Match Thread Most liked posts in thread: Away V Exeter City Saturday 6th February 1.00pm (with Poll)

Scored their goal as well never wish McCardle anything but good

 

Isn' it good to be looking forward to matches again, without knowing that we will lose before a ball is kicked.
Yes this is a tough match , but at least we now have a chance of getting something out of it.
A point would not be a bad return and keeps the unbeaten run going, but i think all three are there for the taking, 2-1 to the city.

 

Massive virtual away following - potentially 3,000 plus
Unbelievable optimism around new signings
Confidence through the roof
Whispers of a play off push.
It’s almost a no brainier for me, Exeter win, I’ve supported City far too long to expect anything else!!
Fingers crossed they prove me wrong.

 

A disappointing day, that probably reminded us we still have work to do before we’re ready to challenge for anything near the top 7. Our right side was a problem all day - I don’t see what Stevens offers and for all that there’s a question mark over Billy Clarke’s offensive contribution he does his job well defensively. I don’t think its any coincidence that FCD had a mare without him front. I’d expect AOC to move to the right and Canavan to come in.

We can’t really complain with the result. It’s days like this which will examine the credentials of T&S. As will the response.

On the plus side, Vernam and Crankshaw look like they’ll be good additions.

 

Thought it was a very poor performance today, but in all honesty I don't think it was much different to last week, difference is we were playing a much better side who punished us.

Long, aimless balls are just a gift for the opposition and do nothing but put ourselves under sustained pressure. I don't like it at the best of times but when you haven't even got a target man upfront, it's idiotic. Its of no surprise that our better moments in the game came from us playing the ball on the deck.

Vernam and Crankshaw looked good. Stevens very poor.

Concerning that after we went behind we genuinely did nothing going forwards, we allowed the game to sort of peter out which is something that needs addressing.

Tough afternoon for FCD who, let's be honest, was run ragged by Willmott and Sparkes. I think Hosannah is the better player out of the two by some distance and hopefully he's back soon.

 

A few of us pointed out Finn's weaknesses as a right back on a number of occasions in recent weeks. We also said that the opposition would pick up on them and target him. That's precisely what happened today when he was exposed by the ball chipped over him, as has happened several times recently, and was found wanting for pace and positioning on more than one occasion. He isn't a right back and well as he's tried he's become a real weak link in the defence. He needs to be taken out of the firing line now.
Having said that Wood also had a poor game on the other flank, and the combination of the two gave Exeter real traction which put the central defenders under a lot of pressure.
In addition both Sutton and Watt, especially the latter, just weren't on their game today. Both looked increasingly tired as the game went on and decisively lost the midfield battle. Elsewhere, Stevens seemed to contribute nothing, Cooke was excellent before the midfield was overwhelmed, Vernam looks a real talent and Crankshaw showed promise. But ultimately, the influx of new bodies and an enforced reconfiguration of a previously successful system due to a lack of a target man cost us the game. So, a valiant effort but a bridge too far on this occasion.

 

Literally says everything you need to know about Rory that he would put his gonads on the line to defend a one nil lead. The man is an inspiration.

 

We’re taking this lot to the shed. The O’Connors will be stepping over shattered bodies, snarling as they beast every challenge they go into, Watt will be spraying more balls around than a Hollywood casting couch, Rowe will be spanking em in from 30 yards and Vernam will be tying more knots into em than a Boy Scout.

 

We were under McCall.

 

Pace again, great run beforehand again. I’d forgotten what pace in a City shirt looked like

 

Sounds painful. Hope he’s on the mend asap. Will never forgot his goal against Villa. One of my favs.



Magical stuff. We just started to believe we might make it to Wembley....

 

Has your account been hacked by @PlatinumChaosX ?

 

That’s what having a player who can run at the opposition can do. We’ve been on the back foot from the start, but one counter that opens up because we now have a player with pace and trickery, opens them up. We haven’t had that sort of player for a while

 

Cue the negative posts, second best today but without doubt we missed the lad Rowe.

 

Wow! The same Hornby who consistently puts it into touch under the slightest bit of pressure?

To avoid being seen as completely negative Hornby looks a good shot stopper but his kicking has been horrendous for the most part.

 

Do carry on posting!

 

I don’t think we’ve been poor, I think we’ve been generally solid. We’ve not kept the ball as well as we could but let’s keep in mind, Exeter have scored more than anyone else in the division. They’re a dangerous side.

 

Vernham being asked be a back to goal target man - clearly not his forte.
I'd bring on the Don for Stevens, move Vernham left and Crankshaw right.

 

Okay I’ll bite, where are all these usual suspects? Can people not criticise a game where we play poor same as be positive when we play well or win and play poor? No wonder you get called a WUM with comments like that.