It's time for Argyle to show us more in the Devon Derby

Now is time for the intensity, desire and tactical nous that have been sorely missing from Cleverley-ball so far

It’s been one step forward and at least two back for Tom Cleverley’s Plymouth Argyle since the last newsletter – and I’m still struggling to connect with this team on an emotional level after a huge post-Luton regression.

Cleverley has been dealt a bad hand with injuries, and just as the long-awaited shift to 3-4-2-1 looked like it had helped us turn the corner, key injuries have again stunted our progress.

We look sorely light on attacking players with Owen Dale and Benarous seemingly (and confusingly) disliked by Cleverley.

It continues the theme of constant flux and upheaval, which was always likely to cause early-season problems. Both on the pitch and in the boardroom, the club is in a cycle of renewal that won’t be completed any time soon.

I wrote before the season started that the sheer upheaval was likely to mean the season was a write-off. That piece was intended as a call for calm and patience – and I’m trying my hardest to remember that. Cleverley is correct about one thing: this is a new, young team, plagued by injuries, and one in a state of flux.

But while there are valid excuses, we have regressed to the state of stale, directionless football that plagued our early game. Middling xG, poor defensive stats, 24th out of 24 teams for tackles in the final third tell us what the eye can see: this team needs a rocket up the proverbial – and its problems are systemic.

Crab-like sideways passing, a lack of intensity, and a lack of coherant plan for creating enough quality chances are problems that must be addressed now.

The bedding-in period is now over. Improvement must be seen. Another defeat could test the patience of even the most cognisant Argyle fan.

The need to inspire

Cleverley must now show that he can both inspire and mastermind this young team to a performance at St James’ Park.

I’ve not seen any evidence in his drab press conferences, nor the drab performances after conceding, that Cleverley can fire up this team. Why are we so lacklustre when chasing games?

His Watford team went down 3-0 to Luton away from home last season, despite the Hatters being one of the worst teams in the division. Watford did win the home leg 2-0 later that season.

We remember too clearly Lowe failing to grasp the magnitude of the Devon Derby.

I also need to see that he can tactically outthink Exeter. The stale sideways passing of the first 10 games has returned. Even at a goal down in the final stages against Wimbledon, the team couldn’t find urgency or take the initiative to be direct.

Exeter won’t mess around if they smell blood.

The need to be inspired

Then there’s the players. Rightly or wrongly, the guiding star for our recruitment was players who wanted to play for Plymouth Argyle. Personal betterment or the club being a stepping stone to better things wasn’t seen as an acceptable level of commitment. Supposedly, players needed to buy into the club on some kind of emotional level.

Well, here we are. Placed 21st in League One in late October, in the relegation zone, and facing our rivals under the lights away from home.

I need to see that they are ready for that challenge.

I’m not one to ordinarily beat the drum for desire or commitment, but in this case, I need to see something from this group. The lack of aggression and urgency in this team worries me. It’s time to show us more.