..just got back home from going to the Exeter match last night (we stayed over in Torquay!!) and thought I would post up a few thoughts from the game. Teams: First Half: -------------------------GREEN---------------------- YOUNG------ONUOHA------------HILL------TRAORE SWP--------GRANERO---JENAS---MBIA----HOILETT ---------------------ZAMORA------------------------- Second Half: ---------------------MURPHY------------------------- BOSINGWA---BEN HAIM---FERDINAND---SUK-YOUNG SIMPSON------DERRY-------PARK----------FAURLIN --------------MACKIE-----JOHNSON---------------- Only sub was 20mins into second half - Bosingwa off for Sanusi (trialist). Remy was there, we saw him getting onto the coach, and also Ephraim, but neither were involved for some odd reason. First thing to say really is that I know it is only pre-season, and the first game, but it doesn't appear to much has changed! The same players are making the same mistakes. Some wont like to hear that, but thats the truth tbh. Park is pushed off the ball too easily, Mbia does his usual poor passing, Hoilett not doing much, Zamora struggled to make any real impact. Im not just saying that, its how it looked last night, which bitterly disappoints me as I was hoping for a fresh start. Really don't want to have to say anything negative. Strangely we played with only one up top in the first half (Zamora), two in the second (Johnson and Mackie). Players who looked good were: Johnson, Mackie, Faurlin, Derry, Simpson. Hill and Onuoha also did ok. Other than that no-one else stood out. So basically the team in the second half were much better than those in the first, but struggled to break them down and create anything of note. We badly lacked creativity. Again, some wont like this, but we really missed a player like Adel. Someone clever on the ball who can beat a man. It just didn't happen often enough. The attack play was often too slow, especially in the first half, whilst Exeter put pace and movement into their attacks. They were much better in the box - when they did actually get there! A good workout as we had a lot of the ball, but we barely did anything with it. I wouldn't recommend watching the highlights on the website, really not worth it! Probably had 2 shots on target all game.
a few bright moments, but other than that never really stood out to be honest. Got forward well and did link well with Faurlin but struggled have an impact other than that.
I watched the stream last night, so I cannot comment on the game as well as Judo, but I thought Suk Young had a good half.
I know, I must be addicted to it! Thankfully we tied it up with a trip to see some family I have never met in Torquay so it wasn't a trip just for the game! Off to Peterborough and Southend though - hopefully it gets better!
also will add: The Exeter stewards were complete jobs worths. We were penned into the corner of the ground, despite the away terrace being clear. We are all crammed into the corner. Tony Fernandes also walked around the side of the pitch to speak with fans before the game, and there was a group of fans who gathered near him. The steward came along and forced everyone to move away saying we couldnt stand there. Really no need for that with only 300 fans who were all in a good mood in a pre-season game.
I will agree with that. At one point he made a great run to the by line beating 3/4. For me though he should be playing LM, not LB.
We went to the harbour in Torquay and had lunch with the family down there, and we were going to go to the beach this morning before we left but it was quite overcast so we gave it a miss. Had a drink at the ground in their club social club outside the stadium. All exeter fans were friendly, and met a Man City fan who is local to exeter so had a good chat about that final day game.
I was in the old managers dug out with my boys on the opposite side to the rest of you, disabled bay for broken kneecap!. Suk young was playing right in front of us and to be honest I thought he was pretty useless, not linking well with Faurlin who was getting a bit frustrated that the lay off's weren't coming back, ball control was loose and he lost the ball very easily. Could have put us in a very difficult position if the lino hadn't given him a dubious free kick. Didn't inspire at all.
