Thoughts

[Chris Black come back]

I suspect there will be a minority of games where we will have that much possession. There are a lot of strong sides in League One and we are going to be playing on the break a lot more than we were able last season, where we were one of the strongest sides and sides just sat, and we struggled. Hardly any games this season will see us with as much possession as we had today I would imagine.

[StocksArmy]

Most comfortable I have ever felt in a competitive game. Whether that’s because Exeter were poor or I just felt we were really controlled I’m not sure. Thought we were patient and didn’t play with any real panic even when the game went into the later stages. In my opinion a travesty that a penalty decided it and gave their bench an excuse to argue about the spot kick as we gave enough to run out comfortable winners. Taking Middleton and Hanlan off was bizarre but hey ho that’s why we have a squad I suppose.

[colincramb]

Thought we looked totally in control but had a feeling we might get done by a set piece or break away. Ajayi looked very lively and had some lovely touches. Broadbent controlled midfield. Think we will be hard to take points from this season. Encouraging start overall

[GazLaz]

Our centre chances completed 192 passes between them. That won’t happen again this season pretty sure.

[BillyStubbsTears]

It felt like every match up to February last season when we played a team around 8th-15th.

They said to us "We will let you have all the possession because we don't think you're very good at breaking sides down who do that."

We huffed and puffed and had a few bits of quality, but we got lucky. That's great. I'll take that.

I've long been thinking McCann has built a style for dealing with hitting teams fast on the break when we don't have much possession. Be interesting to see us play one of those games.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I suspect there will be a minority of games where we will have that much possession. There are a lot of strong sides in League One and we are going to be playing on the break a lot more than we were able last season, where we were one of the strongest sides and sides just sat, and we struggled. Hardly any games this season will see us with as much possession as we had today I would imagine.

Sorry, just seen this post. Agree 100%

[Exeter Red]

We were the better side in a game where no team was yet fully up to speed. Exeter's tactics were ... baffling. Completely sat off us and let us play but didn't really offer anything on the counter-attack.

Positives - Middleton (excellent crosses and workrate), Broadbent - (controlled the game from deep), the defense - generally solid, if play is infront of them, we'll have few problems. They got a bit flustered on the two occasions their players got in behind, but its something we can manage.

Open questions. If Middleton keeps banging in crosses like that, who gets on the end of them? Hanlan? He'll have to prove himself because today he didn't really offer that much. The other question is what does our ideal midfield look like? Still not sure McCann knows himself. We always look better when Bailey and Broadbent are not alongside each other and who sits behind the striker? Gotts, Sbarra, Clifton, Ajayi?

Just some context from a visiting fan there today. It looks like the manager had to change the game plan today as we were without 8 of our players. Four would likely have started and 4 would have been on the bench. We had to put 3 Academy kids on the bench. Two that came on had never even played a minute prior to today. To say we were down to bare bones would be an understatement. Yet for the majority of the game the plan of letting you have the ball worked as apart from the one shot at the end you never made our keeper work once. The only shot on goal was the pen. I would say this but according to the new rules any penalties awarded seemingly have to be seen as deliberate. It most certainly wasn't deliberate

[GazLaz]

It felt like every match up to February last season when we played a team around 8th-15th.

They said to us "We will let you have all the possession because we don't think you're very good at breaking sides down who do that."

We huffed and puffed and had a few bits of quality, but we got lucky. That's great. I'll take that.

I've long been thinking McCann has built a style for dealing with hitting teams fast on the break when we don't have much possession. Be interesting to see us play one of those games.

I think the team is certainly more suited to playing without the ball. Maybe that’s the evolution that comes this season and we become less vulnerable to being countered when we have possession and also create more chances and control games better when when we have a lot of the ball.

[Spud]

It felt like every match up to February last season when we played a team around 8th-15th.

They said to us "We will let you have all the possession because we don't think you're very good at breaking sides down who do that."

We huffed and puffed and had a few bits of quality, but we got lucky. That's great. I'll take that.

I've long been thinking McCann has built a style for dealing with hitting teams fast on the break when we don't have much possession. Be interesting to see us play one of those games.

I said the same, had a feel of a pre Rob Street game last season. I think we'll do OK, but if we can add that final price again we could be in for another belter of a season.

[Copps is Magic]

I'd be very surprised if any team comes to our ground and plays like Exeter did. I am still a bit baffled by Caldwell's tactics (wasn't he in line for the Rovers job at one point?). They sat so deep and refused any sort of press.

Weren't they previously known as a footballing team when that bald guy with the cravat was in charge?

[BillyStubbsTears]

I'd be very surprised if any team comes to our ground and plays like Exeter did. I am still a bit baffled by Caldwell's tactics (wasn't he in line for the Rovers job at one point?). They sat so deep and refused any sort of press.

Weren't they previously known as a footballing team when that bald guy with the cravat was in charge?

I've a slight disagreement on that.

Yes they didn't press our defenders when they had the ball. But they pressed hard, fast and in numbers when we played the ball out to the wingers. That's what mostly nullified us and it's a tactic we saw work against us time and again for the first 2/3rds of last season.

Ajayi made a huge difference, because until he came on, we had no Plan B to take them on through the centre when the blocked the wings.

[drfchound]

Well at least we have beaten a top half team.
When I looked at the league table yesterday morning Exeter were in 8th place.
 

[NickDRFC]

Well at least we have beaten a top half team.
When I looked at the league table yesterday morning Exeter were in 8th place.
 

Hahaha, enjoyed this! Little things like “that was the best I’ve seen us play all season” tickle me far more than it should.   

[Ian Nimmo]

I feel sorry for Joe missing out on that masterclass of wide play and crossing from Middleton, i'm sure he would have had a field day on that. Hanlon looks a different player and will need balls threaded through for him to run onto or lay off.

Nice steady start i thought, not too many drama's and with a bit more luck we could have had a couple more. The team is still getting to know each other and will improve with the matches, 3 points better than the 1 with plenty to build on, god start.

Would tend to agree but Ironside wasn't getting on the end of many crosses last season either. Both too static in the centre of the park, easy for centre half's to mark.

With the quality of Middletons crosses, someone, in addition to our centre forward, has to attack them. Ideally someone like Bailey who's a good header of the ball.

Has Molyneux got it in his contract he has to take all the free kicks? His quality on the ball today wasn't good until late on when he put in a couple of decent cut backs. Middleton deserves a fair shout at taking a few free kicks and corners.

Whilst the 3 points were great and just about deserved, we can be much better as up and till the last 15, I thought we were too ponderous and predictable. Billy and Ajayi made a positive difference.

To be fair the crosses from Middleton were far superior to crosses into the box last season.

A main issue yesterday was that when we got the ball to edge of the penalty area, we were passing too much and direct shots were not being taken from good shooting positions.

[rich1471]

Molyneux was lucky not to be subbed today. He was poor. Middleton better. We won't win more than we lose playing Clifton as the 10. Ajayi offered way more when he replaced him.

I can see Ironside departing. We'll likely sign a striker on loan

Would Ironside have got his head onto some of those crosses from Middleton I think he would thrive on the balls that were put in yesterday

[goalkick]

Was disappointed with Hanlon but early days, needs to put himself around more but most people see happy with him.we will see.

[ncRover]

Molyneux was lucky not to be subbed today. He was poor. Middleton better. We won't win more than we lose playing Clifton as the 10. Ajayi offered way more when he replaced him.

I can see Ironside departing. We'll likely sign a striker on loan

I hope that if there is a lack of firepower in the centre forward position that people don’t blame Ironside. He was under contract.

The opportunity to upgrade that position was in letting Sharp’s contract expire. Can’t do your business in the hope you can later sell someone.

[Upton Rover]

A win is a win, best team on the day won