A troubling start to the season didn't get any easier in midweek for Plymouth Argyle, outclassed by Championship opponents Reading in the EFL Cup first round.

No one really expected the Pilgrims to get anything from that one, and the second half display was more encouraging, but it's the second half display and the alarming lack of pace in the defence that is of concern to many at Home Park.

Derek Adams did well with his squad last season, but has had to cope with a few massive blows over the summer with Curtis Nelson, Peter Hartley, Carl McHugh, Gregg Wylde and Jamille Matt all moving on to pastures new. He's done well in terms of replacing them, with 13 new signings, although the quality of them is unknown and will be determined in the coming weeks.

This weekend, they face a tricky trip to Carlisle, and the last time they faced the Blues it was at Blackburn's Ewood Park after their ground was flooded. They won the game 2-0, with Ryan Brunt and Wylde getting the goals.

The Cumbrians did well last weekend, saving a point after having a man sent off in the first half away at Portsmouth. They will provide stern opposition, and may well not be too far away from promotion at the end of the season.

Here, in the opinion of FLW's Ryan Evans, is a Plymouth team that will be able to beat Carlisle on Saturday.

 

GK: Luke McCormick

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Despite Vincent Dorel doing well for Plymouth in the cup, I fully expect captain Luke McCormick to return between the sticks on Saturday.

The experienced 32-year old has 278 appearances for the Pilgrims, and has been a constant in a team that's changed immensely since his return to the club back in 2013.

He had a dodgy game against Luton, but it's likely that he'll put in a better performance this time around. When McCormick performs well, he's one of the best 'keepers in the league, and proved it last season with 13 clean sheets and conceding just 39 goals in his 40 appearances.

RB: Gary Miller

Gary Miller

It's going to be a very similar back four to the side that lost to Luton, and there's not much that Adams can do about that thanks to an array of problems.

At right-back it'll be Miller again, following his arrival in Devon from Partick Thistle. This is the 29-year old's first time playing in England, and will bring a lot of experience from north of the border to this team, on top of having played alongside and for Adams previously in his career.

Kelvin Mellor chose not to renew his contract after receiving a lot of criticism for his performances last season, and is now playing for Blackpool, with whom he scored in the cup on Tuesday night against Bolton. This makes Miller Argyle's only right-back, so is guaranteed to play almost every game.

CB: Yann Songo'o

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With Karleigh Osborne still struggling to regain match fitness following his terrible injury that ruled him out for the vast majority of last season, and Nauris Bulvitis still waiting for international clearance before he can play, it's likely that their centre-back pairing will be unchanged for a while yet.

A far cry from Curtis Nelson & Peter Hartley of last season, Songo'o is a very physical player, but his lack of pace was exploited on Saturday and could be a concern for Plymouth throughout the season.

The 24-year old signed on a free transfer this summer after being released by Blackburn a year earlier, and has had spells in USA, Scotland and Spain previously.

CB: Sonny Bradley

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As highlighted above, Bradley would perhaps not have made the top two in Adams' thoughts if he had all four centre-backs available. He's a similar sort of player to Songo'o, previously playing for Hull, Portsmouth and most recently Crawley, with 72 appearances for the Reds in the last two seasons.

He could be a good player for Argyle, and will have to put in some great performances alongside Songo'o if the club are going to challenge for promotion again.

 

LB: Gary Sawyer

Gary SawyerGary Sawyer

The left-back returned to the club after a spell away at Bristol Rovers and Leyton Orient last summer, and was magnificent last season in his 50  appearances. The 31-year old is likely to be a key player for Argyle this campaign again, and he'll need to lead this defensive unit following the loss of Nelson and Hartley.

Adams does have Ben Purrington who can play in that position, but is likely to stick with the quality of Sawyer.

Carlisle have a lot of quality in the right-midfield area, with Nicky Adams, Reggie Lambs and Jamie Devitt all coming into the club this summer, so Sawyer will need to be in fine form on Saturday.

CDM: Oscar Threlkeld

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After spending time at the club last season on loan, Bolton recalled the player towards the end of the season before releasing him in the summer, and he probably didn't think twice before rejoining the Pilgrims on a more permanent basis after how well the fans took to him.

He's a ready made replacement for Carl McHugh, who disappointingly left the club after promising his future.

Threlkeld, like anyone who would play in that position, is going to be vital in the club's chance for promotion, and indeed to win any game, so Adams will be hoping that his 21-year old midfield maestro is in the best of form for this one.

CDM: Connor Smith

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Probably the biggest criticism of Argyle so far this season is their lack of creativity in midfield. So far, Ryan Donaldson, Jimmy Spencer, Graham Carey, David Ijaha, Jake Jervis and David Fox have failed to create too much, summed up by the stat that despite having 64% of the possession against the Hatters, they got just seven shots away and only three on target.

However, Smith only featured for 17 minutes of their campaign so far, and the ex-Wimbledon man could provide the answer. Threlkeld's role will be similar to that of Carl McHugh's from last season; to anchor the midfield and screen in front of the Argyle back four. However, Smith classes himself as a box to box midfielder and should offer more of an attacking ability, giving Carey another option to link up with.

RM: Ryan Donaldson

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The versatile midfielder endured a frustrating season for Cambridge last time around, scoring two and setting up another two from his 30 League Two games. However, the player has plenty of class and can play on either flank, a striker, as a number ten or in a slightly deeper central role. Here, he'll get the nod as a right midfielder.

He has the potential to cause a lot of damage to Carlisle, and skipper Danny Grainger will have to be on his guard in order to lead his side to three points on Saturday afternoon.

CAM: Graham Carey

Graham Carey

Argyle's flair player, Carey was voted the best player in League Two last season despite his team failing to win promotion, and everyone at Home Park is excited to see just what the 27-year old can do this season. He didn't hit the heights of his usual standard of performance in the first game against Luton, but had an impressive pre-season and definitely has the ability to rip apart any team in this division.

12 goals and 16 assists in all competitions in the last campaign mean that this is the player who will cause Carlisle the most problems. Whoever gets the nod at centre-back this weekend and indeed in central midfield will have to be very wary of Carey.

 

LM: Jake Jervis

 

Jervis was the club's joint top scorer last season, scoring 11 goals and claiming eight assists from 45 games last season despite coming of the boil slightly last season at the turn of the year. He ca

Jake Jervis

me off the bench last Saturday, but I'm confident that Jervis may be coming in to start this weekend.

At just 24-years old, he's already had 11 different clubs and played in England, Scotland and Turkey. He's previously said he wants to settle down in Plymouth, and that can only be a good thing for anyone concerned with the club.

ST: David Goodwillie

David Goodwillie

The ex-Blackburn man played as a central striker against Luton but on the left-wing against Reading in the cup, and if Jervis does come into the team, there could be the chance that the two of them interchange positions as Jervis played as a central striker in parts of pre-season.

After the disappointing performances of Reuben Reid last season and loan star Jamille Matt not re-signing for the club, they need a goalscorer, and will be hoping that Goodwillie could be that player. Alternatively, they have Jordan Slew and Jimmy Spencer that can play their alongside Jervis and Donaldson before Ryan Brunt returns from his injury, so between them they will need to start scoring.

Plymouth fans, what do you think? Is this XI good enough to beat Carlisle? What changes would you make? Let us know your opinions below!