Jourdan

3 hours ago, DCFC Kicks said:

What does that even mean? It just sound like meaningless corporate waffle. 

When was the last time all three relegated Championship teams weren't challenging for promotion the following season?

Meaningless corporate waffle? Sure, yes, I report back to Stephen Pearce every evening. 

The point being discussed was that we are only where we are because the league is poor. If that was true, why aren’t Bolton, Barnsley and Peterborough taking advantage and running away with the league?

What makes a league strong or weak, much like what makes a football team good to watch, is purely subjective.

It was 2014-15 the last time none of the relegated teams competed for promotion or play-offs. What is the relevance?

This season, only Blackpool have an outside chance of promotion through the play offs. Maybe I am looking at it the wrong way but that just lines up with the thinking that this is not a straightforward league to get out of.

There are countless other examples of relegated teams (Bolton, Ipswich, Wednesday, Charlton, Sunderland) who have not adjusted to League 1 so easily and there are teams that have taken years to rebuild and get out of the league. Some are still stuck here.

But yes, please continue downplaying the quality and competition levels in the league if you must. It won’t stop the champagne flowing when we go up.

FYI for anyone in and around Exeter today and tomorrow:

Good pubs

Ship Inn, Turk’s Head, White Hart, Old Firehouse, Mill on the Exe, Prospect Inn on the Quay

Good cafes

Exploding Bakery, Zuki’s, Tiny Tasting Room, Chococo, Grow Coffee House, Eat on the Green

Good fast food

Hubbox for burgers, Red Panda for Asian food, Hook for fish and chips, Eat the Bird for fried chicken

Good restaurants

The Ivy

Already spotted a few Rams in Exeter by the train station!

Looking forward to tomorrow! Wishing everyone a safe journey.

@S75 Ram and @Foreveram, any advice needed, just let me know!

3 minutes ago, DRBee said:

No-one wants to give Warne credit - just garbage. Like the vast majority I was well pleased with the post -Stevenage improvement. But by focussing on points scored you can skate over the fact that the original  faults have been evident in quite a few games we have won and have not gone away. Faults like our excess caution , the predictability that comes from the repeated playing down the wings and limitations of playing one up front most of the time remain and are down to the manager. Not sure if you go to games but it’s depressing to travel a long way to the match only for us limply to concede an equaliser in the closing minutes, which has happened quite a few times recently. I think our squad is good but Our defence has a good record but these late goals are often conceded after substitutions supposed to enable us to see out the game.

Only garbage, in your opinion. We win games and people still want to drag Warne and the players over the coals.

Are you still not pleased? We’ve gone from being 15 points off top to now potentially as little as three points if we win our game in hand. 

Which team at League 1 level will be without its faults or weaknesses? None. The key is finding a way to ensure your weaknesses are not regularly taken advantage of.

We have lost two in 17, compared with five in 14 earlier in the season. We have won 12, compared with just 6 in that same earlier spell. So clearly while we are not perfect, we are doing something right in that regard.

I go to as many games as I can. I watch as many games as I can. I’ll be there on Tuesday, for instance. I don’t feel depressed by the prospect. We might play badly and win. We might play well and lose. We might play badly and lose. We might play well and win. I couldn’t call it. It comes with the territory of supporting a team currently in League 1 and their typical limitations.

You say it’s depressing. Would you be happier being in Peterborough’s position, losing their grip on their place in the automatic promotion race? Playing better football but losing 5-2 to struggling Wycombe?

54 minutes ago, Andicis said:

It's relevant when appraising the team and the manager. I sincerely do not believe we've gotten better since last season, I just think the competition is worse. As a result, I find that concerning because on that basis we haven't made progress. Which leads me then to question why that is. 

The eye test shows we've been poor. We can all look at the league table and stick our fingers in our ears and pretend that everything is brilliant, but it isn't is it? The football we play is largely rancid, and only by the virtue of being less shocking then these other crap teams we come up against, we pick up points. 

It's not about being especially good to get promoted against better teams, it's that I want long term success for this club. In the short term, we may well get promoted. I have a horrible feeling about what will happen if we do though. I don't think we're close to good enough to playing in the league above. I want long term, sustainable success for the club. And yes it has to start somewhere, but I actually don't think we're going in the right direction for that. It's a genuine concern.

A lot of this is unfounded though. You may have a horrible feeling about going up this season, but what actually happens when we do could be drastically different.

There is no real rhyme or reason to what makes a club more likely to succeed in the Championship upon promotion, let’s be honest. Three teams go up and have the summer to lay the best possible groundwork. Some teams fight relegation, some teams stabilise and then some teams somehow find themselves battling for promotion. There are very rarely tell tale signs from the season before.

Why is it Ipswich are in the promotion places this season - why have they adapted so much better than Wednesday and Plymouth who were separated by five points the previous year?

Why is it Sunderland went from scraping their way up in the play-offs in League 1 in 2022 to finishing in the Championship top six in 2023?

Why is it Luton and Coventry were able to stabilise themselves in the Championship and then challenge for promotion (and in Luton’s case actually get promoted) where other clubs didn’t?

We all want long-term success for the club but it starts with short term success and taking an opportunity and not looking back. There is no perfect timing. We could sack Warne tomorrow, appoint a different manager, spend two years building the team in the fans’ vision and still go straight back down.

We’ll never get anywhere if we are paralysed by the fear of what might be ahead. If we go up this season, we have to grab the opportunity with both hands and see where it takes us.

Exeter 1-2 Derby

Collins

@Andicis it’s not just you, but you are the most recent culprit. 

I don’t get this constant need to discredit the league and the teams within in it. It’s league football and each league every season is tough in its own way. A new season brings change, new opportunities, new variables and also new challenges.

You take it for what it is, surely? 46 games. 3 points for a win. You don’t get an extra special trophy for getting promoted one year over the other, do you?

Shall we forget the open top bus parade, the medals, and the ticker tape because we are playing Blackpool, Reading, Northampton and Orient rather than Ipswich, Wednesday, Morecambe and Forest Green?

Or shall we bow out of the promotion race altogether and wait to test ourselves against the might of QPR, Rotherham, Wednesday and Stockport? 

Eye test this, eye test that. The eye test will show some good and some bad, of course it will. We are currently League 1 level and everything points to that. Ultimately we are a work in progress. You may want to ignore it, you may want to qualify it, but there is progress nevertheless.

Look at this season itself. We’ve gone from getting 21 points from 14 games earlier in the season and looking barely like a top half team, compared to 39 points from 17 games most recently and now being amongst the main contenders for promotion.

Everyone wants to focus on the fact we are not Man City Lite. Everyone wants us to be more like Peterborough and Oxford (who are stuttering and seemingly slipping out of contention might I add).

No-one wants to give Warne and the players credit for finding the belief, character, and consistency to turn the season around and no-one wants to give Warne and the players any credit for showing even more character and toughness to dig in and continue getting results to keep us in the hunt while those much-fabled footballing sides begin to fade.

Yesterday could still be a very important point.

Judging by the reaction to this result, I think I’ll be all alone in the away end on Tuesday.

It’s disappointing to drop two points, but as we have seen that’s the norm for sides in our position. Why some people think we should be above it is beyond me.

Some people just fail to take any kind of perspective from the game. Look at the outpouring of anger after a draw. Can you imagine the reaction if we were getting hammered at home by Orient like Pompey were a few short weeks ago? Or getting whipped by Wycombe and conceding five like Peterborough today? I dread to think what it would be like if that was us.

Every game is a potential trip hazard at this stage and teams will do their very best to disrupt us which it sounds like Shrewsbury did very well, similar to Cheltenham before them.

Every team in the run in will look to do the same. Exeter on Tuesday will look to do a job on us too and it will be another tricky game to negotiate. We will do well to win.

Every team in the mix will have games where they contrive to take a poor result from a winnable game. This time it was us. We have 15 games to play and there will be highs and lows, twists and turns, good performances and bad, good results and bad, but we have to stick by the team.

19 minutes ago, sage said:

The train is 21. 51 so very much hoping to get it, was just wondering if they force away fans in an opposite direction as what happens at some grounds like Blackpool. We are staying 3/4 mile south of St Thomas so certainly not walking ground to digs.

I am sure it will be fine as @bimmerman alluded to about the mingling and mixing. If it was Plymouth at home, different story.

If you miss the train, I would walk back into the centre and book a taxi personally.

Failing that, look into buses. The bus station is a short walk from the stadium, just off Sidwell St near the leisure centre. There are buses that go towards Alphington, Exwick and St. Thomas well past 10pm.

1 hour ago, OUTSIDER said:

Looking for help aswell ... but a lift back to Bristol after the game, fly into Bristol Tuesday morning and back out Wednesday morning. Catch train down after hotel sorted at airport... 

Pm me if any one can help out 

Look into the Falcon run by Stagecoach and Megabus.

It’s a bus that runs between Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Bristol Airport.

They have buses all through the night. It might be a good idea if trains are cancelled / missed.

42 minutes ago, sage said:

Anyone know what it's like after the game? We want to get the train from Exeter St James ro Exeter St Thomas and haven't got tonnes of time to spare

The trouble you have is that the trains from St. James’ Park are very irregular in the evenings (20:20; 21:50, 22:50) so it all depends on how much additional time there is during the game and bear in mind, the trains will be busier than usual and normally on the branch lines, there are fewer carriages.

If you want to get to St. Thomas and you miss that 21:50 train it might be a good idea to get a taxi. Apple Taxis is the local firm.

You can also walk back into the city centre and you can get to the St. Thomas area by walking down Fore St (it starts at the end of High St at the junction with North St to the right and South St to the left) and when you reach the roundabout by the river take the road that runs to the right of the retail park with M&S and Next. However this would be a last resort.

27 minutes ago, Lurker said:

Thank you! Looks like we’ll be ok then. Looking forward to bouncing!

It’s unreserved so you can stand where you want.

However I would suggest if you want the best view, get to the ground a little earlier before it fills up and people get into position.

We got to the ground with very little time to spare last time and we were stood towards one end near the touchline and it does affect your view of other parts of the pitch.

We had to move at half time, but luckily we got a great view of McGoldrick’s double in the second half. So all in all it was a very enjoyable experience.

Derby 1-0 Shrewsbury

Blackett Taylor

On 04/02/2024 at 11:31, SK47 said:

Is this a sell out? I live in Cornwall and I'm trying to get myself and my 6 year old lad a ticket for the game but can't seem to buy a ticket off the site but it doesn't say its sold out?

Anyone have an Infortmation or know if any tickets anywhere, please let me know 🙂

COYR

 

🐏🐏

Any luck getting tickets, mate?

See you next Tuesday, folks. 🐏

2 hours ago, Bob The Badger said:

What was the allocation?

1361 or thereabouts.

3 hours ago, Ellafella said:

I bet you’ll be fine. I know a few fans who can’t go as usual because of the distance. We had a great time there last season so enjoy. 

We were fine last year for tickets to both Plymouth and Exeter away.

But now we’ve just won away again, we’re second, and the race is on, people may be more inclined to go and get a glimpse of our Gambian superstar.

2 hours ago, Bob The Badger said:

Hey @Jourdan and @SK47, I'm looking to go with the missus too. Only an hour or so from St Austell.

I work in Exeter but live between Bodmin and Launceston.

So if you need any tips on where to eat and drink on the day, give us a shout.

I am going with my fiancée. You’ll probably be racing her down the A30.

Tickets are on sale to season ticket holders at the moment. No updates about selling out on the club’s social media channels.

If any tickets are left, they go on general sale tomorrow at 10am. I suspect if any are available, it will be standing tickets.

I am another Cornwall based Ram with an anxious wait.

Fingers crossed for both of us. 🐏

2 hours ago, Van der MoodHoover said:

If you're in bath that's low-rent mate.

If there's a more pretentious place in Britain I haven't found it yet. 

Well, possibly tetbury.....

It’s a gorgeous place, but absolutely it’s not a place for every budget.

The hot chocolate was delicious and we won, so all’s well. 😁

This always looked like a massive trip hazard, so to grind out a win and keep a clean sheet should be a huge boost to Warne and the lads, especially given the results around us.

The line up looked questionable, so credit to Warne after a job well done. It was also great to see some of Warne’s signings being involved in a crucial win after the recruitment came under fire. Hopefully there’s more to come from Bradley, Ward, Adams and Vickers.

I was buzzing until my father-in-law took the celebratory drinks too far, ordered a £30 glass of whiskey, and didn’t flinch as I paid the bill. 😆

Have we scored yet?

I want to order a celebratory £6 hot chocolate.

Greetings from a wet but wonderful Bath.

Almost choked on my £6 single origin Peruvian blend hot chocolate when I saw the line up.

I wonder what the thinking is.

2 minutes ago, DRBee said:

Don't believe Clowes will be micromanaging  the building of the team as your post suggests.

Its not a case of players not working out but that the strategy doesn't meet the main needs. There is a clear need for another striker. having o nly one regularly fit competent striker takes us back to the problems we had when under EFL sanction, when we are /should be in a much better position to acquire new players now. Admittedly Collins is doing well but we need cover if we are undertaking a promotion push. We had the same striker issue last summer  and have learnt nowt from that.

I don’t mean in the sense of Clowes has said ‘we must sign X, Y, Z.’

I mean it in the sense of the financial support Clowes has provided. I think he has wanted to back the manager and give him as reasonable a budget as possible.

Obviously the strategy is dependent on the business plan. Let’s see how things pan out in the summer where hopefully we’ll have more financial freedom.

Wildsmith

Nyambe - Nelson - Cashin - Elder

Adams - Bird - Thompson

NML - Collins - CBT