Wayne Rooney has wasted no time in starting to implement the style of play that he wants to see from
his new Plymouth Argyle side so they are fully prepared for the start of the 2024/25 Championship
campaign.
Rooney is looking for the Pilgrims to be ‘very organised’ but to also combine that with playing ‘good,
entertaining football’ and the work on achieving those aims has already begun at the start of pre-season
training this week.
The Argyle head coach has been impressed with what he has seen from the players so far, but has made
it clear to them he wants to bring in more new recruits, to add to the three who have arrived so far this
summer.
Rooney declared: “My goal has always been to play exciting football and become an offensive coach. Of
course, I also want control; I don’t want the press to be disorganized.
“I believe my teams have always been very well-organized, but we also play excellent, entertaining
football, and everyone likes to see goals scored, so that’s understandable. My entire play style is designed
to do that.
“Obviously, getting that into the players over the next five or six weeks for the season’s opening game
will take a lot of work. That is what we have already been working on right now.During my years of
training, pre-season changed over the years. It started with beach running and ended with the first week
without seeing a ball. Every time a player gets the ball out, I believe it’s critical that they comprehend
your preferred positional play, and physical health is crucial
significant.
“We have to be a fit team, so there is a lot of work ahead for the players over the next five or six weeks,
but I have to say they have started really well over the last couple of days, I have been really impressed
with them.”
The three players that Argyle signed this summer were left wing-back Nathanael Ogebta, a free agent
from Swansea City, midfielder Darko Gyabi, and striker Muhamed Tijani, who came on season-long
loans from Leeds United and Czech side Slavia Prague.
“I think we have a good squad, and I think we have a good group of young players within the squad,”
Rooney stated. Naturally, I would like to
attract players in; we have begun this process already, and we intend to add a few more. I’m not
revealing anything that I haven’t already told the players since these are messages that I have also
conveyed to them.
“Everyone has a chance is the message I want to convey to the players, but I’m also looking to bring
players in. They have to show me that they are worthy of playing, and that is how I have always operated.
“To come in and work hard every day is a very good skill set to have. It’s my responsibility to explain to
them how you improve—how you move the ball, how you position your body, and which foot you
pass the ball to, and make sure we do so strategically. We’ll succeed if we follow through on that.
“I believe that I can help the players, both the younger and some of the more experienced ones, to get
better. It’s an excellent chance for me to tell them what I want to know, and maybe I can help them get
better. I believe we will be in a great position if we combine that with the new players who join the
team.”
Rooney is getting the chance to add players to the Argyle team and make his own mark, unlike when he
managed Derby County or Birmingham City. There were severe money problems.
things he had to deal with at cash-strapped Derby, and during his three months at Birmingham last
season, he was forced to use the players he inherited because the transfer market was closed.
Thus, he has never before been able to sign players. He remarked, “You know what, it’s great.” “I’m from
Liverpool, and I constantly strive for more. Andrew Parkinson, the chief executive officer, and Simon
Hallett, the main owner and chairman of Argyle, would no doubt attest to that.”
Rooney mentioned that he was active in Argyle’s player recruitment behind the scenes even though he
was most recently a TV analyst for the BBC’s coverage of Euro 2024 in Germany.
“The players and the staff were on,” he stated.
enjoyed a rest and their holidays. We’ve already seen three players walk through the door, so it seems
like a lot of work was getting done while I was working the TV in Germany.
“There was a lot of work done in recruitment, working with Andrew and Neil (Dewsnip, director of
football), to make sure we position ourselves so that we can bring in players as soon as possible if they
are available.
“it’s what I request, and the club has done a fantastic job fulfilling it. It wasn’t like I was just hanging out
in Germany and not working; rather, I spent a lot of sleepless hours preparing player presentations,
talking to current players, and gaining some additional knowledge about them.
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