Beware of Grecians bearing gifts. Home v Exeter City, 25th Nov. 3-0'clock.

[TANGODANCER]

So goes the old saying, well, maybe no gifts, but we'll beware anyhow. Very early thread, but we've been too long without League football due to cancelations and the International interruptions , so...time to speculate on can we continue our run of sparkling form . In this unpredictable "anything can happen and often does" league, pitfalls and banana skins abound, so full attention and ignore The Grecians lowly current position means nothing till we get the points.

Somewhere here then for views and forecasts as they happen in the coming week.

Possibly one of the most famous Grecians, Socrates (yeah, he played for Brazil too ) said " "The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."--Socrates. so ignore form and concentrate on winning and beware wooden horses. . At it then..

[Mar]

What a strange season Exeter have had. 5 wins in the first 8, yielding 16 points from a possible 24 maybe them surprise contenders at the top of the table.

Since then, they've had no wins in the league since September 16th and no wins at all since the surprising 1-0 win over Premier League new boys Luton. So that's 10 games without a win, picking up only 1 point in the process.

They've currently got one more game prior to facing us, against Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy, in a dead rubber where they sit bottom of the group after conceding a whopping 9 goals to Reading and 5 goals to Arsenal's U21.

They need a win, and need one badly. What better way to do that than against a mid table league two side who are also playing the dead rubber. It make just be the game that gives them their confidence back.

They're not to be taken lightly, despite their current woes.



In terms of ex-Wanderers, they've got Will Aimson of yesteryear and Yanic Wildschut. Aimson's been a consistent force in the squad whilst Wildschut's been on the periphery, and as proficient as you'd expect.

[boltonboris]

Let's make no bones about it, this is a game we should highlight with a W against it. If we're on it, we could blow them away and we need to make sure we're at it from minute 1. They're down in the dumps, but any side in this league can be dangerous if we don't treat it right.

I'd start with the usual line-up and see if we can introduce Bod after Victor's given their defenders a bit of aggro

[officer_dibble]

Agreed, we might get some use out of Mendes Gomes as well in this.

[Worthy4England]

Let's make no bones about it, this is a game we should highlight with a W against it. If we're on it, we could blow them away and we need to make sure we're at it from minute 1. They're down in the dumps, but any side in this league can be dangerous if we don't treat it right.

I'd start with the usual line-up and see if we can introduce Bod after Victor's given their defenders a bit of aggro

Yup.

[TANGODANCER]

Just as a current re-cap, we, having played 16 games, are in joint 2nd/3rd on 35 points
Stevenage are three points behind, but have played 18 games to our 16.
Peterborough, on 31 are 4 points behind us but have played a game more than us.

Exeter have lost four of their last five games. As it stands it appears our to lose, the rest is up to ourselves.

[Harry Genshaw]

Let's make no bones about it, this is a game we should highlight with a W against it. If we're on it, we could blow them away and we need to make sure we're at it from minute 1. They're down in the dumps, but any side in this league can be dangerous if we don't treat it right.

I'd start with the usual line-up and see if we can introduce Bod after Victor's given their defenders a bit of aggro

100% agree

[Mar]

Just an extra note worthy of consideration. Paris Maghoma and Jack Iredale are currently sat on 4 yellow cards.

I'd suspect that may play into Evatt's thinking when it comes to selection for the Exeter game as should they get suspended they'll likely be a bigger miss against Oxford.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Just an extra note worthy of consideration. Paris Maghoma and Jack Iredale are currently sat on 4 yellow cards.

I'd suspect that may play into Evatt's thinking when it comes to selection for the Exeter game as should they get suspended they'll likely be a bigger miss against Oxford.

Good shout on Maghoma. Not sure Iredale is as much of a worry - possibly 5th choice Centre-back at the mo.

[boltonboris]

It's certainly a risk, but Maghoma could be key to us unlocking a deep lying defence. Especially at home. He'd be a big miss at Oxford though as the majority of our success could come during quick transitions... Maybe just one to keep an eye on, but I suspect it will definitely come into Evatt's thinking and we may well see him start this weekend on the bench. On if he's needed

[Mar]

Just an extra note worthy of consideration. Paris Maghoma and Jack Iredale are currently sat on 4 yellow cards.

I'd suspect that may play into Evatt's thinking when it comes to selection for the Exeter game as should they get suspended they'll likely be a bigger miss against Oxford.

Good shout on Maghoma. Not sure Iredale is as much of a worry - possibly 5th choice Centre-back at the mo.

Yeah, I saw both on transfermarkt listed on 4 yellows. Didn't want to leave Iredale out as that yellow card scenario could still play out, despite him not being first choice.

[TANGODANCER]

Becoming more important by the game is putting chances away. Teams will obviously try to snuff us out, but when we do create them, blazing one into Horwich won't help anybody except the opposition. Good saves and near misses are all part of the entertainment, bad shooting just frustrates. I've been singing the shooting practise hymn for so long I'm boring myself, but one Maghoma effort last game was worthy of a Youtube laugh spot. Come on lads, get on it, you're professionals.

[boltonboris]

Any news on Dion? Went off injured on Monday after a slide tackle and I've not heard anything since. Hopefully no news is good news and expect he'd be back in training today

Presser usually Thursday morning, for Saturday game isn't it?

[Spartan2]

Any news on Dion? Went off injured on Monday after a slide tackle and I've not heard anything since. Hopefully no news is good news and expect he'd be back in training today

Presser usually Thursday morning, for Saturday game isn't it?

Didn't see the match but watched his interview after the game, he seemed fine, never mentioned any injury.

[Mar]

Well, Exeter won their FLT match against Swindon Town. So they may be somewhat buoyed by the win, thanks to a Wildschut goal (or o.g. depending on reports).

[TANGODANCER]

Dion seems to be fine and Jon Bod sounds full of confidence in his latest interview with Bolton News:

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/

[officer_dibble]

Cue angry people when JDB is on the bench again 2pm Saturday… hope he gets some decent game time but I certainly get the logic in starting Victor still.

[TANGODANCER]

Cue angry people when JDB is on the bench again 2pm Saturday… hope he gets some decent game time but I certainly get the logic in starting Victor still.

Agreed, but we could do a reverse of this and try for a couple of early goals with JonBod, then turn Vic loos to antagonise the defence.

[boltonboris]

Cue angry people when JDB is on the bench again 2pm Saturday… hope he gets some decent game time but I certainly get the logic in starting Victor still.

Agreed, but we could do a reverse of this and try for a couple of early goals with JonBod, then turn Vic loos to antagonise the defence.

Doesn't quite work like that/ Bod is much better when more space is available between mid/def and defenders are more tired for him to twist and turn. Vic is the man to tire them out. He presses, backs in, leans on them when they jump. Gives them a bit of a bashing and happy for his teammates to take the credit.

It's a role he's doing well and Bod will get benefits from that

[Mar]

Cue angry people when JDB is on the bench again 2pm Saturday… hope he gets some decent game time but I certainly get the logic in starting Victor still.

Agreed, but we could do a reverse of this and try for a couple of early goals with JonBod, then turn Vic loos to antagonise the defence.

Doesn't quite work like that/ Bod is much better when more space is available between mid/def and defenders are more tired for him to twist and turn. Vic is the man to tire them out. He presses, backs in, leans on them when they jump. Gives them a bit of a bashing and happy for his teammates to take the credit.

It's a role he's doing well and Bod will get benefits from that

I'd agree with this. Vic's usefulness hasn't resulted in goals or assists but has clearly had an effect on the match. He's missing goal contributions, but aside from that I think the tactic that we're currently deploying is working well, so why change it. Bodvarsson clearly warrants a start, but doing that will unsettle the game plan that is working. Lets stick with what's been working on this good run and have all the players contribute to that plan.