Exeter City v Crewe Alex

[JJ1532]

Well, got to move on from last nights debacle.

Not sure if I'd keep the team the same or not, might want to give Ainley a start after his impressive cameos in both the last 2 games. Tempted to drop Cooper, as he's been dreadful since the window shut. Probably keep it the same though, give the same starting XI the chance to put things right.

Exeter though, man what a start they've had, all after losing 2 of their best players from last season and a teenager who might have played a big part this season as well. Fair play to Tisdale, been superb for them over the years. Looking like they'll finish comfortably in the top 3 at the moment.

Don't fancy our chances in this one, not if we play like we did against Grimsby or Cambridge. Hopefully it'll be better weather and a better result than last seasons trip to this ground. 3-1 defeat.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Realistically speaking, I reckon this'll be a 2-0 defeat, no shame if we lose, get it out the way and focus on beating Carlisle at home.

That said, if any team can stop Exeter's run, the optimist in me thinks it could well be us. Exeter play nice football and we're looking fairly solid at the back this season, if it becomes an open game and we aren't one-dimensional we really could do some damage. We definitely have the forwards to do it but the midfield really need to step up to the plate on Saturday.

First game I'm missing this season because I'm not paying £100+ to watch what could be a repeat of last season's shit-show there. So naturally we'll shithouse a 1-0 win.

 

[North_Cheshire_Alex]

Looking forward to this match as I get to cross off a bucket list event. This will be the first time I have flown to watch the Alex away, it's actually saving me £40 than if I had booked on the train, and I work on the fucking railway! Plus a 5 hour train journey with a change in Birmingham v a 50 minute Manchester to Exeter flight is a no brainer. Fly back Sunday after a night out in Exeter with some pals, I have been informed it's a good night out.

As for the match, I think 1-1, think we will show up for this match after Tuesday's poor performance.

 

[Moomin]

Tough one to call this. I'm mindful that we will lose eventually so can't afford to get too optimistic but, on the other hand, we really do look very well equipped for a promotion push.

We've changed our system since losing Watkins and Wheeler, changing from a 4-3-3 to a basic 4-4-2 which has really seen an improvement in Reuben Reid having a partner up top. In addition Holmes is now able to play as an out and out winger which is very unlike Tisdale. So, overall I'd say we look far more solid than last year.

For me, I'd freshen things up a touch and bring in Boateng and Stockley who both had a major impact on Tuesday off the bench.

Crewe have made a solid start but was surprised they lost against Cambridge midweek. Porter and Dagnall are good forwards at this level but I get the feeling we will cope better defensively against them than we did against Nouble and Amond vs Newport, albeit we managed a clean sheet. I just think Brown and Moore-Taylor cope against less pacey forwards.

Think Crewe will give us a tough test and I think we may see goals here for both teams. I'll go for 3-2 City. Reid, Stockley and Taylor. Ainley and Porter for Alex.

 

[Trapdoor]

On paper you might think a straight forward city win. But this is league two. We're all capable of playing like shit on our day.

1-0 to Crewe. Fluke goal direct from a corner.

 

[Crewelad87]

Should be a game that suits us better than the Cambridge game. But a very tough one, Exeter seem to be playing well and Rueben Reid will be a handful.

I'm expecting a much better performance

Exeter 2-2 Crewe (Reid 2, Porter, Bowery)

4,866 (198 railwaymen)

 

[JJ1532]

111 pre-sold. Not surprising, given how far away it is and the fact we did it last season and got arseholed. Reckon we'll manage around 150.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Yep, we've now made more space for home fans based on the predicted away following.

Not sure what to expect from this one. Crewe have had a decent start to the season despite their loss on Tuesday so it will be a tough game. Will be interested to see whether we remain unchanged as both Boateng & Stockley made an impact after coming off the bench.

 

[Vanni]

I'm very much interested in this game, as I reckon it will help me make up my mind on whether Crewe are indeed a top 10 side this year like loads of neutrals believe, and also to see if Tuesday's match was simply a bad day at the office. No such doubts on Exeter as I've always rated their side and Tisdale, and will be astounded if they fail to make top 7 at the least.

Naturally, I won't be drawing any conclusions on the result of this match, but it's interesting to see how Crewe fare away to a very decent L2 side.

 

[JJ1532]

I don't think we're not a top 10 side, not at the moment anyway. Too inconsistent on and off the pitch. Got a couple of important first teamers out and the rest of the team is blowing hot and cold. The manager is also 30 games into his managerial career and is making the kind of mistakes that reflect that. We lack creativity outside of George Cooper, currently lack goals in central midfield, have a few square pegs in round holes and have an increasingly suspect keeper.

Overall we're in a good place though. We've got a solid looking defence, a couple of proven goal scorers and some bright talents either on the verge of leaving(Cooper, James Jones) or breaking through into the first team(Callum Ainley, Owen Dale). With Cooper and Jones potentially off in January, we'll need to recruit well to replace them and maybe plug any other gaps.

I wouldn't use tomorrow as a marker to be honest. We could lose 4-0 or win 1-0 and I'd still say we are a mid-table team.

 

[Trapdoor]

bakayogo is getting torn apart by lee holmes.

 

[Moomin]

Easy easy easy.

We were superb, particularly first half where we dominated despite Crewe having a golden chance in the first minute. McAlinden should have had 2 and Reid and Taylor both went very close to scoring too. Nice finish from Taylor for the second goal after a good move.

Second half was just a case of keeping disciplined which we were and deserved to get the third. Sweeney and Holmes both went close too. Didn't think Stockley got a tough for the third so will need to see it again.

Crewe were awful and their left back Bakayoko was terrible. Holmes took the piss out of him all game. Raynes is so slow even Stockley outpaced him towards the end. I'm sure they're better than today's showing but I'd be concerned watching that from the away end.

Lovely to see Moxey back on the pitch too plus Boateng looked excellent when he came on. 22 points from 24 is an unreal start...

Bring on Coventry!

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

First half I thought we looked really good. We moved the ball quickly and created some really decent chances through the strikers and wingers. Second half Crewe came into the game more but didn't really trouble Pym in goal. I actually thought Crewe played some decent football but when it came to the battling and fighting for the foothold in the match they didn't really compete.

As for us I thought Lee Holmes was superb. He is a quality player at this level on his day and he didn't stop working or creating chances. The Crewe left back had a torrid time against him. Jake Taylor did really well on the other side. Also don't think Stockley got a touch on his delivery so will have to see it again. Finally McAlinden so badly deserves to have scored more than the one he's got this season. He works his socks off for the team and creates so many chances for others. Certainly deserves to keep his place in the side as things stand.

Another good win, onto Coventry next week.

 

[Big Bird]

Lee Holmes is as good as you can hope for as League 2 winger. Remember when we signed him on loan in 2004 (?) when he was just a kid and he was class then. Expected him to have a better career than he's had to be honest.

Exeter are flying. Fair play.

 

[Moomin]

Lee Holmes is as good as you can hope for as League 2 winger. Remember when we signed him on loan in 2004 (?) when he was just a kid and he was class then. Expected him to have a better career than he's had to be honest.

Exeter are flying. Fair play.

Yeah he's a great player for this level but injuries have been the main reason he's not playing higher up. Since we've had him he's had a couple of long layoffs but that's probably meant we've been able to keep him and he signed a new deal in the summer.

If we can keep him fit for the season it will be fantastic as he's probably my favourite player.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Didn't go but we've taken baby steps, 4-0 last season and now 3-0 this season. Some "improvement" that...

Typical Crewe can't play three games in a week as per usual. I thought we'd worked on the fitness but from the sounds of things and from the people I know who actually went to the game, we looked shagged against a side up for it more. I've seen the goals and all three were comical, especially the first which was a carbon copy of Exeter's opener last season pretty much.

Our record in the South West and South Wales is absolutely wretched to say the least. We never travel well there, at least not anymore. No wins there since NYE 2011 when we smashed Bristol Rovers 5-2. Since then, we've gone 16 games without a win in that part of the world. With Forest Green, Cheltenham, Newport, Swindon and Yeovil still to come this season, that record needs to change pretty sharpish. I'd put this down to being beaten by a team significantly better than us on the day and they are where they are for a reason. I'm not panicking yet or angry, but I believe changes need to be made for next week to inject some much needed freshness into the side. Raynes has been solid for us so far this season so it's a bad day at the office for him from the sounds of things, but Bakayogo is incredibly hit and miss and today sounded like one of his horror shows. Makes me wonder if Pickering will get another chance in that position at some point...

Big reaction needed for Carlisle at home next week, two tough aways come up after that game so three points is a must.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Usual Crewe flaws rearing their ugly head, namely a poor defence with cheap goals being gifted. So, so frustrating.

We are probably finding our position now (somewhere around 10th-16th) with slight hope of a post-Christmas surge. There's plenty for DA/KL to work on though and 'hilarious' soundbites will only get them so far. Can't really afford to slip into a real rut.

 

[JJ1532]

The defence having their first real off day of the season isn't a concern. They were totally overwhelmed by the fact the midfield and forwards couldn't get anything going in the first half. Its yet another concerning performance that starts to raise questions about Artell and Lunt. We take far too long to get out of our own half, having to play incredibly complex football to do so. Then when we get into the oppositions half, we seem to totally lack ideas about how to break a team down. We can't seem to master the basics of how to play pass and move football when the opposition close us down.

The shape was totally wrong yesterday. Brad Walker got ripped a new one at right back, but then he's only playing at RB because Artell was happy to have Ng as his only RB, that was until he realised Nolan can play there and put him out there for the last 20-30 minutes of the game. Nolan starts out there next week, regardless of whether Ng is fit or not. In midfield, we played a trio of Lowery, Wintle and Ainley and the latter 2 were rubbish. Not enough movement, lost the ball far too often, decision making poor. Lowery did his best. Front 3 again we not good enough, Cooper can kiss a January move goodbye if he doesn't start upping his game and Porter is showing why he is a league two player, same with Dagnall.

Looked better in the 2nd half, but Exeter eased into first gear and let us have it. Like Cambridge, we never really looked like scoring, had a few half chances that didn't trouble the keeper. Another comfy afternoon for a keeper facing the Alex. That's 3 out of the last 4 in which we haven't scored and didn't really look like scoring. Its a huge concern.

Artell comes out after the game and nails why we lost, totally spot on. But he always spots what was wrong after games, never during. He talks a fantastic game, but hasn't come close to walking the walk. Teams have totally sussed out how to play against us, namely press us early and watch us crumble. Then once they have the lead, sit back and watch us swat away hopelessly trying to find a goal.

Problem I think is, we're going to have to have patience with the management whilst they learn how to manage. But good luck trying to sell patience to a pissed off fan base that is coming off 3 years of shite football and telling them to accept more whilst Artell learns the ropes. Fans have already voted with their feet and some only got season tickets because they thought we'd be better this season. Another bottom half finish won't win anyone back.

Hey, Exeter are streets ahead of us(and probably most of the rest of this league). They play a good brand of football, where they get if forward quickly but don't lump it. They know how to play pass and move football, know how to attack teams quickly and have quality throughout the team. That was an easy afternoon for them and 3-0 maybe flatters us a bit. If they don't finish in the top 3, I'll be shocked. Losing to them is no disgrace as not many will come away from there with anything and in isolation, its easier to take. But when you add it to the poor performances against Port Vale, Grimsby, Newcastle(if you want to), Chesterfield(first half), Cambridge and now Exeter, we are in a really poor run of form.

Massive week for Artell and the players now ahead of Carlisle. If we don't show something resembling good football against them, I think fans already severely tested patience might run out. Massive response needed to what has been, on the whole, been a piss poor last few weeks.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

The defence having their first real off day of the season isn't a concern. They were totally overwhelmed by the fact the midfield and forwards couldn't get anything going in the first half. Its yet another concerning performance that starts to raise questions about Artell and Lunt. We take far too long to get out of our own half, having to play incredibly complex football to do so. Then when we get into the oppositions half, we seem to totally lack ideas about how to break a team down. We can't seem to master the basics of how to play pass and move football when the opposition close us down.

The shape was totally wrong yesterday. Brad Walker got ripped a new one at right back, but then he's only playing at RB because Artell was happy to have Ng as his only RB, that was until he realised Nolan can play there and put him out there for the last 20-30 minutes of the game. Nolan starts out there next week, regardless of whether Ng is fit or not. In midfield, we played a trio of Lowery, Wintle and Ainley and the latter 2 were rubbish. Not enough movement, lost the ball far too often, decision making poor. Lowery did his best. Front 3 again we not good enough, Cooper can kiss a January move goodbye if he doesn't start upping his game and Porter is showing why he is a league two player, same with Dagnall.

Looked better in the 2nd half, but Exeter eased into first gear and let us have it. Like Cambridge, we never really looked like scoring, had a few half chances that didn't trouble the keeper. Another comfy afternoon for a keeper facing the Alex. That's 3 out of the last 4 in which we haven't scored and didn't really look like scoring. Its a huge concern.

Artell comes out after the game and nails why we lost, totally spot on. But he always spots what was wrong after games, never during. He talks a fantastic game, but hasn't come close to walking the walk. Teams have totally sussed out how to play against us, namely press us early and watch us crumble. Then once they have the lead, sit back and watch us swat away hopelessly trying to find a goal.

Problem I think is, we're going to have to have patience with the management whilst they learn how to manage. But good luck trying to sell patience to a pissed off fan base that is coming off 3 years of shite football and telling them to accept more whilst Artell learns the ropes. Fans have already voted with their feet and some only got season tickets because they thought we'd be better this season. Another bottom half finish won't win anyone back.

Hey, Exeter are streets ahead of us(and probably most of the rest of this league). They play a good brand of football, where they get if forward quickly but don't lump it. They know how to play pass and move football, know how to attack teams quickly and have quality throughout the team. That was an easy afternoon for them and 3-0 maybe flatters us a bit. If they don't finish in the top 3, I'll be shocked. Losing to them is no disgrace as not many will come away from there with anything and in isolation, its easier to take. But when you add it to the poor performances against Port Vale, Grimsby, Newcastle(if you want to), Chesterfield(first half), Cambridge and now Exeter, we are in a really poor run of form.

Massive week for Artell and the players now ahead of Carlisle. If we don't show something resembling good football against them, I think fans already severely tested patience might run out. Massive response needed to what has been, on the whole, been a piss poor last few weeks.

Interesting points but I'm gonna make one about Exeter here. Before November last year, that fanbase voted to serve notice on their manager after a woeful start to the season. They ended up pulling their fingers out their arses and got playing good football and powered their way up the league. Sure, they bottled it at Wembley but they've maintained momentum, lost three key players but replaced them more than adequately and have sufficient depth. It's taken time for Exeter to build this competitive squad and now they look to be in a very good position. I'm not convinced we'll know where we are for another few months yet but I'm still confident we've got enough about us to be closer to the top and not the bottom.

But we also need to look at it this way. At this stage last season, Crewe were 3rd in the league with 15 points after 8 games (yet only 4 points better off than we are now), playing absolutely turgid football and every Crewe fan at the time knew that we were in a false position despite the initial upturn in results. We then proceeded to win just 2 of our next 17 league games, accumulating 13 points in that spell. I'm confident that Dave Artell will do much better than that as the season progresses. We're missing two key players who would make a difference in this side in Ray and Jones and the moment Grant has recovered from his concussion, I want to see how he plays alongside Lowery. The fact Wintle and Lowery have looked competitive despite having very few starts between them before the Mansfield game is admirable but they're young players who are learning and will make the odd mistake and have the odd poor game too. I also feel sorry for Brad Walker, was brilliant in CM against Chesterfield yet keeps being pushed around to CB and RB because of injuries. The only mistake Artell made in the window was not signing a natural RB for depth either. But he's built a squad that does have talent, sure they're not world beaters either but it's a far more likeable squad than the ineptitude we've had for the last few years and one that the fans really are getting behind.

Interestingly, you say Vale was a poor performance yet you describe Exeter and Cambridge as "easing into first gear and giving us the ball" and defending the game out, but isn't that exactly what we did at Vale? Okay we were up against 10 men but we absolutely controlled that game and didn't take stupid risks in a local fixture that the fans and players alike want to win. I don't think we were poor in the first half vs Chesterfield either, we just needed to step it up more and we did that in the second half. No qualms about Grimsby and obviously yesterday being poor performances because they really were and Cambridge was huffing and puffing with no end product but I think the run isn't as bad as you think it is.

As for fans' patience, some in our fanbase wanted Davis to be given more time after his eventual last stand Mansfield! Unless they're relatives of Davis, they aren't going to get on Artell's back. I certainly won't either, he's taken us from an awfully dire situation and has developed some very good footballers in Wintle, Lowery and Ainley, brought George Ray in back from the cold and made him look a competent player and has got Dale, Pickering, Ng into the fold and has given Kirk a final chance to prove himself too. Davis was more interested on short-term loans, desperate bargain bin signings which showed his lack of scouting and preparation and shunned the services of a lot of talented youth products who he genuinely failed to inspire or instil confidence from within them. That has set the club backwards from mid-table League One to annual relegation battles in Leagues One and Two.

Michael Appleton had an uninspiring first season at Oxford in this league. They were mid-table all season and never competed for promotion, yet in the second season they finished a deserved 2nd place and came on leaps and bounds and he left them in their best league position for 18 years last year. I think some fans need to realise that this is a young side, it's going to develop confidence and make the mistakes throughout the season and that 8 games isn't a barometer to judge where we'll end up (we've still got two-thirds of the league to play before the reverse fixtures begin for instance). However, unlike last season, there's leadership, good work ethic and good man management in this side that will see us comfortably away from trouble. It sounds unambitious, but a season away from any serious relegation trouble this year is a successful one for me. Playoffs and promotion is a bonus and I still think we could be on the outskirts of the Top 7 come May, but there's still 38 games to play and I'm confident this season will be miles better than any of the last four we've endured. We're in the best place we've been in since 2012-13 and over time, that'll become more evident. 99% of fans will back this manager because he's not alienating his own fans, throwing his own players under the bus, experiencing truly poor form and at-odds with the club's own philosophy. 11 points after 8 games is a satisfactory start, remember the Davis era before last season: 6 points, 4 points and 5 points respectively in true seasons of struggle where we never started well...