Not faultless but a much better performance with Louie Watson excellent pulling the strings in the first half.
Appleton really worth listening to - not for the usual platitudes that managers trot out to keep the fans onside, but real insights into what he has demanded of the team and how they have responded (or not). He has certainly benefitted from having a larger pool of fit (enough) players to pick from that Dean Holden could ever seem to have available but his use of subs and general in-game management seems a step up from what we've been used to for quite a while.
Looking forward to Saturday. It'll be a tougher game than tonight's but we have a decent chance of building on the recent improved results.
there is definitely something there, starting to develop. we are making less defensive errors - not none - but are showing some calmness not to lose our heads. overall can't be too critical after a 4-1 home win
i really like louie watson, but very unsure about tennai watson - he looks shaky defensively and rarely ventures forward. with him and thomas at full back there is no forward impetus at all. appreciate the balance will be different when edun is back, horses for courses etc. but the RHS of T watson / tedic didn't really work IMO.
Similar to Wycombe a couple of weeks ago, I would have taken a point for a significant period of that game. No idea how we’ve won 4-1 but I’ll take the ugly wins. Still think this team has a long long way to go to challenge though.
L Watson man of the match.
It may have flattered us slightly, but given how many chances we had and how many times we poured forward, looking very threatening, surely you have some idea.
Absolutely absurd decision to let Aneke take that penalty when Blackett-Taylor had taken an unstoppable one at Stevenage a couple of weeks earlier and Alfie May had scored two.
If it was 4-1 fair enough but not at 1-1.
Someone deserves a real bollocking from Appleton for the decision.
I get you point but... nothing brings someone up and breeds confidence like a goal - he would have been understandably nervous about even starting a game yet he was straight putting his hand up- in my opinion it was worth the risk. Can't fault Appleton for that i'd have been pushing him forward as well
Really can't understand CBT getting anything below a 7 on the players marks thread. Watched the game with a Gooner and two other Charlton, and we all thought he played a blinder.
Absolutely absurd decision to let Aneke take that penalty when Blackett-Taylor had taken an unstoppable one at Stevenage a couple of weeks earlier and Alfie May had scored two.
If it was 4-1 fair enough but not at 1-1.
Someone deserves a real bollocking from Appleton for the decision.
Wasn't Aneke going to take the one at Stevenage until CBT took the ball off of him?
Is that our 4th penalty of the season already?
The number of penalties and the number of late goals we are scoring do tell us something is different.
If we can get a 60/40 split out of Leaburn and Aneke every week, a settled back 5 and the right midfield combination the rest will sort its self out.
I do wonder if the lack of minutes of Chem means that Appleton has decided that he is the attacking option he will sacrifice in January for a defender? He has hinted at as much.
Good all round performance. How good does it feel to go into the last ten minutes not feeling tense? Would have liked to see us go for a fifth rather than going for the pass it about game management option, but can't argue, a win is a win.
I really enjoyed that tonight and my daughter was buzzing she decided to come.
Thought May in the hole worked in okay in first half although it did clog up central area around there box at times. Second half the game stretched and he had loads more space and he looked exceptional there.
Louis Watson is a baller and I pray to god he stays fit alongside Dobson. They are superb together.
Atmosphere was better in the ground tonight as well.
After the first 23 minutes we totally dominated. As soon as we started playing to feet, Aneke had them on toast. If it hadn't been for another shocking defensive mistake we'd have been praising the first half performance as well as the 2nd. L Watson looks one hell of a player, difficult to see how Camara gets back in.
Very good all round home performance we had to stay calm as Exeter set up to let us have the ball but to hit us on the break , some of our football was really good as we tried to find the key to unlock the 10 man defence . Exeter scored which was out of the blue , but we did not panic got the deserved goal .. second we continued to dominate T Watson won the pen no complaints there , Aneke missed May scored .. then horrendous tackle on May could have broke his leg sending off … and we really took the game by the neck .. it was one of best home performances for a while
Tuesday night games against teams from the West Country seem to suit us. A great 4-1 win and a red card for them. Last year it was a great 5-1 win against Plymouth and a red card for them.
Similar to Wycombe a couple of weeks ago, I would have taken a point for a significant period of that game. No idea how we’ve won 4-1 but I’ll take the ugly wins. Still think this team has a long long way to go to challenge though.
L Watson man of the match.
It may have flattered us slightly, but given how many chances we had and how many times we poured forward, looking very threatening, surely you have some idea.
Prior to the penalty and red card Exeter were marginally better than us and could easily have been 2 up in the first half. We did what we needed to do in the circumstances so I’ll take it
Great to be under the lights at The Valley - I thought Exeter moved the ball quite well first half, certainly quicker and slicker than we did - their goal was a defensive calamity by us - but 2nd half (clearly a massive kick up the backside by Apples at h/t) we were very good - May’s follow up for the penalty is the type of striker’s goal we have been crying out for, for a long time - Leaburn goal, wow, composure to get it under control and laser it into the goal - May’s finish for his second, into the roof of the net, was the best of the lot
BUT most important thing of all is that we are getting better, getting points, and (their goal tonight aside) I think the defence is improving
Tuesday night games against teams from the West Country seem to suit us. A great 4-1 win and a red card for them. Last year it was a great 5-1 win against Plymouth and a red card for them.
We're just let down by Saturdays.
…and playing against teams from the other 95% of the country!
Sounds like you are all starting to warm to Mapp a bit, which can only be a good thing at this stage.
Tell me, how bad were Exeter? Their great start to the season is rapidly falling apart after that 9-0 home defeat to Reading in the Mickey Mouse Trophy.
Our game at Orient was abandoned due to a medical emergency in the crowd; the poor man was still lying at the side of the pitch when they eventually decided to call it off at 10.30pm, so it looks like bad news. Football becomes a bit irrelevant at times.
Shame Chuks didn't score in the end, but 2 of our goals came from others following up his attempts, which is something we've failed to do as a team for so long, it's refreshing to see.
Also refreshing to see so many people in red shirts want to have a shot, we've been so shot shy for way too long as a whole, but today we had several player on the pitch looking to create some space and have a crack
Agree we deserved to win in the end but don't forget when we were a goal down Exeter had a brilliant opportunity to go 2 up and their player volleyed over by inches.
Throw in the penalty could well have not been given and their sending off was harsh, then lady luck was certainly on our side tonight.
Seems like Appleton has a formation he likes. I’m happy with a back four and with Watson and Dobson we have two players who can add a defensive shield whilst also supporting the attacking play.
Maybe Appleton feels that Aneke, Leaburn, Tedic, CBT, May and T Campbell are all more than capable in this division and that playing only three of them is a waste of that collective talent and that we need four of them on the pitch at once to be a real threat. All of them aside from Aneke really are able to play more than one attacking position and he is seeing what works best. I thought May had a decent game, although it took him twenty minutes or so to get used to it.
Fair play to Appleton for giving it a go. It won’t always work but let’s give some credit for being adventurous and thinking a little differently.
Comments
Appleton really worth listening to - not for the usual platitudes that managers trot out to keep the fans onside, but real insights into what he has demanded of the team and how they have responded (or not). He has certainly benefitted from having a larger pool of fit (enough) players to pick from that Dean Holden could ever seem to have available but his use of subs and general in-game management seems a step up from what we've been used to for quite a while.
Looking forward to Saturday. It'll be a tougher game than tonight's but we have a decent chance of building on the recent improved results.
Good.
i really like louie watson, but very unsure about tennai watson - he looks shaky defensively and rarely ventures forward. with him and thomas at full back there is no forward impetus at all. appreciate the balance will be different when edun is back, horses for courses etc. but the RHS of T watson / tedic didn't really work IMO.
see link for the sending off. Laughable.
Is that our 4th penalty of the season already?
The number of penalties and the number of late goals we are scoring do tell us something is different.
If we can get a 60/40 split out of Leaburn and Aneke every week, a settled back 5 and the right midfield combination the rest will sort its self out.
I do wonder if the lack of minutes of Chem means that Appleton has decided that he is the attacking option he will sacrifice in January for a defender? He has hinted at as much.
Louis Watson is a baller and I pray to god he stays fit alongside Dobson. They are superb together.
Atmosphere was better in the ground tonight as well.
it was one of best home performances for a while
MOM L Watson
We're just let down by Saturdays.
alfie May is just the bollocks how we got him for the money is beyond me
BUT most important thing of all is that we are getting better, getting points, and (their goal tonight aside) I think the defence is improving
Onto Blackpool, and I’m quietly confident 😃
Tell me, how bad were Exeter? Their great start to the season is rapidly falling apart after that 9-0 home defeat to Reading in the Mickey Mouse Trophy.
Our game at Orient was abandoned due to a medical emergency in the crowd; the poor man was still lying at the side of the pitch when they eventually decided to call it off at 10.30pm, so it looks like bad news. Football becomes a bit irrelevant at times.
Also refreshing to see so many people in red shirts want to have a shot, we've been so shot shy for way too long as a whole, but today we had several player on the pitch looking to create some space and have a crack
Throw in the penalty could well have not been given and their sending off was harsh, then lady luck was certainly on our side tonight.
Maybe Appleton feels that Aneke, Leaburn, Tedic, CBT, May and T Campbell are all more than capable in this division and that playing only three of them is a waste of that collective talent and that we need four of them on the pitch at once to be a real threat. All of them aside from Aneke really are able to play more than one attacking position and he is seeing what works best. I thought May had a decent game, although it took him twenty minutes or so to get used to it.