Exeter v Cambridge Utd

[SVH]

We'll start with a 2-0 defeat and the fans will be calling for Derry's head.

 

[huddsmoose]

We'll win 1-0 with our only shot of the game.

And I'll be calling for Derry's head.

 

[Laker]

I won't be calling for Derry's head regardless of the result - too early to judge the team he's got yet. However if we take anything less than 15 points from the first 10 games then I will be.

I also think we'll lose and will probably barely register a shot so the message board will be in total meltdown.

 

[Trapdoor]

We will win 0-0.
Cambridge will absolutely hammer us all game but somehow not score having hit the crossbar and posts more times than Exeter have touched the ball.

 

[Habbinalan]

It'll be a draw and everyone will be calling for Kettle's head...............................again.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

2-0 loss, Ibhere does his ACL, season over.

Until 3pm I'm going to enjoy it though.

 

[Moomin]

2-2. Reid with a brace for us. Berry and Ikpeazu for Cambridge.

Att 4222.

 

[Trapdoor]

scratch that - they signed ibhere. he's nailed on to score against us. he always does.

 

[Arbury]

Defeat for me, just can't see us getting anything, 3-1 Exeter.

KTF

 

[SVH]

I think Uche will start over Jabo. Uche has had a better pre-season from what I've seen.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Can't wait for the season to begin now. Hopefully we can get off to a better start than last season. Will be odd being in a 2 sided ground for the next 18 months or so but it shouldn't affect the atmosphere I wouldn't have thought. All seats are sold out and only spaces on the Big Bank remain.

I was at the fans forum last night and our captain was asked who he thought would be our main competitors for the season and Cambridge were one of the teams he mentioned. Also said they're expecting them to be big, strong and quite direct on Saturday. Is that a fair assessment, Cambridge fans?

 

[SVH]

We're very direct yes. Frustrate and hit on the break with pace that has been added to our team over the summer.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Sounds like we've got a fully fit squad. Moxey has been in full training this week but the game may come too soon for him. Suspect we'll line up like this:

Pym
Sweeney Brown JMT Woodman
Taylor James Harley
Wheeler Reid Holmes

Expecting a big year from Reid. Had no pre season last year and still got 14 goals. He's proven in the league so no reason he couldn't push 20+. This will be a tight game, could go either way.

 

[SVH]

How many of those 14 were pens out of interest?

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

How many of those 14 were pens out of interest?

Fair question and something I always brought up when he was playing for Plymouth

I've counted 5 from last year. With Watkins leaving our style will have to alter and I don't see him being used the way he was last year which was more of a target man.

 

[SVH]

Anyone got a link to a stream of the game?

 

[Moomin]

Decent start for us today and nice to get the first home win in the bag now rather than waiting till December like last season.

I wasn't at the game, but it sounded like we were much the better team in the first half, and got off to the perfect start. Then we went on to hit the post and Lloyd James missed a great chance.

2nd half, Cambridge put us under quite a lot of pressure and threw a lot at our defence, but it sounded like we coped pretty well with the two big lads and managed to keep the ball out of our net.

Pleased we saw the game out and now we need to build on this as much as possible. Unlucky Cambridge, I suspect they will be around the playoffs with the squad they have.

 

[Laker]

I'm disappointed by the result obviously but not worried yet. Mixed reviews of our performance, sounds like a draw would have been fair but we didn't really create a lot.

Too early to judge us yet.

 

[Habbinalan]

We created enough in the second half, especially for an away team and a Derry team. Interestingly, Uche was our main provider with Dunky also providing a threat. Berry was the one who got in the best scoring positions, aside from straightforward headers from the likes of Jabo and Leon and an on the line tackle from a cross to Uche. Going forward we should be fine, although it was wishful thinking to suggest we won't miss Berry, he was at the heart of most of our decent action. On another day we might have got a draw but I was impressed how Exeter were up for it and refused to be bullied.

The opposite of last season, I was having kittens whenever Exeter got into our half. As we all know: Leon Davies and Jake (edit: Carroll) Howell are back up fullbacks at best. The sooner Halliday is back and Greg Taylor can move to left back (where his distribution will still be dire) to accomodate a quality CB the better; Deegan and O'Neil might work. We're clearly going to try to make it work. I think (hope?) we have better options. Penalty aside, Exeter deserved their half time lead. Thankfully, we spent the majority of the second half attacking.

The M5 was as bad as I feared and then some. I started at 8.30 and with judicious diversions, a bit of speeding and no stops (apart from a pee) got there with 10 mins to spare. Others were less fortunate - only 318 of the 350 ticket holders made it apparently. I will travel Friday or give it a miss on similar weekends in future.

A quiet walk on Exminster Marshes and some decent Palmers ales restored the soul nicely. On to the wilds of the Devon Heaths and the Somerset Levels before a Tuesday reserve match with the Gas and possibly a couple of beers with Aber gas

 

[Trapdoor]

Didnt sound like a great match. But pleased with three points. Grinding out games until we get to the 50 point mark is definitely our first priority this year.

 

[Indian Dan]

Well, you'll get fuck all next Saturday!

 

[Laker]

Well, you'll get fuck all next Saturday!

LOL!!!!!!1111

 

[Vanni]

We created enough in the second half, especially for an away team and a Derry team. Interestingly, Uche was our main provider with Dunky also providing a threat. Berry was the one who got in the best scoring positions, aside from straightforward headers from the likes of Jabo and Leon and an on the line tackle from a cross to Uche. Going forward we should be fine, although it was wishful thinking to suggest we won't miss Berry, he was at the heart of most of our decent action. On another day we might have got a draw but I was impressed how Exeter were up for it and refused to be bullied.

The opposite of last season, I was having kittens whenever Exeter got into our half. As we all know: Leon Davies and Jake Howell are back up fullbacks at bes;. The sooner Halliday is back and Greg Taylor can move to left back (where his distribution will still be dire) to accomodate a quality CB the better; Deegan and O'Neil might work. We're clearly going to try to make it work. I think (hope?) we have better options. Penalty aside, Exeter deserved their half time lead. Thankfully, we spent the majority of the second half attacking.

The M5 was as bad as I feared and then some. I started at 8.30 and with judicious diversions, a bit of speeding and no stops (apart from a pee) got there with 10 mins to spare. Others were less fortunate - only 318 of the 350 ticket holders made it apparently. I will travel Friday or give it a miss on similar weekends in future.

A quiet walk on Exminster Marshes and some decent Palmers ales restored the soul nicely. On to the wilds of the Devon Heaths and the Somerset Levels before a Tuesday reserve match with the Gas and possibly a couple of beers with Aber gas

When did we sign Jake Howells?

But seriously though, I know that Carroll is still finding his feet and will hopefully improve in the future (I'm trying not too be too hard on the lad) but he looked like a Southern League player yesterday. So so poor, and that's without saying anything about the wholly unnecessary pen he gave away. I don't like to defend our manager as you well know but Carroll's actions coming so early in the match didn't help Derry's game plan at all.

Re. Davies, I reckon he had a poor game too but he's still so young and inexperienced that it would be harsh to single him out for criticism. Still, even though he had a poor game, he still managed to look a million miles better than Carroll, and that in itself tells you waht a shocker the latter had. Re.Taylor, I don't see him as a dependable CH but I think your suggestion that he is played as an LB is a bit harsh after the very good showing he had. IMO, he was easily the MOM for us. I would still look to get in a new CH asap, but I would only move Taylor to the LB spot after he's had a couple of poor performances and not before.

Exeter looked good just as I expected them to be, but I was a bit surprised they looked to see out their one goal lead so early. I also thought one of their CH's (Troy Brown I think) looked a bit poor, and I expected Derry to see that he was struggling a bit and to tell our forwards to take him on much more than they did.

 

[Moomin]

When did we sign Jake Howells?

But seriously though, I know that Carroll is still finding his feet and will hopefully improve in the future (I'm trying not too be too hard on the lad) but he looked like a Southern League player yesterday. So so poor, and that's without saying anything about the wholly unnecessary pen he gave away. I don't like to defend our manager as you well know but Carroll's actions coming so early in the match didn't help Derry's game plan at all.

Re. Davies, I reckon he had a poor game too but he's still so young and inexperienced that it would be harsh to single him out for criticism. Still, even though he had a poor game, he still managed to look a million miles better than Carroll, and that in itself tells you waht a shocker the latter had. Re.Taylor, I don't see him as a dependable CH but I think your suggestion that he is played as an LB is a bit harsh after the very good showing he had. IMO, he was easily the MOM for us. I would still look to get in a new CH asap, but I would only move Taylor to the LB spot after he's had a couple of poor performances and not before.

Exeter looked good just as I expected them to be, but I was a bit surprised they looked to see out their one goal lead so early. I also thought one of their CH's (Troy Brown I think) looked a bit poor, and I expected Derry to see that he was struggling a bit and to tell our forwards to take him on much more than they did.

Troy Brown has been superb for us so interesting that he looked poor on Saturday. The general consensus was that we defended well, but then we're used to some shite defending at times, so perhaps we're easily pleased!

Agree that it was risky to try and defend a one goal lead for the entire second half as that could easily have backfired. We prefer us to keep on attacking but can't grumble with grinding out a 1-0.

 

[Trapdoor]

grinding out results is something we completely failed to do last year which we desperately needed to add to our game.

if you think back to northamptons promotion season a couple of years ago, they went up solely because of their ability to grind out 1-0 victories.

our defensive frailty last year cost us, hopefully tisdale has learnt from that. we are weaker going forward this year but hopefully if we are stronger at the back that will see us right.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Bit late with this one but thought it was a really good, battling win. We should have definitely added to our lead especially through James and McAlinden both clearing the crossbar either side of half time. Cambridge were as expected, really direct but thought we defended really well without gifting them any clear cut chances.

Reid worked his socks off up front and looked a real threat. Wheeler, McAlinden & Taylor also put in good performance but Sweeney was my MOTM, he was superb.

 

[MisterTee]

First half display was woeful, both full backs being torn apart, Deegan being forced to take a card for Leon Davies after Davies being caught out for the umpteenth time. Second half much better (It couldn't be much worse) made chances but didn't look like taking any of them. Whilst clear improvement has been made in having a B plan with our attackers we really are lacking in defensive options. Praying something happens before the window closes because we *really* need it.