a genuine attempt to build bridges with the fanbase.

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS YEOVIL TOWN FA TROPHY

 1. The Glovers winning run comes to a halt. 

 All good things come to an end and that proved to be the case for Yeovil Town as their club record 14-match winning run ended with defeat to Torquay United in the FA Trophy second round. 

The Glovers' run included a 3-1 win over the Gulls at Plainmoor on November 7, where they displayed their credentials as potential National League South champions. 

However, against a much changed Yeovil side, United produced what could be described as a 'statement display' - as the Gulls look to close the 13 point gap that exists between them and the Glovers in the National League South table. With the way the play-offs are structured in National Leagues North and South, finishing second in the table as possible provides home advantage for the semi-finals and the final, which should United maintain the performance levels that they showed yesterday will certainly be in their sights. 

2. Callum Dolan's dynamic midfield display. 

It could be argued that the Gulls' league meeting with the Glovers earlier this month was won and lost in the midfield, with Yeovil pair Jordan Young and Sonny-Blu Lo-Everton emerging as stand-out performers. 

However, in their FA Trophy re-match, it was United who dominated in the centre of the park as  Callum Dolan, Brett McGavin and Ryan Hanson, and out of the aforementioned trio Dolan was outstanding performer. 

The Fleetwood Town loanee played a key role in setting up Dillon De Silva for his opening goal and then he doubled the Gulls' lead on 49 minutes with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. He could have helped himself to a brace if his 20-yard effort early in the game hadn't been disallowed for a foul in the build-up.

3. Dillon De Silva's early opener. 

After missing much of the 2023-24 campaign with injury, winger Dillon De Silva marked his first start since the beginning of September with the game's opening goal. 

The Sri Lankan international latched onto a cross field ball from Callum Dolan and then cut inside onto his left foot before slotting past Glovers' keeper Joe Day to give the Gulls a perfect start. 

During his loan spell from QPR in the 2022-23 season, De Silva found the back of the net four times, and if he continues to display the form that he showed against Yeovil then he will surely better that tally.

4. Dylan Crowe excels as a left-back. 

Throughout the history of the game there have been a number of right footed players who have excelled as left backs. Notable names include Pat Van Den Hauwe, Denis Irwin and Philipp Lahm, and Dylan Crowe put in a great shift on the left hand side of the Gulls defence. 

The former Ipswich Town and England youth prospect, who is a right back by trade, looked to get forward at every opportunity and also looked very assured defensively, keeping Jordan Young, who was a key performer in Yeovil's National League South victory over the Gulls, quiet. 

Earlier in the season, Crowe was loaned out to Havant and Waterlooville, but he seems to returned to Plainmoor with a greater sense of purpose based on this showing. He also has some competition for the left-back slot with the loan acquisition of Archie Harris from AFC Bournemouth.

5. 250 not out for Gary Johnson. 

Saturday's tie also marked United manager Gary Johnson's 250th game in charge of the Gulls in all competitions, and it was probably quite apt that it saw him secure a win over his former club. 

With 117 wins, 49 draws and 84 defeats, Johnson has a win ratio of 46.80% and he is only the third United manager to have overseen that number of games. Only Frank Brown (279) and Eric Webber (680) have overseen more.

TORQUAY UNITED AND YEOVIL TOWN: A RECENT HISTORY

Unless you are a fan of one of their traditional rivals, namely Exeter City, Plymouth Argyle or Weymouth, then it is difficult to dislike either Torquay United and Yeovil Town. 

However, since the 2019-20 campaign, the pair have played in the same league as each after only previously crossed swords as divisional opponents in the 2003-04 season, which was Yeovil's maiden campaign as a Football League club.

In their first meeting of the season in September 2003 at Huish Park, Torquay returned to Devon as 2-0 victors with goals from David Graham and Jo Kuffour.

When the two sides met again at Plainmoor later on that season in front of a near capacity crowd of 6,156 in April 2004. The Glovers raced into a two-goal lead with Darren Way and Jake Edwards finding the target before United skipper Craig Taylor pulled one back with a free-kick shortly before half-time. The Gulls drew level in the second half through Steve Woods who slotted home after seeing his 59th penalty saved by Steve Collis.

At the end of the campaign, the Gulls clinched automatic promotion for the first time in 38 years, while Yeovil finished eighth - narowly missing out on a Play-off spot.

The following 2004-05 season saw the pair were drawn together in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy. On that occasion, only two league places separated the two sides as the Gulls lay 23rd in League One, after winning automatic promotion in the previous 2003-04 campaign, and the Glovers were top of League Two.

A crowd of 1,610 poured into Plainmoor to see Torquay take the lead through Jo Kuffour on 17 minutes before Latvian international Andrejs Stolcers, who had represented his country in Euro 2004 during the close season, levelled for the visitors three minutes before half-time.

Early in the second half, two goals from skipper Craig Taylor and Bayo Akinfenwa, his first for the Gulls, in the 53rd and 59th minutes respectively gave Torquay a 3-1 lead.

However, the Glovers, famed for claiming a number of higher division scalps during their non-league days, weren’t to be undone as strikes from Adrian Caceres and Bartosz Tarachulski saw Yeovil level at 3-3 and sent the tie into extra time.

With four minutes remaining, and the game set to be heading for penalties, Akinfenwa scored a late winner for the Gulls.

Then, as part of his celebration, ran into the Family Stand behind the goal and sat down in an empty seat, a decision which earned him a red card as Torquay played out the final four minutes with ten men, but they still hung on to their slender advantage to win.

Torquay would exit the competition in the next round following a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Northampton Town and at the end of the season.

The two sides would swap divisions at the end of the season as a 2-1 defeat at Colchester on the final day of the campaign saw the Gulls relegated to League Two, whilst the Glovers clinched the League Two title with a 3-0 victory over Lincoln City in their final fixture.

Two years later, both Torquay and Yeovil would experience further contrasting fortunes as the Gulls lost their Football League status for the first time in 80 years whereas the Glovers found themselves one game away from a place in the Championship after reaching the League One Play-Off final where they were beaten by Blackpool.

Their paths would cross again in the first round of the following season’s FA Cup, the most recent encounter between the two sides, which saw Torquay win 4-1 as Chris Todd and Danny Stevens both scored doubles to cancel out Marcus Stewart’s opener for Yeovil.

In the 2012-13 season, by which time the Gulls had re-established themselves as a Football League club, they met again in the rebranded Johnstone's Paint Trophy at Plainmoor. They drew 2-2 with Ryan Jarvis netting a brace for United and James Hayter doing the same for the Glovers before Yeovil won 5-4 on penalties. At the end of the campaign, Gary Johnson, then in his second spell in charge at Huish Park, guided the Glovers to an unlikely promotion to the Championship, as they beat Brentford 2-1 in the League One Play-off final, while Torquay avoided relegation from League Two. 

However, the subsequent 2013-14 season would see the Gulls relegated from the Football League for a second time. Nevertheless, they wouldn't face Yeovil in a competitive fixture until the 2019-20 campaign, which followed their National League South title triumph under Gary Johnson. The Glovers had gone into a sharp decline since their promotion to the Championship and experienced three relegations between 2014 and 2018 - which saw them return to non-league football after 16 years in the Football League.

At Huish Park on Boxing Day 2019, Yeovil recorded their biggest ever win over the Gulls with a thumping 6-2 win, which was followed by a 2-0 victory at Plainmoor on New Year's Day. The Glovers would finish the 2019-20 campaign in 4th place - which cemented their place in the Play-offs in a National League that was decided by PPG (Points per game) following its suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, where they were beaten by Barnet.

The following 2020-21 campaign saw the Gulls enact a modium of revenge on Yeovil, as hit the Glovers for six on Boxing Day 2020 at Plainmoor - in a game that saw them lead 4-0 at the half-time interval. It was Torquay's biggest ever win over the Glovers, but Yeovil secured a 2-1 win over United in their re-match at Huish Park on January 2, 2021. The Gulls would go on to reach the National League Play-off final, where they were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Hartlepool United after drawing 1-1 in normal time. 

The two sides once again met on Boxing Day in 2021-22, which saw United win 3-0, with goals from Ben Wynter, Jack Sparkes and Joe Lewis in a game which also saw the Glovers reduced to ten men after Sonny-Blu Lo-Everton was dismissed for an off-the-ball challenge on Tom Lapslie. 

In the return fixture on January 2, 2022, the Gulls came from behind to win 2-1 at Huish Park. A long range strike from Jordan Barnett had given Yeovil the lead before Connor Lemonheigh-Evans scored directly from a corner and substitute Dan Holman slotted home in the 89th minute, as the Gulls completed their first ever double over the Glovers. United would finish the season in 11th place, and the Yeovil one place below in 12th. 

When the two sides met again in the 2022-23 season, both sides were fighting to avoid relegation by the time they met once again on Boxing Day. Mark Ellis headed the Gulls in front in the first half before Malachi Linton came off the bench to equalise in the second half. 

The return fixture on New Year's Day saw Yeovil win 2-0 with late goals from Matty Worthington and Jordan Maguire-Drew. 

At the end of the campaign, the Gulls and the Glovers were relegated to National League South, Torquay finished 21st and Yeovil finished 22nd, and both sides find themselves in contention for promotion back to the National League in 2023-24. 

TALKING POINTS FROM TORQUAY UNITED VERSUS BATH CITY

 1. Shaun Donnellan's goal. 

Goals for Shaun Donnellan seem to be like buses, after only finding the back of the net once in the 2022-23 campaign, he has now scored in two successive home games. 

There may have an element of fortune in his goal against Bath City, his shot took a wicked deflection off the head of Romans' skipper Kieran Parselle before flying past keeper Will Buse, but in the context of the Gulls' season it could turn out to be hugely important. 

As well as ending a run of two straight defeats, it also moves United up to fifth in the National League South table. 

2. Ollie Tomlinson stood out at the back. 

Young centre back Ollie Tomlinson was voted as the sponsor's man of the match on the back of a display which saw him keep the National League South's leading scorer Scott Wilson quiet. 

Over the course of the season, Tomlinson has arguably emerged as United's most improved player and manager Gary Johnson will be hoping that he can repeat his performance to silence Yeovil's Rhys Murphy. 

3. First glimpse at Plainmoor of Fleetwood loanees. 

Saturday's match with Bath was the first time that many of the Plainmoor faithful would have caught a glimpse of United's loan signings Callum Dolan and Theo Williams, who both arrived from Fleetwood Town, who are currently managed by Gary Johnson's son, Lee. 

Dolan, who had already made his debut away to Hampton and Richmond Borough, was making his home bow while Williams was appearing for the Gulls for the first time when he replaced Brad Ash on 56 minutes. 

In the first half, Dolan always looked to get on the ball and forced a save from Bath City keeper in the 12th minute a shot from the edge of the area, and showed good energy levels through out. Williams also asked one or two questions of the Romans' defence with his pace, as they both look set to become fine additions to the Gulls' squad. 

4. What difference could Aaron Jarvis have made? 

A recurring question on the mind of many Gulls' fans between now and until Christmas time when he makes his return from a knee injury will be 'what difference would Aaron Jarvis had made?' 

Jarvis is currently United's leading scorer with nine goals and could well have added to his tally against the Romans. However, we will never know for sure, but with a midfield of Callum Dolan, Tom Lapslie and Brett McGavin behind him, he would surely have got plenty of service. 

5. Plainmoor is becoming a fortress. 

United's victory over Bath City was their sixth win in eight league games at Plainmoor, thus earning themselves 18 points, which also sees the Gulls equal the number of home league wins that they recorded in the entirety of the 2022-23 campaign, which saw them relegated from the National League. 

In addition to this, United currently have the third best home record in the National League behind leaders Yeovil Town, who have picked up 23 points at Huish Park, and Farnborough, who have earned themselves 20 points in front of their own fans at Cherrywood Road.