The Agony and the ‘Exeter City Ecstasy’

Exeter City performed one of the most unforgettable performances in the club’s history on Monday night. Click below to read my take on the action from a fans perspective.

Torquay 1 - 4 Exeter - An unforgettable afternoon

Check back soon for more feedback from the stunning comeback at Plainmoor, until then enjoy this video I found on youtube of Logan’s 3rd goal!

It’s the despair AND the hope that kills you!

The former Brentford manager David Webb once described the play-offs as “a hell of a cup competition where you’ve got to play 46 games just to reach the semi-final!” And he’s right. I do not want even consider the idea that come late Bank Holiday Monday afternoon all that hard work and endeavour put in through those 46 games could be worth nothing and we will be planning our sixth season as a Non-League club.

With Exeter City 2-1 down at the halfway stage of the Play Off Semi Finals it’s far from over. We out-played and out-thought a Torquay team with just two shots on target and lost only because of a late goalkeeping disaster that leaves us with a mountain to climb at Plainmoor on Monday.

Being outclassed and played off the park by a superb team I can just about cope with but losing to the heavily inferior team leaves a very bad aftertaste. The football we have been playing recently has been a joy to watch, a statement I have very rarely used when watching Exeter City.

We kept the ball on the floor and passed it superbly at times. We played neat little one-twos and triangles. We tried clever through balls and overlapping runs. Although when contrasted with the Torquay style of play last night we probably looked more like Brazil 1970 not Exeter 2008!

But just like Arsenal this season, no one will remember the emphatic wins and the beautiful football if it doesn’t end with some silverware.

When I entered the ground last night and saw it bursting at the seams with expectant funs and felt the buzz of the bumper crowd it was easy to ponder just how much potential our club has. How much our fans deserve some success.

We are potentially a bigger side than many League Two sides in terms of attendances and stadium capacity and in my opinion we are playing in a league below our station and as a fan it is immensely frustrating. There were 8,200 fans packed into St James Park last night and there wasn’t room for anymore, some Conference clubs struggle to get 820 fans let alone 8,200!

The despair may well slowly kill me in the second leg if I need to digest a huge disappointment but ideally I’d extinguish the hope that we could turn it round. It should be easy to be pessimistic as an Exeter fan, and after years of disappointment it should be almost second nature. Seasons of disappointment capped off every two years by England following suit and ‘nearly’ bringing home the silverware.

In the coming days I will try to convince myself that we won’t make it a carbon copy of last year’s Semi-Final when we were in a similar position. After our 1-0 first leg defeat at home to Oxford I tried to convince myself that our campaign was over and we would not recover from it, which of course we did in emphatic style.

When you’re mentally prepared for defeat it doesn’t feel quite so sickening if the worst happens and even more enjoyable if you upset the odds. Even with the game about to enter a penalty shoot out at Oxford I tried to tell myself we would fall at the final hurdle in Exeter City trademark fashion in the vain hope it would soften the killer blow.

But the reason why we are hooked on the football drug is that, like that Oxford Second Leg, anything can happen. And whether you are a Fulham supporter eyeing up a great escape or a Cardiff fan warming up for your first FA Cup final in 80 years, there will always be that little slither of hope in the back of your mind that you could really do it this time.

So no matter what mindset I may try to get into, or how many times I tell myself it will be another huge disaster, there’s no escaping the fact that the hope may well kill me but I just can’t help imagining the party if it doesn’t!

Peter Evans

Exeter City vs Torquay - One for the memory bank?

Featured on The Exeter City Times Online Blog

It seems the public can’t get enough of their ‘moments’. In recent years we’ve witnessed the ‘100 greatest scary moments’, ‘100 greatest sexy moments’, ‘100 greatest tearjerkers’ and countless others spread over four or five hours on late night Channel 4.

A quick Google search unearths the must-have compilations of ‘100 Greatest Comic Relief Moments’, ‘The 100 Greatest TV Adverts’ and even the ‘100 greatest moments in food history’. There is a desire to see thousands of hours of events chopped up and diluted into a convenient countdown of ‘moments’.

Football writers and fans share this need to list, tally and pour over their favourite moments. You could purchase the ‘100 Greatest moments of the Kop, the surely agonizing viewing of ‘100 Greatest Bolton Wanderers Premiership Goals’ and of course ‘Gary Lineker’s Hot 100’ the VHS from 1996….

Football managers frequently cite defining moments that made their season or maybe began that spiral into mediocrity. In the same way many supporters could pinpoint the moment that they consider to be their greatest or could recall moments where they felt at their lowest ebb as a supporter.

Even on this Times Online some of the best writers in sport, including Brian Granville, have been cataloguing the ‘soul’ of Liverpool, Manchester United, Leeds and Arsenal in 50 moments. Moments that defined the respective clubs and shaped their history.

Putting my Exeter City hat on, there have been some key moments of our season, in fact City fans are currently discussing the biggest single moment of our 52 match season (in all competitions) on the message boards. Some may pluck for the 95^th minute equaliser at the Kassam back in September or the 4-3 victory over Torquay on Boxing Day with ten men.

But if any supporter ever correlates their ‘50 Exeter City moments’ in years to come; moments that fans could say defined the club or shaped the future prospects the next week could feature heavily.

Because on Thursday and Monday we face a two-legged Play-Off with a trip to Wembley up for grabs. Two matches where a victory would move us a step closer to a return to league football after five years in the wilderness.

Now, Play Off Semi Finals are undoubtedly huge occasions, live on TV with 180 minutes that will make or break a season. But with the added element of the opposition being our local rivals Torquay and the game moves up another notch on the ‘top moments’ ladder! Local rivals that are a little too close to home.

For those without an encyclopaedic knowledge of Exeter City and Torquay squads, seven players likely to feature in the ties have played for both clubs. Exeter’s Andy Marriott, Richard Logan and Steve Tully have played for the Gulls in recent years whilst Torquay’s Mark Ellis was snapped up by Bolton from Exeter when playing the Under 18’s and has been loaned out.

The other three are a little more contentious. Rice, Todd and Philips all played for Exeter City in last season’s Play-Offs having spent a combined total of eleven years at St James Park. In June they joined then-Exeter assistant manager Paul Buckle, who had spent seven years at Exeter throughout his career. Buckle was unveiled as Torquay United boss and wasted no time in raiding his old club for some familiar faces.

He faced the challenge of rebuilding a Torquay squad that had been relegated from the Football League. After an emphatic start to the campaign, including a purple patch with 18 goals in 15 days in September, the Gulls eventually lost touch with Aldershot who were promoted as Champions. Buckle’s team are a huge danger from set pieces, like to get the ball up to their forwards rapidly and have a squad packed with strikers (six in all) hoping to get on the end of them and do some damage to Exeter’s promotion prospects.

The game will also be only the third meeting between the clubs since February 2003 when defeat at Plainmoor edged Exeter closer to their subsequent relegation. The Boxing Day encounter between the two sides proved to be a 4-3 thriller that swung in Exeter’s favour despite Danny Seaborne’s red card, whilst Torquay sneaked the return fixture 1-0.

Add all these elements into the mix and the recipe is there for two epic ties. I hope any neutrals reading this who fancy watching some rip-roaring, nerve-jangling, unbearable tense football between two even matched sides in front of packed crowds will tune into the Play Off’s on Thursday and Monday on Setanta.

I also hope Exeter City fans will have a bucket load of unforgettable memories to discuss on our way to Wembley!

Cardiff City Cup Final Song To Reach Number One?!

Bet 365 yesterday cut the odds of Cardiff’s FA Cup Final Song: Bluebirds Flying High reaching number one in the charts to 5/2. The song, staring singer James Fox and the Cardiff City squad, has outsold it’s chart rivals three-to-one in pre-sale orders. It’s officially released next week ahead of the final on May 17th.

Cardiff City also received a boost this week when it was announced that Robbie Fowler should play a part in this weekend’s league match with Barnsley.

The Four Scottish Talents Who Could Light Up The Premiership.

Alan Hutton and David Murphy have already crossed the border into England this year. This author gives his verdict on the SPL players who may well follow suit.

‘Steven Fletcher hit the headlines last month when Real Madrid listed him as one of the 10 young players in Europe that they are keeping a close eye on’

Kevin Keegan recently told the media of his desire to bring in “four or five players” from outside the Premier League to help Newcastle push on next season.

But these players he is following closely aren’t from La Liga or Serie A, or even the Championship. They are currently playing in the Scottish Premier League.

Keegan told journalists how there is some real talent across the border that would help strengthen his Newcastle side, adding: “You will see more and more Premier League managers looking to Scotland.”

Alan Hutton and David Murphy made the Christmas switch from Scotland to the Premier League, so who could be next to try their luck in England?

Scottish football is often unfairly slated as a second-class league, but anyone who watched the recent Old Firm derby will tell you the quality has never been higher, with many players having admirers in the English Premier League and across Europe.

So, for top-flight fans who don’t know their Berras from their Cuellars, here’s a guide to four players in Scotland who I believe could cut it in the top tier of the English game.

Aiden McGeady: The Celtic winger celebrated an impressive hat-trick in Scotland, being voted the League’s Best Young Player, PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year.

The Hoops’ number 46 has had an impressive season with a string of electric performances both domestically and in their Champions League campaign. The Irish international undoubtedly has the talent to make the move to England but he told The Scotsman this week that he’s very happy at Celtic and any move away would be the club’s decision.

Steven Fletcher: A product of the highly-rated Hibernian academy, 20-year-old Fletcher hit the headlines last month when Real Madrid listed him as one of the 10 young players in Europe that they are keeping a close eye on. The quality of his performances have recently earned him a call-up to the senior Scotland squad.

Fletcher has 14 goals for Hibs so far in this campaign and has a string of admirers in England as well as the Madrid giants. In December he signed a new six-year deal at the club, meaning that any transfer away from Easter Road will net Hibs a huge windfall.

The news of a lengthy new deal was especially pleasing for fans of the club who were disappointed when striker Derek Riordan left for just £150,000 six months before his contract expired.

Carlos Cuellar: The Spanish centre-back has impressed fans and pundits alike this season with a string of commanding performances for Rangers. The £2.3m signing last summer settled instantly in Scotland, winning the Player of the Month award for August.

He is currently suspended after a stunning fingertip safe from Shunsuke Nakamura during his side’s 2-1 defeat to Celtic last week, just two days after he was announced as the Clydesdale Bank’s Player of yhe Year.

Christophe Berra: Captain of Hearts at just 23, Berra emerged through the youth system and has made close to 100 appearances for the Jambos. Like Fletcher, Berra’s form this season has earned him a call-up to the Scotland squad.

Despite interest from across the border, interim Hearts boss Stephen Frail is determined to keep the defender on board, and it is surely only a matter of time before he becomes an established international, whether at Hearts or elsewhere.

Why Everton find Cardiff City’s hometown hero a Premier attraction

Mr Reliable Joe Ledley may have been the Bluebirds’ FA Cup semi-final hero - but there is a lot more to the young Welshman than the odd spectacular goal.

‘His hero status at Cardiff is also down to his committed attitude on the pitch. Fans love a player who shows real grit and determination - and Ledley is certainly one of those’

To have played 120 games in the Championship and earned 20 international caps by the tender age of 21 is impressive.

To have added an FA Cup semi-final winner for your boyhood club to that list is the stuff dreams are made of. But for Cardiff’s Joe Ledley this is all a reality and the Premier League could well await the Welshman in the next few years - but only when the Bluebirds say so.

His stunning ninth-minute goal at Wembley may have catapulted Ledley to the world’s attention, but he is certainly no flash in the pan.

Ledley broke into the Cardiff side at the age of 17 and has been a regular every since, with 122 appearances in just four seasons. John Toshack’s policy of blooding youngsters means Ledley has 20 caps to his name, and this international experience puts him head and shoulders above many of his competitors in the Championship.

Ledley is also very versatile and is equally adept at playing on the left side of midfield, centre midfield or at left-back. He even started up front on Tuesday night! Not only can he play comfortably in a variety of positions with little fuss, he also has great technique and is very consistent.

Ledley is also surprisingly strong given his build and has an incredible engine. Toshack summed it up best when he described how, in a Welsh match with the Czech Republic in 2006, other experienced players were dead on their feet but Ledley, despite playing 58 games for Cardiff that season, was still going strong.

His hero status at Cardiff is also down to his committed attitude on the pitch. Fans love a player who shows real grit and determination - and Ledley is certainly one of those.

Cardiff assistant manager Terry Burton told journalists this week: “If you play Joe in goal he would still have that same totally committed attitude.” Such is the Welshman’s dedication to the cause.

As well as being committed on the pitch, refreshingly Ledley is more than happy to commit his future to the Welsh capital off it, despite interest from top-flight clubs.

Everton are known to be admirers of Ledley and supposedly, along with Wolves, had bids turned down in the January transfer window. But Peter Ridsdale has vowed only to sell his star for an amazing offer, telling the South Wales Echo that it would take “a massive cheque to prise certain players away”.

Ledley signed a two-year deal before Christmas but understands that there may come a time when the club have to sell him. However, until that day comes he has committed his future to Cardiff City.

In a league where many players jump at the first sniff of the Premier League, Ledley’s commitment to his hometown club is a breath of fresh air.

This article was published at Sportingo

Rio Ferdinand - Man Utd’s Player Of The Season?

It’s often said that defenders don’t get the credit they deserve. With the notable exception of Cannavaro in 2006, it has been very rare in recent years to see a defender nominated for a Player Of The Year Award.

Now we can assume Rio Ferdinand will not win Manchester United’s Player of the Year gong. We all know which Portuguese winger will be picking that up, but Ferdinand deserves a huge mention for his commanding performances this season.

Take the Champions League first leg in Barcelona on Wednesday for example. Ferdinand was imperious, commanding his defence and making vital tackles. His commanding performance bought back memories of the epic performance in Rome when he marshalled their back four superbly and helped Manchester United to a clean sheet and ultimately the Semi Finals.

If you’d have suggested Ferdinand as a potential England captain in August I would have laughed it off. But through this season he has developed a lot as a player, leading by example with some dominating performances.

His superb season has also coincided with a mixed campaign for his rival for the captaincy John Terry. Ferdinand has surely moved up the pecking order for the England armband and cemented his place as first choice centre back. Terry on the other hand has had a campaign blighted by injuries and also suffered the blow of losing Mourinho, a manager who was known to be close to, whilst other incidents on the pitch have not helped his reputation.

I don’t think Ferdinand would have been a surprise choice in the nominations for PFA Player Of The Season, but he will no doubt appear in the Team Of The Season when it is announced. It’s no coincidence that his club have conceded the lowest number of goals in the league and Ferdinand has started more games than anyone else. Could you show me a better centre back in the Premiership this season? Or even in Europe?

Without Neville for the whole season and missing Vidic at times (Wednesday night for example) Ferdinand has really moved up a gear and become the heartbeat of the side. If you think of the vital performances Man United have achieved this season, chances are Rio Ferdinand was at the heart of them. Arsenal in the FA Cup and League at Old Trafford, Liverpool in the Premiership and those two epic performances in Europe, Rio Ferdinand has helped Manchester United to some vital results.

If you asked me which Manchester United player I think they would miss the most against Barcelona at Old Trafford on Tuesday night I wouldn’t say Ronaldo or Rooney I’d say Rio.

Worst-ever manager: The Portsmouth numbers crunch that added up to a Perrin disaster

The Frenchman’s eight-month reign at Pompey can only be described as bizarre - and it was left to Harry Redknapp to return and pick up the pieces

From less than a point per game to the nine foreign flops he purchased in pre-season, here are some figures to show why Alain Perrin’s short reign at Portsmouth qualifies him as is the worst Premier League manager ever:

0.9 – Average points earned by Perrin’s Pompey per game.

1 - On his first return to the training session after Perrin’s exit, Hary Redknapp is said to have been told by Dejan Stefanovic: “You’ve got no chance here. This is the worst team I’ve ever seen. You must be mad.” High praise indeed for Perrin.

2 - Chairman Milan Mandaric told journalists he would double his blood pressure pills the week before he sacked Perrin, such was the trauma he was experiencing at the club!

3 - A 3-3-3-1 was the bizarre formation used by Perrin. We had never seen it before and will we ever see it again?

4 - The number of games he won out of 20 at Portsmouth.

5 - The number of players who survived Perrin’s eight-month managerial stint: Stefanovic, Linvoy Primus, Gary O’Neil, Matthew Taylor and Richard Hughes. Perrin replaced many of Redknapp’s proven Premiership players with imports such as Collins Mbesuma who never started a game for Portsmouth.

6 - The number of seasons it took Perrin to guide Troyes through three divisions into the French top-flight and the UEFA Cup, managing to catch the eye of chairmen across Europe at the same time. Would he have taken Portsmouth down three divisions in six seasons given the chance?

7 (:30am) – One of Perrin’s training routines, which has upset many of the players at his current club Lyon, is for players to report for duty at 7:30am on a match day. Whilst at Portsmouth he also alienated many of the first-team squad with his various routines. They then went to chairman Mandaric and demanded Perrin be sacked.

8 – The number of months Perrin’s disastrous spell at the club lasted - from April until November 2005.

9 - The number of foreign signings Perrin made at the beginning of the 2005-06 season, including Zvonimir Vukic, Azar Karadas, Salif Diao and Gregory Vignal. They were to be his downfall with many players unable to speak English, a fact that only came to light after the arrival of Redknapp. He told Five Live in December: “It’s a crazy situation. We’ve got three people who can’t speak English. What is the good when you have got people and you cannot even tell them what to do?”

10 – The number of points Portsmouth had when Perrin was sacked. Many critics were already writing off any hope of the club staying up.

12 - Pompey’s position in the league when Redknapp left for Southampton.

15 – On his return to Portsmouth Redknapp believed there were 15 players at the club under Perrin not good enough to play for Portsmouth. Perrin later defended his signings, telling journalists that the poor recruits were not his fault. “You can talk about the signings but there were four people in charge of recruitment, not just me. My role was to indicate the positions I thought needed strengthening and the only players I signed were Laurent Robert and Brian Priske.”

16 - Portsmouth’s position in the Premiership when Perrin was dismissed.

500,000 – The number of great British pounds it cost Pompey to tear up the contract of one of Perrin’s flops, Dario Silva.

This article also appeared on Sportingo

Avram Grant - Yes/No Game Champion

The Guardian today reported on surely the most bizarre post-match press conference in years last night at Goodison Park. What Avram Grant’s bizzare interview with journalist’s lacked in content it made up for in pure novelty. One of the most bizzare and bemusing interview’s you will read all season. Oh for the days of Jose…

Click below to read the whole thing.

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Why begrudge Portsmouth and Cardiff City their ‘Michael Thomas moment’?

Cardiff City, mid-table in the Championship, are an astonishing 90 minutes away from being crowned FA Cup winners. There’ll be Bluebirds over the Wembley enclosure - what isn’t magical about that?

Barcelona 1999, Istanbul 2005, Anfield 1989. Wembley 2008?

Every football fan has his or her defining ‘magical’ moment as a fan. That special moment that defines your support for your side. Barcelona ‘99, Istanbul ‘05 and Anfield ‘89 have had books written on them, focusing just on these few hours. The sacred hours those fans of the three victorious clubs will treasure forever when trophies were claimed in the most dramatic of styles.

These moments are set so high on a pedestal that as a fan you would travel across Britain and even Europe to try to recreate it. It’s why you attend football matches.

For Cardiff City or Portsmouth fans, Wembley 2008 could be their ‘Istanbul 2005’. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience something genuinely exhilarating. Could you have said the same for Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal?

Exeter Excursions – My Away Day Blues

“You travel with a certain amount of pre-match optimism- this is dangerous. Although you are on the road, away from your usual environs, you must try to keep a grip on reality. Just because you are making the effort doesn’t mean the players are going to” (Taken from ‘How To Support A Crap Football Team’ by Steve Crancher)

Robert Louis Stevenson once said “To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.” and I’m sure football fans around the country echo his sentiments. How often is an enjoyable away trip instantly ruined by a few early goals with no hope of a comeback?

Since February 2007 I have ‘travelled hopefully’ to watch Exeter City on the road on twelve occasions with just one win. The ‘travelling hopefully’ has been infinitely more fun than arriving. Last Tuesday’s trip to Salisbury for example became distinctly not funny after only nine minutes and it was downhill from there.

I have now watched 990 minutes of football with just seven goals scored, twenty-two conceded and plenty of depressing drives home. Especially impressive is the fact that in these fourteen months Exeter have won 11 away games and I’ve only witnessed one!

Is it a blessing in disguise that I chose to work this Saturday instead of discarding my dissertation and spending my entire Saturday heading across Britain to Nene Park to watch Exeter and Rushden and Diamonds ‘do battle’?

Away from all the doom and gloom of my recent away record I have to admit though I do love a good away day. The atmosphere is usually always far better than home games and the celebrations have an extra bounce to them. Some of the away games I have been to with Exeter have been unforgettable. Everyone loves the football away-day experience whether with friends or family, although experiencing the wonders Aldershot, Stevenage and Crawley have to offer wouldn’t be on many people’s wish list for a Saturday afternoon!

But as the quote at the head of this article describes, the away day is stacked with potential pitfalls, and not just the distinct possibility that the players will just not make the same effort as you!

It is very easy to get carried away as you arrive at another shabby, run-down ground. In Exeter’s case I often find myself frustrated leaving Blue Square Premier grounds where we have outnumbered or almost outnumbered the home fans at grounds often 3 or 4 hours from Exeter. And not only does the away excursion provide you with far too much time to get optimistic pre-game it leaves a lot of opportunities to dissect and stew over another below-par performance and put the world to right.

I will never forget how frustrated and miserable I felt after the Play Off Final at Wembley. After the ecstasy of the Oxford tie and the thrilling run in to get into the Play Off’s the whole Wembley experience left me feeling frustrated and empty. In a similar vein, this season’s 13-hour roundtrip to watch a one-goal defeat in Bury in the FA Cup was pretty high on the disappointment scale.

You may be wondering why I am picking at the scabs of these painful away day experiences? Because with the potentially win-or-bust deciding match at Burton in just over a week’s time the ‘arriving’ needs to become a lot more enjoyable than the ‘travelling otherwise we could well be making unwelcome returns to our regular Conference haunts.

Romario Finally Retires at 42…

After a 23-year career and supposedly one thousand goals, Romario today announced that he was calling it a day. The former World Player of the Year made the announcement on the eve of a release of a DVD of 910 of his supposed 1000 goals (counted by Romario himself…) which included goals scored in amateur games, scrimmages and unofficial matches against small clubs. Just to give you a reminder of the little Brazilian’s magic, check out the video below!

Cardiff City - Could They Repeat the Feat of 1927?

Cup fever has hit Cardiff ahead of arguably the club’s biggest match since the FA Cup Final of 1927. Barnsley await at Wembley in what promises to be a fantastic occasion for both sets of fans, a welcome break from the monotony of the Premiership monopoly on these big occasions.

Ahead of the big match I’ve picked out some article to get any readers in the FA Cup Semi Final mood:

• The first is a fantastic article from the Independent on Joe Ledley and what it means for a homegrown player to play in such a huge occasion.
• A good luck message from one of the stars of BBC’s Gavin and Stacey set and filmed, of course, in South Wales.
• A superb collection of well wishers from ex-Cardiff players to Sir Bobby Robson pass on their good luck messages to the team.
• An interview with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, just one of the experienced internationals in the Cardiff line up who will need to shine if the Bluebirds are going to make the final.

So I wish my adopted City the best of luck going into Sundays game, and who knows they may well be back come the end of May!

Football and Terraces - My Dissertation

Hi, just a request to anyone visiting this site. Could you do me a big favour and help me with my dissertation research on the possible reintroduction of terraces in football?

I have five statements below that I want to hear the average football fan’s view on. It would be great if you could take the time to tell me which of the four responses to these statements best suits your opinion and put down any other thoughts on the issue.

It will take a few seconds and if you could paste your answers below or email them to peterevans1987@yahoo.co.uk that would be much appreciated.

Thanks, Pete