Exeter City (H)

[Lostock Whites]

Another game where Schuey's changes and timing of the changes has made the difference. Nearly all the changes, Tutu, Dempsey, Dalby, Gale all had essential impacts in getting us the 3 points.

I think people think we are just going to batter teams 5-0 every single game, it doesn't work like that, particularly in League 1 and particularly this season.

Only thing Schuey got wrong was about the booing, was 100% regarding the officials but who cares we move on and I'm sure he will read about that.

Special note to Erhahon, thought he was excellent today, won everything and was faultless. 

Also Forss, he's not scoring, but he's so tidy on the ball and he worked very very hard today pressing their defenders almost Dion Charles esque.

The team are bang up for it, we have great depth, can call on players to change the game, are undefeated at home since April and we are starting to grind out wins now. The hallmark of a promotion side.

Can we start winning away from home in concession now? A win at Wycombe would be really really good, although it's going to be very difficult.

Ps, we've had 0 penalties for us this year so far, if we could get one at Wycombe away then that would be great, just saying!

Edited December 13, 2025 by Lostock Whites

[BOWTUN BAKED]

It was shite again!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, ... I know, 3 points etc ...

However,  the longer we go performing like this over 90 plus minutes, the sooner we won't be having 3 points.

In my minds eye, the squad is a lot better than the performances we're currently putting in. ... and that will bite us in the arse soon if we don't sort it out.

[Krimzon]

3 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

There are mistakes as in letting in a weak shot, of course it happens, but the mistake today was no surprise and will happen again, because he spends too much of his time out of his goal.  Its a fault in his play generally, rather than just a blip today, he's got away with it more than once this season and it will happen again, hopefully not in a huge game.

Think you are being overly harsh in that Trafford , Jussi , Banagan , Felgate all made mistakes , some of them cost us so much more than today . We should have been looking to bury Exeter today with or without the keepers faff . 

I understand if you dont rate him but unless we buy a keeper in January he is gonna see the season out , patience and the over all picture are key words IMO 

[Cheese]

 

 

 

[BoltonPro15]

Thierry Gale, what a talent. 

To think that he's actually ours too, makes it even better.

I absolutely love how direct he is. 

ACD goes left and right, he just goes straight at them, and quickly. 

[Dr Faustus]

35 minutes ago, Cheese said:

 

 

 

Not seen the foul leading up to Sheehan free kick. Was correct decision for me- contest outside the box. Got a few strange looks for that when it happened 

[Dr Faustus]

8 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Pen surely?

Previous post- not in my opinion. Initial contact outside the box; momentum took it inside, went down when the ball was lost. 

[BoltonPro15]

1 minute ago, Dr Faustus said:

Previous post- not in my opinion. Initial contact outside the box; momentum took it inside, went down when the ball was lost. 

Not a debate. Never looked like a pen. Good decision - ref was superb today IMO.

[TM Trotter]

1 minute ago, BoltonPro15 said:

Not a debate. Never looked like a pen. Good decision - ref was superb today IMO.

Can't fault his decision making on fouls at all. Just his want to 'let the game flow' bordered on ridiculous with his/his 4th official's timekeeping. 

[BoltonPro15]

1 minute ago, TM Trotter said:

Can't fault his decision making on fouls at all. Just his want to 'let the game flow' bordered on ridiculous with his/his 4th official's timekeeping. 

We can't have it both ways though. In the 1st half (when we were 1 nil down) it took Christie 2mins to stroll over over and take a corner. 

In the 2nd half, they time wasted time and got booked for it, we can't then expect the ref not to add the time on for it just because we are now winning. Thought they were bang on tbh. You can't change the amount of added time depending on the scoreline.

[Wanderlust]

6 minutes ago, Dr Faustus said:

Previous post- not in my opinion. Initial contact outside the box; momentum took it inside, went down when the ball was lost. 

Pure optimism on my behalf - think it was 1 all at the time and I was desperate for us to get the lead we deserved. Gale’s touch took him past the defender beautifully and it looked like first contact was just inside to me, but TBF I didn’t have the refs angle. 
No matter - I’m already thinking about Wycombe and how we might climb that particular mountain.

 

[paulhanley]

9 hours ago, woolli said:

Paul, we lost only one game at home in 1972-73, against Blackburn, 33,000 on

That was quite late in the season too I think

 

[Ani]

5 hours ago, BoltonPro15 said:

We can't have it both ways though. In the 1st half (when we were 1 nil down) it took Christie 2mins to stroll over over and take a corner. 

In the 2nd half, they time wasted time and got booked for it, we can't then expect the ref not to add the time on for it just because we are now winning. Thought they were bang on tbh. You can't change the amount of added time depending on the scoreline.

I think if a team wastes time but is then losing the time should not be added on . Know it will never happen. How he only got 1 minute first half having spoken to the keeper twice about taking his time was strange.

Schueys subs Tutu hit post then Dalby scored , Dempsey got an assist for Gales goal. Good returns. 

[Kane57]

Mentalist on Radio Manchester was banging on about how if the ref deems there to be 8min extra he should blow for FT on 82min 😅

[masi 51]

Some players are cementing places down while others are being left behind. Wycombe will not be easy but i fancy us to get something anywhere in this league. Gale impresses each week and if SS sticks with two wingers should be  the first name on the sheet every week.  Dempsey is another we need to fit him in somewhere he is too good for the bench.

Anyone who says Erhahon was poor simply do not understand the game.....Will he dribble past players no,will he shoot when theres a pass on no.

He controls and dictates the game, gets things moving.....He is what every team needs at this level.

Two wins in 4 days pretty much rinse repeat.

We still have issues but we are slowly getting there.

[desperado]

12 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

There are mistakes as in letting in a weak shot, of course it happens, but the mistake today was no surprise and will happen again, because he spends too much of his time out of his goal.  Its a fault in his play generally, rather than just a blip today, he's got away with it more than once this season and it will happen again, hopefully not in a huge game.

I agree with a lot of your points yesterday, especially on; Dalby’s important goals, the first half not being as bad as some are making out, and Sheehan and Erhahon playing well.

But I disagree on your point about TSL. Him being a sweeper-keeper is not a fault in his game.

Done well, (which for the majority of time this season he has) it has lots of positives for me; mopping up dangerous balls that come over the top of the CBs, it helps us keep possession, it can help set attacks up, pinpointing midfielders and wingers with precise passing. All of that, when done well, gives confidence to the team and is a real plus.

If this was considered a fault and/or  he was told to stop doing it, you’d be taking away a massive part of his game.

I’m pretty sure SS will tell him to carry on, learn from your mistake, but don’t change your approach.

And that would be the correct response IMO.

Edited December 14, 2025 by desperado

[desperado]

I think that was my most enjoyable 3 points at home this season.

Just edges Wigan and Cardiff, because of the battling, resilient and adaptable qualities we had to demonstrate to win it after going behind.

It was a good, strong 11 to start. I wouldn’t mind seeing that side again. Gale ahead of Cissoko or Tutu away from home maybe. But I take SS’s explanation for starting Cissoko - he thought the game needed a tricky, skilful winger. Recognising quickly that we needed something different, and bringing Gale on at HT was a good move.

As were all the subs, really good in-game management from SS and fantastic to see them all contributing to the win.

Having this big squad concerns me in some aspects, but yesterday, and in the run-up to New Year it’s going to be such a plus. Squad rotation and game-changing subs has the potential to be our backbone and foundation to our promotion charge.

 

 

 

[gonzo]

Its the sqaud that will see us over the line.

It's that which killed us in years gone by. The year we blew it, we attacked the abyss of the season, those dark horrible shit winter months, with Bod and Collins up front and no fucker else.

Pissing about with your Kachungas, CMGs and the likes trying to get promotion.

This time is different. We can now grind results out of fuck all, play shite and win and more importantly lose a man or replace a man and it not be the end of the world.

We are right in the thick of the season and so far we are handling it better than we ever have.

[wakey]

3 minutes ago, desperado said:

I think that was my most enjoyable 3 points at home this season

 

I've enjoyed virtually every game this season (couldn't watch Swindon game, thankfully).

Think it makes a difference that I'm watching on Wanderers tv in a different country and not surrounded by miserable old farts who just don't like player x / y / z regardless of how they play.

[marple whites]

All 5 subs made a real impact and gives a great headache as to who to start next week.

forss work rate was superb.

if we hadn’t made the error for the first goal it would have been a comfortable win, as they offered nothing.

In a season when you get promoted you can’t win brilliantly every week, there will be some ugly wins.  Just got to keep grounding them out.

shame about cardiffs late winner, but few more results went our way and the gap continues to narrow.

 

[wakey]

3 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Its the sqaud that will see us over the line.

 

Agree with that and also Desperado's slight concern about squad size.

Think we'll trim one or two in Jan without hurting us, especially now we're through the early rounds of cup competitions. We can comfortably lose at least one of our options for the 10.

[London Wanderer]

14 hours ago, FrancisFogarty said:

A good result at the end but a poor first hour.

We’ve been off it lately. But still grinding out the results we need. Hope we’ve got another level or two in the next few weeks 

[masi 51]

29 minutes ago, desperado said:

I think that was my most enjoyable 3 points at home this season.

Just edges Wigan and Cardiff, because of the battling, resilient and adaptable qualities we had to demonstrate to win it after going behind.

It was a good, strong 11 to start. I wouldn’t mind seeing that side again. Gale ahead of Cissoko or Tutu away from home maybe. But I take SS’s explanation for starting Cissoko - he thought the game needed a tricky, skilful winger. Recognising quickly that we needed something different, and bringing Gale on at HT was a good move.

As were all the subs, really good in-game management from SS and fantastic to see them all contributing to the win.

Having this big squad concerns me in some aspects, but yesterday, and in the run-up to New Year it’s going to be such a plus. Squad rotation and game-changing subs has the potential to be our backbone and foundation to our promotion charge.

 

 

 

It was no more than a ok starting 11, If we see that starting 11 again SS will not have learned from his mistakes

You again repeat wanting Tutu on the wing away from home......TuTu  is a country mile inferior than Gale in everything bar tracking back.  Tutu has a case for playing r/b if ss is looking for pace to help ACD. Other than that he would be the ideal sub. SS had Cissoko performance in the EFL cup against Bradford still fresh in his mind....Hence why he started.

Cissoko plays well in two out of ten games again should be nowhere the first 11.....Gale is our best player, big call you and others may say and he should be the player ss builds his team around. The omission of Dempsey and Simons make that starting 11 as i say just ok. I get Erhahon for Simons and i get only one should start at home. Dempsey or Sheehan for that second spot in midfield again is a tough call....Sheehan is easier on the eye, busy but as one said earlier he needs twenty touches when one from Dempsey will do. Think the jigsaw puzzle is starting to fall into place.....Only our Forwards need addressing and a good second half of the season should follow, but please none of this TuTu on the wing bollocks

[gonzo]

Low blocks should be banned. They fuckin ruin football.

Needs to be like Rugby league. 6 passes and you have to give it them back

[desperado]

6 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

It was no more than a ok starting 11, If we see that starting 11 again SS will not have learned from his mistakes

You again repeat wanting Tutu on the wing away from home......TuTu  is a country mile inferior than Gale in everything bar tracking back.  Tutu has a case for playing r/b if ss is looking for pace to help ACD. Other than that he would be the ideal sub. SS had Cissoko performance in the EFL cup against Bradford still fresh in his mind....Hence why he started.

Cissoko plays well in two out of ten games again should be nowhere the first 11.....Gale is our best player, big call you and others may say and he should be the player ss builds his team around. The omission of Dempsey and Simons make that starting 11 as i say just ok. I get Erhahon for Simons and i get only one should start at home. Dempsey or Sheehan for that second spot in midfield again is a tough call....Sheehan is easier on the eye, busy but as one said earlier he needs twenty touches when one from Dempsey will do. Think the jigsaw puzzle is starting to fall into place.....Only our Forwards need addressing and a good second half of the season should follow, but please none of this TuTu on the wing bollocks

I’m starting to like your extremities, they make me smile 

”Country mile inferior, nowhere near the first 11, Tutu on the wing bollocks, twenty touches” 😊

It’s not as black and white or exaggerated as you sometimes try to make out with your opinion.

These “mistakes” Schumacher’s making are keeping us in good form at the moment.

I think your midfield debate has some merit - we’ve got some very good options here.