Plymouth Argyle’s summer has been anything but smooth sailing, and after a turbulent opening to their League One campaign, the Green Army’s frustrations are bubbling over. The club’s 3-1 defeat to Barnsley on August 2, 2025, didn’t just highlight the glaring absence of a proven number nine—it exposed a raft of problems that head coach Tom Cleverley must urgently address. As the transfer window ticks down, the pressure is mounting on all fronts, from the pitch to the treatment room and right through to the boardroom.
Let’s rewind to that fateful Saturday at Home Park. Optimism among Argyle fans was already in short supply, with the club’s pursuit of a new striker having stalled—Rumarn Burrell, a top target, had slipped through their fingers, signing for Queens Park Rangers instead. Yet, when the whistle blew, it was the defense—not the attack—that unraveled. Three costly errors gifted Barnsley all their goals, and even when the visitors went down to ten men, they rarely looked troubled.
The match began in the worst possible fashion for the Pilgrims. Brendan Wiredu, attempting to deal with a deep Luca Connell free-kick, inadvertently put the ball into his own net. Things went from bad to worse when Victor Palsson’s weak header fell to Adam Phillips, who made no mistake in doubling Barnsley’s advantage. Despite the setback, there was a glimmer of hope for the home side when Caleb Watts, thrust into an unfamiliar centre-forward role, produced an excellent finish to halve the deficit. When Jack Shepherd was sent off for handball, Argyle had a golden opportunity to turn the tide. But with just five minutes left, a defensive mix-up between Kornel Szucs and Bali Mumba allowed Davis Keillor-Dunn to seal the deal for Barnsley. It was a game to forget for Plymouth’s backline.
Statistically, the Greens didn’t fare too badly: they edged possession at 53%, managed 15 shots (though only three were on target), and posted an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.3. Their pass accuracy stood at 77%, but duels told a different story—Argyle won just 46% of ground duels and 42% of aerial battles. These numbers reveal a side struggling for control and cohesion, especially in the middle and defensive thirds. The departures of key defensive figures Maksym Talovierov and Nikola Katic have left gaping holes, with no replacements signed as of August 8, 2025. It’s no wonder Cleverley has admitted, "We’re looking to add a new centre-back," but the focus remains stubbornly fixed on the striker conundrum.
In the aftermath, Cleverley didn’t sugarcoat the situation. "It’s glaringly obvious to anyone that watched Saturday’s match that there are more issues than just the lack of a number nine," he acknowledged. While the performances of makeshift striker Watts and winger Xavier Amaechi were bright spots, the instability at the back is a far greater concern. The coach knows a sturdy defense is the foundation of any successful team, and right now, Plymouth’s looks anything but.
Yet, the striker saga continues to dominate headlines and fan discourse. With Ryan Hardie and Mustapha Bundu departing after relegation from the Championship, the club’s forward line has been left threadbare. Bim Pepple and Owen Oseni—both just 22 and unproven at this level—are the only recognized strikers. Pepple’s recent hamstring injury meant Watts, a natural attacking midfielder, was pressed into service up front against Barnsley. He delivered a goal and threatened on three other occasions, but even Cleverley admits this is not a sustainable solution. "You need two to tango for a deal," he told BBC Sport, insisting, "The reasons why it’s not coming off are not financial. The clubs seem to be 99% there and then you take a backward step, but that’s all part of negotiating. For everyone’s sake, we hope it happens sooner rather than later."
As of August 8, 2025, the club has a significant bid on the table for a new striker, but finalization could take another couple of weeks. The clock is ticking—by the time the transfer window closes on September 1, Argyle will have played at least seven games, eight if they progress in the Carabao Cup. That’s a heavy load for Pepple, Oseni, and the versatile Watts, especially as they’re all still acclimating to Cleverley’s tactical demands. The longer the wait drags on, the harder it will be for any new arrival to hit the ground running, both on and off the pitch.
Meanwhile, the injury list has grown longer. Club captain Joe Edwards and promising attacker Freddie Issaka were both ruled out ahead of the away clash with Bolton Wanderers on August 9. Edwards suffered a hamstring injury against Barnsley and is expected to miss a couple of weeks, while Issaka’s thigh problem will sideline him for about four weeks. The casualty list also includes goalkeeper Conor Hazard, left-back Jack MacKenzie, and defender Julio Pleguezuelo, who underwent knee surgery on August 7. Cleverley and his staff are investigating the spike in injuries, considering everything from training loads to pitch conditions. "To have this amount of injuries so early in the campaign is alarming," Cleverley admitted. Still, he remains pragmatic: "I will always take the 'Where’s the solution?' than use it as an excuse. I have got full faith in whoever we put out there."
There is some good news—striker Bim Pepple and midfielder Caleb Roberts both returned to training on August 7, making them available for the Bolton match. Pepple, however, hasn’t played since July 23, and while he’s declared fit, match sharpness may be lacking. The club’s supporters, meanwhile, are growing increasingly restless. It’s been a month since the last new signing, and the pressure on head of recruitment Tom Randle and head of football operations David Fox is mounting. The need for the "right player" is understood, but patience is wearing thin. As the games pile up, whoever eventually dons the number nine shirt will face sky-high expectations—and a steep learning curve.
For Plymouth Argyle, the coming weeks are crucial. The transfer window’s closing, the fixture list is relentless, and the injury crisis shows no sign of abating. Tom Cleverley has his work cut out, but if the club can plug the gaps at both ends of the pitch and get key players fit, there’s still time to turn things around. For now, though, the Green Army watches and waits, hoping that solutions—rather than more headaches—are just around the corner.
