rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 28, 2013 8:59:19 GMT
So the last match in a year that has been tough for our club and many will be glad to see the back of it! Not that Exeter are exactly flying high at the moment, since a superb win 0-4 away at Scunthorpe on 19th October, they have won just 1 in 11, the only away win being at Accrington, 2-3 with 7 losses, the most recent of which was a 0-1 loss at a rapidly improving Cheltenham on Boxing day!
I suspect that a bit of pressure is now on Tisdale's back, not helped by being interviewed for the Portsmouth job recently so he will be desperate for a win at Plainmoor with Exeter seemingly stronger on the road. Paradoxically, despite an annus horribilis for Torquay, we are coming into this match on possibly our best run of the year with 7 points from 9 and a win for us would amazingly see us only 4 points behind our Devon rivals!
From various reports, I think the performance levels against Bristol Rovers were down compared to that against Southend at least, not helped by a heavy pitch which won't be any better for tomorrow and will contribute to what will be a tough local Derby battle. Whether Knill will look to freshen things up is debatable but our Achilles heel seems to be a lack of goals with just 1 in each of the last 3 and I fear that won't be enough to get that all important win, something we haven't managed against our Devon friends for too long!!!!
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Dec 28, 2013 10:02:27 GMT
Alas, I suspect the pitch will still be slippy underfoot and fairly bobbly. The nice sunrise has now been replaced by dark grey clouds that look like rain from the west. Talking to a couple of players, it undoubtedly affects the passing and dribbling (running with the ball, as opposed to drooling down the chin guys). Perhaps explains why sometimes Jak passed to no one and sometimes whipped in a lovely ball? Also why Chappers and BB didnt look as effective as the last few games?
My heart says a 2 goal win but the old noggin thinks a tight battle with one goal settling it is more likely.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 28, 2013 14:04:45 GMT
Didn't realise that Stockley has gone back to Bournmouth again with back spasms leaving us a little short although we had no natural wingers on the bench on Wednesday. I see that Danny Stevens is still out of contract but him and heavy pitches don't mix that we'll....
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 29, 2013 10:22:29 GMT
Well, a sunny start in the bay today which will help matters with the storm predicted coming in just after the match....
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 29, 2013 14:17:10 GMT
Off to the ground now but if anyone has a chance to post our line up would be good as rumours of problems in our defence....
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 29, 2013 17:43:56 GMT
Mildly irritating really, on another day could have won that and ironically had the better of the play. If that penalty had gone in, probably would have been a very different match and unfortunate that a striker without much pitch time and low on confidence took the spotkick. Hawley had a bit of a mare until he scored but perked up soon afterwards.
Positives, midfield did well and Bodin probably had his best game of the season and was our main outlet in the first half, Benyon had a very good cameo and laid it on the plate for Hawley. Negatives, although Exeter took their chances well with the first a belter, (more or less their first attempt on goal after we had dominated), there was a hint of defensive mishaps in all three which let them in.
Ho hum....
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petef
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Post by petef on Dec 29, 2013 18:29:15 GMT
Despite the result this was by far one of the better derby matches of recent years with a score line that somewhat flattered the opposition. We played some of the best football for a very long time, particularly in the first half but ultimately paid for missed chances and a saved penalty though Citys keeper produced some outstanding saves to deny us taking a lead that we could defend. Their first goal came out of nothing after we gave away possession in midfield with a run on goal and strike to Pokes bottom right hand corner and I was somewhat surprised to see it nestling in the net. A body blow after we had had so much of the play and looked like tearing them apart at times down both wings. Hawley came in for some unfair stick but kept at it and was rewarded with a goal from a cross from the hard working Benyon. Mc Court had been playing well i the middle , linking up play very well all afternoon and it was somewhat of a surprise when Benners replaced him and it didn't seem to go down to well with some of he Popside though I could see the reasoning behind putting another striker on and taking off a midfielder with the only other option being Mozika or Mansell who were also have reasonable games. Tough being a manager.
Not in the least disheartened by todays performance or result as it demonstrated that if we apply ourselves and get the run of the ball we will start winning games regularly but we do need the likes of Billy Bodin who had an outstanding game on the right wing, play to this level week after week. Chasing the game we inevitably got stretched and were punished by some sloppy defending and being caught in possession for the third. Game over but we kept going untill the end and I was one who applauded the players for their efforts at the final whistle. One thing that annoyed me and that was the injury time that should have been. Five subs and four minutes for injuries to City players and just five added and then three played. Mystified.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 29, 2013 19:02:11 GMT
Ah, I guesstimated minimum of 6 minutes and more likely 7 or 8 with problems retrieving the ball, a number of injuries and those subs... Don't add on the time and you encourage the spoiling of a match with these antics.... Their third goal came directly from an injury time out, maybe a loss of concentration from O'Connor?
Yep, I stayed behind to clap as a good spectacle and the performance levels were up there.
Funny old game, a chap near me was berating Knill for not bringing on Benyon earlier and playing with two up front but as soon as Knill did exactly that, was he pleased? As if.....
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Dec 29, 2013 20:17:19 GMT
Not too much to add to the above. We could and probably should have gone in 2 ahead at half time. A pretty poor penalty and a couple of class saves from their keeper being the difference. Their first goal was against the run of play and, IMO, Pokey should probably got a hand on it despite the curl. Its fair to say we were the better side overall apart from the first 20 or so minutes of the second half but couldnt turn it into goals. The other 2 goals looked to be defensive slips as well. Certainly an entertaining game with Bodin looking quite dangerous, alas Cameron for the most part didnt.
Midfield were pretty good but lady luck never smiles on you when youre down the bottom.
Oh Rob, they still havnt changed the big screen...
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Post by loyalgull on Dec 29, 2013 20:20:53 GMT
i bet the sid james park crew laughed all the way home,poor as poor as can be but still strolled off with 3 easy points in the end,god we are poor.And how knill can play one lone striker up front,in benchwarmer hawley for so long is infuriating,a hammering at home park on new years day could be the finish of him i fear
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Post by bristolgull on Dec 30, 2013 0:34:39 GMT
Very disappointing result after such an impressive first half an hour where we really needed to score to give us the lead our play deserved. Obviously missing a penalty didn't help! Did anybody else think Hawley looked less than confident as he prepared and ran up to hit it?! Fair play to him though he didn't seem to let it affect him too much and he kept. working away and eventually scored. When we got it back to 2-1 I was convinced we would get that equalizer but we gifted them the third killer goal. Bodin was outstanding today and I thought Cameron did ok too considering he hasn't featured much this season. For me cruise looked off his game as did o'connor. Losing marquis was a huge blow and kind of sums up the story of the season so far, not sure if he's coming back or not? Maybe stockley will be fit for Wednesday's game? The positives from today are that we played some good stuff at times and we are still out of the bottom 2...just! Can't see us winning at home park though but you can ever tell, just need to repeat some of our approach play of the first half but with an end product and also decide who is going to take the next penalty....not much to ask is it?!!!
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Post by bristolgull on Dec 30, 2013 0:41:21 GMT
My mistake, we are in the bottom two...bugger! Must have been hallucinating when I looked at the league table earlier!!!
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Dec 30, 2013 8:58:26 GMT
My mistake, we are in the bottom two...bugger! Must have been hallucinating when I looked at the league table earlier!!! I thought the same initially when looking at the bbc site last night.... |
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Post by bristolgull on Dec 30, 2013 9:22:41 GMT
My mistake, we are in the bottom two...bugger! Must have been hallucinating when I looked at the league table earlier!!! I thought the same initially when looking at the bbc site last night.... Glad it wasn't just me! |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Dec 31, 2013 0:45:59 GMT
I wrote this after the Southend game. You can argue it's chicken and egg between performance and crowd mood, but those there yesterday were superb in their SUPPORT of the team. When we play badly, maybe we "burn off" some of the moaners and there is a greater feeling of unity amongst those left. It was the total opposite against Exeter. Smaller crowds = better support, bigger crowds = higher proportion of "fair weatherers". Good to see that quite a few did clap the players off after what was a fully committed performance. We were excellent in the first half. That wasn't a clever Tisdale tactic - we outplayed them. Exeter upped their game considerably in the second half - as you would expect. The booing of the substitution was unbelievable. Moan when we play 4-3-3 / 4-5-1 under Ling. Moan when we play 4-4-2 under Knill. Moan we haven't got two up front when we stop playing 4-4-2. Moan "change it", moan when it is changed. McCourt tends to tire towards the end of the 90. Chasing the game required the risk of two up top. Keeping your two most experienced and combative midfielders on the park is not the stupidest idea ever. Benyon and Hawley linked up excellently to get us back in the game. I'd still go back to 4-3-3 for Argyle. I hope that Stockley is available, assuming Marquis isn't. |
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