Plymouth Argyle start a new era under Tom Cleverley.
The club’s faithful will be eager to understand what their new manager is likely to bring, not just in terms of results but also in terms of tactical identity, player development, and overall philosophy.
The appointment comes in the wake of a disappointing period at Watford, during which Cleverley served as head coach.
He had some success with the Hornets, but his 33.9% win rate was not enough to save him from the club’s constant chopping and changing of coaches.
Having now signed a three-year deal with the Pilgrims, Cleverley inherits a squad in transition, with the clear mandate of re-establishing competitiveness in EFL League One following a poor previous campaign in the EFL Championship.
This analysis will draw upon Cleverley’s footballing journey, his coaching principles, tactical preferences, and the realities of his managerial career so far.
It will also examine his strengths and weaknesses, provide a glimpse into his game model, and discuss some of the technical details of his tactical setups.
The aim is to provide a holistic picture of what Plymouth Argyle and League One can expect from Tom Cleverley tactics.
Who Is Tom Cleverley?
Tom Cleverley’s footballing education is rooted in the elite environment of Manchester United, where he developed as a player and a person.
He was instilled with the standards (a recurring theme by ex-Manchester United players during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign) that define top-level professionals.
His playing career, which included spells at Watford, Aston Villa, and Everton, was shaped by exposure to a variety of elite managers and tactical shapes.
These experiences have influenced his managerial philosophy.
After retiring, Cleverley transitioned into coaching through Watford’s youth setup, specifically with the U18s.
This academy experience is central to his approach: he values allowing young players to make mistakes and learn through trial and error.
He credits Sir Alex Ferguson for teaching him how to turn fear into focus and demanding high standards on and off the pitch.
Cleverley overcame a childhood speech impediment to become a confident communicator.
He cites the inspirational leadership of figures like Nigel Pearson, whose ability to command a room left a strong impression on him.
Tom Cleverley’s communication style is direct and empathetic, which makes him a unifying presence in the dressing room.
Tom Cleverley Influences
Cleverley’s tactical development has been shaped by a willingness to learn from progressive minds in the game.
He has openly admired Marco Silva for his clarity of instruction and spent time observing Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, absorbing lessons in both methodology and tactical detail.
These influences have shaped a tactically flexible manager, an analytically minded individual, and one attuned to the demands of the game today.
He also draws experience from Red Bull Racing, where he gained further clarity on the importance of clear communication channels and the ability to insulate players and staff from external distractions.
Tom Cleverley Tactical Principles & Game Model
In Possession
Cleverley’s stated principles (universal) in possession revolve around:
- Breaking Lines: Tom Cleverley prefers progressive passing to penetrate opposition blocks; this means through vertical balls from deep midfielders or short combinations between attacking players or any unit of players, i.e., third man combinations.
- Short Combinations: He prioritises maintaining the ball through quick, passing triangles and diamonds, especially in the middle and attacking thirds; this makes it more enticing for the opposition to try to win the ball, as it gives the illusion that the ball is in close proximity—if executed well, it draws the opposition out of position and opens their initial space.
- Ball Domination: Cleverley aims to help his team control games through possession; having the ball is also seen as a defensive tool as much as an attacking one.
Out Of Possession
Out of possession, Cleverley’s ideals are:
- High Press: Organising the team to win the ball back as high up the pitch as possible through coordinated pressing triggers and collective intensity; he demands a relentless work rate and positive reaction to losing the ball, seeking to turn transitions into opportunities.
- High Line: Defensively, his teams tend to hold a high line, compressing space and seeking to suffocate opponents in their own half.
Flexibility In Structure
Tom Cleverley is comfortable with both three-at-the-back (such as 3-4-2-1) and four-at-the-back (4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1) systems, adapting his approach based on the squad at his disposal and the oppositions strengths.
For Cleverley, the formation is a base.
The real tactical work happens in the principles and behaviours he instils.
Tom Cleverley Tactical Implementation: Theory Vs Practice
During his tenure at Watford, Tom Cleverley’s best moments came when his side executed his principles of ball retention and progressive play.
The team built from the back, used the holding midfielder as a pivot, and involved the full-backs high up the pitch to stretch play and create overloads.
However, injuries, squad depth issues, and his personnels limitations forced Cleverley into more pragmatic settings.
The team often dropped into a mid to low block in a 4-4-2 out of possession.
In possession, they turned into a 3-3-3-1 shape: the holding midfielder dropped into the back line to facilitate build-up, the wingers inverted to occupy the half-spaces, the no. 10 operated centrally, and full-backs were tasked with providing width.
Despite his preference for progressive football, Cleverley was forced to avoid direct play into the centre-forward due to his strikers limited aerial and hold-up capabilities.
Instead, he opted to keep the ball on the ground with short passing combinations.
An obvious weakness was Watford’s disorganised rest defence, which led to chaotic games and an inconsistent inability to control transitions.
By the end of the 2024/2025 season, Watford under Cleverley ranked among the bottom five in the Championship in several key metrics:
- Expected Points (xP): Underlying performance indicated results were in line with, or even below, process-based expectations.
- Open Play xG (Expected Goals): The team struggled to generate high-quality chances from open play, suggesting issues with chance creation and final third execution.
- Open Play xGA (Expected Goals Against): The team conceded more quality chances than most.
- High Recoveries: The number of times possession was won high up the pitch was low, despite the stated aim of pressing aggressively.
- High Recoveries Against: Watford were there for the taking; they were frequently pressed and dispossessed high up the pitch themselves.
- Line Height: The average depth of the defensive line in possession was low (backline were closer to the goalkeeper than the average EFL Championship team) and out of possession—inconsistency here heavily undermines the pressing game, which Cleverley wants.
Tom Cleverley Player Management & Psychology
Tom Cleverley is considered loyal to his players, rarely criticises them publicly, and is reluctant to “throw players under the bus.”
This psychological approach can create unity and a positive atmosphere, but it also brings risks.
He was sometimes too loyal to experienced players whose performance levels had declined.
His reluctance to drop underperformers or take risks on playing younger talents together (such as Rocco Vata, Giorgi Chakvetadze, and Kwadwo Baah — though injuries played a role) drew criticism.
Giorgi Chakvetadze Radar Map
Giorgi Chakvetadze stands out for his risk-taking nature in attacking areas.
He has a high level of involvement in progressive play, which Cleverley encourages.
Attacking play
