PRESTON NORTH END V EXETER CITY. Northenders. This coming Saturday PNE play hosts to Exeter City at Deepdale. Exeter are currently second bottom in the Div 1 league having picked up the one point from their previous games. The season has only just begun so it would be wrong to assume that Exeter are a poor team and relegation bound, they will no doubt offer stern resistance to the Lilywhites when they arrive on the pitch at Deepdale. They will no doubt be doing everything possible to claim PNE's scalp, and moving up the division, so PNE need to be on their guard and take nothing for granted. Exeter City play at St James Park Exeter and have played there since the club was founded in 1904. Their nickname is "The Grecians" and just where the name originated from is open to much debate. We Northenders believe we have had a traumatic last 18 months going very close to administration and becoming relegation victims etc etc etc. None of this compares at all with the various financial difficulties that the Grecian fans have had to face, and several times during their history. This includes being relegated from the football League Div 2 down into the Conference. For those who would like to know more about Exeter City's history click onto the link below, where I am sure you will find much of interest. As far as I am aware Exeter City FC is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust. http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/page/ECFC/0,,10436,00.html In 1914 Exeter City went on tour to South America and one of their games was against Brazil's national team. This is believed to be the very first game that the Brazil National team ever played. Their most famous player is Cliff Bastin who played for the Grecians when he was 16 years old and was later transferred to Arsenal where he became one of Arsenals all time great players. So then on to Saturday's fixture at Deepdale, where PNE will be buoyant following their away win at Chesterfield where PNE turned on the style a bit and were comfortable winners. There were strong signs in that game that PNE are beginning to gel and confidence should be high for Saturday's encounter. PNE have a habit of doing well away from home and then coming unstuck when they return to Preston. Most PNE supporters are well aware of this type of inconsistency having experienced it so many times in the past. Nevertheless expectations will be high amongst the home fans so just let's hope that PNE can continue where they left off at Chesterfield, and take all three points that will send the home fans away happy. I do expect a home victory but maybe not one as easy as some might think, I distinctly recall Exeter holding ManU to a draw in the cup at Old Trafford just a few seasons ago, with ManU winning the replay 2-0 at ST James Park. Incidently it was the gate receipts from those two games that cleared Exeter's financial problems and saved their day. I am going for the home win with Phil Brown probably keeping to the same team and formation. What do you think about Saturday's game, all thoughts are welcome on this thread.
I should add that Exeter City play against Liverpool (great draw for the Grecians) next Wednesday so their players will be looking to impress on Saturday wanting to play against Liverpool.
You're a bit of a tiger finneyfan........hang on a minute that can't be right, that would make you a Hull City supporter. And that you ain't...
Fully expect us to win although as you correctly point Plumber it will not be easy. They have lost their main scorer Jamie Cureton which is a blow, they did well last seaso. Question is will their manager Paul Tisdale be wearing his flat cap and cravate. Top bloke is Tisdale
Jamie Cureton is 35 years of age now and has played for several clubs during his career, a bit of a nomad realy but has usually found the net on a regular basis. Cureton, clearly enjoyed his Football at Exeter last season and the Grecians saw a much rejuvenated and fitter player. Cureton finished as the clubs top scorer for the 2010-11 season with 20 goals in all competitions making him a fans favourite at St James Park. He won the Supporters Player of the year and Players Player of the year awards and with manager Paul Tisdale keen to extend Cureton's stay with the Grecians, he was offered a deal for the 2011-12 season but declined the offer, and he left the club after just one season. I think Exeter will miss his goal contributions this season......"touch wood against PNE".. Tisdale is one of those managers who players and other people in football respect, doing a fine job as well by all accounts.
It's a bit early yet (unless you work with finneyfan) but the sun is shining here in Preston, and I am starting to get the buzz for today's game. Will be there with one of my grandsons to cheer the Lilywhites on to victory (I hope)...
Not the greatest of performances but 3 points is all that counts. Exeter give them credit didn't look like a side who had only 10 men. A rarity Alexander misses a spot kick and Procter scores with his back. Not brilliant in the 2nd half but we won
Evening maclad.. I have been having computer problems since I got back from the game, so quite late coming on here tonight. Anyway below are my thoughts on the game. First off I parked next to some Exeter fans prior to the game, and decent folk they were as well. They wasn't expecting anything other than a PNE win today but were hoping for the best. Interestingly they made the point that Grecian fans are basically happy with their club, and completely accepted that Div 1 was about their club's limit due to a small fan base etc. As long as they were enjoying their footy they were happy enough. Another interesting point was that one of them had a PNE shirt on and although being born and Bred in the Exeter area he followed PNE. I told them that the trip back home might be interesting and then took them to see the Sir Tom Splash, which they found to be interesting, it would have been even better had the water been turned on.. Was a little surprised to find that Hume and Smith were not playing, but wasn't unduly worried as Parry has been doing well as a stand in left full back. Hume was replaced by the yet another of the promising youngsters 17 year old Middleton who did very well on his League debut. It was a game of two halves for me with PNE dominating the first and much less so in the second with Exeter doing their utmost to get something from the game even when they only had 10 men. Although Middleton did extremely well I felt that Hume was still sorely missed up front, PNE played with a diamond shaped midfield using Middleton as the forward tip of the midfield. It was a 4 4 2 formation of sorts but for me not a genuine 4 4 2 and lacked width. PNE should have put the game to bed in the first half when they created several good chances but the ball just wouldn't drop to a Lilywhite player when Exeter were under pressure and hanging on. I felt that Mellor was very unfortunate not to score and was instrumental in PNE winning a penalty when he looked odds on to score. The offending Exeter player being sent off for an early bath. And so to the blatant penalty awarded to PNE that team captain Alexander will lose sleep about tonight after fluffing his spot kick big time. I doubt there was one person in the ground who wouldn't have bet all they had on Alexander putting the spot kick away, this is one player who just does not miss from the spot but miss he did. It was terrible attempt placed straight at the keeper and not with the normal power that Alexander uses. I felt that Alexander maybe understandably went into his shell for a time afterwards. PNE took the lead before half time whe Proctor scored the important goal possibly getting an Exeter slight deflection before hitting the net. Proctor was causing their defence problems whilst Middleton was showing some very neat touches and making some telling passes. Mellor was working very hard again but was again out of luck when it came to scoring. The midfield were on top in the first half but IMHO shaped up poorly in the second. After Exeter went down to ten men most Northenders will have felt a few more goals were on the cards, but PNE failed to use the extra man to advantage and it was Exeter who looked as though they had the extra man in the second half. I thought that 4 4 2 playing with two genuine wide men would have worked better against 10 men than the formation that was used with the diamond shape midfield that they started with, then the full width of the pitch could have been used to full effect and make Exeter chase for the ball. Everything was to too compact in the centre of the field for my liking and we Looked light weight on several occasions. PNE had some nervous moments in the second half with Exeter hitting the bar and PNE having to clear off the goal line but they held on to take all three points and gain their second win on the bounce, not the best of PNE performances but a win is a win. At the end of the day PNE got the three points and that is the important thing and keeps the momentum going ready for the next test against Notts County at Deepdale. It was good to see Conner Mc come on even if it was late in the day, it will have given him a lift knowing he was pushing for a start. I thought that Middleton did extremely well and did not look out of place despite his tender years. I am afraid that Turner has quite a bit to do to convince me that he is the equal of the departed lonners and still looks nervous at times, I hope that he settles down quickly and this nervousness is a temporary thing, same with some of his decision making. On the whole the back four looked reliable and solid whilst the front three (Middleton joining Mellor and Hume) had Exeter at sixes and sevens with their movement and positional play at times, mainly in the first half. So three points in the bag but it is work still in progress for Phil Brown. PNE will have to get used to having to battle for points at Deepdale from every team that visits, as Exeter showed to good effect today.
PARRY. I think it time that Northenders fully appreciated the above player's contribution to the team so far this season, I am sure there are many that do and have posted comments on different forums to that effect. Here is a player who has come in for lot's of criticism since arriving at PNE and justifiably so on many occasions. He arrived at PNE and did very well initially showing the ability that he no doubt has, but since that time has spent a lot of his time out injured and when brought back into the team has never been completely match fit. It would seem that he does have injury problems and had them when he signed for PNE in the first place. When at his previous club Cardiff he was recognised as an important member of the squad and built up a quite decent reputation for himself in the Championship, until off field problems (rumoured) and injury knocked his career into reverse gear. Parry is a versatile player who can play either wing and fullback, he can also play as a striker when needed, but as mentioned above PNE fans have possibly never seen him at his best due to time out injured or not selected etc. Since the end of last season although on the list of players to be moved on (I think), he has got stuck into pre season preparations and looks to be injury free and has responded extremely well to what is required under manager Phil Brown. There are some who believe had Parry been used in the left back position towards the end of last season, leaving Billy Jones to play in his best position at right back PNE just might have avoided relegation. So far this season Parry has shown what an asset he can be being the versatile player that he is, when he is match fit and not being plagued by injury problems. He looks fit and eager to play giving 100% for the team. Being left out the odd time depending on what formation Phil Brown wants to use doesn't seem to dampen his enthusiasm at all. He has got his head down and worked hard to give the manager a head ache when selecting his team. I have no idea what kind of wages Parry is picking up but personaly I would hope that PNE decide to keep him as he is a versatile playing member of the squad, and is an asset that might be difficult to replace. Of course he must continue as he is and remain injury free (apart from the usual injuries players pick up), but we have a newish manager who judging from the positive change in Mellor and Carter as well as Parry obviously has no problem motivating his players. There will be those that believe that all three of the said mentioned players responded due to either wanting another contract or to impress another club with a view to a move, but no matter what the reason Parry is proving to be a player PNE can ill afford to get rid of...IMHO...
Looking back on my posted comments re the game, it struck me that maybe I hadn't given sufficient credit were credit was due to the Grecians. Exeter did take the game to PNE in the second half despite only having ten men, and importantly played some very good football which wasn't of a gung ho nature. Their passing was crisp and quick and accurate and had they had a decent striker the result could have been different. OK PNE should have put the game to bed in the first half and had one or two opportunities in the second as well, but if Exeter can re produce the second half form they displayed at Deepdale they will move well away from the position in the league they presently hold. But they do need a decent striker.
