IndoMike
Very well known Exeweb poster
IINM Sparkes freshened things up for us and did well, but then got injured . Maybe our stats men Andrew Long or Harris can confirm if we got good points during that brief Sparkes periodI feel Matt has done an okay job over the past 2 seasons. He's really tried to change the back room staff to a more modern set up with S&C coach and sport science side influence.
Tactically he has had his ups and downs. Sometimes seems to willing to go with safe option and trusted more experienced players. Mid season this year Matt Jay seem to be having an influence on games when coming on and was more in form than Nicky Law for example. Selection got a little stale and predictable which may have led to us being "found out". We've generally been solid in defence but prone to the occasional blow out and conceding 3+ in a game.
Attack wise main feeling I get from watching is the players just dont seem to believe in Bowman or whoever is in the box to actually get in to space or onto the end of crosses. Being solid at the back but not scoring goals is not going to get us out of this division. We need a goal scorer or at least a tactical approach that doesn't revolve around a single striker working hard.
Signing wise has been the usual hit and misses you get in league 2. Ajose could of stayed fit and scored the goals we all expect but he's just been a flop so far. Bowman has been okay, massive boots to fill after the strikers/Attackers we've had in the past 4/5years (Watkins, Stockley, wheeler and possibly even Reid). He's too willing to work hard and often out of position by this. Need a lazier striker who plays between the width of the box and a focal point. Bowman is not this for me he needs a partner or at least runners from midfield. Atangana, A Martin, Law, Maxted and Ward have been good. L Martin, Parkes have done what I'd expect. Jayden Brown, the young Bristol centre back (went to Torquay after us) and the Aussie right back were total flops. Warren was brought in to do a job and got injured loved a Torquay by all accounts
This new season I truly believe we will see what a true Taylor team may be. No need to even think of changing manager, the fact Lincoln came calling earlier in the year says Matt is doing well. we are over achieving compared to what our history as a club.
The trust model is what it is and provides stability and no need to buy our way to a position in a league for someone to get bored walk away and club to implode in debt.