BramcoteRam84

Don’t think you can criticise the subs made. Adams possibly but he’d been kicked from pillar to post and played majority of the game, Smith is just back from injury so need to be careful as Gayle also we need to treat carefully. You can definitely criticise started by line up, but only alternative would be sibs or Wilson at left back, Elder would no doubt have started if fit. I just thought Smiths interview after the game was telling the players sat back and played safe, the energy and physicality stopped in the second half as well as bravery on the ball. That’s on the players. But first half was a real opportunity to bury the game and team selection played a part in not doing so. It’s easy to blame Warne it’s more balanced to look at the collective. Im not calling people out for criticising Warne, if he gets us promoted this season or next that’s par performance no more than that, he should then be judged on what he can do in the championship band jury is out as to whether he’s the right man long term, just feel a lot of the criticism he gets isn’t balanced and not always fair

Not surprised to see all the “tactical geniuses” come out after a defeat. Criticism of Warne last night, possibly team selection with too many defensive players which meant not enough support for Gayle in first half when we were on top, but then the attacking players he brought on promptly disappeared (Barkhuizen) We played really well first 20 minutes but didn’t create enough, and overall played well first half and deserved to be leading in a game of few chances, the football first 20 in particular was good to watch. However second half we played safe and it cost us. Now some of you will be saying Warne tells the team to play that way and defend a 1-0 because it fits the narrative, that’s nonsense. You listen to Korey Smiths interview where he eluded to the players sitting back and being frustrated because they’ve spoken about it before and it’s cost them before. We weren’t ruthless we didn’t kill the game and opened the door to Charlton by gifting two goals with individual mistakes. We were in control. Yes Warne is probably due some criticism for how he set us up but the players lost that game last night and IMO they’re 70% to blame. Whether the pressure got to some of them who knows. Still second amazingly after back to back defeats (first time this season btw), 11 more cup finals and many more twists and turns. One positive, Gayle can be our Didzy when he’s up to speed. He was a class above.

Derby 2 Charlton 1 - Mendez-Laing FRGS

Blackpool are my biggest fear if we do end up in the playoffs. On their day they’re arguably the best team in the league. If they make the playoffs I think with the momentum they will have they’ll be a hard team to stop and think they could end up winning it.

If we’re not going to finish top 2 then who is? Bolton? The team who have just been smashed 4-1 and whose fans are probably in meltdown right now. Barnsley? Need to win their game in hand (against Bolton) just to be level with us, a team who not so long ago fans were also in meltdown wanting their manager out (sound familiar). The reason no one is running away with it (I think Pompey will be pulled back) is because all the teams at the top have flaws and are not quite good enough to dominate the league. Barnsley are back in the top 2 race now yet didn’t look any better than us, Bolton have been everyone’s pick and rightly because along with Pompey they’ve been the most active in the transfer market and spent the most money, yet they’re struggling right now. This will go to the wire and we have absolutely as much chance as the other teams. Big week ahead, Port Vale we absolutely should be banking on 3 points, anything else not good enough given they’re one of the poorest teams in the league right now. Charlton will be tough, they’ve taken points off Bolton and Pompey in the last two games, beating them will actually be a marker for our competitiveness. I think we can get top 2 but I don’t think we’re in the top 2 sides in this division. People can ignore this until they are blue in the face, the likes of Pompey Bolton and even Barnsley have had an advantage on us due to our restrictions. There’s a reason the average age of the squad is as old as it is. Yes we have a budget to be competitive and we are being competitive but that doesn’t mean top 2 should be a guarantee, and the playoffs as we all know are a lottery.

Thought warne hit the nail on the head with his post match comments. Gave away possession far too much and their pressing was very effective. We were well in the game and individual errors, switching off at set pieces cost us. There was hardly anything in the game, draw would have been a fair reflection of the game but fair play to Barnsley they got over the line. Too many players off it for us, some not helped by having to be played out of position (Mendez-Laing). Bird off it, Wilson really poor until he came alive last 20 mins when freed of his defensive duties, Adams is a brilliant destroyer in midfield but poor with the ball. Not having a striker has hurt us in these two games, seen enough of Gayle to think he’ll get goals, if Mendez clips that ball into Gayle coming in from the left instead of shooting Gayle scores, Mendez cut in at the end instead of using Wilson on overlap, poor decision. Two very winnable home games now, time for us fans to play our part again like we did against Stevenage. Still think we can get this done and over the line and enjoy a proper rebuild in the summer free of restrictions.

This, and there was nothing between the teams today. Draw wouldve been fair result

Except this has put them back in the race for top 2, it hasn’t ended our chances. This was must win for them today, it wasn’t must win for us. With the results, it’s actually no change for us with two very winnable home games this week. Think the next two games against rivals (Bolton and Pompey) will be more important than this one.

Looks highly likely they’re going to get a points deduction for FFP, and probably similar to Everton c.9-10 points, unfortunately though I think they’ll still survive. Reckon 33 will be enough which means Forest need 42-43 which is very possible from their current position. Luton starting to find it tough and Adebayo being out is a massive blow for them, Everton could get further points. So yes, the red dogs will cheat and get away with it.

Maybe we’ll start doing that now we’re no longer hampered by EFL restrictions which has stopped us doing this for the past couple of years.

Atmosphere was great today, South stand were on it all game and the other stands responded. Everyone was behind the lads despite the complete durge we were watching, constantly trying to lift them and drive them on, probably because despite the lack of cohesion in performance the commitment from the players was there for all to see. Everyone felt United for the first time in a while and I think that’s why Warne probably enjoyed so much, that and the full blooded commitment of the performance. Could be powerful in the run in. But the highlight was definitely the south standing singing to Steve Evans “have you ever seen your dick” 🤣🤣🤣🤣

He needs a shout out. He literally couldn’t stand up at the end of the game. He went to the well to get himself through that game. Literally put his body on the line for the cause as they all did. Great to see.

Full credit to everyone involved for grinding out that win what was always going to be a difficult game. Brilliant 3 points and the results went in our favour too!! It was always going to be an ugly scrap of a game which we stood up to well and limited them to few chances, but if not for Sibley’s 90th minute winner, this post could’ve been very different. I struggled all game to contain my anger and frustration and this started when drinking a doom bar in the harvester I saw the team news. Now the only caveat is, were the 13 players who played today the only ones fit enough to play a reasonable part in the game? That to me is the only possible justification for the team Warne picked today. Last time I was as disappointed at a team sheet was the 2019 play off final and the selection and tactics were akin to Nigel effectively playing a 4-6-0 at home to Leicester in the freezing cold in the middle of our horrific run in 2011. Back 3? Nyambe right wing back? More defensive players on the pitch than attacking ones. No wonder we couldn’t muster a single shot in the first half (or actually until the 76th minute wasn’t it?). The balance was all wrong from minute one. Half time came and went, no changes. Then the first sub, and it’s Smith! Another defensive minded player, although to be fair he got us passing more in midfield and it moved Wilson to wing back (where he should’ve started if we’re playing that system). Then Hallelujah an attacking sub, Sibs is coming on, but it’s like for like, we still have more defensive players than attacking players in the last 15 mins when we’re trying to win the game!! Barks had run himself into the ground, but Tommo could’ve also come on to improve the midfield balance. Then we manage to work a situation good play from Mendez and a great finish from Sibbo. Job done so suppose Warne got it right in the end, and 3 points is all that mattered. Thought the players did their best today with the tools they were given, Nyambe gave a sterling effort at right wing back, Bradley definitely MOTM, pleased for him but IMO shouldn’t have even started the game. If he wanted a back 3 then surely play Nyambe with Nelson and Cash, Wilson wing back and then either Sibley in a front 3 or Thommo in a midfield 3 with Mendez and Barks up top, would’ve given us more attacking balance and given us a more convincing performance and more comfortable victory against Stevenage who I thought were poor. Managers like players can have bad games and personally l thought Warne had a stinker today and got away with one. But I don’t care, 3 points is all that mattered and we’re in a fantastic position which is in my view also very much down to Warne, his understanding of the league and getting the most out of a squad which I still don’t really think is suited to his playing style, people bang on about the players he’s brought in he’s had 18 months etc, we’ve been dealing in freebies for the most part, hes been unable sign the young energetic talents the likes of which Posh have been signing. Well done to the lads today but as well as they did, I never want to see that same 11 on the pitch again unless it’s the last 5 mins trying to see out a game. The fans today were immense!!! Many times they could’ve turned but didn’t, we’ve got to do everything we can to help these boys over the line.

Let’s hope so 🤞

No and as Sage says we won’t know until 2pm tomorrow when the team is out and we won’t know how bad until Doms interview with Warne post match

And they would all fit in our wage structure and there are no fitness concerns over any of them? Didnt realise Forestieri was still playing, is he actually still playing. The other 3 wages or would they drop into league 1 would be the question. Wickham I think would be a reasonable target (willing to play in league 1 and affordable) but again the reason he’s playing at this level is because he has had a career that has been totally dominated by injury/fitness issues, which is the reason many are saying we shouldn’t have signed TJJ .

Derby 3 Stevenage 1 - Barkhuizen FRGS

Buoyed by the positive performance and result last night, think we’ll see largely the same team and we’ll have a positive result, and hopefully a good performance like last night although Stevenage will make this one ugly game of football

Exeter form team in the league recently beaten Barnsley and Posh. Not only beaten, but swept aside. This is a statement performance. How can you not get behind Warne and the team after this. Yes we need to follow up with a win against Stevenage but most of the people I was debating with on Sunday didn’t think we had that performance in us. We are right in this!! Some excellent performances, adams is an excellent signing, max was outstanding tonight, Mendez ruthless and Collo a war horse who got kicked from pillar to post but led the line brilliantly. CBT clearly not right yet and struggling with niggles but if the affect of having him means Barkhuizen performs like that then that’s a win also. That 45 from Barks was the best I’ve seen him play. Brilliant!! The doubters even need to give Warne the credit he deserves tonight.

Exeter 1 Derby 2 Mendez-Laing FRGS

Hopefully he wins the Euros and decides to stay on.

And he has us second in the league

The team isn’t good enough to do that consistently. Clearly. And it doesn’t look like anyone else can. It can for periods in games it managed to do so from Nov to early Jan but since turn of the year we’ve dipped and it’s a bit of a grind. A few injuries in there haven’t helped. Shrewsbury were hell bent on stopping us yesterday played with aggression and they did their jobs well. It’s the way it goes sometimes.

Because the manager plays the game for the players on the pitch doesn’t he?

As Warne predicted pre-match