Belated Happy New Year to all in RAWK. May I remind you to give something towards the running of this forum even if it's only a quid.
So once again it's time for the FA Cup. The competition where the smallest clubs can get their 5 minutes of fame by beating a big club. Matches like Chelsea 2 Bradford 4 (2015), Colchester Utd 3 Leeds Utd 2 (1971) and my favourite Hereford 2 Newcastle 1 (1972) spring to mind.
In those days (1970s) you could run onto the pitch especially on the smaller grounds. Quite frequently the crowd were allowed to stand along the touchlines thus making it quite daunting for the away team. Pitches were full of puddles and the ball would bounce all over the place.
All of Exeter's fans will be dreaming of turning us over so expect a spirited game.
The furthest Exeter City have been in the FA Cup is Quarter-finalists 1930–31 and 1980–81. That's some feat for a small club.
Next, some facts about Exeter City.
Stadium: St James Park
Capacity: 8,830 (3,800 Seated)
Average Attendance: Approx 4,000 plus 2 dogs, a small pony and a deaf sheep
Pitch Size: 114 x 73 yards (Similar to Anfield)
Club Nickname: The Grecians
Year Ground Opened: 1904. The club began playing on an old field used for fattening pigs (really)!
Shirt Sponsors: Flybe
Home Kit: Red and White
Nobody quite knows why they are called the Grecians and hopefully we won't be needing any Grecian 2000 for our grey hair after the match.
For this game, I believe that 1,347 tickets have been allocated for our fans.
Away fans are mostly housed in the St James’ Road terrace at one end of the ground, where just over 1,000 fans can be accommodated. In addition the Club make 150 seats available to visiting supporters in the Grandstand. (Maybe they are throwing in some deck-chairs to give us over 1300 tickets). The facilities in both these areas are basic. The views from the St James’ Road terrace are not great as due to its limited size fans are situated quite low down and close to the pitch. It is also does not have a cover and is open to the elements. Although the Grandstand is covered, it does have some supporting pillars running across its front which may affect your view.
If travelling by train with elderly or disabled supporters then you'll have a short but steep walk up to the ground.
Travelling back by train to Liverpool will not be possible because the last train from Exeter leaves before the match kicks-off. Hopefully fans will get home and back by car or bus. Many fans are furious at a Friday night game.
If you are travelling down the day before then our own Jan Mølby will be appearing at the grand marquee, St James Park, Exeter.
http://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/article/liverpool-legend-jan-molby-to-kick-off-pre-match-fa-cup-celebrations-2858483.aspx Exeter lie in the bottom half of League Division 2. Their only major trophy so far has been the Fourth Division Championship (current League 2) which it won in 1990. Their highest position in the league has been runners up in the old Football League Third Division South (current League One). So they have never really done anything much in their history; but their fans will be as loyal as ours.
The club is owned by the club's supporters through the Exeter City Supporters' Trust. They have been through a lot and it's credit to the supporter's trust that they still exist.
Famous managers - Terry Cooper, Alan Ball, Gerry Francis and Steve Perryman.
Current manager, former Southampton midfielder Paul Tisdale is the 2nd longest serving manager in the 4 divisions having been at Exeter for nearly a decade (2nd to Arsène Wenger). In fact only three managers have served longer than 5 years! Only 12 are longer than 3 years.
Steve Perryman is currently the Director of Football, since 2003 when the previous owners were jailed for fraud. He captained Spurs when they won the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982 so he has pedigree.
So give them credit for keeping their manager for so long without any real hope of success.
Next a bit of WTF trivia.
Here's a famous person wearing their colours.
Yes that is Michael Jackson and in the background is that “entertainer” Uri Geller (mend my broken watch and I'll give you a grand). It still amazes me how Geller convinced so many people that he could bend spoons and mend watches remotely over TV.
I'm sure it's a matter of fun with current supporters, but in 2002 Jackson was made an honorary director and visited St James Park with Uri Geller, who was a director of the club at that time. David Blaine and Patti Boulaye also appeared to do a charity gig to help raise money for the club. A charity event to help save the club was very comendable but I can't help thinking that Geller hypnotised Jackson as it must be one of the most bizarre days in the club's long history. About the same time Geller's son Daniel, was installed as Exeter's 21-year-old joint vice-chairman.
In 1997 Geller tried to help the club win a crucial end of season game by placing "energy-infused" crystals behind the goals. The groundsman should have booted him up the crystals!
Ok back to football.
We have played them only once before. We beat them 3-1 at their ground in the League Cup in 2011. Scorers for us were Luis Suarez, Maxi Rodriguez (run down the wing for me) and Andy Carroll. That was Kenny's 200th win as our manager.
Edit - thanks to Mighty Zeus. We have actually played them 5 times.... I must check my facts before posting.
One of their finest hours in the FA Cup was against Manchester United in the 2004-05 were they deservedly got a 0-0 draw in front of 67,551 fans at Old Trafford with Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes coming off the bench. United won the replay 2-0 but the two games had virtually cleared Exeter's debts.
Hence this is a very big game for them. They have increased their ticket costs which has obviously annoyed the fans but I can see why they have done it. They need the money badly to survive so let's hope that they use the money wisely. Make no mistake, they will be up for this game and will throw everything at us. A replay back at Anfield would be a great result for them as it would guarantee another wind-fall.
For us it will be 4 arduous away games in 9 days when we face Sunderland (December 30), West Ham (January 2), Stoke City (Capital One Cup semi final first leg on January 5) and then Exeter.
Jurgen Klopp would now be on a month's winter break whereas we have just been half-way round the world travelling to away games. To be honest there are a few of our players who look like they need a break.......maybe longer than the winter months.
I'm writing this in advance so the following will probably be superseded by injuries.
I expect us to field a weakened team which has as much to do with the previous 3 matches plus injuries as it is to do with the opposition.
So using my Uri Geller crystals I predict the team to be:
Bogdan
Randall Toure Lucas Smith
Allen Brannagan
Kent Teixeira Milner
Sinclair
I did have Lovren partnering Toure but obviously that has changed. I'm not even sure if Toure will be fit or if we should risk both him and Lucas as they may be needed in the next couple of games. So the big talking point is who to play at centre half.........I'd put anyone on that is available and keep Toure plus Lucas for the League.
I think we'll keep Ibe, Benteke, Coutinho and Firmino on the bench just in case we need them. I can't see Sturridge being risked and I'm not even sure if he's fit yet.
I'll leave you with some questions.
1. What team do you expect us to put out?
2. Which centre half pairing do you think we'll use?
3. Which fringe players would you like to see get a chance?
4. Who needs a boot up the crystals?
5. What score do you predict (Mr Geller)?
6. Who are their key players to look out for?
7. Will it be a free flowing match or route-one stuff?
I think Exeter's best chance will be to put two big strikers on if they have them as we are now very weak at the back.
Oh and January is officially the wettest month in Exeter so take your coat.
The following picture will show you how hopeless Exeter's chances are against us.........however that mean's nothing and they are well capable of causing one of the biggest upsets.
The cost of their starting 11 is about didly squat against our mega-millions................Ah the romance of the FA Cup.
