let's talk about the easter programme against Mansfield and Exeter

[BillyStubbsTears]

I still have nightmares about that season. Seven games to play with four of them at home and we get one point from a 0-0 draw away at Millwall.
What were the odds of that happening?

It was at least in part because we stupidly kept aiming for wins to get up to the fabled 50 point mark (Dickov spoke about it regularly) when it was very likely a month or more out that 50 points was going to be way more than needed.

So we chased games rather than securing draws. Including the starting a patently unfit Wellens against Bolton and bringing on a still unfit Wellens for the solidity Furman gave us in the last home match of the season against Reading when we were drawing - a point that would have saved us.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Your wish is given...

Back 3 according to Charlesworth.

Mols and Middleton wing backs and Gotts, Bailey, Clifton and Close in midfield. Not sure how that works.

If it's a back three, that's a massive gamble. I'd have thought more likely Bailey at right back in a 4?

[GazLaz]

Your wish is given...

Back 3 according to Charlesworth.

Mols and Middleton wing backs and Gotts, Bailey, Clifton and Close in midfield. Not sure how that works.

If it's a back three, that's a massive gamble. I'd have thought more likely Bailey at right back in a 4?

Possible. Even then Close, Gotts and Clifton looks a horrible midfield 3. Hate the XI personally.

[Metalmicky]

The lovely flat and green pitch doesn't seem to be assisting our football...

[donnyguy]

Always rely on McCanns tactics

[LincsRover]

Losing two central defenders in the first half probably not helping us!! 

[selby]

  Beginning to think Hanlon is their best defender, certainly Cloughs old saying " he can't trap a bag of cement" has some meaning.

[In the box]

Always rely on McCanns tactics

What?!! ., we loose two centre backs and the only one we have left Mcgrath is still sat on the bench and he then pulls our top scorer Bailey out of the attack and puts him in the back four . Explain !!

[Goole Rover]

And he didn’t do very well defence.

[LincolnDonny]

Bloody embarrassing

[normal rules]

Prior to today Exeter haven’t won in 15 games

[i_ateallthepies]

All runs come to an end   

[eastender]

Prior to today Exeter haven’t won in 15 games

And we all know how that plays out , send in the DRFC Charity Road Show.

[In the box]

And he didn’t do very well defence.

We’ve only just over the line with the 50 points .. the players are spent and out of any ideas on how to win a match . McGrath Maxwell both absent and who  were ever present last season .. so why’s this happened to them , is it too may poor loan signings and not enough attention given to goal scoring . McCann is either not good enough at this L1 level or he’s hampered by financial backing allowing him to bring in key players ie a STRIKER!!!

[steve@dcfd]

Today we were awful not one player was good enough. Yet we had most possession most shots on target yet our players can't score. Make defensive mistakes and we get beat. It will be about what other teams do because we are really poor. Molyneux been poor for weeks Middleton nothing and poor Lee underwhelming Hanlan not a goal scorer or striker. Midfield players to slow going forwards or defensively.

[jmt23]

Grant only plays with certain type strikers as his ideal, typically, Jatta, Sheriff types, strong hold the ball up and are decent if a chance comes, he mainly relies on wide players cutting in and scoring. That hasn’t happened this season at all, and puts huge pressure on a team designed to play in this way.
When people are digging out Hanlan ( he has been poor for two games, granted)  they should really question Molly, Gibbo & Middleton. This triplet have been average to poor, given how/ what Grant wants.

[colfromdonny]

We were attacking and looking good, making chances so Mccann changes it with 3 subs wtf

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Weirdly I thought we largely played ok today, but it reminded me of earlier this season when we had the bad run, that worries me. Generally quite decent but not clinical enough and it felt they scored every attack, that's worrying.  We certainly created enough, but we're so soft. Granted massively not helped by the two CBS going off, we are clearly weaker without them, we lacked height.

[GazLaz]

Just seen the highlights. Looks like he put Bailey at centre half and he cost us two goals with really bad mistakes. That’s not lack of running or fight is it.

Looks like we created a lot and had plenty of efforts at goal.

Sounded like the worst performance of all time from the interviews. Not sure it was.

[BillyStubbsTears]

They had scored 9 and conceded 28 in the previous 14 games before today. We were unbelievably open against them in a game it was very important first and foremost  not to lose. And we'vemanahed to force one good save from a rookie keeper, playing behind a defender making his full.keague debut, having managed a grand total of 2 Tier 6 starts in the past 16 months.

I struggle to see how that tots up to anything but the worst performance of the season.

[Scooter]

Wycombe away was the worst performance of the season

[Usher wide.]

Hanlan will come good, he just needs the minutes.

[Fal]

Just seen the highlights. Looks like he put Bailey at centre half and he cost us two goals with really bad mistakes. That’s not lack of running or fight is it.

Looks like we created a lot and had plenty of efforts at goal.

Sounded like the worst performance of all time from the interviews. Not sure it was.

It wasn't the worst performance, it was just the tactical decision making in that game was just simply baffling. When Pearson went off i would've brought McGrath on and then change it to a back 4 with Bailey/McGrath CB Sterry/Senior full backs. I just couldn't understand why you would stay with back 3 of Sterry, Bailey and Senior and i just knew a goal was coming.

Then continuing with it after half time i didn't understand, conceding straight after McGrath came on was just unfortunate due to Baileys mistakes. For me the blame in that particular game goes on grant.

[Avsuptem]

My simplistic analysis if the game is that the 2 teams were evenly matched but their goal scoring chances led to goals but ours did not. What does that tell us?

[GazLaz]

Thinking Sterry can play in a back three is disrespecting defending. It’s one of the most specialist role in football playing wide centre half in a 3. If the coaching team don’t understand that it’s worrying.

[Ian Nimmo]

Thinking Sterry can play in a back three is disrespecting defending. It’s one of the most specialist role in football playing wide centre half in a 3. If the coaching team don’t understand that it’s worrying.

I couldn’t agree more, senior is capable but definitely not sterry.
For me Jamie has struggled a little to be consistent particularly since his injuries.

[Chris Black come back]

Wycombe away was the worst performance of the season

Potentially Orient away I think.

[i_ateallthepies]

Wycombe away was the worst performance of the season

Potentially Orient away I think.

There have been too many contenders for that crown, unfortunately.  And the season isn't done yet.