[WakeyTerrier]

As someone said on the radio 4th is good, 4th is very good considering the football we play and the manager we have got.

The guy is clueless. Today was like Bolton at home, we could all see what was coming

[Lord Snooty]

We could see it coming. And we were sat at home listening to the radio. His subs were negative. Taking Leo off for Wiles. Charles on for Bojan when we clearly needed him to stay on.

But like I say, he ain't gettig fired when he's got us up to fourth.

He's more likely to get the push after the transfer window closes anyway.

[WakeyTerrier]

But fourth is a false position, only there because of teams having played less.

The bloke is failing and the sooner Nagle recognises that the sooner we can try and push this team forwards

[Amelia Chaffinch]

Given our track record, who will do better? Frying pan and fire are words that are associated with our management choices. In view of that, Lee Grant looks quite good. I get what you say about some of his decisions and I certainly don't like listening to his soundbites but I dislike the whinging from the fans more. I don't think we can accuse any of the players currently playing of not wanting to play for the club. I think they're now a team and there is cohesion. That has to be down to him. I think people have taken against and are losing perspective. I know that some of you won't like someone daring to speak up for him. Then again, I'm happy in league one until we can go up automatically. I think if we can stay stable, it'll happen. I don't want the playoffs again or Wembley unless we're in any cup final. So there. Someone who's happy with mediocrity. 

[Lord Snooty]

He took Grant on, knowing he's a novice, learning the job as he goes. There's no way that Nagle will admit he's got it wrong.

Even if he does, then we're back to square one again. And if he does sack him, it won't be until January is done anyway.

[themaclad]

The first Exeter goal had a bit of power behind it

[Lord Snooty]

It'd be as daft as the two Premier League teams currently 5th and 6th sacking theirs.

---

The first Exeter goal had a bit of power behind it

Goodman would've saved it.

[theo_luddite]

Don't be silly Snoots - why would anyone do that? I mean there's been a couple of weird post/pre match interviews lately that could be down to them sniffing too much Christmas Spirits but shirley they wouldn't sack them for saying what they think?

Oh!?!
Two more that we probably can't afford then.

Anyway,

The most consistent sides in League One in December (before the last 2 games) were
Cardiff - W5, L1
Lincoln - W4, D1
Pish Posh - W4, D1
Bradford - W4, L1
Blackpool - W4, D1
Town - W3, D2, L1 (with those wins being the last 3).

I may have missed someone, but based on the BBC League One Table prior to the Lincoln game, I don't think so.

In the two New Year fixtures since,

Cardiff - drew at Wycombe, beat Wigan 1-0
Lincoln - drew with Town, battered Pish Posh
Pish Posh - won at Rotherham, battered by Lincoln
Bradford - battered at Mansfield, won at Blackpool
Blackpool - battered by Port Vale, lost to Bradford
Town - drew at Lincoln and home to Exeter. Yesterday was only the 3rd match drawn by Exeter this season.

So the top 2 got the best results, no surprise there. Everyone else that had been doing well got at least one battering and we got 2 draws. 4 points would have been nice, 6 was probably unrealistic, but the unbeaten run is now 7 games. Lincoln were the only side to play two teams "in form".

4th looks good on paper but a 7 point gap to Bradford and 9 to lincoln is still a lot to catch up.

Teams below us have games in hand but Bolton, Luton, Stockport have only won 2 of their last 6 and Stevenage have only won one.
Games in hand are not points in hand.

---

Games in hand

Bolton - to play at Stevenage
Luton - to play at Doncaster
Stockport - to play at Wimbledon
Stevenage - to play Bolton and Barnsley at home

[WakeyTerrier]

The results in December just papered over the cracks. To be honest the only thing that stopped the crowd getting on Grants back in the 2nd half yesterday was the referee.
Results since December 1st

Lost to Cardiff so lost ground on them
Drew against Northampton who we should be beating
Drew at home against Wigan, again a game we should be winning
Beat Rotherham who were the worst team I’ve seen all season until…
We beat the worst team we’ve seen all season Port Vale
Beat a Northampton team who as stated previously we should be beating
Scraped a draw at Lincoln which effectively is losing ground on them because it means we have one game less to catch them
Drew with Exeter, again at home we should be winning

Despite being on a 7match unbeaten run the form guide over the last 8 games has seen us return 13 points

By comparison
Lincoln 20
Cardiff 19
Bradford 18

We have lost ground, it’s good beating the lower teams but you have to beat the top teams to get promotion and it’s something we don’t do

[theo_luddite]

I didn't say anything any different