A very harsh assessment of a team that had just won 11 games in a row. Exeter were excellent in the first half and we were poor, but we were much better in the second half and any point away from home is to be celebrated, especially after being 2-0 down.
Surprisingly we were slow out of the blocks this evening, allowing Exeter to put us under a lot of pressure in the first 20 minutes. Exeter aren't a bad side at all, particularly at home. We did well to gain a draw, especially having trailed 2-0 in the first-half. Not one of our better performances but the critical thing was we didn't lose!
I don't think we were that poor tonight - after the first 15 minutes anyway. We created a good number of chances - on another night Udoh buries that one at the end - and looked more likely to win the game second half. There was some sloppy passing and silly fouls given away which slowed our momentum as the game went on, but otherwise I can't find much to fault. This feels like a really good point to me - even more so from 2-0 down.
Oh I've got no criticism of the 11 game winning streak. We've been fantastic, and we've found ourselves in a position that none of us expected at the start of the season. The football has been great, we've won in different ways, lovely.
The question now, however, is are we on a hot streak that will see some regression to a mean (albeit a much higher mean than we perhaps anticipated at the start of the season), or are we real-deal title contenders.
Tonight's performance was not that of a real-deal title contender in my opinion. The goals we gave away were really sloppy and unnecessary, and after we did really well to pull the game back we ended up losing a lot of momentum, mostly through giving the ball away in the midfield and giving away a heap of frustrating free kicks.
My criticism of today's game should not be read as a criticism of the team as a whole, or of Blooms, or of the season so far. Kone didn't have a great game tonight, but that doesn't diminish my opinion of him at all.
Now obviously, even the most dominant, world-beating teams still have off days, and drop points they perhaps shouldn't drop. But based on the strength of tonight's opposition, and how we handed them two goals, I thought our performance today was disappointing.
@thecatwwfc I take your point, but I think a genuine title contender probably goes on to win that game, considering we had the game all square, and held all the momentum with the best part of 40 minutes left to go. Now of course, momentum swings back and forth, game-state shifts, I understand that. The funny thing is, I'd definitely feel a lot more positive about the point if we'd just grabbed an equaliser at the end - it's not so much the scoreline that was disappointing, (of course I'd take a draw when 2-0 down), but rather the overall performance (especially the opening 10 minutes, and final half an hour which I found frustrating).
I hope this isn't taken as me massively shitting over our team this season, or feeling entitled to us going on to win the thing. There's not an inch of me that would be disappointed if we got promoted in second and missed out on the title or anything, and if you'd offered me playoffs at the start of the season, of course I'd have shaken your hand off. Just considering all the hype that's been building recently, it felt like it wasn't the performance of a team that will challenge for the title, (which is of course what we've secretly all been starting to hope and pray for as we've risen to the top and stayed there for the last few weeks).
And in 2016-17, our 12-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end at, you've guessed it, St James' Park, Exeter, losing 4-2.
In fairness, it was the Tuesday after our 4th round tie at White Hart Lane. Hardly were going to come flying out of the traps against Exeter after giving our all there.
For clarity, I don’t know Sonny Cox, just used to live round the corner from the college he went to and it doesn’t have the best reputation. It was meant to be a joke, but I can appreciate it probably just came off as snobby.
For the record - a BTEC in hospitality is more than I’ve got!
The funniest thing about the 2017-18 draw is that Marcus Bean scored the equalizer mere days after scoring his famous goal, meaning anyone who missed the Carlisle game could still buy an "I Was There When Beany Scored" shirt as long as they made it down to Exeter!
No need to apologise but I think one below par performance in which we still gained a point doesn’t suggest that we’re a team that won’t challenge for promotion. We can’t win every game. Manchester City, one of the best teams in Europe, have just gone 7 games without a win losing 6 of them.
Just got in and have to point out our attitude. 1-0 down then 2-0 down we don’t stop. No whinging, no dropping of heads, no getting annoyed. Just carried on trying to do what we do.
Easier to see when you’re at the game how players are communicating what they want to do all over the pitch
Would have been so easy to get fed up, niggly and end up losing 2-0. Not us.
Before we draw any huge conclusions that 'it's not a performance of champions', Portsmouth, last seasons champions, broke a good run with a 4-0 loss at home to Blackpool.
Over Xmas and into Jan, they won 1 in 5, including a draw at Exeter.
So while we didn't play well, it's a bit early to write off a title challenge.
some weirdly negative takes on that, its another point from what is a tough place to go. I dread to see what its like if we lose a game. We really need to get on the not to high not to low train as we are going to have to suffer at some point, every promotion team does. its all how we stick together and react.
Feels like expectations might have got a little ahead of our stations for some.
Comments
Is it just me or was that the worst League One pitch we've played on this season? We didn't deserve to win, just an observation.
A very harsh assessment of a team that had just won 11 games in a row. Exeter were excellent in the first half and we were poor, but we were much better in the second half and any point away from home is to be celebrated, especially after being 2-0 down.
And even more so when you are the only person to correctly predict the result on the Samaritans thread.
Were you there @DevC ?
Bakinson/Butcher for Leahy the one change I'd make for Reading (short of miraculousy fixing Scowen). Huuuge game.
I would of course have happily sacrificed my assault on a top six place in the Samaritans league if we had snatched a late winner.
I think Leahy needs to try mis-hitting every set piece from now on.
Yes big match on Saturday. Reading look to be hitting form so it is going to be a tough battle.
Bakinson too inconsistent for me so maybe Butcher is the player to nullify Wing.
I think it is those results that makes us genuine title contenders. To be 2-0, play poorly, and still draw....
Yes, we have been spoiled by one good performance after another. This was inevitable eventually.
Surprisingly we were slow out of the blocks this evening, allowing Exeter to put us under a lot of pressure in the first 20 minutes. Exeter aren't a bad side at all, particularly at home. We did well to gain a draw, especially having trailed 2-0 in the first-half. Not one of our better performances but the critical thing was we didn't lose!
I don't think we were that poor tonight - after the first 15 minutes anyway. We created a good number of chances - on another night Udoh buries that one at the end - and looked more likely to win the game second half. There was some sloppy passing and silly fouls given away which slowed our momentum as the game went on, but otherwise I can't find much to fault. This feels like a really good point to me - even more so from 2-0 down.
GMac has overtaken Sido Jombati for 21st on the league era appearance list with 186.
Oh I've got no criticism of the 11 game winning streak. We've been fantastic, and we've found ourselves in a position that none of us expected at the start of the season. The football has been great, we've won in different ways, lovely.
The question now, however, is are we on a hot streak that will see some regression to a mean (albeit a much higher mean than we perhaps anticipated at the start of the season), or are we real-deal title contenders.
Tonight's performance was not that of a real-deal title contender in my opinion. The goals we gave away were really sloppy and unnecessary, and after we did really well to pull the game back we ended up losing a lot of momentum, mostly through giving the ball away in the midfield and giving away a heap of frustrating free kicks.
My criticism of today's game should not be read as a criticism of the team as a whole, or of Blooms, or of the season so far. Kone didn't have a great game tonight, but that doesn't diminish my opinion of him at all.
Now obviously, even the most dominant, world-beating teams still have off days, and drop points they perhaps shouldn't drop. But based on the strength of tonight's opposition, and how we handed them two goals, I thought our performance today was disappointing.
@thecatwwfc I take your point, but I think a genuine title contender probably goes on to win that game, considering we had the game all square, and held all the momentum with the best part of 40 minutes left to go. Now of course, momentum swings back and forth, game-state shifts, I understand that. The funny thing is, I'd definitely feel a lot more positive about the point if we'd just grabbed an equaliser at the end - it's not so much the scoreline that was disappointing, (of course I'd take a draw when 2-0 down), but rather the overall performance (especially the opening 10 minutes, and final half an hour which I found frustrating).
I hope this isn't taken as me massively shitting over our team this season, or feeling entitled to us going on to win the thing. There's not an inch of me that would be disappointed if we got promoted in second and missed out on the title or anything, and if you'd offered me playoffs at the start of the season, of course I'd have shaken your hand off. Just considering all the hype that's been building recently, it felt like it wasn't the performance of a team that will challenge for the title, (which is of course what we've secretly all been starting to hope and pray for as we've risen to the top and stayed there for the last few weeks).
Sorry for the essay, feel free to disagree
And in 2016-17, our 12-game unbeaten run in the league came to an end at, you've guessed it, St James' Park, Exeter, losing 4-2.
In fairness, it was the Tuesday after our 4th round tie at White Hart Lane. Hardly were going to come flying out of the traps against Exeter after giving our all there.
No need to apologise mate.
For clarity, I don’t know Sonny Cox, just used to live round the corner from the college he went to and it doesn’t have the best reputation. It was meant to be a joke, but I can appreciate it probably just came off as snobby.
For the record - a BTEC in hospitality is more than I’ve got!
The funniest thing about the 2017-18 draw is that Marcus Bean scored the equalizer mere days after scoring his famous goal, meaning anyone who missed the Carlisle game could still buy an "I Was There When Beany Scored" shirt as long as they made it down to Exeter!
Funnily enough, I am in that category - not at Carlisle, but made it down to Exeter. Proudly bought the shirt!
If you’d been at Carlisle you would still have missed the match.
No need to apologise but I think one below par performance in which we still gained a point doesn’t suggest that we’re a team that won’t challenge for promotion. We can’t win every game. Manchester City, one of the best teams in Europe, have just gone 7 games without a win losing 6 of them.
Just got in and have to point out our attitude. 1-0 down then 2-0 down we don’t stop. No whinging, no dropping of heads, no getting annoyed. Just carried on trying to do what we do.
Easier to see when you’re at the game how players are communicating what they want to do all over the pitch
Would have been so easy to get fed up, niggly and end up losing 2-0. Not us.
I couldn’t agree more with everything you’ve so succinctly written here.
Birmingham should be challenging for the title and were pretty sloppy against Shrewsbury. I don't think there's any need for an inquest.
Reading are bang average away from home with the worst defensive record in the division.
Lets hope we don’t start like we did tonight.
Sometimes teams win the league without winning every game!
Succinctly? You are being ironic, I trust!
Before we draw any huge conclusions that 'it's not a performance of champions', Portsmouth, last seasons champions, broke a good run with a 4-0 loss at home to Blackpool.
Over Xmas and into Jan, they won 1 in 5, including a draw at Exeter.
So while we didn't play well, it's a bit early to write off a title challenge.
some weirdly negative takes on that, its another point from what is a tough place to go. I dread to see what its like if we lose a game. We really need to get on the not to high not to low train as we are going to have to suffer at some point, every promotion team does. its all how we stick together and react.
Feels like expectations might have got a little ahead of our stations for some.
I think Exeter done a brilliant job nullifying Fred last night. And GMac to a degree. Neither could find their rhythm.
We hit a lot of sloppy, mis-placed passes and this was largely due to their press.