Exeter City (A)

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, Arrested development said:

What's this obsession with Matete. He coudn't get a fucking sniff at Sunderland and bar a decent game against 10 man Lincoln , has been average all season. He gives the ball away so much. You must watch a different game to me. 

No obsession, its a forum, only on this one does an opinion get interpreted as an obsession!

If he can't get in a team 4th in the championship, clearly Tomo is a better player (not having a downer on Tomo BTW, just suggesting some rotation)

My opinion is he's better than most of our midfielders.   Marc Iles had him MOM at Mansfield for us so I wasn't the only one.  MOM at Wycombe too, but no problem with different viewpoints.  Dropped today and I don't think we won a tackle in midfield till he came on.

[Casino]

7 minutes ago, TM Trotter said:

Johnston as a slabhead CB, lovely. 

As seemingly the focal point for putting pretty much any cross into the box? Bonkers. Like trying to thread a needle with a sledgehammer.

I really don't know what you're saying

i just want him to take a pass, in stride, and move it on the floor

He seems incapable

Dont get me wrong, Im convinced we have massive confidence isdues and why should he not be affected

[Dimron]

Good away win that... If I was Mr Exeter I'd be signing Morley to stop the bugger scoring against us at the end!

Pressures not off Mr E though, we're still well off the pace, especially regarding goal difference.

Time to march onwards

 

[Casino]

Just now, Johnnyrotten said:

No obsession, its a forum, only on this one does an opinion get interpreted as an obsession!

If he can't get in a team 4th in the championship, clearly Tomo is a better player (not having a downer on Tomo BTW, just suggesting some rotation)

My opinion is he's better than most of our midfielders.   Marc Iles had him MOM at Mansfield for us so I wasn't the only one.  MOM at Wycombe too, but no problem with different viewpoints.  Dropped today and I don't think we won a tackle in midfield till he came on.

As somebody who still thinks we (Evatt) arent as bad as popular opinion. I was amazed he didnt start Matete, Tomo and Morlry

ONLY explanation is he wanted some adfitional height

[noxid]

Hopefully next game Morley starts along with Charles, Sheehan and Toal all back

[Dr. Feelgood]

1 hour ago, paulhanley said:

Anyone who can be bothered listening to the same old claptrap deserves a gold medal. 

I'm taking from this that he said "Yeah, let's be fair, we were dead & buried till the team decided 'fuck this' and changed my 4 year old system. Right there, right in front of me, without permission. There will be discussions".

[Ani]

2 minutes ago, Casino said:

As somebody who still thinks we (Evatt) arent as bad as popular opinion. I was amazed he didnt start Matete, Tomo and Morlry

ONLY explanation is he wanted some adfitional height

The strange is if you have those three that look an obvious and balanced midfield, Sheehan to come in and then whoever we are signing. You are looking at rotating the midfield options. 
 

IE had tied himself in knots trying to fit square pegs in round holes. Think it is time to fuck that off. Given he has said no formation change (the stubborn prick) let’s at least use the midfielders we have rather than thinking Forwards who are not strikers can do the job. 

[Dr. Feelgood]

I note that Wycombe also lost Caleb Taylor this week. Back to West Brom. I'd have him back too.

 

(Copied to Transfers thread)

Edited January 4, 2025 by Dr. Feelgood

[FrancisFogarty]

2 hours ago, Arrested development said:

What's this obsession with Matete. He coudn't get a fucking sniff at Sunderland and bar a decent game against 10 man Lincoln , has been average all season. He gives the ball away so much. You must watch a different game to me. 

I don’t think anyone is obsessed with. It’s all comparative .When he’s been playing in a poor team he’s looked okay and scored two and busted a gut to get a third against Lincoln.
Average players at the moment are the best we can hope for. They may turn into decent players in their own positions.

[Stig]

32 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Fair comments but 1. if  Matete was getting pelters at Mansfield, we've got more braindead fans than I though  2.  Tomo's done some good things for us, and scored a couple of crackers, but its become like the Cogley situation - worth a place in the squad, a useful player and very dependable fitness wise, but when did they become undroppable/never rotated?  IE finally seeing sense with JDC, but it takes him so long to cotton on. 

The captaincy hasn't helped here with Tomo now being undropable. I'm one of his biggest fans but he's not playing well and a few games out might help him refocus, but as captain that isn't happening.

That being said we're down on midfielder numbers at the minute and I'd rather Evatt played 3 midfielders so Tomo's in with Matete and Morley for me, despite Tomo's form.

Tbh I'd actually play Sharples with the other 2 for a game or two but that's even less likely with Evatt in charge.

[TrickyTrotter]

Just landed at our holiday cottage still buzzing after that finish. Whilst I thought we played well first half and they were dogshit, we seem to have lost our scoring touch. Santos was well off his game but their goal was down to Baxter. Really wobbled then with no forward urgency for 15 mins but fair play they stuck at it. Can’t really comment on either of our goals as you can see f*ck all at the other end stood in a 5 step cow shed. 
 

As others have said Johnston has come back a different player, his passing is woeful. Tommo in mediocre form as well and another yellow. Must be on about 8 now. Lolos needs to up his game as well. Hopefully Sheehan and Toal back soon although Forrester was OK. 

[Stig]

1 hour ago, Cheese said:

That's not what he said in the slightest.

Take your word for it

[Tonge moor green jacket]

Given that the team won with a more balanced looking midfield at the end, then why change it next game?

Keep some consistency, and reward them.

No doubt another raft of changes. 

[TM Trotter]

27 minutes ago, Casino said:

I really don't know what you're saying

i just want him to take a pass, in stride, and move it on the floor

He seems incapable

Dont get me wrong, Im convinced we have massive confidence isdues and why should he not be affected

It annoys me that he's always used as the man to play a cross into the box when GT/Schon has inevitably shat themselves and run to the corner flag. 

He is a lovely lump of a centre back, a Maguire, a Faye, a Terry, a Jaidi - not someone who is going to deliver a pinpoint ball into the 6 yard box for Collins to tuck away. And yet, we persist in trying to make a purse out of a sow's ear. Just let him defend, ffs.

[Arrested development]

29 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

No obsession, its a forum, only on this one does an opinion get interpreted as an obsession!

If he can't get in a team 4th in the championship, clearly Tomo is a better player (not having a downer on Tomo BTW, just suggesting some rotation)

My opinion is he's better than most of our midfielders.   Marc Iles had him MOM at Mansfield for us so I wasn't the only one.  MOM at Wycombe too, but no problem with different viewpoints.  Dropped today and I don't think we won a tackle in midfield till he came on.

I think he has attributes that can help the team. He works hard and he likes a tackle, and with the right combination of midfielders , I think he can be a good player. But he can't be the Sheehan. He needs someone In there as the ballplayer. He isn't good enough with the ball. As long as Sheehan or Morley are there I think he's gonna compliment them and fit in better. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

3 minutes ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Just landed at our holiday cottage still buzzing after that finish. Whilst I thought we played well first half and they were dogshit, we seem to have lost our scoring touch. Santos was well off his game but their goal was down to Baxter. Really wobbled then with no forward urgency for 15 mins but fair play they stuck at it. Can’t really comment on either of our goals as you can see f*ck all at the other end stood in a 5 step cow shed. 
 

As others have said Johnston has come back a different player, his passing is woeful. Tommo in mediocre form as well and another yellow. Must be on about 8 now. Lolos needs to up his game as well. Hopefully Sheehan and Toal back soon although Forrester was OK. 

He won't of course, but for me Forester should stay in.

Arguably, the most inconsistent defender at the moment is Santos, and Johnston has become a bit erratic too.

Do Rotherham have "big units" up top?

[Tonge moor green jacket]

3 minutes ago, TM Trotter said:

It annoys me that he's always used as the man to play a cross into the box when GT/Schon has inevitably shat themselves and run to the corner flag. 

He is a lovely lump of a centre back, a Maguire, a Faye, a Terry, a Jaidi - not someone who is going to deliver a pinpoint ball into the 6 yard box for Collins to tuck away. And yet, we persist in trying to make a purse out of a sow's ear. Just let him defend, ffs.

With having 3 centre halves, one of them is going to have to push on a bit from time to time.

At our most fluent in the past, Jones has done this very well from the right centre back position.

If they're not considered great ball players though, then maybe just use 2 in a back 4?

Revolutionary! 😁

[FrancisFogarty]

1 minute ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

With having 3 centre halves, one of them is going to have to push on a bit from time to time.

At our most fluent in the past, Jones has done this very well from the right centre back position.

If they're not considered great ball players though, then maybe just use 2 in a back 4?

Revolutionary! 😁

Don’t start with your common sense.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

2 minutes ago, FrancisFogarty said:

Don’t start with your common sense.

I think even Pep's tried it occasionally 😅 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

I have a hard time seeing Johnston as a big lump of a centre-half

[Cheese]

 

[Johnnyrotten]

8 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I have a hard time seeing Johnston as a big lump of a centre-half

I must admit the comparison with Jaidi and Faye was a bit of a head scratcher!  Closer to Ray Deakin than those two.

[Spider]

Good evening fellow whites 🥰

what a magnificent result that was.

Dont know about you, but I’m sat in the warm glow of 3 points, a positive away win and the satisfaction of knowing football games still last 90 minutes, wherein patience can be rewarded.

Have yourselves a great weekend, and let’s raise a glass to a man who is surrounded by hate, negativity and far too many people wanting him to lose (bizarrely, even those in BWFCscarves) - Ian Evatt.

He deserves the plaudits for masterminding victory today.

smashing stuff.

For those of you who secretly wanted us to lose today - and you know who you are - trust me when I assure you that it makes the win even sweeter.

IESWA 

XXX ❤️

[Johnnyrotten]

I'll take any goal but their keeper has a nightmare for the winner, its not even one of those wicked undefendable crosses, as routine as they come.

Half decent assist from Charles for the first, not the worst "route one" ball.

[Spider]

2 hours ago, SirNat80 said:

Much as I've been one of Evatts critics and I still feel we will never go up with him in charge I'm more than happy for those magnificent supporters today and especially for Aaron Morley.

Thank God that by hook or by crook we somehow managed to win that bloody awful game and move on.

IE won't change his tactics he's made that clear and we used up quite a bit of luck today however i won't begrudge him a few drinks tonight to celebrate.

I just wished it could be a turning point in our season but just can't see it.

It might be.

Wins like this can be a kickstart.

keep the faith 👊