So, a new season is upon us. The Football League have been generous with the 2 opening fixtures with a ‘big’ team to open with, and a Devon Derby for our first away day.

Portsmouth come to St James Park a different team from when they visited in the rain back in tisdale_thumbFebruary. A new manager and a number of new players, the optimism for Pompey fans is high, after many seasons of struggle and relegations. Many tipsters have made them favourites for automatic promotion.

For Exeter City, the summer should have been one of celebrations with it’s 100 year celebration of links with the Brazil national team. Instead we get the contrast for the Grecians of off fields problems that has made a number of headlines, PFA loans, Coles Twitter outbursts, Chairman resigning and the Club Secretary removed by the Trust Board. The young squad is largely tipped to struggle this season.

Paul Tisdale on Exeter’s Club website said in anticipation of the new season:-

There is that anticipation, and as Exeter City manager you’re never sure quite what’s tupi_ecfc_flag3_feataround the corner. We are well aware of our model and how we do things but it’s not watertight in terms of planning and potential during the season.

We do the very best with what we’ve got and we’re forever looking to develop young players, and that entails a degree of uncertainty with their development.  We start the season this year younger and more uncertain than ever.

We’ve had a very difficult summer with the embargo, and a very interesting summer with the trip to Brazil.  The legacy of Brazil has been some illness and uncertainty over who is going to be fit for the start of the season, and with a small squad we enter into possibly the toughest week of the season.

Pompey boss Andy Awford is eagerly anticipating the new season, speaking on the Pompey Club website:-

I think everyone’s ready for it. We’ve worked hard in pre-season and got the lads to 17Portsmouth_exeterwhere we want them.

We’re always looking to improve at this football club – both on and off the pitch.

So if we can be competitive then I’ll be pleased, but the fans can be assured that we’ll give it everything. If that means we go up, then great.

We’ve recruited well and have the blend of experience and youth needed to hopefully have a good season.

It’ll be tough against Exeter. Paul Tisdale’s an experienced and very astute manager who has his side playing the right way.

But we’ve seen footage of them in action during pre-season, so we’re fully prepared.sercombe

Last season we drew 1-1 in the rain, thanks to a late equaliser from Liam Sercombe. Earlier in the season the Grecians went down 3-2 at Fratton Park.

Andy Woolmer will be our referee – http://www.exeweb.com/2014/08/05/match-officials-portsmouth-at-home-2/

Our all time record in competitive games against Portsmouth is

Exeter wins Draws Portsmouth wins
League 2 6 10
FA Cup 1 0 1
Total 3 6 11

 

 

 

By Hants

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