PREVIEW ‘Deal Or No Deal’ Exeter City (H)

With famous fans such Coldplay front-man Chris Martin, Comic Adrian Edmondson and allegedly Michael Jackson – there are a whole host of bottom young-ones, fixing you, smooth criminal puns I could make – but it’s another famous fan who takes the inspiration for tonight’s blog – step forward Mr  Blobby himself, Noel Edmonds.

Tomorrow, Mansfield Town, how about this offer from the banker – A win, three points which kick start our season? Deal, or no deal?

Over the last week or so the Stags have awoken slowly from their nightmare slump and in their last three games have taken points from Barnet and Newport, and have also reminded Notts County who the better Nottinghamshire side are, albeit it the Checkatrade Trophy with ten changes.

A win is a win.

My point is, Exeter are a side who are always up there and always compete – but like us a few weeks ago, have started to slip – so tomorrow will be very keen to claw their form back against a side who, let’s be realistic here, also need to win to send a message to the rest of league two.

I’m a big fan of Exeter’s stability; they’ve done with Paul Tisdale what we kind of did with Paul Cox and given him time to mould a side and let him have the freedom to carry the club forward. He’s delivered too, back to back promotions shot the club into League One and despite relegation back into League Two a few seasons ago, he’s still at the helm – no doubt itching to return to league one after losing in last season’s play-off final.

The patience and stability is phenomenal at Exeter, they know their limits and use those weaknesses as strengths – selling key players at the right time but replacing them without blowing all the money in a ‘like for like’ deal.
I see that for Mansfield Town in the future, although I don’t see Steve Evans being manager for ten years – but I do foresee us as a club who are always tough to break down and will always be involved with a battle.

Tisdale is an excellent manager who cut his teeth way before Exeter with Team Bath, Tisdale masterminded their FA Cup run in 2002-03, which the Stags ended live on Sky, although in typical Stags style it wasn’t an easy ride!

The Stags have to be very careful over what changes they make tomorrow, would I go back to the side that took on Newport? Probably not actually – I think Evans will go for a 4-4-2 again although, having watched Exeter, we could risk a 3-4-1-2 again at home – but let’s go with the former for now.

The same back four as Newport bar Hayden White at right back – I’d go for Paul Anderson who was terrific at Notts County. Midfield is the issue, it’s clear that the pairing of Atkinson and Butcher doesn’t work as it lacks creativity, Mellis and Byrom looked fairly solid Tuesday although Byrom won’t be and shouldn’t be risked tomorrow – he needs 75 minutes Tuesday and then go from there.

Therefore I’d maybe move Potter central alongside Mellis, with MacDonald on the right and then CJ Hamilton, who put in an outstanding display midweek, out on the left with Angol, partnering Rose up front.
The main thing that needs to remain, is the flare and hunger – if we show flare and style – we’ll do what Luton did to Exeter and really open them up, we have the quality to do it – it’s time we proved it on the pitch.

​Failure to do so, then in the return fixture – the players should be made to stay at Guest House Paradiso, listen to ‘fix you’ on a loop and talk to each other in the language of MR Blobby. Enough Exeter famous fans related gags? I know, they’re just bad… 

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