The BIGGEST Game of the League 2 Season so far - Crewe vs Exeter

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

The top 2 go head to head on Saturday at Gresty Road in what should be a bigger gate than usual with Exeter bringing a bigger following than usual as well to us.

I'm not sure what to think of this at all. Very similar sides with a blend of youth and experience. And whilst we've lost Perry Ng to suspension which could hamper us at RB, we welcome back the returning Paul Green to the side. Whether he starts given the three decent performances by James Jones though is another thing.

I'd bring in Adebisi and play him at RB for Ng, the reason for this being that playing Hunt or Nolan there could leave us very susceptible to being attacked with pace down that flank. I genuinely think this is the perfect opprtunity for him as Adebisi used to play as a box to box midfielder in the Academy and, unless he's very badly one footed, could give us the pace we'll miss from Ng at RB. I'd probably drop Jones for Green but bring him on in the second half. No fault of Jones' own but when Exeter have someone of the calibre and experience of Nicky Law in midfield, we have to use our own similar asset to negate his experience.

Exeter have won their last five against us. When at Gresty Road we both exchanged smash and grabs in the first two seasons (although ours was nowhere near as dramatic as theirs was) before they played us off the park last season at Gresty Road. They're a very good side and I can see this ending in a 1-1 draw similar to our Cheltenham game. Hoping for a crowd of over 5000 too for this with a good 500-600 from Devon at least.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Another real good test. It’d be nice to go 90 minutes toe to toe without a penalty, red card, arsehole ref or keeper error skewering things. I’ve no doubt if we’re on it we’ll win, though quite sure Exeter will say the same.

I don’t rate Jones fwiw and hope Artell doesn’t think twice about putting Green back in. Midfield is susceptible to getting over run without Green, who just adds that bite.

Hopefully Gresty Road is absolutely bouncing for this.

 

[denzel ecfc]

You've gone early.
Be interesting to see how we react to the Grimsby defeat. Maybe some changes, though no one is really banging on the door.
We are struggling to create solid chances up front and be interesting to see if he persists with Bowman and Lee Martin.
I think also you are optimistic with our crowd, I would expect around 300.
Crewe are playing better than us at the moment and creating more chances so for that reason I will go with 2-1 Crewe.

 

[PlymouthCasual]

I think also you are optimistic with our crowd, I would expect around 300.

Pathetic

 

[Sydney Posse]

I don't think we will make significant team changes for this one. Away to Crewe would not be the time to experiment. Atangana may be back to fitness so may make the bench. Expecting a fairly open game with goals, and won and lost in midfield. Last time I went to Crewe (about 3 years ago) we took about 400-450 and a fair few went due to not having played there for years and therefore a new ground to tick off for some. Expect somewhere between 400 and 500 will travel. I personally hope Martin is recalled to defence maybe as part of a 3 with Parkes and Sweeney with Moxey dropping to the bench

 

[Crewelad87]

We have a retched record Vs Exeter and are surely due to beat them, but they are agood side and have some very good players for this level Law ect. Ng will be a big miss for us, our full backs are massive to the way we play, most of our attacks are started with them, I'm actually hoping they go down the route one of the younger lads like Rio or Johnson in. As good as Hunt has been a centre back he will get exposed for his lack of pace at full back, and a m not keen on Lancashire either. At least we have the experience of Green back, which is big in games like this.

Crewe 2-2 Exeter (Porter, Kirk, Law, Martin) 4,840 (410 Grecians)

 

[lordofthepies]

Hunt can't play full-back anymore. Artell has said Johnson is ready. We should pick him.

 

[Trapdoor]

I ticked Crewe off last year - it's an easy away day but I'm not in a rush to go back. Got a feeling we will lose this one as well 2-0. Grimsby sounded like a bad game, I hope we bounce back strong but I dare not get my hopes up too much.

 

[The Alex]

I can’t see Exeter losing 2 in a row after their strong start. NG is probably one of the biggest losses to the side we could possibly have too, captain, integral to our attacking style and a big part of the defence. Bad feeling about this one, we’ve lost 3 and clearly have a slip up in us.

Hope to be proved wrong and we’re top come Saturday evening. There should be a bigger crowd for this one, the fans should be returning in their droves, but I doubt there’ll be much improvement there. Club need to market it more.

 

[Crewelad87]

I can’t see Exeter losing 2 in a row after their strong start. NG is probably one of the biggest losses to the side we could possibly have too, captain, integral to our attacking style and a big part of the defence. Bad feeling about this one, we’ve lost 3 and clearly have a slip up in us.

Hope to be proved wrong and we’re top come Saturday evening. There should be a bigger crowd for this one, the fans should be returning in their droves, but I doubt there’ll be much improvement there. Club need to market it more.

I agree the club really need to strike whilst the iron is hot in trying to get more through the gate. Over 4000 home fans vs Salford was a step in the right direction. Getting towards 5000 should be the next target. But even when in the championship apart from the big games we only got around 5-6000 home fans.

 

[Agombar stool]

I can see Crewe winning this one. Should be a good competitive game. 2-1

 

[The Alex]

Who plays right back tomorrow? Travis Johnson for me, the only other RB on the books(?), give him a chance I say.

 

[Crewelad87]

Who plays right back tomorrow? Travis Johnson for me, the only other RB on the books(?), give him a chance I say.

I've got a feeling Hunt will play there which for me is a mistake. I'd start Johnson.

 

[JJ1532]

Not sure if Johnson's contract hold out over the summer has soured Artell to him, but I'd say there is very slim chance he is even in the squad today, let alone starts.

I mean, they've been talking up a converted Lundstram as Ng's understudy more than Johnson, who shows how the management views the latter right now. It'll be Hunt with Lancashire at CB. Not sure who goes on the bench as cover mind, possibly Adebisi. Best pray we don't lose a defender at all today, otherwise it could get tricky.

 

[Crewelad87]

Confirmed Hunt moves to right back with Lancashire coming in for the suspended Ng. Dale in for Powell, that's a possitive though in my opinion. Green has to settle for a place on the bench after his suspension, and Johnson comes into the the bench as defensive cover. Id have started him though, were going to lack pace at the back. I'm expecting goals here, we might have to score 3 or 4 to win this.

 

[JJ1532]

I don't know, I've never felt Exeter had a quick team. Technically skilled, robust, tough to break down sure. But fast?

Exeter are like us in that they seem to have a real blend of youth and experience. Ward, Williams, Sparkles and Collins all young and not a lot of games, but clearly worthy of a place.

I wonder if Taylor was being serious when he said Exeter would have to sit deep. I think he's playing mind games being so open about his tactics. He should know an in your face approach works best to beat us. Sitting deep would be inviting pressure.

 

[Sydney Posse]

Usual line up for us, which is great. There was talk of changes after the Grimsby match but I think that would have been an over reaction. Biggest match in the division (if not the whole world) today. Surprised Sky aren't televising it globally

 

[The Alex]

Exeter really should be out of sight here, we’ve been really really poor. That being said, Exeter look a good team. We really miss NG.

Let’s hope the miraculous Crewe “concede the first goal turn it on in the 2nd half” Alexandra turn up. I doubt it this time.

 

[The Alex]

Fuck me, say ‘really’ again shall I...

 

[JJ1532]

That was diabolical. Maybe not as bad as the Salford 1st half, as at least this is against a good team. But christ that was shite.

All I can say is, Exeter have been excellent. Carved us open like a christmas turkey time and time again, only saving grace is they haven't put this game to bed. Created bucket loads of chances, probably should have had a penalty.

Only hope is they peaked early and can't maintain it in the 2nd half, it's what we saw from Plymouth on the opening day. Need way more out of literally every player though.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Paid the price for not scoring whilst on top. Looked knackered for the last 20 minutes, but think there are far more positives than negatives from that performance.
On to another 1st v 2nd next week then.

 

[The Alex]

Credit to Exeter, good side all over the pitch. 2nd half we had the lion’s share of the ball, didn’t create anything clear cut but still feel frustrated we didn’t get a winner, we didn’t use possession anywhere near as well as we usually do but again, that’s down to Exeter’s performance.

Glad we didn’t lose, think we’d have won if NG played.

 

[JJ1532]

Well, hard to sum that one up. Better 2nd half, but only for the final 20 ish minutes once Exeter dropped off. The equaliser was pretty lucky, but I'll take it.

Exeter looked far better in most aspects. Tactically stronger, individually better. Consider us pretty fortunate to get a point out of that.

 

[TimeyWimey]

We were outclassed in the first half. Slightly better in second half but helped by Exeter trying to stroll through for the 1-0 win. Some pretty atrocious individual performances on our side but like The Alex said, we might have actually won it in the end if we’d had Ng. A really good point in the end. The fact we’re taking points in these games where backs are against the wall says we’re going up tbh.

 

[The Alex]

Hunt may be a former premier league right back, but could really see the difference today going forward in that position. Kirk a waste of space again, complacency in abundance.

Anene is well worth a start. Every time he’s come on I’ve thought he’s done well. Nuisance, handful, something different, and another superbly taken goal today.

Was pleased to see Jones keep his place, but fuck me I was even more pleased to see him come off. The lad should be putting in 10/10 performances every week if he wants to fight his career back, just not there is he. On the other hand, Ryan Wintle, unbelievable footballer, he’s come from a non league footballer who went to the same college as me to a real professional prospect.

 

[Crewelad87]

Exeter hammered us 1st half should have been about 3 up. I've not seen a team press us that high up the pitch and force us to go long or make a mistake for a long time. Ultimately though they paid the price for all that pressing and only coming out of it 1 up. They looked shattered 2nd half and we put them on the back foot. Powell and Anene made a big difference I thought. Great finish after abit of a lucky bounce of the ball.

Overall I think we might have just deserved a draw but maybe I'm being harsh on Exeter as they were far superior 1st half. I will take the point though, looking forward to Carlisle away next week, with our normal back four out. Lancashire was poor again today for me and Hunt was badly exposed at right back as I though he might be.

Also thought our crowd was good today, getting close to 5 k home fans and stayed with the team even when behind.

 

[dannyc5]

Terrible 1st half. But, in the end, we should have won it. We finished stronger, however well they played before that.

 

[Trapdoor]

Hate football. Stupid game. Much prefer self harming.

 

[Gerald Hattrick]

Agree with the comments, Exeter were very good, had a plan and it worked and stopped us playing. Did they run out of steam in the last 20, or just sit back and try and soak up? Talk about the Alex having a steady side over the last couple of seasons but we saw one that’s been up there for 3?.. Good game and pleased with a point at the end.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Agree with the comments, Exeter were very good, had a plan and it worked and stopped us playing. Did they run out of steam in the last 20, or just sit back and try and soak up? Talk about the Alex having a steady side over the last couple of seasons but we saw one that’s been up there for 3?.. Good game and pleased with a point at the end.

We couldn't keep up the tempo for the whole game, considering how incredible we were in the first half at pressing and winning the ball. Just such a shame we weren't 3 or 4 up to capitalise on that