Just Back (merged)

Left after 80 minutes - slow, lethargic and pedestrian, lack of leadership, strange substitutions ( Comley had a far better game than Disley or Davies) and a striker who looked patently disinterested.

Credit to Exeter, looked decent, but frankly didn't have a lot to beat. MOM Henderson again, without whom it could have been even more embarrassing.

Very poor. Beaten by a better team, formation doesnt work at home, well didnt today, dont understand the substitutions, cant moan too much as we've just had a good run but our home form is dire, hope marcus can bring in the players he wants to play this system. But very down tonight, not one player was any good today, and our insistance on playing out from the back is doing my head in

Agreed I also left after 80minures just didn't happen today and thought the formation didn't work ! Thought Zac Mills was all over the place and didn't really know where tonne half the time...

We were shite, looked disorganised again. Too many changes during the game. Very poor!

So what went wrong then today in regards to styles of play?

Same old problem for me. Midfield totally inept.
Any team that works hard and gets in our faces will get a result.
It's frustrating to see the ball being constantly hoofed, but if the midfield aren't intelligent enough to make a pass an option, the defender has no choice.  Bogle had a poor game but having said that he got feck all service.  Outworked, outplayed and outsung.  

WORST PERFORMANCE FOR AGES TODAY !!

We play in slow motion, can't put three passes together, pass across our own box, were yards slower than the opponents, and probably 6 to 7 of the starting 11 had poor games.

Mills did not pass the ball forward more then once in the first half, and collected every ball at stop  / go slow speed. felt sorry for the forwards who had to feed off rare scraps. Very few players making themselves available for through balls, so anything from the back four going fowards seemed to be in slow motion.

Exeter - professional seeing off of us by playing as a unit, starting with harassing our back four on every occasion at top speed, never letting our guys settle, or have time to make passes.

Exeter looked at least a yard faster in most areas and their passing was far more direct and accurate than ours.

Grimsby - passing - so slow no strength to the weight of the pass - running off the ball at the back and midfield - so slow - never seen so many goalie pass backs in one game, and Henderson made a couple of good saves, but not a good performance otherwise. Distribution slow and inaccurate many times.

Is Danny Andrew invisible on the left flank - hugged the touchline and always clear for a pass and mostly ignored ??

I do hope that was a glitch, but it made for terrible viewing, and the last two goals seemed to be total giveaways to me !

So quiet, with very little to cheer or applaud !

Where do you start with that? Well the formation for a start. It gave them the initiative from the off and they took it and then some. Too many defensive players in the side and that shows with absolutely no creativity whatsoever. Bogle looked worth about 2 bob this afternoon and he just cannot hold onto the ball. Yussef did nothing either but the service to them was shocking.

Exeter were everything we weren't. Strong, quick, mobile and the best front line i have seen all season. I know we are in transition but i'm seeing nothing at home at all to get the juices flowing. We created nothing at all and didn't give the fans one thing to get excited about. I'm getting fed up of waiting for someone to give us the team the fans deserve.

I'm quite a patient bloke but a bit down after that and not seeing any signs we can stretch teams at home. Home games, with their higher expectations and more possession is just showing up our deficiences with the ball. We are better at defending away than we are attacking at home. We need creative players quickly. We are too slow and predictable.

Quoted from Hagrid

Very poor. Beaten by a better team, formation doesnt work at home, well didnt today, dont understand the substitutions, cant moan too much as we've just had a good run but our home form is dire, hope marcus can bring in the players he wants to play this system. But very down tonight, not one player was any good today, and our insistance on playing out from the back is doing my head in

Thought danny andrew played well to be fair.

To think we could have been playing in the fa trophy today - bad day at the office end off! Move onwards to the next game UTM!

Quoted from samg

To think we could have been playing in the fa trophy today - bad day at the office end off! Move onwards to the next game UTM!

The way we played, we'd have lost

A poor day at the office. Well beaten at the end. Having said that I thought we were in the game at half time but the second stupid gift of a goal was the killer. Exeter gained in confidence all over the pitch and could not get to grips with the game. They won the ball easily had plenty of runners going forward and could have had more. I don't think it was anything to do with the formation, just that they did the basics of controlling and passing the ball much better than we did. They had more pace and energy, something we have seen from other teams too. The new defender played 2 of the best forward passes for us early in the second half. Bogle had a couple of half chances and Mills should have scored when he got through in the second half. Will a couple of Solihull Moors players and a guy from Gateshead make us better? Time will tell.

I think this is the worst I've seen us play for years, nobody came out of it with any credit.
I just cannot understand that formation. It certainly doesn't work at home.
Once again the opposition showed us how to play, they had every man behind the ball every time we went forward and broke out of their half very quickly when they had the ball. You knew it was gonna be a bad day when even Collins makes a mistake and costs us a goal.
Now next week against a side that's lost 10 out of their last 11 games has got to be a home win with no excuses.
But we'll have to play a whole lot better than today, really, really p****d off

UTM

Listening to MB on Humberside. Showed a complete lack of class and understanding. He came out on the attack against Tondeur and really embarrassed himself.

Talked a load of shite about the technical ability of the opposition and how we are way off it. We were playing Exeter not flipping Barcelona. Shows a lack of class to blame your players weakness when you lose.

Quoted from mariner tommy

I think this is the worst I've seen us play for years, nobody came out of it with any credit.
I just cannot understand that formation. It certainly doesn't work at home.
Once again the opposition showed us how to play, they had every man behind the ball every time we went forward and broke out of their half very quickly when they had the ball. You knew it was gonna be a bad day when even Collins makes a mistake and costs us a goal.
Now next week against a side that's lost 10 out of their last 11 games has got to be a home win with no excuses.
But we'll have to play a whole lot better than today, really, really p****d off

UTM

Think you will find that Notts next week will have 10 behind the ball and park the bus. We didn't sort out the way to beat teams at home last season and we haven't this season against better opposition.  Until we do we will be mid-table at best.

Terrible preformanc and we're still 11th and close to the play offs, let's put things into perspective after the last 5 years. I can't wait to see us in Mid Feb when MB has bought a gelled a team he wants.

Quoted from headingly_mariner

Listening to MB on Humberside. Showed a complete lack of class and understanding. He came out on the attack against Tondeur and really embarrassed himself.

Talked a load of shite about the technical ability of the opposition and how we are way off it. We were playing Exeter not flipping Barcelona. Shows a lack of class to blame your players weakness when you lose.

Was looking forward to that but my PC went off about 2 mins in What i did hear sounded unconvincing and a bit pathetic to be honest.

And yet it's patently clear that they had midfielders capable of passing. You don't have to be Barcelona to outplay our midfield, the one that bignot didn't sign. And what system did people want us to play? Revert back to 442? That's been entertaining at home this system hasn't it. The crux of the matter is, it didn't matter what system we played today, we'd still struggle to create, and that'll remain the fact until we sign new players.

How on earth anybody can disagree with the above post i will never know. Spot on and anybody who knows football would clearly be able to see that this is an accurate post. Bignot will be telling his players the exact same thing.Impressed with Gunning-plenty to come from him-a very confident and relaxed player. One of the best referees for a long time-got the job done without too much fuss.

3 holding midfielders is why we created nothing.  You need atleast one of them to break beyond the strikers or give them options.  Oh well we go again but like i said mid table consolidation then you wont feel as bad 😉

Only saw second half but only positives for Town were Henderson got to do some Hollywood saves for his YouTube showreel and Vose played well when he came on. Oh and Bogle barely had a kick so hopefully the scouts won't be back!

No idea about the formation but it didn't work. We had about 6 defenders on the pitch and struggled to create anything - weird eh?

Who? What central midfielder do we have who's capable of such attacking play

Chose the wrong formation and personnel from the start today. 3-5-2 works away from home but for me we need attacking width at home and creativity in the centre of the park. We had a full back, comley in a defensive position anyway and a static disley in a team looking for a home win. For all those that have been screaming for disley to come back in the team, he had a poor game and we was overrun in the centre by bright, sharp and pacey centre midfielders that also showed great creativity and created the last two goals. We were second best and laboured, with little urgency to get forward. Our tactic was to pass sideways and backwards and when pressed by their lively midfield we hammered it forward expecting bogle and yussef to feed off the scraps.

Boyce shouldnt be near the first 11 and it pains me to say it but weve got better option than disley. If hes fit enough for the bench then mcallister should have had a run out. Putting bolarinwa up top didnt work and unless injured why did we bring pearson and comley off.

Next saturday we should go back to a 4-4-2 with Gunning and Collins at cb.

If we didnt need proof anyway we need to find a centre midfield and fast.

If anything today just highlighted our need for 1/2 creative midfielders, the amount of times we played wide or backwards rather than trying to play into the strikers feet was ridiculous. On numerous occasions the midfield had chance to run with the ball and take us forward but refused to do so, it is easy for teams to defend against sides who pass the ball backwards, sideways and slowly.

You can see why Bignot is going for a Osborne/Jones type player as he needs to find the balance between defensive/busy/attacking midfield three.

Secondly I would say positionally today Mills struggled, surely the idea of playing with wing backs is to spread high and wide and look to spread the pitch. A lot of times Mills was too deep and was often out the game. I don't want to sound too negative but today was shockingly bad.

Let's hope it's a bad day at the office and onto next week.

Midfield is letting us down, that's the first time I've left a game early in over 20 years, soon as that third went in I'd seen enough.

Quoted from cmackenzie4

Midfield is letting us down, that's the first time I've left a game early in over 20 years, soon as that third went in I'd seen enough.

So had I and everybody else, I've never seen so many people leave early.

UTM

Comfortably the worst performance I've seen this season. The  five at the back and only Disley in midfield with attacking intent didn't bode well from the start. Exeter worked hard to close us down but we helped time and again with sideways/backwards passing. Maybe had we done a bit better with the couple of headers early on it might have made for a different game but I cannot remember their keeper having to make a save. Unfair to single out any individuals. Only Henderson came out with any credit. Another decent crowd go away fed up at the lack of entertaining football.

After watching the post match MB interview its only made another clueless home performance feel much much worse
I really approved of giving this young up and coming manager a chance and still do and after last two or three games we seemed to have turned a corner
But that was poor mate, these are good players and I'm starting to wonder if the players understand what you are trying to get them to do, and the style in which you want them to play, as it certainly didn't seem it today (again)
Perhaps when things have calmed down you can have another go at telling us on MP
3 points a must next Sat..

Well that was very poor

Stupid formation which quite clearly doesn't work for home games, and with 6 defenders playing at home, you can understand why we created intercourse all, not because the opposition had 10 men behind the ball Marcus, it was because you set up with 6 defenders at home,

Very slow today, very pedestrianised and considering Bignot said there would be lots of shots and Crosses, well no there isn't, especially not at home, central midfield continues to frustrate, Disley wasn't a yard off the pace today, he was 1 mile off the pace, him and Davies 2nd half got completely walked all over, more so when Comley came off.

Very poor form from James Mckeown's other half, she was sat 2 rows behind me and when the first went in she started shouting out and clapping "we need Macca" when somebody asked who she was, she identified herself with as "Mckeown's other half" she then started to criticize Henderson at everything and when they made it 2-0 she said "my James would have saved those because he's a far superior keeper to that manc" she then copulated off a few minutes later.

Quoted from Davec

Well that was very poor
Very poor form from James Mckeown's other half, she was sat 2 rows behind me and when the first went in she started shouting out and clapping "we need Macca" when somebody asked who she was, she identified herself with as "Mckeown's other half" she then started to criticize Henderson at everything and when they made it 2-0 she said "my James would have saved those because he's a far superior keeper to that manc" she then copulated off a few minutes later.

I think I've seen Henderson claim more crosses in 5 games than McKeown's managed in 5 years.

Exactly what I was thinking DNmariner when she was saying these things

Quoted from Davec

Well that was very poor

Stupid formation which quite clearly doesn't work for home games, and with 6 defenders playing at home, you can understand why we created intercourse all, not because the opposition had 10 men behind the ball Marcus, it was because you set up with 6 defenders at home,

Very slow today, very pedestrianised and considering Bignot said there would be lots of shots and Crosses, well no there isn't, especially not at home, central midfield continues to frustrate, Disley wasn't a yard off the pace today, he was 1 mile off the pace, him and Davies 2nd half got completely walked all over, more so when Comley came off.

Very poor form from James Mckeown's other half, she was sat 2 rows behind me and when the first went in she started shouting out and clapping "we need Macca" when somebody asked who she was, she identified herself with as "Mckeown's other half" she then started to criticize Henderson at everything and when they made it 2-0 she said "my James would have saved those because he's a far superior keeper to that manc" she then copulated off a few minutes later.

Have you made that up?

No I haven't

I sit N81 in the main stand, and she was 2 rows behind me

His Mrs has just rubbished those claims on Twitter. [tweet]820362648541888512[/tweet]

Aaron confirmed.

Really poor today. Think that's the slowest I've seen us move the ball around this season. Apart from a few early crosses into their box, we created virtually nothing and faded pretty quickly. No effective width (although Andrew did his best) and we lost the battle in the middle.

In his interview today MB again stated that L2 is a step up and that some of the current players are basically not up to it. Yet it looks like his plan is to bring in National League players, some of whom will be jumping two levels very quickly.

Really hope he gets the players he wants and that they do improve us. But I think it's quite a gamble as it'll soon be a team largely of his design and he'll be judged accordingly.

well....dont mind admitting that for the majority of the first half i was half happy.....recently we have struggled with possession and for the majority of the first half i thought we retained the ball better than of late, admittedly we didnt threaten too much with it but Comley and the back three seemed comfortable to take it off Henderson...unfortunately it didnt progress much from there....no penetration from the central midfield and very little from wide but thats from the players selected rather than the formation. Still flashed a few crosses in early on, Boyce and Pearson probably should have done better on a couple of occasions.
Unfortunately today Dis and Davies both looked slow and way off what we need.
Bogle and Yussuf played miles apart from each other, one link up in their time on the pitch, Yussuf gave away too many stupid fouls and Omar is looking like mid season Omar from last year.... a frustrated individual.
The subs MB made.... Yussuf was just stopping our own pressure from building by fouling the opposition needlessly and offering nothing, Comley off for Vose ...understand Vose on but would have hooked Disley personally as Comley was the main midfielder coming to look for the ball....Pearson off , suprised by that one but then new fella certainly picked out a couple of non standard passes..... however...lost to a scrappy first goal from a set piece, then gifted them a second which killed the game and the players confidence and then caught out trying to chase the game....massively disappointing result.....so need that midfield dynamo/ creator.

I enjoyed Henderson throwing the ball to the defenders... for about half an hour. It became needless and predictable when Exeter figured that out, they began to close us down and we started giving up the ball. Change it up a bit ffs.

Bignot gave the worst performance of the day.

Exeter were everything I wanted us to be today.  Henderson kept the score down.  At 0-2 they still had more running in them than we had.  They had a break-away at 0-2 with 2 on 1, strong running from their 2 players.  We were slow to see the obvious danger, and then a defender ran back at half-pace.  That should have been 3-0.

We were slow in thought and deed.  They were the opposite.  Scored a very good third goal that was a just reward for their efforts and the travelling fans.

A key issue at home this season is our self-destruction.  We have given teams 2 pens, an og, Macca's dreadful error, 2 suicidal defensive passes and Summerfield's own style of aweful passes.  Bar the latter, all the other errors have led directly to away goals.  Macca's was just before HT and today's error killed the game.

We need to be more ruthless at home, as a starter, and not so generous to opponents.  Christmas is over.

Six defenders played 90 minutes, only one of them has any real pace. Disley and Comley don't have much in the way of pace either. Not surprising that their nippy forwards and midfielders ran rings around us once we had to start chasing the game.

I can't remember the last time I saw us fail to test the keeper even once at BP. For that matter I can't remember the last time we won so few headers in the opposition box. Plenty of decent deliveries from set pieces and a few decent crosses from open play as well and their mobile yet not exactly tall defence won everything.

Yussuf looks like the sort of player who will be able to bag a goal, but won't be doing too much other useful work during a game, especially when isolated up front as our strikers always seem to be this season. Unless we can sort out the midfield, I can't see him and Bogle forming a meaningful partnership as neither is good enough at occupying decent defenders.

Very impressed with their No. 11 who was quick, skilful and caused all sorts of problems for our defenders in the air for somebody who isn't that tall.

Very disappointing to be so comprehensively outplayed at home. I still don't have a clue how Bignot wants his team to play as we seem to have a different formation and line up every other week. If the players aren't much good creatively then at least get them organised well enough so we're not at sixes and sevens and shipping goals so easily.

Think it needs pointing out that Exeter have won a few games by 3 and 4 away from home this season and have 9 away wins. They have got the ideal defend deep and break line up. They can't buy a win at home and have an even worse home record than us. Odd that their home and away form is so very far apart.

Exeter were very good today. At the same time if we could have scored it would have been a different game altogether. Two good footalling sides and they wanted it more. Our defense were brilliant but when 75% of the ball is in your defence the opposition will get the chance to score!

Also pearson and comely were two of our best players first half. Then they were subbed??!??!

I agree with Maringer and can't add too much more, although that final point can only really be said to apply today. We've been tight defensively through Christmas and new year.

We have got to do much, much better at home, even  when allowing for the obvious shortcomings in the current squad. I don't think it's too much to ask that the team might be able to muster some attacking threat on its home ground, and should also be able to execute some basic footballing skills reasonably competently, if only at times - controlling the ball, moving into space, playing with energy and urgency, passing, and basic decision making.

I know it's a fairly imbalanced squad and that's not MB's fault, but players and manager let themselves and everyone else down today. We've got eyes. Not much point trying to gloss over it with general jovial glibness in the post match interview. There ought to be some sort of visible method to our play, surely.

I would probably prefer to hear the manager tell it like it is. Say it's not good enough when it's not. We ought to have a bit more pride than to try to hide or hoodwink our way through the post match when we've been comprehensively turned over at home by another mid table team, however good their form. In many ways we got ourselves beaten today. Hurst used to do this in his post match too (and in a more infuriating style) - fail to talk straight, but I think we need to set our standards higher than they appear to be, even allowing for the understandable need to stand by the players. I think supporters want to see staff hold their hands up and take responsibility and then say that they will do better, and act on that.

We need central and wide midfielders into the squad as soon as possible.
Next home game is very winnable and absolutely requires marked improvement.

Someone once said to me that what goes around comes around and then went on to explain how karma works, the reason I mention this is that both on and off the pitch Exeter did a "Grimsby away" performance to the home side today. In fact on the pitch they where really impressive but we allowed them to be at times with our shape & lack of work rate especially when supporting out man in possession and general lethargy.

I get the shape and selection away from home and credit to MB this has worked well in recent weeks but at home we need more creativity and from about 20 mins in it was evident we where struggling, I would have like MB to have added Vose earlier and not sure why he didn't. Also I assume that Shaun was injured if not why did he come off? When you are 1 - 0 down at HT surely you change the offensive players/pattern?

Far too many things to go over on the back of today some issues are long standing but some are the accountability of the current players/manager and there's absolutely no value in looking back we just need to get behind Marcus and the lads again now.

In the car on the way home my dad said that we can only judge Marcus after he has brought some players in that he fancies and to an extent I agree but we are a L2 club and have to mix and match that's what you do at this level with our resources he will not be able to replace every position he desires to play the way he wants to.

What I would say though is that when MB does bring in some of the players he thinks can make a difference we will need to be much, much better than we where today.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Someone once said to me that what goes around comes around and then went on to explain how karma works, the reason I mention this is that both on and off the pitch Exeter did a "Grimsby away" performance to the home side today. In fact on the pitch they where really impressive but we allowed them to be at times with our shape & lack of work rate especially when supporting out man in possession and general lethargy.

I get the shape and selection away from home and credit to MB this has worked well in recent weeks but at home we need more creativity and from about 20 mins in it was evident we where struggling, I would have like MB to have added Vose earlier and not sure why he didn't. Also I assume that Shaun was injured if not why did he come off? When you are 1 - 0 down at HT surely you change the offensive players/pattern?

Far too many things to go over on the back of today some issues are long standing but some are the accountability of the current players/manager and there's absolutely no value in looking back we just need to get behind Marcus and the lads again now.

In the car on the way home my dad said that we can only judge Marcus after he has brought some players in that he fancies and to an extent I agree but we are a L2 club and have to mix and match that's what you do at this level with our resources he will not be able to replace every position he desires to play the way he wants to.

What I would say though is that when MB does bring in some of the players he thinks can make a difference we will need to be much, much better than we where today.

He will given time but fans expect overnight miracles.

I think he's already brought in two good players. We absolutely need at least one good centre midfielder and either one or two good wide players. Three or four players in total I reckon. He doesn't need a comprehensive rebuild to make us into a team that can challenge this season.

Quoted from ginnywings

He will given time but fans expect overnight miracles.

Looking at where we are now I think it will be a year before we can truly judge, two windows (now & the summer) s a pre season and the first 3 months of 17/18 to make it work.    

Obviously this lady wasn't macca's other half as she claimed, I'll have to make contact with her to apologise.

Quoted from chaos33

I agree with Maringer and can't add too much more, although that final point can only really be said to apply today. We've been tight defensively through Christmas and new year.

We have got to do much, much better at home, even  when allowing for the obvious shortcomings in the current squad. I don't think it's too much to ask that the team might be able to muster some attacking threat on its home ground, and should also be able to execute some basic footballing skills reasonably competently, if only at times - controlling the ball, moving into space, playing with energy and urgency, passing, and basic decision making.

I know it's a fairly imbalanced squad and that's not MB's fault, but players and manager let themselves and everyone else down today. We've got eyes. Not much point trying to gloss over it with general jovial glibness in the post match interview. There ought to be some sort of visible method to our play, surely.

I would probably prefer to hear the manager tell it like it is. Say it's not good enough when it's not. We ought to have a bit more pride than to try to hide or hoodwink our way through the post match when we've been comprehensively turned over at home by another mid table team, however good their form. In many ways we got ourselves beaten today. Hurst used to do this in his post match too (and in a more infuriating style) - fail to talk straight, but I think we need to set our standards higher than they appear to be, even allowing for the understandable need to stand by the players. I think supporters want to see staff hold their hands up and take responsibility and then say that they will do better, and act on that.

We need central and wide midfielders into the squad as soon as possible.
Next home game is very winnable and absolutely requires marked improvement.

Stuff in bold is spot on Chaos!

Quoted from Davec

Obviously this lady wasn't macca's other half as she claimed, I'll have to make contact with her to apologise.

How about you just stop making stuff up?

Our home form as become a well known problem for ages teams are coming here knowing this not sure playing defensive minded is the way to solve this.

These are the players who, being strictly ruthless, will not be good enough to be challenging for promotion next season.

Boyce
Gowling
Pearson
Disley
Summerfield
Berrett
Vernon
Jackson
Jones
Bolarinwra
Venney
McKeown

That's twelve of the present squad.

Then going forward there's the question of age over Davies and Collins.

Then there's players good enough who belong to other clubs Henderson, Vose and Comley

Then there's Browne who is out on loan at a Conference club

Which leaves us with only Gunning, Bogle, Mills, McAllister, Chambers, Andrew and Yussuf who are actually contracted at the club and are up to standard.

I know one or two of you will have the odd difference in opinion of players, but when you break it down like this, MB has got a massive rebuilding job ahead, so I think we as fans have to take the odd result and performance on the chin, just for the short term. I know you're all disappointed with today and love to analyse everything, but I think we all need to show some patience for now. At the minute I'm pleasantly surprised with the odd win like at Carlisle and disappointed but not too surprised with a defeat like today. I think it's just being realistic about the ceiling of ability of a lot of our players..

Quoted from Bigdog

These are the players who, being strictly ruthless, will not be good enough to be challenging for promotion next season.

Boyce
Gowling
Pearson
Disley
Summerfield
Berrett
Vernon
Jackson
Jones
Bolarinwra
Venney
McKeown

That's twelve of the present squad.

Then going forwards there's the question of age over Davies and Collins.

Then there's players who belong to other clubs Henderson, Vose and Comley

Then there's Browne who is out on loan at a Conference club

Which leaves us with only Gunning, Bogle, Mills, McAllister, Chambers, Andrew and Yussuf who are actually contracted at the club and are up to standard.

I know one or two of you will have the odd difference in opinion of players, but when you break it down like this, MB has got a massive rebuilding job ahead, so I think we as fans have to take the odd result and performance on the chin, just for the short term. I know you're all disappointed with today and love to analyse everything, but I think we all need to show some patience for now. At the minute I'm pleasantly surprised with the odd win like at Carlisle and disappointed but not too surprised with a defeat like today. I think it's just being realistic about the ceiling of ability of a lot of our players..

Don't agree re Shaun and Macca and Venney and Jones cant be assessed as we have not seen them but overall you are right, I suppose that's the upshot of the buying power you have after 5+ years in non league.  

What can telling all the fans that the players aren't creative enough do for their confidence though?

I wouldn't say I was embarrassed today, it doesn't reach the heights of the 5-0 defeat at Braintree or the home defeat to Bath in FA Cup. We were comprehensively outplayed. Thought Reid despite being an bottom on a fat knacker was very effective.

I had been looking forward to seeing Yussuf but apart from a few fouls he was anonymous. Omar ran his socks off, they pressed him and frustrated him really well but he kept going and didn't get too sulky.

Mills was utterly wasted in the midfield, I said before that at home we needed someone more attack minded, play Comley and Dis with Vose in front of them. I thought Dis looked off the pace and Comley played some nice balls and a couple of challenges but took an age to do anything. I thought Andrew was our best player, he was the only one who showed some desire to beat a man and he didn't give anything away defensively.

Collins, I can forgive him for his first mistake but it was a bad one. Gifted them the goal that made it over. Gunning, can't judge him too early and didn't notice him frankly. Hope Pearson wasn't injured he looked very good again in the middle, if he wasn't what was MB thinking?

Henderson pulled off a couple of outstanding saves and showed some enthusiasm with some quick throws and kicks.

As for his interview, he was insulting to both JT and the fans who JT effectively represents. He has never answered questions straight but today was the worst. I have some sympathy for him, he was angry with his players but you don't air your dirty washing in public and as for the excuse about their player who's going to go for x million, who scored a worldy, what about our prized asset, they defended him well. Hurst never turned on JT like that, he never said the players weren't good enough, he usually talked sense and he never ever went public with transfers, I know MB doesn't discuss them in interviews but it's strange that everything's creeping out now he's arrived. I'm happy to give him two windows, this and the next one to put his mark on but Hurst was always astute and could get a good player to sign.

By the way, McKeown and Pearson are definitely good enough to be here challenging higher up the league next year, they were in the side when we were 6th earlier in the season and we can't judge Jones and Venney.

The second half was dire.  However, only some timely interceptions and blocks in the first half prevented them taking the lead.  Their goal seemed only a matter of time.

The BBC had Exeter with 9 shots on target, and us with none.  That seems about right - and are damming stats.  

Very bad day at the office for us today. 6 points in the last 2 away games it's hard to get too down about it when looking at the bigger picture though.

No-one had what you'd call an above average game. Every single player was either poor or just average. Struggling to pick a man of the match for us.

We just moved the ball too slow. I can see why this formation has been successful away from home because it allows you to keep the ball in your own half with lots of bodies there. But we couldn't keep it for more than 3 seconds as soon as we crossed the half-way line. Bignot's right about the level of technical ability in our squad. None of them (bar Vose and Bogle) can cope with having the ball whilst theyr'e under pressure.

People saying Comley was having a good game. He wasn't. He just had loads of time on the ball because he was sitting in front of the back 3 on his own so he had all the time in the world to get it and switch it.

Bogle and Yussuf were poor, offered very little movement. Neither came short to receive a ball to feet. Didn't hold the ball up well enough.

Whenever either of the wingbacks had the ball they had nothing ahead of them and not enough forward movement inside of them.

I think if we want to play 3-5-2 at home it'd be better off how we ended the game, with Vose as an attacking midfielder behind the strikers, and two deeper central midfielders behind him. I said at half time that's what I'd do, but by the time we did it (at 0-2) we were never going to come back really as Exeter grew in confidence.

Not going to be critical of Collins for his mistake as he's been immense since he joined.

To be fair to Collins the ball took an awful bobble as he went to play it, he was trying to pass square across the back though  

Quoted from Mariner_09

What can telling all the fans that the players aren't creative enough do for their confidence though?

I wouldn't say I was embarrassed today, it doesn't reach the heights of the 5-0 defeat at Braintree or the home defeat to Bath in FA Cup. We were comprehensively outplayed. Thought Reid despite being an bottom on a fat knacker was very effective.

I had been looking forward to seeing Yussuf but apart from a few fouls he was anonymous. Omar ran his socks off, they pressed him and frustrated him really well but he kept going and didn't get too sulky.

Mills was utterly wasted in the midfield, I said before that at home we needed someone more attack minded, play Comley and Dis with Vose in front of them. I thought Dis looked off the pace and Comley played some nice balls and a couple of challenges but took an age to do anything. I thought Andrew was our best player, he was the only one who showed some desire to beat a man and he didn't give anything away defensively.

Collins, I can forgive him for his first mistake but it was a bad one. Gifted them the goal that made it over. Gunning, can't judge him too early and didn't notice him frankly. Hope Pearson wasn't injured he looked very good again in the middle, if he wasn't what was MB thinking?

Henderson pulled off a couple of outstanding saves and showed some enthusiasm with some quick throws and kicks.

As for his interview, he was insulting to both JT and the fans who JT effectively represents. He has never answered questions straight but today was the worst. I have some sympathy for him, he was angry with his players but you don't air your dirty washing in public and as for the excuse about their player who's going to go for x million, who scored a worldy, what about our prized asset, they defended him well. Hurst never turned on JT like that, he never said the players weren't good enough, he usually talked sense and he never ever went public with transfers, I know MB doesn't discuss them in interviews but it's strange that everything's creeping out now he's arrived. I'm happy to give him two windows, this and the next one to put his mark on but Hurst was always astute and could get a good player to sign.

By the way, McKeown and Pearson are definitely good enough to be here challenging higher up the league next year, they were in the side when we were 6th earlier in the season and we can't judge Jones and Venney.

Some interesting stuff in there................

So put yourself in the position of a Town player ........the manager who signed you or you have been with the ages leaves , the new manager comes in and immediately starts talking about this and that and everything else, he gets you in for double sessions indicating your not fit enough or have not worked hard enough when you thought pre season was in July?? Also you do an afternoon or two in the class room.

You then change the shape from the 4 - 4 -2 you are comfortable with and has took you to a play off position to a 4 - 3 - 3 and suffer some mixed results including 3 defeats in a row . The manager is still talking about "entertaining football" though and how he "wants to be involved in everything in the club"? He also says everyone will get a chance in the team but you are now thinking is that chance actually a trial? All this is going on and our most creative player gets injured for a few games and the star striker is struggling with a thigh strain.

Christmas comes with "another" shape change and actually some decent results so maybe things are looking up? Or are they as the manager is going public saying that he needs to add some more quality to the squad, so as a player are you thinking you are not good enough and may be moved on?

The above is of course all supposition but as well as a coaching curse I sometimes wonder if football managers should do a change management course as part of their coaching badges. "Less is more", "keep it simple", "evolution rather than revolution" all of those things for the next month or two please.  Players can only adapt to so much change in so short a time.    

I've watched / listened again to post match and am still anxious to enquire
How are we supposed to be playing?
What shape (sorry us shape)?
What system?
What formation?
The only thing we know is they (the team) have to pass it out from the back
Q
Is it more players we want
Or
Clearer and more concise communication to the players we have?
Come on Town Upwards & Onwards

If I may borrow a Jose Mourinho quote from earlier in the week

The manager has to improve the team has to improve and the supporters have to improve

Nothing was good about B.P today(minutes applause excluded)

On a side note isn't it strange that P.H hasn't as far as were are aware come in for any of our players. When a manager leaves a team doing well, throughout the history of the game they've always raided there old club for at least a couple of players.  I'm guessing P.H didn't think that highly of the squad he assembled. Personally I dont think this team is as good as last years, but I didn't think last years team was as good as the season before.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Some interesting stuff in there................

So put yourself in the position of a Town player ........the manager who signed you or you have been with the ages leaves , the new manager comes in and immediately starts talking about this and that and everything else, he gets you in for double sessions indicating your not fit enough or have not worked hard enough when you thought pre season was in July?? Also you do an afternoon or two in the class room.

You then change the shape from the 4 - 4 -2 you are comfortable with and has took you to a play off position to a 4 - 3 - 3 and suffer some mixed results including 3 defeats in a row . The manager is still talking about "entertaining football" though and how he "wants to be involved in everything in the club"? He also says everyone will get a chance in the team but you are now thinking is that chance actually a trial? All this is going on and our most creative player gets injured for a few games and the star striker is struggling with a thigh strain.

Christmas comes with "another" shape change and actually some decent results so maybe things are looking up? Or are they as the manager is going public saying that he needs to add some more quality to the squad, so as a player are you thinking you are not good enough and may be moved on?

The above is of course all supposition but as well as a coaching curse I sometimes wonder if football managers should do a change management course as part of their coaching badges. "Less is more", "keep it simple", "evolution rather than revolution" all of those things for the next month or two please.  Players can only adapt to so much change in so short a time.    

One thing everyone is agreed on is that it was a poor performance from everyone. But we have to be realistic.
1. Exeter have the best away form in the league. They have a plan and stick to it.
2. GTFC have not been able to handle teams who park the bus at Blundell Park for years, including last year when we got promoted.
3. MB has acknowledged we need new, better players in midfield and is trying hard to get them.
4. The team is still in transition and some of the current squad will not survive.

Please give the manager and team some time, especially until the end of the transfer window, when we and they will know who they have to finish the last 20 or so games of our first season back in the league. You might be pleasantly surprised with where we finish in May. Even José Moreno needed some time before Man U got a decent run of results.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Some interesting stuff in there................

So put yourself in the position of a Town player ........the manager who signed you or you have been with the ages leaves , the new manager comes in and immediately starts talking about this and that and everything else, he gets you in for double sessions indicating your not fit enough or have not worked hard enough when you thought pre season was in July?? Also you do an afternoon or two in the class room.

You then change the shape from the 4 - 4 -2 you are comfortable with and has took you to a play off position to a 4 - 3 - 3 and suffer some mixed results including 3 defeats in a row . The manager is still talking about "entertaining football" though and how he "wants to be involved in everything in the club"? He also says everyone will get a chance in the team but you are now thinking is that chance actually a trial? All this is going on and our most creative player gets injured for a few games and the star striker is struggling with a thigh strain.

Christmas comes with "another" shape change and actually some decent results so maybe things are looking up? Or are they as the manager is going public saying that he needs to add some more quality to the squad, so as a player are you thinking you are not good enough and may be moved on?

The above is of course all supposition but as well as a coaching curse I sometimes wonder if football managers should do a change management course as part of their coaching badges. "Less is more", "keep it simple", "evolution rather than revolution" all of those things for the next month or two please.  Players can only adapt to so much change in so short a time.    

One thing everyone is agreed on is that it was a poor performance from everyone. But we have to be realistic.
1. Exeter have the best away form in the league. They have a plan and stick to it.
2. GTFC have not been able to handle teams who park the bus at Blundell Park for years, including last year when we got promoted.
3. MB has acknowledged we need new, better players in midfield and is trying hard to get them.
4. The team is still in transition and some of the current squad will not survive.

Please give the manager and team some time, especially until the end of the transfer window, when we and they will know who they have to finish the last 20 or so games of our first season back in the league. You might be pleasantly surprised with where we finish in May. Even José Moreno needed some time before Man U got a decent run of results.

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Some interesting stuff in there................

So put yourself in the position of a Town player ........the manager who signed you or you have been with the ages leaves , the new manager comes in and immediately starts talking about this and that and everything else, he gets you in for double sessions indicating your not fit enough or have not worked hard enough when you thought pre season was in July?? Also you do an afternoon or two in the class room.

You then change the shape from the 4 - 4 -2 you are comfortable with and has took you to a play off position to a 4 - 3 - 3 and suffer some mixed results including 3 defeats in a row . The manager is still talking about "entertaining football" though and how he "wants to be involved in everything in the club"? He also says everyone will get a chance in the team but you are now thinking is that chance actually a trial? All this is going on and our most creative player gets injured for a few games and the star striker is struggling with a thigh strain.

Christmas comes with "another" shape change and actually some decent results so maybe things are looking up? Or are they as the manager is going public saying that he needs to add some more quality to the squad, so as a player are you thinking you are not good enough and may be moved on?

The above is of course all supposition but as well as a coaching curse I sometimes wonder if football managers should do a change management course as part of their coaching badges. "Less is more", "keep it simple", "evolution rather than revolution" all of those things for the next month or two please.  Players can only adapt to so much change in so short a time.    

I'm sorry, but I have to really strongly disagree with this. I've seen this comment gaining traction over the past few weeks, especially after a defeat. To say professional footballers cannot get used to a change in formation over a period of weeks is wrong. They sometimes have to change formation and shape throughout nearly every game and sometimes more than once or twice if things aren't going well, the opposition change formation, the side needs a goal or there's a lead to protect. The players at pro level are more than used to it. It's an intrinsic part of the game at any level. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit some of our players aren't all that on a consistent basis, and sometimes you have to give the opposition credit.

Quoted from Bigdog

I'm sorry, but I have to really strongly disagree with this. I've seen this comment gaining traction over the past few weeks, especially after a defeat. To say professional footballers cannot get used to a change in formation over a period of weeks is wrong. They sometimes have to change formation and shape throughout nearly every game and sometimes more than once or twice if things aren't going well, the opposition change formation, the side needs a goal or there's a lead to protect. The players at pro level are more than used to it. It's an intrinsic part of the game at any level. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit some of our players aren't all that on a consistent basis, and sometimes you have to give the opposition credit.

Don't disagree and if you read back what I posted I did say it was all supposition but we still didn't get a shot on target yesterday. I also agree that we have a squad mix of ex National League players, oldlies but goldies and relegation failures from last season. Another "comment gaining traction" is that this is down to Paul Hurst being a poor manager I actually believe it's more associated with the lack of income from 5 years or so in non league.  

Quoted from HertsGTFC

Don't disagree and if you read back what I posted I did say it was all supposition but we still didn't get a shot on target yesterday. I also agree that we have a squad mix of ex National League players, oldlies but goldies and relegation failures from last season. Another "comment gaining traction" is that this is down to Paul Hurst being a poor manager I actually believe it's more associated with the lack of income from 5 years or so in non league.  

Not aimed at you, you just brought the subject up in answer to another post.

I don't think the squad's that strong, (see my previous post), and feel the players/managers have done well to get us into a position of relative safety so early in the season. I don't think recruitment was the best in the summer. Whether it was due to size of budget or the manager will always be up for conjecture. I have been consistent in my view that I didn't rate PH from my first ever post. Again it's down to opinions.

It may be due to the lack of income because we were non-league, ie missing out on the £430k or so for being in League Two and added youth funding. Not so much in playing budget, as every club spends as much as it can afford season to season. We started this season on a level playing field with the other clubs as whatever they received from the League in the seasons previously would have already been spent on wages. As it stands we have about the fourth best income in gate receipts so should be competitive. Over the past five years the League Two clubs may have allocated a small part of their playing budget into fitness, conditioning and nutrition so may have an advantage there. Although we may have top end table income, where do we stand in additional income? I think you've mentioned how well Barnet do with off field commercial activity. Maybe us lacking in that pulls us down a place or two when it comes to overall income.

If PH was given a competitive budget, after half a season we surely could say by now that he did not recruit consistently well. Did he do his homework right on the standard of player required. After all he did say he couldn't believe the standard of player he was being offered and we could afford. His inexperience of the new level is a contributory factor in my opinion.

Anyway looking forward, I'm liking the look of the two recruits that MB has acquired and hope he keeps that standard up so we don't go on wasting half of our budget on Conference level or past their best players..

Quoted from Bigdog

Not aimed at you, you just brought the subject up in answer to another post.

I don't think the squad's that strong, (see my previous post), and feel the players/managers have done well to get us into a position of relative safety so early in the season. I don't think recruitment was the best in the summer. Whether it was due to size of budget or the manager will always be up for conjecture. I have been consistent in my view that I didn't rate PH from my first ever post. Again it's down to opinions.

It may be due to the lack of income because we were non-league, ie missing out on the £430k or so for being in League Two and added youth funding. Not so much in playing budget, as every club spends as much as it can afford season to season. We started this season on a level playing field with the other clubs as whatever they received from the League in the seasons previously would have already been spent on wages. As it stands we have about the fourth best income in gate receipts so should be competitive. Over the past five years the League Two clubs may have allocated a small part of their playing budget into fitness, conditioning and nutrition so may have an advantage there. Although we may have top end table income, where do we stand in additional income? I think you've mentioned how well Barnet do with off field commercial activity. Maybe us lacking in that pulls us down a place or two when it comes to overall income.

If PH was given a competitive budget, after half a season we surely could say by now that he did not recruit consistently well. Did he do his homework right on the standard of player required. After all he did say he couldn't believe the standard of player he was being offered and we could afford. His inexperience of the new level is a contributory factor in my opinion.

Anyway looking forward, I'm liking the look of the two recruits that MB has acquired and hope he keeps that standard up so we don't go on wasting half of our budget on Conference level or past their best players..

No worries mate I know that you where covering the issue rather than the response to an individual post. I think that Paul brought in who he had access to via his network and within the money he had to spend but maybe having to do the "general manager" role as well as "football manager" and spreading himself too thin and this maybe missing out on better players, only he will know that.  

One thing Marcus has recognised is the need for specialists in the club looking after recruitment, medical and youth etc.. and possibly the strong recent attendance numbers have enabled him to build an infrastructure that will carry us forward. All we need to do is ensure that we win a few home games by playing to our strengths with what we have and keep the fans coming in. Leave the style change to after the close season starts.

What irritates me is that people are saying Marcus is dong a rebuilding job which he definitely is but not because PH was negligent (although that argument suits the Hurst out brigade on here who no longer have that axe to grind) what Marcus is doing is building us into a modern day FL club which is the next stage of the process after the club, staff, fans and players getting us promoted last season. The task of brining GTFC back to the level of being a decent FL team/club started a few seasons ago possibly when Scott left)and not in November 2016.      

PH left us with all the right foundations and ingredients to be an competitive league club, one of the hottest prospects in the lower leagues, 4th highest attendances in the league, a hard working squad that dug out results and he left us when were 8th in the league I think. Marcus has to just add some creativity and flair to that plus some more staff, e.g a strength and conditioning coach, a fitness coach and a couple of specialists for attackers or something.

Quoted from Davec

Very poor form from James Mckeown's other half, she was sat 2 rows behind me and when the first went in she started shouting out and clapping "we need Macca" when somebody asked who she was, she identified herself with as "Mckeown's other half" she then started to criticize Henderson at everything and when they made it 2-0 she said "my James would have saved those because he's a far superior keeper to that manc" she then copulated off a few minutes later.

This is a disgraceful post especially when clearly you don't know Chloe from anyone else!

You really need to grow up before posting this sort of thing, especially when not 100% sure of your facts.

You should consider banning yourself from social media to protect yourself

Quoted from Davec

Obviously this lady wasn't macca's other half as she claimed, I'll have to make contact with her to apologise.

Aaron in talking bullsh1t shocker!!! Why do you continue to make things up Aaron? I thought since you came back you'd actually grown up but evidently not!

This just reminds me of the the commotion you caused last time with your horrendous made up stories!

Some polite advice which you can take or ignore.... stop... making.... up.....stories!!!!!!

Simple as that!!

Quoted from Mariner_09

PH left us with all the right foundations and ingredients to be an competitive league club, one of the hottest prospects in the lower leagues, 4th highest attendances in the league, a hard working squad that dug out results and he left us when were 8th in the league I think. Marcus has to just add some creativity and flair to that plus some more staff, e.g a strength and conditioning coach, a fitness coach and a couple of specialists for attackers or something.

I think PH left us in that situation where we had some stability to stop us going down, mid table defiantly but in reality once we had played everyone not "competitive" in terms of the play offs and promotion. I reckon he took it as far as he could with his recruitment network and football budget and when I say football I don't mean just signing players.

We where in the proverbial "shite" a few seasons ago but he did what he could and along with his players, staff, club and fans achieved the number 1 objective promotion back to the FL. It wasn't pretty or harmonious but we did it.

I think Marcus has to add quite a bit more than creativity and flair firstly he also needs to add real quality which will be supported and developed with support from an improved infrastructure and increased attendances. I would not expect is to be promotion contenders until 18/19 in reality, anything before that will be a pleasant surprise.    

I posted a few matches ago that we have no variety in our free kicks and corners.  This costs nothing to experiment with.

A couple of teams at BP this season have had the element of surprise with some innovation at set pieces.  Exeter did something different and original with a clever free kick routine immediately before their first goal.  This fooled us enough to create a shot at goal for them from which they won a corner.

The corner resulted in them scoring and on the way to 3 points.  From little acorns grow ..................Can we work on some new routines please?  It will pay dividends eventually.  The element of surprise is rarely wasted.

Not read the previous post on this thread, so at risk of possibly repeating others.

IMO, having 6 defenders on the pitch at the start of the game was ridiculous.

we then went 2-0 down, and he took off a striker and a midfielder, and left the 6 defenders on the pitch.

at one stage, we had a midfield of Davies, Mills, Disley and Andrew....

We set up for that game as if it was an away game.

IMO, to get the best out of Bogle, you need Vose in the middle and starting.

I know people see Vose as lazy, and i get why as he just seems to be half asleep all the time, however he is one hell of a player and needs to be in that team!

Wasn't at Hartlepool, but was told Collins had a poor game, and same has to be said about Saturday.

Quoted from Jarmo.Is.God

Not read the previous post on this thread, so at risk of possibly repeating others.

IMO, having 6 defenders on the pitch at the start of the game was ridiculous.

we then went 2-0 down, and he took off a striker and a midfielder, and left the 6 defenders on the pitch.

at one stage, we had a midfield of Davies, Mills, Disley and Andrew....

We set up for that game as if it was an away game.

IMO, to get the best out of Bogle, you need Vose in the middle and starting.

I know people see Vose as lazy, and i get why as he just seems to be half asleep all the time, however he is one hell of a player and needs to be in that team!

Wasn't at Hartlepool, but was told Collins had a poor game, and same has to be said about Saturday.

Not sure why at half time we changed the CBs unless Pearson was injured, seemed an odd decision when we where behind in the game and creating nothing.

Perhaps MB thought the new lad would distribute the ball better, which he did. Maybe he was just trying to ease him into the system, maybe Pearson had a knock, who knows what goes through a managers mind but he's paid to make those decisions. Sometimes it's not about who is the best defender but which ones work best together. In the new system, Collins has been on the left of the three and is much better in the centre of the three IMO. Gunning is left footed, so for me the idea was for Andrew to push up more and Gunning to cover over on his side. I suppose Pearson could have gone to the right in Boyce's spot but he was doing ok there. Maybe he wanted to keep Boyce on and see what he's got before making up his mind on him. He's clearly still experimenting and assessing players.

You'd have to say that, with the three defenders played at the back all lacking pace, Exeter were about the worst side we could have faced. Their attackers were all quick and mobile so it wasn't too much of a surprise that the back three struggled once we were chasing the game. Against a team playing more of a target man, they would probably have coped a bit better. Still very aware that our central defensive options don't have any pace about them and some teams will exploit this - especially if the rest of the team is playing crap!