Latest news with #CalebWatts
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Plymouth handed striker injury boost ahead of Bolton clash
Plymouth Argyle are expected to have striker Bim Pepple back available for their trip to Wanderers Pepple, who joined the Pilgrims over the summer, missed the opening day defeat against Barnsley due to injury. In his absence, midfielder Caleb Watts played up front and managed to get on the scoresheet. Watts also had a goal disallowed, although his efforts proved in vain as Tom Cleverley's tenure began with defeat at Home Park. "We will have Bim available for next weekend, we have missed him," Cleverley told Plymouth Live after the opener. Watts is another player who joined Plymouth this summer following their relegation from the Championship. When asked why he selected the former Exeter man to lead the attack, Cleverley replied: "The game is always about in possession and out of possession. When we think of our number nine, in possession can he score goals is always the first thing. READ MORE: Why Wanderers Women must be ready for 'fresh slate' this season "Out of possession you won't find a better centre-forward. The way he presses, he gives us control that way. 'We went back over his old footage, can he makes those channel runs, can he play on the shoulder, does he know where to be inside the box and he ticked all those boxes. "Malachi [Boateng] has had a great pre-season and freeing Caleb high up the pitch meant I could get Malachi in the team as well, that was important to me.' Owen Oseni is another attacking option in the Plymouth squad but Cleverley opted to introduce the 22-year-old from the bench following his switch from St Mirren. "We are certainly not disregarding Owen,' the former Watford boss insisted. 'He's a natural centre-forward but we are asking a lot of him this early in his Argyle career to be our number nine and take that responsibility. 'There is a lot of development left in him that one day we hope he can be. It has just come a little bit too soon for him."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Watts relishing chance to play as central striker
Caleb Watts said he is happy to play as a striker for as long as Plymouth Argyle need him. Watts, who is better known as a midfielder, played at centre forward in the 3-1 League One loss to Barnsley, as the Pilgrims try to bolster their attacking roster. The club are close to signing a first-choice striker, but with Bim Pepple injured last week and Owen Oseni deemed too inexperienced, Watts was selected. Watts, who joined from Exeter City in May, impressed on his debut as he scored one goal, had a second controversially disallowed, and came close with a number of other efforts. "I've played second striker before and I think one of my strengths is I'm really versatile," he told BBC Sport. "I've got a skillset that can be effective in a lot of positions. I'm more effective in the 10 role... but if the team needs me to play up front, do a job, I'd love to. "I had a great time out there. I enjoyed it, I scored a goal, should have had about four. "The gaffer [Tom Cleverley] tweaked a few things for the game today, but if he needs me to play up there again, I'd be more than happy to." Cleverley frustrated at search for new striker Ten-man Barnsley beat Plymouth Argyle in opener Argyle cut a frustrated side at the end of their defeat as they felt a number of controversial calls went against them. But Watts says the side - which has seen 12 first team players leave and 10 come in under new head coach Tom Cleverley - will begin to get better as they continue to gel. "It's a frustrating way to start for sure. The boys are really frustrated back in the changing room," he added as Argyle prepare for a first away trip of the season to Bolton Wanderers next Saturday. "But I think you can see how we're going to beat teams. There's moments in the stadium where we get a bit of pressure and you can feel it like we're going to score here. "At 2-1 it looked like we were the only team that was going to win the game and it's a sloppy goal to concede and I think all the goals we conceded today were sloppy. "But you watch the game and you can see that we'll be a dangerous team. "You can see how aggressive we are, you can see how we win the ball and hopefully it clicks against Bolton, I'm sure it will. "But I think the longer the season goes on the stronger we'll be and I think in a few more weeks and we'll be a real force to be reckoned with."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Watts relishing chance to play as central striker
Caleb Watts said he is happy to play as a striker for as long as Plymouth Argyle need who is better known as a midfielder, played at centre forward in the 3-1 League One loss to Barnsley, as the Pilgrims try to bolster their attacking club are close to signing a first-choice striker, but with Bim Pepple injured last week and Owen Oseni deemed too inexperienced, Watts was selected. Watts, who joined from Exeter City in May, impressed on his debut as he scored one goal, had a second controversially disallowed, and came close with a number of other efforts. "I've played second striker before and I think one of my strengths is I'm really versatile," he told BBC Sport. "I've got a skillset that can be effective in a lot of positions. I'm more effective in the 10 role... but if the team needs me to play up front, do a job, I'd love to."I had a great time out there. I enjoyed it, I scored a goal, should have had about four."The gaffer [Tom Cleverley] tweaked a few things for the game today, but if he needs me to play up there again, I'd be more than happy to." Argyle cut a frustrated side at the end of their defeat as they felt a number of controversial calls went against Watts says the side - which has seen 12 first team players leave and 10 come in under new head coach Tom Cleverley - will begin to get better as they continue to gel. "It's a frustrating way to start for sure. The boys are really frustrated back in the changing room," he added as Argyle prepare for a first away trip of the season to Bolton Wanderers next Saturday."But I think you can see how we're going to beat teams. There's moments in the stadium where we get a bit of pressure and you can feel it like we're going to score here."At 2-1 it looked like we were the only team that was going to win the game and it's a sloppy goal to concede and I think all the goals we conceded today were sloppy."But you watch the game and you can see that we'll be a dangerous team."You can see how aggressive we are, you can see how we win the ball and hopefully it clicks against Bolton, I'm sure it will."But I think the longer the season goes on the stronger we'll be and I think in a few more weeks and we'll be a real force to be reckoned with."
Powys County Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Barnsley boss Conor Hourihane relieved to emerge from ‘mad' game with victory
Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane was glad to come out on the right side of a 'mad' game as the Tykes got their Sky Bet League One campaign off to a winning start with a 3-1 League One win at Plymouth. Barnsley led 2-0 at half-time thanks to a Brendan Wiredu own goal and a thumping volley by Adam Phillips. Makeshift striker Caleb Watts got the Pilgrims back into the game and Barnsley were reduced to 10 men when central defender Jack Shepherd was sent off for a second caution after 63 minutes. The Tykes sealed victory when Davis Keillor-Dunn scored in the 83rd minute. Hourihane said: 'It was a frantic, bit of everything opening game so I am just delighted to come away with something in the end. I think it was just a bit of a mad game, to be honest. 'So much happened you know, cards, that disallowed goal at the start. 'There were some good goals from our point of view as well. We played some good stuff, particularly when went down to 10 men. I am just glad to come out the other side of it really. 'There were some decisions in the game where some went for you, some went against you and like I said, a bit of a frantic game. 'It's a long, long season so there's nothing to get too excited about. 'We would have lost that last year, no question. We had a couple of situations last year where we may have been ahead and folded a little bit, but there's seems like a bit of an edge to this group and the culture togetherness that we've tried to bond over the course of preseason. 'That was there to see in abundance in the game. 'I know this team will score goals. You know, Dave McGoldrick, Adam Phillips, Keillor-Dunn and Caylan Vickers. We've got goals in us. There's no question about it. 'Technically Adam's an outstanding footballer, you know, it was a great goal technically and I am delighted for him.' New Plymouth head coach Tom Cleverley has urged his side to tighten up defensively. Cleverley said: 'You can't question the players' application, their work ethic, their character to stick with it at 2-0 down, and I felt like there was only one team that was going to press on. 'We maybe didn't manage that part of the game well enough as when we were 2-1 and looking like scoring the next goal, an unforced every or two let them off the hook, maybe not being tight enough at the back, gave them a chance. 'The overriding feeling is there was a lack of conviction in what we did without the ball today. 'Today highlighted if we are half-hearted in what we do we will be punished. 'We know we are lacking a centre forward so I thought Caleb Watts was our shining star today. He did an excellent job and got his goal in that role. 'Even though we don't have a starting nine it's in defensive areas we need to look at ourselves.'
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Exeter unhappy as Watts turns down contract offer
Exeter City have criticised Caleb Watts' decision to turn down a new contract with the League One 23-year-old midfielder has agreed terms with a rival club having been a free agent this who has suffered a number of injuries over the course of his two-season spell at St James Park, scored five goals in 48 games in all competitions."The dedication of the club's coaching and medical departments, who worked tirelessly on his fitness, enabled Watts to play over 1500 minutes this season, which is the most in his senior career so far," an Exeter City statement read."While we understand this is an offer Caleb could not refuse, we are disappointed he has decided not to repay the commitment and faith shown to him during his time at the club."Watts signed a succession of short-term deals after first joining the club from Southampton in the summer of 2023 and scored twice in the final four games of this season."As a supporter-owned club with a unique and sustainable model, we take great pride in consistently competing at this level despite operating with one of the smallest budgets in the division," Exeter City's statement added."We were unable to come close to matching the financial terms offered to Caleb by another club."
