Tom Cleverley reveals his first impressions of Plymouth Argyle squad, a ‘mentality change’ is clear

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Tom Cleverley was appointed by Plymouth Argyle to replace Miron Muslic, and he has lifted the lid on the attitude in the camp ahead of the 2025/26 League One season.

In the wake of relegation to League One, the Plymouth Argyle hierarchy chose Tom Cleverley to replace Miron Muslic as head coach and spearhead the club’s 2025/26 third tier season.

Within his first summer transfer window in charge at Home Park, the former Watford boss has endured a testing few weeks, with several high-profile departures from the squad he inherited.

Wrexham signed Ryan Hardie earlier in the window, boyhood Argyle fan Adam Randell left for Bristol City, and Mustapha Bundu moved on to Hannover 96 in the Bundesliga Two.

Amid these departures, the newly appointed Argyle boss has lifted the lid on his first impressions of the Plymouth squad.

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Tom Cleverley reveals his first impressions of Plymouth Argyle squad

Since Cleverley arrived, matters at boardroom level for Plymouth have also been headline-grabbing, with Gareth Bale in Plymouth takeover talks, but these plans could be hampered by Bale’s Cardiff City takeover push.

Despite the turbulent summer at Home Park, Cleverley will be expecting to achieve an instant promotion back to the Championship next season.

Before Muslic’s dubious Schalke departure was confirmed, one Championship expert tipped Plymouth to bounce straight back, and Cleverley has noticed a “mentality shift” from his first weeks in charge that could propel Argyle to do just that.

Cleverley told TalkSport: “One of the real positives I’ve felt, is there seems to be no hangover at all (from last season).

“They seem a really mentally resilient group, looking to work hard, sticking together, pulling each other through in the running and the physical stuff, so mentally I’ve seen a real strong group.

“I was surprised really, because when you’re treading water and you’re in survival mode for two years, it’s difficult.

“We have to change that mentality to be someone who wants to dominate the league, and be superior, and I see players that are ready to go down that path.”

However, if Plymouth are to earn instant promotion under Cleverley, there is one glaring area of concern that the club’s recruitment team must now address in the summer window.

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Plymouth Argyle must sign goalscorers for Tom Cleverley

Transfer vultures have circled over Home Park in the wake of the club’s Championship relegation, with their two best centre-forwards poached this summer, fueling the need for the Argyle hierarchy to sign some goalscorers for Cleverley.

Three Hardie replacements for Plymouth have been mooted of late, and now combining his departure with Bundu’s move to Germany, the club desperately need to fill their goalscoring void.

This week, Plymouth have signed St Mirren striker Owen Oseni, who scored 13 goals in 24 National League appearances for Gateshead before being snapped up by the Scottish Premier League outfit.

Although Oseni is a promising talent, Plymouth must target some extra reinforcements in the attacking ranks to replace the absence of Hardie and Bundu.

In the early 2025/26 League One predictions, Plymouth were tipped to bounce back, and if Cleverley is to have the best chance to mastermind an automatic second tier return, forwards must be signed soon.