Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on July 27, 2025, 03:49:04 pm
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Another season looming and lots to talk about, excitement and expectation building as the start day gets nearer and so many unknowns to look forward to.
After progressing the last two seasons, and the club as a whole looking in a far better place, we now have a really big challenge ahead, can we do ourselves justice at the higher level we have worked so hard to achieve.
I see no reason why not, the biggest progress coming on the field of play going from a poor looking over our shoulder at National league sides to champions of the same league no mean feet in eighteen months.
Exeter look to be a team to test us all the way, seem very comfortable at this level, have just come through an impressive unbeaten pre season, and themselves have the feeling they are on the rise in the game.
Yesterday they had an impressive win v Swansea and showed their strength in depth fielding another side the evening before(Friday) v local opposition Torquey making ten changes to the Swansea side and first team players last season in both sides.
They also have the normal sprinkling of loan players including well thought of Sil Swinkels from Aston Villa and their own Sonny Cox and players like Niskanen down the left are an attractive and dangerous team to watch.
What team we turn out I will leave others to discuss, but looking at our summer signings and just reading reports not having seen any friendlies it seems the new recruits we do have have done well and have increased competition so hopefully a good game looks in prospect.
Let's hope for a good start to the season, with season ticket sales well up apparently, which is great news, starting the season well would be a real positive.
What do you think? it will not be easy this season what are your expectations? is a top six a reality? would you be happy with a mid table finish? hopefully we will not flirt with relegation all season, but does anyone think we will? who of our new signings do you think will be the biggest success? Are you really looking forward to the new season? I am and also happy just to be still here to see the start of another one to be honest.
As ever lot's to discuss please have your say, if any curious Exeter fan would like to please join the discussion your most welcome.
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A game I may miss, currently in Coronary care DRI
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Filo, get well soon buddy, and hopefully the team will get a result that will make you feel better still on Saturday.
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Echo that. Hope you get well soon
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A game I may miss, currently in Coronary care DRI
That's shocked me, mate. Get well soon. I'm sure you will; my brother was in there recently, and the care was excellent.
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Wishing you all the very best here Filo.
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Get well soon and hope your there Saturday
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Thank god this has come around. We haven’t half had some terrible threads this close season. Surely nothing beats the ‘did you also fancy your cousin’ discussion. Look forward to nine months of football ahead!
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Thank god this has come around. We haven’t half had some terrible threads this close season. Surely nothing beats the ‘did you also fancy your cousin’ discussion. Look forward to nine months of football ahead!
I’ll definitely second that Chris!
Did I tell everyone that my Auntie Bettie’s dog had died?
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A game I may miss, currently in Coronary care DRI
Sorry to hear that Filo, hope all goes well and I’m wishing you a speedy recovery
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Chin up Filo!!
BobG
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All the best Filo
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All the best from me too Filo
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Best wishes big fella
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Very best wishes Filo.
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Wishing you all the best for a quick recovery Filo, I hope you've got yer Rovers shirt washed and ready to go on Sat'di! Good luck and we all hope to see you there!
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Get well soon Filo
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Thanks for the well wishes everyone, much appreciated, hopefully I’ll be out of this place before Saturday
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Get well soon, Filo.
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Hope all is ok and you make a full and rapid recovery Filo.
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Could we have a surprise loan in time for the game this weekend?
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Thanks for the well wishes everyone, much appreciated, hopefully I’ll be out of this place before Saturday
Quick pint in the BVB, Dave? :thumbsup:
Get well soon, mate.
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Best wishes Filo.
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Just been reading through their forum.
Rather than Cox they think Jayden Wareham will start up front. He sounds like a bustling sort of centre forward.
Listened to a few EFL expert predictions yesterday and they both predicted Exeter to go down this year.
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Get well soon filo :thumbsup:
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Exeter have always been a good football side when i have seen them from memory in past games, and have always seemed to unearth a young player that has gone on to better things in the game.
Getting a win will give us a bit of confidence for the coming season but I don't think it will be easy whatever the team we put out.
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Just looking at some past stats of us and Exeter games and was surprised to see that prior to playing Exeter in 2017 and 2016, I can't see any games between us between 2004 and 2016. 12 years without playing Exeter City during that period, that can't be right surely!!
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Just looking at some past stats of us and Exeter games and was surprised to see that prior to playing Exeter in 2017 and 2016, I can't see any games between us between 2004 and 2016. 12 years without playing Exeter City during that period, that can't be right surely!!
apart from the 2016/17 season the last time we played them in a league game was 1998
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Exeter fan here looking forward to my first visit to your new Stadium. Remember the old ground well as it was almost as ramshackle as our ground at the time lol. Anyway, we should bring 600-750 fans for what is a fairly long poke from Exeter.
As a club we have punched above our weight and this is our 4th season in league one under the wily Gary Caldwell. We have almost certainly the lowest player budget in the league but are one of very few clubs that don't lose money due to being owned by our 5,000 supporter members. No sugar daddy but a sustainable community owned club.
As for the game who knows as we already have a number of injuries with our Captain as well as our leading scorer missing. However expect a scrap for the points. All the best Donny fans
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Could we have a surprise loan in time for the game this weekend?
Best guess or in the know?
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Exeter fan here looking forward to my first visit to your new Stadium. Remember the old ground well as it was almost as ramshackle as our ground at the time lol. Anyway, we should bring 600-750 fans for what is a fairly long poke from Exeter.
As a club we have punched above our weight and this is our 4th season in league one under the wily Gary Caldwell. We have almost certainly the lowest player budget in the league but are one of very few clubs that don't lose money due to being owned by our 5,000 supporter members. No sugar daddy but a sustainable community owned club.
As for the game who knows as we already have a number of injuries with our Captain as well as our leading scorer missing. However expect a scrap for the points. All the best Donny fans
Fully aware of your club's model, EC. We took a good look at your Club virtual museum too.
https://www.ecfcmuseum.com/
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Exeter fan here looking forward to my first visit to your new Stadium. Remember the old ground well as it was almost as ramshackle as our ground at the time lol. Anyway, we should bring 600-750 fans for what is a fairly long poke from Exeter.
As a club we have punched above our weight and this is our 4th season in league one under the wily Gary Caldwell. We have almost certainly the lowest player budget in the league but are one of very few clubs that don't lose money due to being owned by our 5,000 supporter members. No sugar daddy but a sustainable community owned club.
As for the game who knows as we already have a number of injuries with our Captain as well as our leading scorer missing. However expect a scrap for the points. All the best Donny fans
I see that GC has brought a guy called Mike Holden in an attempt to change the way the club approaches things behind the scenes. He’s an interesting guy.
I’ve also heard rumblings that a data group are potentially looking at taking over. Have you heard anything?
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Get well soon Filo
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A game I may miss, currently in Coronary care DRI
Get well soon Filo
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Get well soon Filo and back at the ground cheering us on.
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Once again thanks everyone, still stuck n here I’m afraid
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All the best Filo. Here's to a full recovery. UTR!
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All the very best Filo :-)
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Exeter fan here looking forward to my first visit to your new Stadium. Remember the old ground well as it was almost as ramshackle as our ground at the time lol. Anyway, we should bring 600-750 fans for what is a fairly long poke from Exeter.
As a club we have punched above our weight and this is our 4th season in league one under the wily Gary Caldwell. We have almost certainly the lowest player budget in the league but are one of very few clubs that don't lose money due to being owned by our 5,000 supporter members. No sugar daddy but a sustainable community owned club.
As for the game who knows as we already have a number of injuries with our Captain as well as our leading scorer missing. However expect a scrap for the points. All the best Donny fans
I see that GC has brought a guy called Mike Holden in an attempt to change the way the club approaches things behind the scenes. He’s an interesting guy.
I’ve also heard rumblings that a data group are potentially looking at taking over. Have you heard anything?
Was this questtion aimed at me as I certainly have never heard of Mike Holden or any data group
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I have to have 2 stents done at Sheffield so looks like I’ll miss Saturday
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I have to have 2 stents done at Sheffield so looks like I’ll miss Saturday
Hope all goes ok, your health’s more important, only just! :rolleyes:
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Best wishes filo will shout extra for you
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All the best Filo. Friend of mine had a heart attack recently . He had to have 2 stents fitted and goes back to Sheffield for another 2 stents on the other side in a couple of weeks. He's looking and feeling really well. Hope you feel the same Filo.
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I have to have 2 stents done at Sheffield so looks like I’ll miss Saturday
Watching rovers ain't good for the heart rate it's best missed!
In all seriousness, hope it goes well, good wishes.
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Phil Stent? Played for Mansfield didn't he?
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Once again thanks everyone, still stuck n here I’m afraid
I have to have 2 stents done at Sheffield so looks like I’ll miss Saturday
We would wish you all the luck in the world with your personal match, and hope Rovers deliver a good tonic for the future. If you think life may go downhill from here just watch a couple of Mortimer and Whitehouse gone fishing, two lads who have both had serious heart problems but thoroughly enjoy life! If you want a shot at it yourself just give me a PM and I will see what we can do for you to have a go.
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People are having stents fitted nowadays and going on to live very long and normal lives.
You'll be OK, Filo.
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I had a stent fitted a few years back, I’ve always treated it like a puncture repair.
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Get well soon, Filo, my post was meant to be encouraging.
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All the best for your recovery Filo. Hope three points will help too.
So, McCann says the team is picked and they've been working on things all week.
McCann then seemed to correct himself when asked about the fitness of Jay McGrath....He's good, he's fine. Hasn't done enough to be around the team on....When I say enough, has he had enough training sessions to be around the team? You'll have to wait and see. He's in an excellent place....
Was that a yes or a no?
No further outgoings or incoming.so we're ready to go with what we have.
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All the best for your recovery Filo. Hope three points will help too.
So, McCann says the team is picked and they've been working on things all week.
McCann then seemed to correct himself when asked about the fitness of Jay McGrath....He's good, he's fine. Hasn't done enough to be around the team on....When I say enough, has he had enough training sessions to be around the team? You'll have to wait and see. He's in an excellent place....
Was that a yes or a no?
No further outgoings or incoming.so we're ready to go with what we have.
I thought he said " has he done enough to be around the team?"
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All the best for your recovery Filo. Hope three points will help too.
So, McCann says the team is picked and they've been working on things all week.
McCann then seemed to correct himself when asked about the fitness of Jay McGrath....He's good, he's fine. Hasn't done enough to be around the team on....When I say enough, has he had enough training sessions to be around the team? You'll have to wait and see. He's in an excellent place....
Was that a yes or a no?
No further outgoings or incoming.so we're ready to go with what we have.
I thought he said " has he done enough to be around the team?"
Listening again, maybe I misheard but I just thought it was strange to ask that question to himself. He could have just stopped when he said He's good, he's fine.
Either way, we should have enough to be strong at the back even if he's on the bench.
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Grants not going to say he would be in the team
For me I would be surprised if Jay starts as he missed a lot of preseason. But that’s down to Grant and he wouldn’t say his team now anyway but it will be close. We have 4 good centre halves 2 will start and 3rd on the bench and one will be in the stand. Will Grant then name a sub fullback and one central midfielder sub plus three subs for the front players we will see.
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I believe opening day fixtures are on Sky Sports + regardless of the 3pm blackout, can anyone confirm this please, stlll wired up on CCU, so if this is true it will be a godsend for me, got my ipad on standby
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I believe opening day fixtures are on Sky Sports + regardless of the 3pm blackout, can anyone confirm this please, stlll wired up on CCU, so if this is true it will be a godsend for me, got my ipad on standby
Hi Filo, just looked on sky sports site and it does state that our match is on sky sports+
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I believe opening day fixtures are on Sky Sports + regardless of the 3pm blackout, can anyone confirm this please, stlll wired up on CCU, so if this is true it will be a godsend for me, got my ipad on standby
Hi Filo, just looked on sky sports site and it does state that our match is on sky+
Nice one, in fact hospital radio came round today and I suggested they should have match commentary on Rovers games as standard
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I believe opening day fixtures are on Sky Sports + regardless of the 3pm blackout, can anyone confirm this please, stlll wired up on CCU, so if this is true it will be a godsend for me, got my ipad on standby
Hi Filo, just looked on sky sports site and it does state that our match is on sky+
Nice one, in fact hospital radio came round today and I suggested they should have match commentary on Rovers games as standard
You're good to go, buddy. Enjoy the game, and we'll give them a cheer for you.
You won't be long before you're back with us.
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You could ask for audio commentaries built in with your stents Filo .Best wishes fellow Rover .
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Team announcement this season will be 15 mins earlier than previous FYI. So tomorrow will be 1:45.
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I believe opening day fixtures are on Sky Sports + regardless of the 3pm blackout, can anyone confirm this please, stlll wired up on CCU, so if this is true it will be a godsend for me, got my ipad on standby
This is correct. First and last games of the league season are excluded from the 3pm Saturday blackout.
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Speedy recovery Filo
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Just looking at some past stats of us and Exeter games and was surprised to see that prior to playing Exeter in 2017 and 2016, I can't see any games between us between 2004 and 2016. 12 years without playing Exeter City during that period, that can't be right surely!!
Only played them 2 times in the league in 27 years. That was our Lg2 promotion campaign of 2016/17. We won 3-1 at their place, when Mandeville came on and changed the game at 1-0 down. They won 3-1 at our place to clinch a play off place while we threw away the title.Ollie Watkins played in both games.
We met in the FA Cup in 2004 we lost, and they drew out Man U in the next round. But prior to that it was 1998 our last league meeting. In the 70’s 80’s and 90’s we played many many times.
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Thanks for the info RIS, I well remember the 2004 cup game with Exeter drawing Man U after beating us. It just seems unimaginable both sides only playing 2 league games against each other in 27 years. Exeter, like us, always seemed to be around when we were in leagues 3 and 4. Astonishing!
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Well a good three points start to the season in what was a quite an entertaining game well deserved in the end with a bit of lick for a change on our side.
To start with we very much looked a project at the start of a journey and far from the finished article, very lucky not to be two down early in the game, but dominated large parts of play.
Neither team looked very threatening in a constructive way apart from when Middleton was on the ball out wide left in the first half, and as said before Exeter missed a golden chance when Pearson was left for dead with pace and Exeter contrived to fluff a golden opportunity from six yards, and when Pearson when getting to a free kick and volleyed the ball against our own cross
bar with the goalkeeper stranded.
In the second half we caught the missed chances problem Ajayi being denied from close range by a fabulous block and unlucky touches and crosses into the box were cleared , Le Tutala made a great one on one save When Exeter went straight down the middle, and we ended close to the end of the game getting a hotly disputed penalty Molly dispatched to win the game.
Some good play interspersed with bits of untidy play with both keepers especially Lo Tutala not pressured to say the play was quite open, both teams will look to be sharper around the box when attacking, Wareham the Exeter keeper not exactly overworked in the saves department even with our possession stats.
The result however in front of a decent crowd, a good game to watch, and new players to bed in and an interest to us supporters, ORiordan especially looking composed and on his game showing a lot of promise with the promise of more to come from Middleton sent at least me home happy with three points banked in the coffers.
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Excellent 3 points in a game we controlled from virtually start to finish. We'll done lads.
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The result starts our momentum again off the back of our finish to last season and gives thge players and staff a little confidence for the battle in a better standard league.
Both sides yesterday are two that will not be fancied to trouble the bigger clubs in the division that the bookies odds make the favourites to be up at the top of the division come next May.
But the standard of play and the competitiveness of the game was way higher than most of the games we watched last season, Exeter more structured and with players individually much more adept at springing forward likely to hurt you on the break.
In most cases being a youngish side if they regularly match the standard, players like Broadbent could become even better than they are now and take the club forward with them.
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Agree with all that and next up, a sterner but hopefully manageable test at Mansfield before we start taking on more fancied clubs. A run of games that will probably test everything we have.
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One thing no one has mentioned, at least I don't think they have, when Bailey went to full back. How often he appeared in the centre of their box when we attacked. It looked like Gotts, who I thought had an excellent game, dropped in when that happened, I couldn't believe how far forward Bailey was getting
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Bailey looked dead on his feet towards the end. Made a few sloppy passes and let their lad get in for the save TLT made at his feet. He gets through a lot of work but could have cost us there.
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One thing no one has mentioned, at least I don't think they have, when Bailey went to full back. How often he appeared in the centre of their box when we attacked. It looked like Gotts, who I thought had an excellent game, dropped in when that happened, I couldn't believe how far forward Bailey was getting
I noticed that raven and commented on it to my mate at the game.