| Lots of Little Victories – Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter 14:58 - Aug 15 with 6148 views | HarryfromBath |
I have fond memories of Exeter. In a previous job looking after a number of bookshops in the South West, the company I worked for had two shops in the City. One of these backed on to the Green by the Cathedral, and the manager who ran it had the best natural judgement I have ever known when it came to understanding her customers and knowing precisely the right books to put on the shelves.
“It’s about lots of little victories, you know.” Every so often a phrase hits you like a thunderbolt. We were sitting on the Green with our lunch when she came out with this sidewinder and it has never left me. So many businesses are wrecked by corporate egotists who believe that they can alter the world with one stroke of genius. Life doesn’t work like that. It’s the little victories that get you there.
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This conversation returned to me as I navigated my way through the maze of roads meandering to the centre of the City. This small labyrinth would have been especially unwelcome if you had made the six-to-seven hour trip from Suffolk. I made good time and was able to meander up to the ground and chat with a steward who seen first-hand the highs and lows of the Grecians’ last two decades.
The club have had their fair share of their corporate egotists, with John Russell and Mike Lewis (two directors in charge during the 2002/3 season) convicted of fraudulent trading at the club. I was also entertained by stories of train journeys involving Michael Jackson, David Blaine and Uri Geller, my host memorably concluding with the words “you were never sure quite what would happen next”.
It’s all very different now. With their new stand virtually finished and other construction work being planned, the tidy St James Park was a statement of progress and ambition. Our starting XI was seen as a positive contrast to Mick’s cup sides and there was excitement at Teddy Bishop’s appearance on the bench. Freddy Sears and Grant Ward weren’t out-and-out wingers but the shape looked decent.
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“Exeter have got drums.” They do, as anyone who watched their recent highlights will know. It must be hell following them as away fans as there is no escaping the noise. The Grecians didn’t lead with their strongest XI, but they emphasised experience with the likes of Craig Woodman and Lee Martin in the side. They had a 4-4-2 shape, but a style of play the complete polar opposite of Lincoln’s.
Off we started, and it was football but not as we have known it for years. We mixed clever short pass and move football with neat longer balls to switch direction and create space. Both full-backs were up by the corner flag, and I had never seen Jonas Knudsen ping so many crosses in as he linked up with Sears and Tayo Edun in particular. This was a vision of the future and I was quickly besotted.
Exeter battened down the hatches for the opening quarter of an hour. They had little choice because we were all over them. The only problem was converting this into hard chances as the pretty build-up play foundered on a lack of a final shot or killer pass. I could see how we had flattered to deceive at Rotherham and was tempted to dig out clips of how Shrewsbury actually did score last season.
One foray by Kayden Jackson down the right saw Edun on his own with five Exeter defenders in the box, and this was followed was an eight vs two imbalance when the ensuing corner was quickly taken. We varied our corner routines during the game as we lacked the aerial dominance to combat Exeter’s titans, but you could see the wider problem that we haven’t worked out how to score yet.
When the goal did come, it was due to Edun’s persistence as much as anything. He slalomed his way past a series of meaty challenges before releasing Jackson. Edun is highly talented with a good vision and a knack for a delicate pass in a congested area, but he was unthinking and raw with some of his passing. One telegraphed pass across the Exeter area released the alert Lee Martin on the counter.
Jackson is all about pace, but his goal highlighted his streetwise side as he knew what he was doing when drilling the goal past Christy Pym’s near post. He skinned Troy Brown on a few occasions but he often lacked support and grew increasingly isolated as the game progressed. He needs supply from the wings and more importantly he needs midfield support if we are to get the best from him.
Therein lies what would become an increasing problem as the game progressed. With Knudsen and Janoi Donacien hammering up the wings, it was incumbent on Sears and Grant Ward to either hit the penalty area or provide overloads on the wings. While both were alert and industrious as ever, they seemed incapable of reading the signals and neither contributed little of effect to prise Exeter apart.
There were some familiar groans when Knudsen’s final ball wouldn’t quite come off, but to be fair to him he never stopped attacking and linking with Edun and Jackson. He did get caught out of position several times and Lee Martin was ever-eager to pounce. The former Town man fired in a cross which City’s Matt Jay bundled wide, this being Exeter’s only decent first-half chance before our opener.
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A chorus of ‘Edward Ebenezer Jeremiah Brown’ bellowed out as the half drew to a close. The mood at the interval was pretty relaxed. Exeter had grown more into the game as it progressed but they really didn’t give Bart anything to do. One small detail I did pick up was the intense short-passing drills being worked on by our substitutes in contrast to the Exeter long-range showboat passing.
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As is often the case, the team trailing came out with renewed purpose after the break. I was alarmed by our static defending when Grecians’ substitute Archie Collins broke into the area and hit the side-netting with his shot. City’s heralded midfielder Hiram Boateng had a quiet first half but now broke free on the left, but Canary loanee Tristan Abrahams didn’t connect. These were warning signs.
Toto Nsiala looks a confident and athletic defender. He takes up good positions, is physically capable of handling most striking units and his tackling, intercepting and timely nudges were all good to see. He was a far more reassuring presence than Luke Chambers, whose passing was often wayward. One wild Chambers’ clearance yielded up the set-piece from which Exeter would grab their equaliser.
After the game I worried about Chambers, but the wider truth is that we as fans are fretting over the wrong players. The new arrivals were comfortable throughout the 90 minutes with what is asked of them. They are naïve and raw at times (and this will cost us) but the established players are having to adapt to a new footballing and tactical model after up to five years of doing something different.
I felt that Jon Nolan had a quiet game. He had one deflected shot in the first half and should have hit the target with one second-half effort, but his link-up play was subdued partly a result of people not being on his wavelength yet, but he was also corralled by Exeter’s holding man Jordan Tillson and targeted with some nasty challenges, one of which could have seen City’s Jake Taylor dismissed.
Which brings me to the subject of the referee. Mr Huxtable had a poor evening and I felt that there were differing burdens of proof for each team. Marginal decisions increasingly favoured the hosts as the game wore on. He criminally killed one Town advantage with the Exeter defence spread-eagled and we had a huge counter-attack building. Call me cynical, but he didn’t have a long journey home.
Although the game finished at a canter, we had become ragged and frustrated, and Jordan Spence can count himself lucky that he remained on the pitch after one late petulant stamp. Spence worked hard, but he fitted the wider pattern of the inherited squad struggling to adapt to the new model of playing. I felt that Janoi Donacien as an up-and-down attacking right-back had been more effective.
The game concluded with both teams going for it but it was in many ways thanks to Trevoh Chalobah that it went to spot-kicks. I have saved this guy to the end because he was the most special thing I witnessed on the night. If we are to climb out of this early-season predicament, we will look back to the Chelsea loanee and thank him for the fundamental part he will have played in doing this.
I have not seen a Town player with a better positional sense in years. Cole Skuse is effective at this, but Chalobah’s reading of danger and knowing where to be is unnatural. Time and again as Exeter broke forward he was on hand to flick a header, intercept a pass or collect a parry away from Bart. You could usually read how well or otherwise we were doing by looking at where he was stationed.
In possession, he has a lovely touch and a knack of taking a player out with a simple trapping of the ball. With Nolan finding options hard to come by, Chalobah would often move forward as a deeper-lying playmaker to link play with Edun or the over lapping full-backs. He was the most defensive of the three midfielders on the team sheet, but he was instrumental in much of our build-up play.
It was so unfair that Chalobah’s penalty hit the van in the building site behind the goal, although we wonder if you should get bonus points for this. The shoot-out was hardly England-Colombia. There was an amusing sight of one Exeter player sprinting forward to embrace Lee Martin after he scored the winner only to stop when he realised none of his team-mates were overcome with emotion.
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Before the game, one Town fan chatting in the pub had compared the parting of Mick to a divorce. The fear of the consequences breaking away need to be benchmarked against previous unhappiness. It was a very apt analogy — Mick himself said that things had become stale — but a divorce requires an act of destruction before you can build a new future, and innocent bystanders will be affected.
Reflecting on the journey home on the M5, it was clear to me just how broken things are right now. If we play like this all season we will be relegated, but we know that we won’t. There’s enough in this squad to build a competitive team, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the impact these changes are having on the remaining players from last season. If anything, this is a far more pressing concern.
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The problem with early season games is that they promise all knowledge but reveal glimpses. We still know nothing and probably won’t until the clocks go back in October and the coming months will be about making those small tactical changes and players making those small improvements with each game. Treat everything — good and bad — with a huge dose of suspicion right now.
This feels risky — no, in fact it is bloody risky — and it could end up in disaster, but after the hopeless prospect of infinitely grey football I wouldn’t turn the clock back. The number of little victories needed on the training ground seems to be quite vast and it all feels a bit frightening, but as the immortal Bilbo Baggins put it, “I’m going on an adventure.” I’m terrified, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
[Post edited 15 Aug 2018 17:00]
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| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 09:44 - Aug 16 with 1117 views | Blueboys_1970 |
A great read as always Harry, very informative and insightful. It's very important not to panic right now, I'm sure given a bit of time well be fine.
I'm hoping my change of username (previously Chambeau) is a good omen. I'm really looking forward to going on Saturday - COYB!!! |  | | |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 10:04 - Aug 16 with 1099 views | Facefacts |
Thanks, Harry, I'm interested in what you say about the referee, not just the Devon ref who failed to protect our players in the second half, but generally the standard is ever worsening. Most games have a refereeing error that gets highlighted in match reports. But there is no comeback. Nowadays teams have to fight to get the decisions, and if you sit back, you get nothing.
The crowd should be key in getting in the referee's face too. Back when Craig Forrest and Clive Baker shared the goalkeeping duties, one of them was sent off in the first 10 minutes of a game at Portman Road. The crowd was so angry it made for a scintillating game. Don't remember the result, just the passion of the crowd.
This also fits with what Paul Hurst said about being nastier, wanting it more, all those types of things. Dare I say it, I got more passionate in the crowd when I'd had a few pints prior to the game. You can't just sit there, it's a participatory thing, watching your team. |  | | |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 10:15 - Aug 16 with 1082 views | IpswichKnight |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 10:04 - Aug 16 by Facefacts |
Thanks, Harry, I'm interested in what you say about the referee, not just the Devon ref who failed to protect our players in the second half, but generally the standard is ever worsening. Most games have a refereeing error that gets highlighted in match reports. But there is no comeback. Nowadays teams have to fight to get the decisions, and if you sit back, you get nothing.
The crowd should be key in getting in the referee's face too. Back when Craig Forrest and Clive Baker shared the goalkeeping duties, one of them was sent off in the first 10 minutes of a game at Portman Road. The crowd was so angry it made for a scintillating game. Don't remember the result, just the passion of the crowd.
This also fits with what Paul Hurst said about being nastier, wanting it more, all those types of things. Dare I say it, I got more passionate in the crowd when I'd had a few pints prior to the game. You can't just sit there, it's a participatory thing, watching your team. |
I think I remember it being 0-0 draw against Sheff Utd certainly was Adrian Littlejohn who did a great impersination of an Olympic Diver and forward roles that would have made even Naymar blush. |  | | |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 10:46 - Aug 16 with 1050 views | nshearman1 |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 10:04 - Aug 16 by Facefacts |
Thanks, Harry, I'm interested in what you say about the referee, not just the Devon ref who failed to protect our players in the second half, but generally the standard is ever worsening. Most games have a refereeing error that gets highlighted in match reports. But there is no comeback. Nowadays teams have to fight to get the decisions, and if you sit back, you get nothing.
The crowd should be key in getting in the referee's face too. Back when Craig Forrest and Clive Baker shared the goalkeeping duties, one of them was sent off in the first 10 minutes of a game at Portman Road. The crowd was so angry it made for a scintillating game. Don't remember the result, just the passion of the crowd.
This also fits with what Paul Hurst said about being nastier, wanting it more, all those types of things. Dare I say it, I got more passionate in the crowd when I'd had a few pints prior to the game. You can't just sit there, it's a participatory thing, watching your team. |
Please see my report on the ref on another thread.
Lord Harry of Bath, so sorry I missed you at the game! Your points about the old guard, particularly Chambers and Knudsen, are so incisive. It's worth pointing out that they've always been shockingly vulnerable to set-pieces even under Mick.
I expect to see most of the old guard gone by this time next year, even the God Bart. It's clear Hurst wants his own players in who understand his system and play to his demands. I think Knudsen and Chambers have been kept on to keep some continuity, and because of the dearth of CHs after the Webster sale. I think Knudsen will be gone in January and Chambers at the end of the season. Skuse may survive as back-up bench-man, Chalobah and Edun are loans and will need re-placing.
My personal feeling is he'll eventually crown Nolan as captain, we have for many years needed a midfield engine who can run things, and I'm sure Hurst feels Nolan is that man. So far, he seems a busy player but I'm not yet convinced that he has the flair and imagination and quality to open up defences with a surprising move or defence-splitting pass. That's why I think we need Teddy Bishop (good to see him come on the other night) and Dozzell but because of Nolan it's difficult to see where they will play, other than as subs and back-up. Could be similar with Nydam and Downes, because it's not really clear where and how they can fit in to Hurst's system and we have too many central midfielders. I can see Huws eventually paired with Chalobah if/when Huws gets fit. I'm not sure Sears and Rowe will survive, I can see another winger or two being added, and them off-loaded. Sears' best position is playing off a target man in a 4-4-2 but apart from a brief period when he arrived and played successfully in that system, he's always been played out of position out wide.
It remains to be seen whether all Hurst's decisions will prove to be the right ones, I somehow doubt it, he is not God, but he is a breath of fresh air.
We are indeed a team in transition. | | | |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 11:17 - Aug 16 with 1024 views | Pinewoodblue |
Thanks HfB. Little victories is one of my wife's favourites, she uses it all the time. She damaged her spinal cord April last year and every step along the way is seen as a little victory. Telephoned today and arranged for collection of two walking frames which she no longer needs, another little victory.
Another saying, think it was by a frenchman, that we all need to take on board " Patience is bitter but the fruit is sweet" . We will achieve what we all want and the reward will be sweet success. |  |
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| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 11:18 - Aug 16 with 1024 views | Mullet |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 10:46 - Aug 16 by nshearman1 |
Please see my report on the ref on another thread.
Lord Harry of Bath, so sorry I missed you at the game! Your points about the old guard, particularly Chambers and Knudsen, are so incisive. It's worth pointing out that they've always been shockingly vulnerable to set-pieces even under Mick.
I expect to see most of the old guard gone by this time next year, even the God Bart. It's clear Hurst wants his own players in who understand his system and play to his demands. I think Knudsen and Chambers have been kept on to keep some continuity, and because of the dearth of CHs after the Webster sale. I think Knudsen will be gone in January and Chambers at the end of the season. Skuse may survive as back-up bench-man, Chalobah and Edun are loans and will need re-placing.
My personal feeling is he'll eventually crown Nolan as captain, we have for many years needed a midfield engine who can run things, and I'm sure Hurst feels Nolan is that man. So far, he seems a busy player but I'm not yet convinced that he has the flair and imagination and quality to open up defences with a surprising move or defence-splitting pass. That's why I think we need Teddy Bishop (good to see him come on the other night) and Dozzell but because of Nolan it's difficult to see where they will play, other than as subs and back-up. Could be similar with Nydam and Downes, because it's not really clear where and how they can fit in to Hurst's system and we have too many central midfielders. I can see Huws eventually paired with Chalobah if/when Huws gets fit. I'm not sure Sears and Rowe will survive, I can see another winger or two being added, and them off-loaded. Sears' best position is playing off a target man in a 4-4-2 but apart from a brief period when he arrived and played successfully in that system, he's always been played out of position out wide.
It remains to be seen whether all Hurst's decisions will prove to be the right ones, I somehow doubt it, he is not God, but he is a breath of fresh air.
We are indeed a team in transition. |
Given this is likely Chambers' and Skuse's last season as first teamers, I think Nolan as captain is fairly evident too. The Shrewsbury lads were the small consolation from Rotherham.
Although it's worth noting, that as when Mick changed loanees and strikers, Hurst has done the same but way more radically. This has a two-fold effect on our attacking play.
1) There are now different options for full backs and DM's, likewise Chambers has had to guide Nsiala and Donacien respectively because they joined late/were new partners. You can see that when things broke down in the first two games. (Chalobah too gave more options but also the ball away close to the box)
2) The attackers don't yet know themselves or the system evidently. It clicked magically when Freddie picked out Edwards, but too often we can see runners getting in each others' way. Or Hurst's favoured tactic of chipped balls down the channels meant we isolated our crosser and then overloaded the back post.
Nolan has a lovely technique of backspinning a chipped through ball btw - did he manage it Tuesday night? Jonas too had great success setting Harrison free over the top. Had the ref been stronger when Lenihan brought him down we'd have got something from that. |  |
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| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 11:22 - Aug 16 with 1013 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 11:18 - Aug 16 by Mullet |
Given this is likely Chambers' and Skuse's last season as first teamers, I think Nolan as captain is fairly evident too. The Shrewsbury lads were the small consolation from Rotherham.
Although it's worth noting, that as when Mick changed loanees and strikers, Hurst has done the same but way more radically. This has a two-fold effect on our attacking play.
1) There are now different options for full backs and DM's, likewise Chambers has had to guide Nsiala and Donacien respectively because they joined late/were new partners. You can see that when things broke down in the first two games. (Chalobah too gave more options but also the ball away close to the box)
2) The attackers don't yet know themselves or the system evidently. It clicked magically when Freddie picked out Edwards, but too often we can see runners getting in each others' way. Or Hurst's favoured tactic of chipped balls down the channels meant we isolated our crosser and then overloaded the back post.
Nolan has a lovely technique of backspinning a chipped through ball btw - did he manage it Tuesday night? Jonas too had great success setting Harrison free over the top. Had the ref been stronger when Lenihan brought him down we'd have got something from that. |
The system requires each and every player to be an active part of it, to be ready to contribute be it in attack or defence. Play it right and there is no hiding place the established players have to stop looking for the easy, safe, option. | |
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| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 15:07 - Aug 16 with 910 views | Ryorry |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 11:22 - Aug 16 by Pinewoodblue |
The system requires each and every player to be an active part of it, to be ready to contribute be it in attack or defence. Play it right and there is no hiding place the established players have to stop looking for the easy, safe, option. |
That should go for the established fans too! |  |
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| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 16:09 - Aug 16 with 878 views | Mullet |
| Lots of Little Victories — Late Reflections on Last Night's Game at Exeter on 11:22 - Aug 16 by Pinewoodblue |
The system requires each and every player to be an active part of it, to be ready to contribute be it in attack or defence. Play it right and there is no hiding place the established players have to stop looking for the easy, safe, option. |
But what system doesn't? Part of Man United's biggest success was Schmichel and Lehmann at Arsenal when they were "on" even when they weren't being tested for 10 mins or more. If we take that idea to its pinnacle.
I'm not sure how the established could do what you suggest previously, when Mick was criticised for playing percentages, and gambling on territory foremost. It seems really odd people are digging out last year's players, and excusing the new ones when all 11 on the field are being asked to contribute.
To me, that ultimately rests with Hurst getting his message across. | |
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