Exeter City 30/8/14

[bungle]

We just cannot accommodate JJ in a 4-4-2. It's like playing with 10 men.

This.

Personally, as I've said before, I'd play 4-5-1 with O'Toole or 4-4-2 with Toney. I don't see much potential in the partnership between Richards and Sinclair (although the latter put in a decent shift today and deserved his little ovation).

Toney is clearly an exceptional talent but it's too much to ask an 18 year old to start two games a week every week. Play 4-5-1 and then bring Toney on for O'Toole/Richards around the 60 minute mark - he's the ultimate game changing option.

The problem with O'Toole is that his reputation and wage packet make him virtually undroppable. He needs to start producing for us though, because at the moment I'd choose Ravenhill over him. 

[betamax toploader]

Tozer's throws aren't ever going to please the football purists, but they do deliver the ball directly to the danger area. Against teams short in stature like Exeter, they are a potent weapon.
Oh. and short corners rarely end well.

I cannot disagree with any of this, but Tozer will never be an effective full back.

[guest47]

Tozer's throws aren't ever going to please the football purists, but they do deliver the ball directly to the danger area. Against teams short in stature like Exeter, they are a potent weapon.
Oh. and short corners rarely end well.

Agree, it's strange that many seem to prefer long corners but short throws. His throws should be more effective than corners as they come from a better angle making it tougher for the keeper to intercept.
It's his long throws down the line that should be used more often. They can turn defence into an effective counter-attack so quickly.

[Joes Sweet Left Foot]

It's his long throws down the line that should be used more often. They can turn defence into an effective counter-attack so quickly.

Agreed, especially as you can't be offside from a throw-in. A throw from the half-way line over the defenders heads could reach Hackett near the byline.

[Adam-NTFC]

I cannot disagree with any of this, but Tozer will never be an effective full back.

So you're saying that you thought his performance before Collins got injured was ineffective then...

Bombing up and down the right side with Hackett and putting in decent balls not promising enough for you? He's a huge improvement on Alfei and all he has to do is work on his positioning which comes with experience. He definitely has the stamina and pace to do an effective job at right back. As well as the defensive skill that came from his youth playing centrally.

[Dr Feelgood]

We're the greatest team in the world.....

[Dr Feelgood]

We're becoming the Man Utd of League 2. No bad thing.

no way John we actually win games...

[BackOfTheNet]

I'm not one for getting on player's backs, but I have to say I've been really disappointed by O'Toole so far. I appreciate he isn't a box to box type of midfielder but the lack of apparent effort is a worry. I wouldn't mind if he was delivering the goods in terms of killer balls or efforts on goal but he isn't. As others have said, maybe he is only effective in a more forward position. If that's the case we either have to pay him there or drop him,  because trying to accommodate him elsewhere just isn't working.

I was sitting close to the dugout yesterday and Wilder was constantly having to direct and cajole him throughout the game. I think the yell of "Get on the pitch, John Joe!" was particularly telling!

[threeinabed]

So you're saying that you thought his performance before Collins got injured was ineffective then...

Bombing up and down the right side with Hackett and putting in decent balls not promising enough for you? He's a huge improvement on Alfei and all he has to do is work on his positioning which comes with experience. He definitely has the stamina and pace to do an effective job at right back. As well as tensive skill that came from his youth playing centrally.

o

I think he was a left back in his youth, when the toon signed him. I also think he should have enough experience now, the amount of games he has played......don't just build him up for the sake of making a flawed point.

[TbananaG]

Tozer is our best right back by a distance. His work with Hackett down the right in the first half was excellent and he was also highly competent at centre back after Collins went off. Two things seem to annoy people about him - the long throw (great weapon) and also that he's a very nice and intelligent young man (not your typical footballer). Perhaps he'd be better accepted if he swore more and got in a few street brawls, got himself a curfew?

[defender]

Tozer is our best right back by a distance. His work with Hackett down the right in the first half was excellent and he was also highly competent at centre back after Collins went off. Two things seem to annoy people about him - the long throw (great weapon) and also that he's a very nice and intelligent young man (not your typical footballer). Perhaps he'd be better accepted if he swore more and got in a few street brawls, got himself a curfew?

 All very true.

[HertsCobbler]

It also shows the turnover of players, as Ben is the sole player left from Anfield.

At right back he had a few games when he has been ripped one by a winger, but then again sure opposition fans moan at their full backs when Hackett and Mohamed rip them.

[Heyford]

Tozer is our best right back by a distance. His work with Hackett down the right in the first half was excellent and he was also highly competent at centre back after Collins went off. Two things seem to annoy people about him - the long throw (great weapon) and also that he's a very nice and intelligent young man (not your typical footballer). Perhaps he'd be better accepted if he swore more and got in a few street brawls, got himself a curfew?

accepted

Perhaps he'd be better accepted if he didn't cost us so many goals.

[A view from the east]

My fourth game yesterday and there is no doubt that the team are gradually improving.
Although Exeter were a poor side we showed real intent during the second half and
deserved our win.
On the down side , like others I cant really see the point of O'Toole as a standard midfielder and was disappointed by his effort. Some of his passing was poor as well and he just seemed disinterested. If Carter is fit again I would prefer him alongside Byrom.
D'Ath impressed as well when he came on , is Alfei still injured or have we sent him back ?
Thought Ben was very good yesterday and you have to be impressed with his versatility although even he admitted on the radio its not always an advantage when it comes to a regular place in the team.
Still believe we need another striker though , our goal threat is still limited and if Nichols does go out I wouldnt want to rely on Sinclair as the only realistic option too much.
We will see what happens on monday.... if anything.
Came away feeling encouraged. UTC    

[j20cobbler]

Lots of posts ignoring the fact that Exeter were really poor, and we should not have had to wait until the 90 minute before scoring from a long throw (great finish though it was) and scraping a 1-0 win.

[ntfclad]

Just because it was 1-0 doesn't mean it was a scrape.

[TbananaG]

accepted

Perhaps he'd be better accepted if he didn't cost us so many goals.

Hmmm...wonder how Tozer's ratio of games played to goals gifted compares with Alfei's?

[HertsCobbler]

It was a far better spectacle than the 1:0 wins we "scrapped" under Boothroyd.  If we can put down some good home form (Wilder's nemisis at Oxford) and continue to play attacking football with Hackett, Mohamed and Toney it will hopefully start to put "bums on seats".

[Cobblerzz]

I would have Alfei over Tozer at the right back slot. Everytime the ball goes near him I panic but with Alfei I don't. Tozer has advantages over Alfei with throw ins and his size.

I am happy for either to play and I have no problem in some slight rotation.

[bungle]

Ideally, I think O'Toole needs to play off a target man who can supply him with lay offs around the box (a bit like Bayo used to do for Guttridge).
At Bristol he had Matt Harrold to play off, but Rico, for all his considerable strengths, isn't really a back-to-goal type of player.

The thing is, I'm really not sure it's worth building our entire system around him. In Hackett and Mohammed we have arguably two of the paciest, most dangerous wingers in this league. IMO, our game plan should be based primarily on getting the ball out to them quickly, counter-attacking at pace and then getting bodies in the box to get on the end of their crosses. O'Toole should have been busting a gut to get on the end of those first half deliveries, but I'm not sure he has it in him to be a genuinely box-to-box midfielder.

It's early days and it might be that we need to keep experimenting until we find a winning formula. It will be interesting to see what Wilder does when Carter gets back to full fitness.