I regret that I do not think that I can offer a great deal of insight into expectations for Saturday’s match.
There does not seem a great deal of practicable video coverage of the pre-season matches. There is a full 90 minutes’ worth of the Blackpool friendly on their site and I watched the first 10 minutes or so and were impressed with Blackpool whose passing and ball control was a class above Rovers’. Of course quite a large number of the Rovers players were new to me and none really caught my eye. Obviously the opposition did not turn their superiority into goals which did not seem the result of particularly good defending, but perhaps a lack of polish by the Tangerines as they got closer to the goal.
What was disturbing was that there was a lot of quite unnecessary involvement of Timothee Lo Tutala in moving the ball around in defence. He is obviously adept with his feet, but they seemed to be cutting it unnecessarily fine in passing the ball to him and there were several instances when margins were fine. The culprits were new players in defence who I did not recognise. What is notable about TLT is that he is incredibly quick in his movement compared with what may be more a rather ponderous style than a personal quality amongst GKs in general. The fact that he seizes upon the ball both with hands and feet and distributes it rapidly seems to disturb the opposition. That is a quality definitely worth exploiting.
There was little evidence of Molyneux, Sterry made a few runs which were not always as successful as they were last season and there seemed to be no real strength in the middle of the attack in that part of the contest.
The first part of the second half which I also watched saw Rovers looking a good deal more lively than the first, and although the football did not abound with skill, there was a good deal of running and chasing with the ex Dundee man, Middleton very tenacious.
I suppose we did not allow Blackpool to score any goals of their own nor did they work many (if any) clear cut opportunities. They were a good top-half side last year, so perhaps it will be easier going against Exeter, but I’d say much team-building and understanding is required if we are to break into the top half of the new league.
So I don’t think this is a very comprehensive effort and says nothing about Exeter and their classical nickname. So I leave it to Nookie to exploit that and to add some levity to the proceedings in prospect.
My prediction with little to go on will be most unadventurous; 1-1 - Molyneux
DPL v Exeter City
posted 4 days, 1 hour ago
My AI pal thinks the same as you. So for starters I'll go with 1-1 too. I'll pick the scorer when I've seen the team. The bookies have us finishing around 16th. It's a big step up for us and that's about as much as we should expect. Though GM has a habit of getting more out of the team as the season progresses. Here's to living in Hope again.
posted 2 days, 19 hours ago
Exeter were initially called St Sidwells United. The church and club being outside the city walls of Exeter. Thus likened to the Greeks entering Troy
posted 2 days, 19 hours ago
The starting eleven may contain some surprises - to me, the only ones I think that are certain to be there TLT, full backs Sterry and Maxwell, Bailey in mid-field (McGrath if he was fully fit), and Molyneux on the front line.
I'll be positive (or should that be optimistic?) and say 2-1 to Rovers. I'll also say Molyneux to score, as he is the only one I'm convinced will start!
I really would like Ironside to start and score, but think one of the new guys will get that starting role. Would also like to see Ajayi out on the left wing!
posted 2 days, 1 hour ago
Afternoon all,
Great to see everyone here for the start of the new season.
I think this will be an interesting test. Exeter are an established L1 side now and seem to be confident heading into the new season. I'm going to go with my usual 2-1 to Rovers though. Middleton with the first.
posted 2 days, 1 hour ago
It is going to be interesting - four players I do not know at all other than from pre-season reports.
I'll have to have my team numbers sheet out so I know who is who!
posted 2 days, 1 hour ago
Greetings fellow 606 era
Great weather through the summer months which saw the upper Wharfe down to a trickle 😎
I'm hoping the Rovers are hot today.
Rovers 2-1 Exeter
Hanlan to score⚽
posted 2 days, 1 hour ago
Confirm 1-1, Hanlan
posted 1 day, 22 hours ago
Losing Sterry was a blow to the hopes of Rovers attacking ambitions.
Overall there was plenty of effort by most of the team. O’Riordan was disappointing and far too often failed to make positive passes. He was as bad as Close, never risking the attacking option. Hanlan’s virtues were not very obvious and no one in midfield seemed able to take control. Broadbent was fairly anonymous. In attack, Middleton was energetic as was Clifton, but no one amongst the new players who started seemed to have enough skill to stand out. Molyneux missed his partnership with Sterry.
When Sharp and Ajayi came on they provided 2 sets of quick feet which seemed to improve our chances of scoring. Gotts does look a bit like Sbarra, but seemed stronger and not so easily outmuscled.
Pearson did not do a lot wrong, but Bailey was less prominent than normal.
I suppose one should credit Exeter for being more efficient in defence than most of our opposition last season.
McCann will learn from this and perhaps change his front line to give it more punch. I’d include Ironside and Ajayi from the start. Sterry seemed to have sustained a head injury and I do hope he will recover quickly. Middleton’s aggression is a useful asset
posted 1 day, 20 hours ago
When I read the DFP's "Player ratings" I often wonder if I have watched the same game! - very much the case today.
My first impression was "How did Mols have so many assists last season as his crosses and passing were at times poor - especially too many over-hit crosses?"
Of the new players, I thought Middleton and Ajayi showed some usable skills, and I agree with Donaldo about starting Ajayi, as I said it was my wish before this game (+ Ironside).
Last season we had strength and depth at centre-back, I'm not totally happy with the new guys. Hopefully McGrath will be fully fit soon.
Does not sound good for Sterry, although a broken cheekbone is better than a serious head injury.
posted 1 day, 16 hours ago
GM reckons 7-10 days for Sterry to be back in contention. Seems very quick but maybe he'll wear a protective mask.