whatsagrecianern
Member
I have followed the Grecians for over 27 years and watched professional football for over 40 years. I have also been a fairly frequent viewer of Exeweb but frankly got bored quite quickly with the nay sayers, Waldorf and Stadlers, and those who at the slightest down turn, turn on the club , manager and team. I manage to go to a fair few away games. I have friends in Liverpool so went as their guests to the Tranmere game. I ended up sitting behind the dugouts in the home stand!
Some observations:
1. This was quite possibly the best team performance by an Exeter team I have seen in the last 6 years.
2. It was also one of the most exciting performances. We have some very talented youngsters that Tis has got playing together fluently, incisively and competitively. They have grown up quickly since August and can now flex their muscles AND play. Speaking to Tranmere fans around me universally they acclaimed it as by far and away the best team they had seen home and away all season
3. The press rightly heralded the diving header for the 2nd goal. Excellent as it was the ball in from Grimes was brilliant absolutely unplayable. Grimes is young and in every game stands out a mile. At his age Beckham was loaned out to a lowly Preston. Whilst I don't want to go over the top Grimes is a class act : his first touch , ability to make space for himself, ride tackles , tackle ,play dead balls, and distribute you would be lucky to find outside the Premiership. IF I had kids at home I would get them down to to SJP to see this kid in action - why ? because I would put a decent wager on him claiming a few Englnd caps within few years. Your kids will be able to say "I saw him before he was famous" and " He played for MY team"
4. Pym is also a class act. Not flawless but pulled off a couple of outstanding saves at Prenton Park. His distribution from hand and kicking is generally excellent and if I understand this right he was drafted in to training with the England 1st XI last month.
5. Both Pym and Grimes have been capped for England U19s - if my research is right these are the first two Division 2 players drafted at this level - and they are playing at a ground near you !
6. I don't track the youth set up myself but my mate on the Big Bank thinks these 2 are first of many coming through the ranks.
7. Rob Edwards, nice guy and hero that he is, looks "uncomfortable". A Tranmere fan three rows in front of me got hauled out and ejected for the ferocity of abuse directed at the home bench. The home fans behind the dug outs were frankly embarrassing - they're meant to be fans right? The abuse was pretty sickening. Can we get our own stewards to do the same to the muppets that sit in the Old Grandstand at SJP and after a few real ales think its useful to shout abuse at the manager and the team? I'm all for free speech but do they really think this is constructive?
8. I am not a "Tis is God" acolyte. Its not his fault that he's probably on a whacking great salary BUT neither it his fault that the spine of the team which at one one time were vying for play off status in League 1 left or where poached - he's had to rebuild with zero budget - but he's doing it !
9. Staying away from SJP as a "protest" is NOT supporting your team. The prices have come down. If the team had the same sort of support I heard at Tranmere as they do at home perhaps they would be more likely to put in that sort of performance at home.
10.If you are a real Grecians fans get down to SJP , bring your kids and your friends and see some talent and up and coming stars!
Some observations:
1. This was quite possibly the best team performance by an Exeter team I have seen in the last 6 years.
2. It was also one of the most exciting performances. We have some very talented youngsters that Tis has got playing together fluently, incisively and competitively. They have grown up quickly since August and can now flex their muscles AND play. Speaking to Tranmere fans around me universally they acclaimed it as by far and away the best team they had seen home and away all season
3. The press rightly heralded the diving header for the 2nd goal. Excellent as it was the ball in from Grimes was brilliant absolutely unplayable. Grimes is young and in every game stands out a mile. At his age Beckham was loaned out to a lowly Preston. Whilst I don't want to go over the top Grimes is a class act : his first touch , ability to make space for himself, ride tackles , tackle ,play dead balls, and distribute you would be lucky to find outside the Premiership. IF I had kids at home I would get them down to to SJP to see this kid in action - why ? because I would put a decent wager on him claiming a few Englnd caps within few years. Your kids will be able to say "I saw him before he was famous" and " He played for MY team"
4. Pym is also a class act. Not flawless but pulled off a couple of outstanding saves at Prenton Park. His distribution from hand and kicking is generally excellent and if I understand this right he was drafted in to training with the England 1st XI last month.
5. Both Pym and Grimes have been capped for England U19s - if my research is right these are the first two Division 2 players drafted at this level - and they are playing at a ground near you !
6. I don't track the youth set up myself but my mate on the Big Bank thinks these 2 are first of many coming through the ranks.
7. Rob Edwards, nice guy and hero that he is, looks "uncomfortable". A Tranmere fan three rows in front of me got hauled out and ejected for the ferocity of abuse directed at the home bench. The home fans behind the dug outs were frankly embarrassing - they're meant to be fans right? The abuse was pretty sickening. Can we get our own stewards to do the same to the muppets that sit in the Old Grandstand at SJP and after a few real ales think its useful to shout abuse at the manager and the team? I'm all for free speech but do they really think this is constructive?
8. I am not a "Tis is God" acolyte. Its not his fault that he's probably on a whacking great salary BUT neither it his fault that the spine of the team which at one one time were vying for play off status in League 1 left or where poached - he's had to rebuild with zero budget - but he's doing it !
9. Staying away from SJP as a "protest" is NOT supporting your team. The prices have come down. If the team had the same sort of support I heard at Tranmere as they do at home perhaps they would be more likely to put in that sort of performance at home.
10.If you are a real Grecians fans get down to SJP , bring your kids and your friends and see some talent and up and coming stars!
