MATCHWATCH : Exeter City (h)

[Hound]

We do look light up front - Wareham works hard and is doing a good job, and Kelvin again looked dangerous. But we don’t seem to create a lot from them. I think that will ultimately be the reason we don’t make top 6

Strangely though it was the defence and defensive mid that fell to pieces second half last night. Yiadom was all over the place and Mbengue and Bindon weren’t at their best

[leon]

That’s the sort of performance we’re always capable of producing and we did it plenty of times under Selles. I didn’t think Garcia was awful and Savage had another good game. The team looks tired and that’s hardly surprising.

The crowd was poor, but lots of my friends/family won’t go until Dai oxf*rd off. I can’t get too hung up on results/performances until we get new owners.

This. Our tiny squad will produce performances like that in busy schedules, and low crowds will only add to the malaise on nights like yesterday.

The team and manager are performing admirably overall, but real progress needs the takeover. I think we can get more consistency out of this team next season if we're in a position to recruit in the summer.

Not sure a new owner will put up with performances like that for very long.

Sort out your tactics Hunt. And have a plan B when Wing gets nullified.

[WestYorksRoyal]

That’s the sort of performance we’re always capable of producing and we did it plenty of times under Selles. I didn’t think Garcia was awful and Savage had another good game. The team looks tired and that’s hardly surprising.

The crowd was poor, but lots of my friends/family won’t go until Dai oxf*rd off. I can’t get too hung up on results/performances until we get new owners.

This. Our tiny squad will produce performances like that in busy schedules, and low crowds will only add to the malaise on nights like yesterday.

The team and manager are performing admirably overall, but real progress needs the takeover. I think we can get more consistency out of this team next season if we're in a position to recruit in the summer.

Not sure a new owner will put up with performances like that for very long.

Sort out your tactics Hunt. And have a plan B when Wing gets nullified.

With a stronger squad they may not, but with what we currently have anyone who thinks a manager change will squeeze more out is kidding themselves.

[URZZZZ]

How is Camara still on? Offers absolutely nothing.

It's a shame, he has some tidy feet at times but really don't think he'll make it here if he doesn't improve.

Selles and Hunt both seem to rate him highly though

Coincidence or not, 1 defeat in 14 games when starting (in which the referee contributed to that one up at Lincoln!) compared to 9 defeats in 20 when not

He can be somewhat lightweight and ineffective but he works hard at the top end of the pitch and alongside Knibbs and Savage, harries and presses well and is generally a neat and tidy player on the ball

It’s not as if Campbell or Ehibhatiomhan are faring any better and they’re both more of a liability in terms of both defensive responsibilities and losing the ball in dangerous areas

[URZZZZ]

What is about us and shit evening performances? just the small matter of Wrexham next Tuesday.

Beating the same drum but it’s the 3/5 variation at the back we continuously struggle against. Last night and Shrewsbury a few weeks ago played it and we looked like we had no idea how to break it down. Rotherham, Wigan and Birmingham all played 4 at the back and were all generally good performances

Wareham is simply too isolated up against 3 CB’s. Would have been an option to put Ehibhatiomhan up top alongside him to offer some support rather than predictably just swap the wide players and hope for the best

[Hound]

How is Camara still on? Offers absolutely nothing.

It's a shame, he has some tidy feet at times but really don't think he'll make it here if he doesn't improve.

Selles and Hunt both seem to rate him highly though

Coincidence or not, 1 defeat in 14 games when starting (in which the referee contributed to that one up at Lincoln!) compared to 9 defeats in 20 when not

He can be somewhat lightweight and ineffective but he works hard at the top end of the pitch and alongside Knibbs and Savage, harries and presses well and is generally a neat and tidy player on the ball

It’s not as if Campbell or Ehibhatiomhan are faring any better and they’re both more of a liability in terms of both defensive responsibilities and losing the ball in dangerous areas

Thought Kelvin had a decent cameo and looked dangerous - plus a number of good passes inside

Camara is solid but doesn’t seem to have one specific strong attribute. He seemed to be very good in the opening 20 but faded along with everyone else.

Him/Bodin/Wareham all just a bit too similar to play together imo

[Hound]

One thing I thought was a bit bizarre - Exeter time wasting when they were looking like scoring every time they attacked. Very odd - game was there for the taking for them

[morganb]

One thing I thought was a bit bizarre - Exeter time wasting when they were looking like scoring every time they attacked. Very odd - game was there for the taking for them

I agree

Said the same thing - why time waste at nil-nil, surely you get your goal then time waste.

Only thought was if Exeter had targeted the Reading match as a game where they must get a point so perhaps it was too much of a risk to attack and go for three where you could end up getting none if caught on the break, assuming as a team they are lacking in confidence?

[Royal_jimmy]

That’s the sort of performance we’re always capable of producing and we did it plenty of times under Selles. I didn’t think Garcia was awful and Savage had another good game. The team looks tired and that’s hardly surprising.

The crowd was poor, but lots of my friends/family won’t go until Dai oxf*rd off. I can’t get too hung up on results/performances until we get new owners.

This. Our tiny squad will produce performances like that in busy schedules, and low crowds will only add to the malaise on nights like yesterday.

The team and manager are performing admirably overall, but real progress needs the takeover. I think we can get more consistency out of this team next season if we're in a position to recruit in the summer.

They're also a young squad by and large too. Many of these players probably wouldn't be getting the game time that they are if it wasn't for our situation. Not that it's a bad thing but we have to expect some inconsistency.

For what it's worth I didn't think we played that great on Saturday either despite the result. Hunt has certainly tightened us up but we have a weaker goal threat.

[Royal_jimmy]

This. Our tiny squad will produce performances like that in busy schedules, and low crowds will only add to the malaise on nights like yesterday.

The team and manager are performing admirably overall, but real progress needs the takeover. I think we can get more consistency out of this team next season if we're in a position to recruit in the summer.

Not sure a new owner will put up with performances like that for very long.

Sort out your tactics Hunt. And have a plan B when Wing gets nullified.

With a stronger squad they may not, but with what we currently have anyone who thinks a manager change will squeeze more out is kidding themselves.

+1

[Snowflake Royal]

It's hard to argue with 8 games unbeaten in our circumstances.

Performances are a little lacking, but results are there.

From a manager many wrote off as useless.

[Hendo]

The Garcia bashing makes me laugh a little bit - yes he may not have been playing too well, but he's 17 for christ sake - give him a fucking break. He isn't going to be Roberto Carlos every game. He shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st team right now, but due to the state of the club, he is.

Anyway, another point on the board. Onwards to the next one.

[Royal_jimmy]

As disappointing as that result was if we win Saturday that's still 7 points from 3 games and 16 from our last 8. Let's see how we do at Crawley, I think they'll try to win but out battling and out muscling us.

[Sutekh]

The Garcia bashing makes me laugh a little bit - yes he may not have been playing too well, but he's 17 for christ sake - give him a fucking break. He isn't going to be Roberto Carlos every game. He shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st team right now, but due to the state of the club, he is.

Anyway, another point on the board. Onwards to the next one.

Also I think he’s more a left winger than someone who should be primarily into defensive duties.

[Hendo]

The Garcia bashing makes me laugh a little bit - yes he may not have been playing too well, but he's 17 for christ sake - give him a fucking break. He isn't going to be Roberto Carlos every game. He shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st team right now, but due to the state of the club, he is.

Anyway, another point on the board. Onwards to the next one.

Also I think he’s more a left winger than someone who should be primarily into defensive duties.

The reverse Obita.

[Snowflake Royal]

The Garcia bashing makes me laugh a little bit - yes he may not have been playing too well, but he's 17 for christ sake - give him a fucking break. He isn't going to be Roberto Carlos every game. He shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st team right now, but due to the state of the club, he is.

Anyway, another point on the board. Onwards to the next one.

The issue with him is that he doesn’t need to be playing. We've had a competent more experienced player on the bench for a few weeks now. So it's frustrating.

[Tinpot Royal]

The Garcia bashing makes me laugh a little bit - yes he may not have been playing too well, but he's 17 for christ sake - give him a fucking break. He isn't going to be Roberto Carlos every game. He shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st team right now, but due to the state of the club, he is.

Anyway, another point on the board. Onwards to the next one.

The issue with him is that he doesn’t need to be playing. We've had a competent more experienced player on the bench for a few weeks now. So it's frustrating.

I really can't understand why Abrefa isnt getting on the pitch, or when he does why it tends to be as a forward! I could understand Craig starting over him but Rushesha? Doesn't make any sense to me

[windermereROYAL]

Official stats, 3 on target, Bodin first half cross that was going in before the keeper pushed it away, Savage and Kelvin straightforward saves and Wing late on that the keeper kept out.
I make that 4, not like it matters.

[Stranded]

Official stats, 3 on target, Bodin first half cross that was going in before the keeper pushed it away, Savage and Kelvin straightforward saves and Wing late on that the keeper kept out.
I make that 4, not like it matters.

Would suggest the Bodin cross hasn't been counted as a shot.

[morganb]

The Garcia bashing makes me laugh a little bit - yes he may not have been playing too well, but he's 17 for christ sake - give him a fucking break. He isn't going to be Roberto Carlos every game. He shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st team right now, but due to the state of the club, he is.

Anyway, another point on the board. Onwards to the next one.

The issue with him is that he doesn’t need to be playing. We've had a competent more experienced player on the bench for a few weeks now. So it's frustrating.

I really can't understand why Abrefa isnt getting on the pitch, or when he does why it tends to be as a forward! I could understand Craig starting over him but Rushesha? Doesn't make any sense to me

Perhaps Abrefa isn't fully fit (or likely to get injured again if he does play 60+ minutes)? He may have done a reverse-Craig and said he doesn't want to play RB?

Rushesha has been fine at right back and was being used as an outlet a lot by Pereira last night so seems to be a part of Hunt's game plan. The right side worked fine yesterday with Bodin looking a lot better than he did on Saturday - sharpness, fitness and understanding much improved.