Plymouth Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj is preparing to make his first return to former club Port Vale this weekend, just three months on from the £1.2m deal to Devon that saw him break the Pilgrims’ transfer record.
There will be little sentiment on display when the teams meet at Vale Park on Saturday. The personal angle of Tolaj’s reunion with his former club adds intrigue to what is already a crucial EFL League One fixture.
Beyond the Swiss strikers Potteries return, the clash provides an opportunity for both Vale and Argyle to hit the reset button. Currently occupying precarious-looking positions in the relegation zone, and in a wretched vein of form, three points feel like a must for both.
A Beacon of Hope For The Green Army
Following his summer arrival at Home Park, the 24-year-old’s mandate was clear from the get-go: to take charge of the Pilgrims’ attacking efforts and serve as the team’s central offensive figure.
Despite the overall gloom surrounding Tom Cleverley’s reign so far, the Tolaj acquisition is one piece of business that has shown signs of fruition.
Operating as a near-ever-present at the top of the pitch, Tolaj has scored eight times in his first 19 matches in all competitions for his new club. This represents a more than satisfactory return, considering his side’s recent plight. It doesn’t bear thinking about just how much worse their predicament could be without this reliable source of goals.
He has become an instant favourite amongst the Argyle support, born from his tireless work rate and, more pressingly, his uncanny knack for finding the back of the net.
While he has stated that he is excited to challenge himself against his former employers, Tolaj has no illusions about the task at hand.
“It’s really exciting. I had good memories with them, with the promotion. Now, I’m here, and I’m happy here. It’s 90 minutes where there won’t be any friends, and I’m looking forward to that.” Speaking to a Plymouth Argyle official
Port Vale Set For Stark Reminder Of Their Lost Firepower
The Valiants’ early struggles in the third tier owe largely to their inability to find the back of the opponent’s net. Darren Moore’s side are the lowest scorers in the division, registering just 11 goals so far.
The League One spotlight will fall on Vale Park on Saturday lunchtime, providing the Staffordshire outfit with the platform to kick-start their campaign.
Tolaj’s 22 league goal involvements fired them to promotion last term, a contribution they have yet to replace. However, their immediate focus must be to nullify the threat of their former favourite to ensure they keep one of the few clubs keeping them off the bottom of the table at arm’s length this weekend.
Darren Moore’s team have conceded eight times since they last registered themselves in the league, a statistic you feel must change soon if Port Vale are to stay in touch with their nearest rivals.
Plymouth Argyle’s Quest For Momentum
Plymouth Argyle find themselves in the midst of something of a crisis. A dramatic and rapid decline in the space of just a few years, precipitated by a catalogue of highly contentious managerial appointments, has left them propping up the rest of League One.
Beset by severe defensive vulnerability and a seemingly never-ending stream of injuries to key players, Argyle finds itself unable to set in motion any sort of consistency in performance.
In keeping with the current theme at Home Park, the Argyle head coach revealed they will have to adapt to life without Bradley Ibrahim for the foreseeable future after an injury in training this week.
The team’s overreliance on their prolific talisman is underscored by the alarming rate at which they concede goals. Cleverley’s side have already shipped 28 goals, the most in League One.
A major worry amongst the loyal Green Army is that after five months, and a large proportion of preseason at the helm, there is still a lack of a recognised preferred starting line-up, and of a predetermined plan of attack. Admittedly, a series of what Cleverley calls ‘freak’ injuries has hamstrung the 36-year-old in that regard.
Positivity and Defiance From Both Sides
Both under-pressure bosses, Darren Moore and Tom Cleverley, have publicly expressed optimism about their team’s chances this weekend, but neither has acknowledged the ‘must-win’ tag given to the match.
The 51-year-old was encouraged by his team’s resilience in shutting out free-scoring Wycombe Wanderers last time out, a goalless draw that ended a run of three defeats.
Cleverley has had almost a full fortnight with his squad to prepare for the match, and has praised the commitment his charges have shown in the lead-up.
Their trip to Stoke on Trent brings to an end a scarcely believable six-game run of away matches for Argyle, before they return to relative home comforts next weekend.
Vale Park will be the centre of attention as these two teams look to use the match as a springboard to revive their ailing seasons.