Exeter City vs Macclesfield Town

[Moomin]

Can’t believe the new season is here already, but I am really looking forward to this opening fixture.

It looks, on paper, like a home banker. Macc are in a bit of turmoil and we’re looking solid and have made some decent signings. However, I’d be amazed if we steamroll Macclesfield and come away with a comfortable win.

Last season, they beat us twice and I suspect they will make it hard for us. First goal is crucial, really.

I will be optimistic and say a 2-0 home win. Bowman and Ajose to score.

4899 with 133 from Macc

 

[redjed]

Exeter will get off to a great start to the season 3-0

 

[TeviotMoose]

Exeter will get off to a great start to the season 3-0

Can't disagree with that

 

[Trapdoor]

2-0 in a competitive game.

I hope we come out all guns blazing but I can see Macc opting to keep things tight and limit opportunities which will make life hard for us.

 

[Sydney Posse]

No disrespect and I hope the Maccs can sort out their issues, but must say am expecting a straightforward win. Will be surprised if we don't win, and going to predict 3-0.

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Very thankful to Exeter for allowing us 6 points last year and helping us survive. Don't think they'll be so generous this time around. Went into Swindon away this time last year after a similar preseason with similar expectations and came away after the 90 ish minutes wondering how we'd lost, so stranger things have happened. However, think a nervy but comfortable 1/2 goal win for Exeter on the cards.

 

[Blue Lion]

Our performance probably depends on how many outstanding contractual issues we can sort out in time for Saturday. I'd be much more optimistic with the likes of Cameron and Durrell playing (unlikely I know) but if it's the same team that got spanked up at Hartlepool then we'll lose comfortably.

 

[The_Boss]

Exeter -2 goals @ 7/1 looks great value to me

 

[Moss Rose Silkmen]

2-0 Macc win

 

[The_Boss]

2-0 Macc win

Bit too optimistic for me that pal! Gonna stick with the weekly pessimism and anything gained is a bonus!

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

We've managed 5 subs for today; 8 debuts i think with no sign of Pearson or Cameron.

 

[The_Boss]

@Exeter fans - how shit does our kit look?

 

[Moomin]

@Exeter fans - how shit does our kit look?

Like a generic Nike shirt with your badge on it! Why no sponsor?

As for the game, we’ve been shit. 4-4-2 just doesn’t work against teams who play 5 in midfield. We need to sort it out second half otherwise it could be another 1-0 loss.

 

[The_Boss]

Because we've been unsponsored by Paddy power. Oh the bants.

 

[The_Boss]

Because we've been unsponsored by Paddy power. Oh the bants.

 

[The_Boss]

Can't wait to hear the usual line of "to be fair Macc look like an alright side but never in anyway look like scoring" being rolled out after this.

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Gutting, didn't deserve to lose that and to do so so late and in such unfortunate fashion is a harsh blow.

 

[The_Boss]

Gutting, didn't deserve to lose that and to do so so late and in such unfortunate fashion is a harsh blow.

Such a similar story though SSS.

The past tells us we should be concerned about this even at such an early stage of the season. If we don't learn from this very very quickly it becomes a serious issue.

With the problems we have at the club and such a threadbare squad, we simply can't afford these late "undeserved" goals against.

Negative yes, but seen this far too often with Macc and needs rectifying quickly, more than ever this season.

Promising we seemed to play ok, but rapid lessons to learn.

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Such a similar story though SSS.

Yes and no. I'm not one to be unduly positive and know exactly what you're saying, that was better than most of last season and miles better than a year ago. Swindon away last year we were "unlucky" to lose only because we were winning after 94 mins, this time our overall performance actually warranted a result. Goal today was a combination of two flukes too.

Can't keep not turning good spells of possession into goals and then conceding late, however. Guess we're never going to be able to afford reliable goalscorers who can convert on demand.

Hopefully we can get Pearson back into the 11 (if he's still wanting to be at the club), Cameron too, as don't like Sol continuing to force his 532 by playing a left footed winger at rwb. Promising displays from most of new signings though.

 

[Blue Lion]

Definitely should have got a point there. Decent debuts from Osadebe, Ironside and Evans. Lots of positives to take although goal scoring looks like it could be a problem this season.

 

[Trapdoor]

As suspected a cagey game.
Bowman did really well to adjust himself for the goal but we definitely need more threat on goal and more dominant midfield performances if we are going to go up this year.

Don't think macc will go down based on that, just hope off field issues don't conspire to derail their season again.

 

[Sydney Posse]

Made very hard work of that, and could easily have gone the other way. I was expecting a bit more if I'm honest, and am optimistically hoping it's about the new players needing time to settle etc. Not sure if it was down to the Maccs forcing us to play that badly or if we were just disappointing, and I can't believe I am moaning after getting 3 points, but all a bit meh......was expecting Crewe to give Argyle a "welcome back to League 2" as well, but that didn't happen either !!

 

[RebornKirtonRed]

Only just beating 8 debutants and 4? trialists.................brought back bad memories of away at Stevenage last season when it cost us dearly

 

[Moomin]

Macc were the better team first half.

Taylor made a big, but correct call, to take Ajose off and bring on Lee Martin so that we had an extra attacking midfielder, which meant we got more of the ball.

Think we had the superior fitness in the final 30 and created a couple of good chances before we got the goal, which Bowman took well. That said, Macc had a decent attempt at 0-0 which Ward parried so we could easily have gone 1-0 down. Williams looked good second half and caused some problems.

Happy with the win but we need to improve on that performance to be anywhere near the top 7.

Unlucky Macclesfield, they played well but probably lack that threat in the final third.

 

[Tarzan]

Can't wait to hear the usual line of "to be fair Macc look like an alright side but never in anyway look like scoring" being rolled out after this.

I don't want to be the one to say it...you had more possession first half but, genuinely, didn't ever really look likely to score. Our keeper made a couple of decent saves but they were saves you'd expect a keeper to make.

Our central midfield was non-existent for large parts of the game and our full backs aren't really up to the job unless that job is being slow and overweight (RB) and slow and always slightly off the pace (LB). The match changed when Lee Martin came on and we upped the tempo a little but were still slightly fortunate to win.

Longer term, I'm far from convinced that our manager knows his best 11 and we seem overloaded in some positions but lacking options in others. His approach to transfers seems to have been a little bit Championship Manager whereby he'll sign a decent player who is available then worry about how they'll fit in afterwards.

Still, a win is a win.