Match Thread: Port Vale v Exeter City

[Granville]

Jamal Blackman is also injured heading into the game and he is such a good goalkeeper at his level. Not having him will have a big effect on how Exeter play.

[valefan16]

37 minutes ago, Granville said:

Jamal Blackman is also injured heading into the game and he is such a good goalkeeper at his level. Not having him will have a big effect on how Exeter play.

Yeah think they have a few potentially out.

[Walka003]

Cheike Diabate is out aswell for them

[valefan16]

20 minutes ago, Walka003 said:

Cheike Diabate is out aswell for them

yeah just about to post this, big player for them.

[mbycars]

16 minutes ago, valefan16 said:

yeah just about to post this, big player for them.

How tall is he? 😉

[valefan16]

3 minutes ago, mbycars said:

How tall is he? 😉

6'1 so one less 6 footer on set pieces! lol

[Warren]

7 hours ago, Playa Amodores said:

Brown and Nombe have 23 goals between them. The Grecians have scored 42 goals, however they’ve also conceded 42 goals, so can score but struggle to defend. So come on lads get at them, nothing to fear. COYW

Against Shrewsbury in mid week they managed 9 shots with 3 on target. Shrewsbury managed 10 shots with 1 on target. I expect pie sales may have been up. 

[valefan16]

Interestingly I saw a table from this time last year.

 

In terms of what we need to avoid relegation, last season 40 points with an average GD kept Fleetwood up (so lets say 41 to be sure).

Everyone assumes 50 would be needed BUT after 32 games 4th bottom had 30 points at this stage last season, this season 28 points out of 30 games so is tracking roughly the same.

If that was the case 4 points would do it (but of course it may end up being more) but I guess the issue is for the bottom sides with such strength with the big guns 10-12 games will be very unlikely to yield any points over the final 23 games.

 

Probably explains why despite 2 points in 7 games so far the bottom 4 has only closed in by 2 points on us!

[Walka003]

Interestingly I saw a table from this time last year.
 
In terms of what we need to avoid relegation, last season 40 points with an average GD kept Fleetwood up (so lets say 41 to be sure).
Everyone assumes 50 would be needed BUT after 32 games 4th bottom had 30 points at this stage last season, this season 28 points out of 30 games so is tracking roughly the same.
If that was the case 4 points would do it (but of course it may end up being more) but I guess the issue is for the bottom sides with such strength with the big guns 10-12 games will be very unlikely to yield any points over the final 23 games.
 
Probably explains why despite 2 points in 7 games so far the bottom 4 has only closed in by 2 points on us!

Last year 41 point has us safe

20/21 - 48

19/20 - 35 (covid stopped the league)

18/19 - 51

17/18 - 51

Dunno what the story was with last year and whether the teams at the bottom were just hopeless, but 20/21 seems to be a regression back toward needing 50 points which has, usually, been the case most years.

[Valiant62]

A point a game from now till the end of the season would see us over the line. Preferably win our next five matches and start looking at the other end of the table. 😺

[JoeB2]

I'd rather us start Harrison and Taylor, score a couple, and withdraw at HT for Proctor + Butterworth to protect them, than chuck them on chasing the game on 60. With their injuries and dodgy form we have a real chance to end this slump. Get in their faces early doors with two proper strikers.

I'd try and shore up the midfield to protect the porous back three.

Stevens

Forrester Smith Donnelly

Worrall Pett Ojo Benning

Garrity

Harrison Taylor

I think we'll win this and the club will calm down after a very poor 6 weeks. Once we can secure survival it's all about preparing for a massive summer, in which squad turnover will be high and recruitment has to be miles better.

[philmpv]

I'd rather us start Harrison and Taylor, score a couple, and withdraw at HT for Proctor + Butterworth to protect them, than chuck them on chasing the game on 60. With their injuries and dodgy form we have a real chance to end this slump. Get in their faces early doors with two proper strikes.
I'd try and shore up the midfield to protect the porous back three.
Stevens
Forrester Smith Donnelly
Worrall Pett Ojo Benning
Garrity
Harrison Taylor
I think we'll win this and the club will calm down after a very poor 6 weeks. Once we can secure survival it's all about preparing for a massive summer, in which turnover will be high and recruitment has to be miles better.

Like that apart from the obvious issues on the left. I'd play Politic at LWB before Benning at the moment. At least he'd offer something going forward, and I can't see him being any worse defensively

[Playa Amodores]

2 hours ago, Warren said:

Against Shrewsbury in mid week they managed 9 shots with 3 on target. Shrewsbury managed 10 shots with 1 on target. I expect pie sales may have been up. 

Warren, I hope we can stop them having three shots on target because we know what the outcome is likely to be. 🤞

[valefan16]

Last year 41 point has us safe

20/21 - 48

19/20 - 35 (covid stopped the league)

18/19 - 51

17/18 - 51

Dunno what the story was with last year and whether the teams at the bottom were just hopeless, but 20/21 seems to be a regression back toward needing 50 points which has, usually, been the case most years.

I think now the gulf in top and bottom with your “giants” is the key. The top sides get more points as there is a chasm there so less points to be had from the rest playing each other.

You’ve got sides down there playing against someone like Ipswich who’ve probably spent more than Morecambes annual wage budget on one player in fees and wages.

So that lack of an even playing field sees the top sides get huge totals like last season having a team on 80 points not even make the play offs which is bonkers!

50 points had you at the heights of 18th.

Maybe explains our poor form when you consider we’ve faced and lost to 6 of the top 9.

[CambridgeDon]

2 hours ago, JoeB2 said:

I'd rather us start Harrison and Taylor, score a couple, and withdraw at HT for Proctor + Butterworth to protect them, than chuck them on chasing the game on 60. With their injuries and dodgy form we have a real chance to end this slump. Get in their faces early doors with two proper strikers.

I'd try and shore up the midfield to protect the porous back three.

Stevens

Forrester Smith Donnelly

Worrall Pett Ojo Benning

Garrity

Harrison Taylor

I think we'll win this and the club will calm down after a very poor 6 weeks. Once we can secure survival it's all about preparing for a massive summer, in which squad turnover will be high and recruitment has to be miles better.

Spot on with that selection - and even better if we had a fit Wilson in the no. 10 role behind the front two. Which, of course, we don’t - more’s the pity.